It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain.Paul's timidity here surprises me. He says, flat out, that he was preaching the message he had received from a revelation. So why is he so fearful that it might all be in vain?
Two options spring to mind. First, the revelation was to go seek confirmation, and his preaching the Gospel had been more his own idea, or so he thought. Second, he feared that even though the Gospel was true, that the Gentiles were barred from truly receiving it, and therefore preaching to them would have been futile. Fortunately for us, that futility was an empty fear.
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