Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them who were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
All Commentaries on Galatians 1:17 Go To Galatians 1
John Chrysostom
AD 407
If one interprets these words by themselves, they seem suggestive of some great conceit or a sentiment not worthy of an apostle. To rely on one’s own choice and have no one else to share one’s estimate seems a mark of folly…. But we should not interpret bare words, or many absurdities follow…. Let us now interpret the mind of Paul when he wrote these words. Let us consider his aim and his whole attitude to the apostles, and then we shall know his intention in saying this…. For since those who plunder the church were saying that one should follow the apostles, who did not forbid these things, he is forced to withstand them stoutly, not wishing to disparage the apostles but to restrain the folly of those who were falsely puffed up.
