Daily Reading — Friday, October 23, 2026

Friday, October 23, 2026

Galatians 1:11-19 · Matthew 13:54-58

Galatians, chapter one, verses eleven through nineteen.

11But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. 13For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. 14And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, 16to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. 19But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother.

Matthew, chapter thirteen, verses fifty-four through fifty-eight.

54When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? 56And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things? 57So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house. 58Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

From the Orthodox Study Bible

Galatians 1:11The true gospel is taught by true apostles, but many declare themselves to be apostles. How can we know true apostles from false? (1) True apostles are called by God. They learn the gospel by revelation, either directly from the risen Son, as did the original apostles (1:11, 12), or by the revelation of apostolic tradition (2Ti 2:2). They are called by grace, not according to works or a “proper” background (1:13–17). A true apostle brings glory to God, not to himself (1:18–23). (2) True apostles form one church government, holding the same doctrine and working by agreement reached in council (2:6–10). (3) True apostles stand firm in matters of conscience and are correctable when mistaken (2:11–14). Thus, Paul rebukes Peter sharply in public for his hypocritical ethnic elitism. [1:11, 12] Apostolic tradition is grounded in divine revelation from Jesus Christ. Just as the Twelve were called by Christ, so was Paul (v. 1). Just as the Twelve received the gospel directly from Christ, so did Paul (Acts 9:3–6; 26:13–18). Just as the Twelve stood together as one, so Paul entered their unity in consensus and mutual submission.

Galatians 1:13-17People are called by God not according to former conduct (v. 13)—good or bad—but by God’s grace (v. 15). Paul, whom God called in mercy, received grace from Ananias’ hands and the waters of baptism (Acts 9:10–19). Separated me from my mother’s womb (v. 15) refers not to Paul’s physical birth but to God’s calling Paul to apostolic ministry before he was born (see Ps 138:15, 16; Is 49:1; Jer 1:5; Lk 1:35, 43, 44, 48). As with Paul, God’s intentions for a person may lie hidden for years.

Galatians 1:18-20As a true apostle, Paul submits himself to the Church and her apostles rather than elevating himself. Paul knows his encounter with Christ, instruction in the gospel, and call to apostleship are highly unusual—in a private revelation, the only other witness is God (v. 20). But he also knows he must teach the same gospel as the other apostles.

Galatians 1:19James is James the Just, the first bishop of Jerusalem and author of the Epistle of James. Brother also means cousin or close relation (see the Introduction to the Epistle of James).

Matthew 13:55Brothers: See note at 12:46–50.