Galatians 1:15

“But when it pleased God, etc..] Here begins his account of his conversion, and call to the ministry; all which he ascribes entirely to the sovereign good pleasure, and free grace of God: who separated me from my mother's womb. By his “mother” is meant, not in an improper and figurative sense, the Jewish church, or the old synagogue, the mother of all its members; the Jerusalem which then was, and was in bondage with her children; from which bondage, blindness, ignorance, superstition and bigotry, he was delivered, when called by grace: nor the church at Antioch, which is never called a mother church; and though he was by that church, with Barnabas, separated for the work of the ministry, yet…”

“separated--"set me apart": in the purposes of His electing love (compare Act 9:15; Act 22:14), in order to show in me His "pleasure," which is the farthest point that any can reach in inquiring the causes of his salvation. The actual "separating" or "setting apart" to the work marked out for him, is mentioned in Act 13:2; Rom 1:1. There is an allusion, perhaps, in the way of contrast, to the derivation of Pharisee from Hebrew, "pharash," "separated." I was once a so-called Pharisee or Separatist, but God had separated me to something far better. from . . . womb--Thus merit in me was out of the question, in assigning causes for His call from Act 9:11. Grace is the sole cause (Psa 22:9; Psa…”

“But when it pleased God - Paul traced all his hopes of eternal life, and all the good influences which had ever borne upon his mind, to God. Who separated me ... - That is, who destined me; or who purposed from my very birth that I should be a preacher and an apostle. The meaning is, that God had in his secret purposes set him apart to be an apostle. It does not mean that he had actually called him in his infancy to the work, for this was not so, but that he designed him to be an important instrument in his hands in spreading the true religion. Jeremiah Jeremiah 1:5 was thus set apart, and John the Baptist was thus early designated for the work which they afterward performed. It follows from…”

“But when it pleased God - He ascribes nothing to his own merits, endeavours, or sincerity. Who separated me from my mother's womb - Set me apart for an apostle, as he did Jeremiah for a prophet. Jer 1:5. Such an unconditional predestination as this may consist, both with God's justice and mercy. And called me by his grace - By his free and almighty love, to be both a Christian and an apostle. Galatians 1:16”

“1:15-16 even before I was born: Cp. Jer 1:5; see also Ps 139:13-16; Isa 49:1-6; Rom 9:10-13. • God chose me and called me: For the account of Paul’s conversion, see Acts 9:1-19; 22:1-21; 26:9-23. • Paul’s calling was specifically to proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles (Gal 2:7), and he even educated other apostles in what that means (e.g., 2:11-21). • to reveal his Son to me (or in me): This might refer to Paul’s encounter with Christ (Acts 9:1-19; cp. 1 Cor 9:1; 15:8); in me might also suggest an internal revelation (cp. Gal 2:20; 4:6-7) and implies that Paul’s changed heart revealed Christ to others.”

“it: Deu 7:7, Deu 7:8; Sa1 12:22; Ch1 28:4, Ch1 28:5; Mat 11:26; Luk 10:21; Co1 1:1; Eph 1:5, Eph 1:9, Eph 3:11 who: Isa 49:1, Isa 49:5; Jer 1:5; Luk 1:15, Luk 1:16; Act 9:15, Act 13:2, Act 22:14, Act 22:15; Rom 1:1 and: Rom 1:5, Rom 8:30, Rom 9:24; Co1 1:9, Co1 1:24, Co1 15:10; Th2 2:13, Th2 2:14; Ti1 1:12-14; Ti2 1:9; Pe1 5:10 Galatians 1:16”