Paul emphasized his trip by revelation to prove that God Himself directed the journey — not human leaders or his own plan — showing that his gospel came directly from the ascended Lord.
Paul's phrase 'by revelation' (Galatians 2:2) meant God had supernaturally instructed him to go up to Jerusalem. The journey's purpose was to communicate to Peter, the eleven, and the Jerusalem leaders the gospel he preached among the Gentiles — a gospel entirely different from anything they knew. By stressing the revelation, Paul showed his gospel's authority came from Christ in glory, not from men or from Judaism.
Galatians 2:1-2 — This is the exact passage where Paul states he went up to Jerusalem by revelation and communicated his gospel to the leaders — the core of the question.
Paul's own account in Galatians is the direct scriptural answer. He writes that fourteen years after his conversion he went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas and Titus, and that he went up 'by revelation.' At that meeting he 'communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles' (Galatians 2:1-2). In the same letter Paul insists that the gospel he preached 'is not after man,' for he 'neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ' (Galatians 1:11-12). He also testifies that he did not immediately go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before him, but 'conferred not with flesh and blood' (Galatians 1:16-17). These verses show that Paul's authority and message came directly from Jesus Christ, not from the Jerusalem apostles.
Les Feldick explains that whenever Paul uses the word 'revelation,' he is referring to what Christ revealed from His position in the heavenlies — not from the twelve apostles or from Christ's earthly ministry. Paul's trip to Jerusalem was a supernatural journey: God had instructed it and led him up there. The purpose was to convince Peter, the eleven, and the other Jerusalem leaders that the gospel Paul preached among the Gentiles was not connected with Judaism. Les emphasizes that Paul's gospel was unique and totally different from what the Jews in Jerusalem knew — it was an advance, but one they could not comprehend, because God was now going to the Gentile, pagan, idolatrous world and bringing those people to reconciliation with Himself outside of Judaism. Les also makes the point that Paul had no contact with those twelve men at Jerusalem; God separated him totally from the Twelve, sent him into the desert, and revealed these doctrines to him. When Paul did go to Jerusalem for fourteen days, he visited Peter but never saw the other apostles. Everything Paul received to pass on to the Roman world was revealed from the ascended Lord in glory.
Les Feldick teaches that whenever Paul uses the word 'revelation,' he is referring to the fact that God had revealed to him the necessity to go — the trip was supernatural, instructed and led by God Himself. When Paul speaks of revelation, he always means that which Christ revealed from His position in the heavenlies, never something received from the twelve or from Christ's earthly ministry.
Paul went up to Jerusalem to convince Peter and the eleven that his gospel to the Gentiles was not connected with Judaism, and he 'communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles' (Galatians 2:2). Les explains this gospel was something totally different from what the Jews in Jerusalem knew — so advanced they could not comprehend that God was going to the Gentile, pagan, idolatrous world to bring those people to reconciliation with Himself outside of Judaism.
Les points out that Peter and the other apostles had not preached Paul's gospel, and they certainly had not preached it to Gentiles — Peter never had a ministry among Gentiles except the one-time visit to Cornelius. God did not send Paul to Jerusalem to check in with the twelve and become part of their ministry; He separated him totally from the Twelve, sent him into the desert, and revealed these doctrines to him. When Paul did go to Jerusalem for fourteen days, he visited Peter but never saw the other apostles. Everything Paul received was revealed from the ascended Lord in glory, not from the twelve.
Revelation from the Ascended Lord
Les establishes that Paul's revelations came from the ascended glory after the cross — not from Christ's earthly ministry — and that Paul claimed to see the Lord face to face, making his later 'by revelation' statements significant.
No Contact with the Twelve
Les explains that the Holy Spirit prompted Paul to write that he had no contact with the twelve at Jerusalem, so when Paul speaks of revelation he means what Christ revealed from the heavenlies — and his trip to Jerusalem was to convince the twelve his Gentile gospel was not connected with Judaism.
A Gospel Totally Different from Judaism
Les shows that the gospel Paul communicated to Peter and the eleven was totally different from what Jerusalem believers knew — God was reconciling the pagan Gentile world outside of Judaism, which the Jerusalem leaders could not comprehend.
God Revealed the Necessity to Go
Les defines Paul's word 'revelation' as God revealing the necessity to go to Jerusalem, where Paul met the leaders of Jerusalem and communicated the gospel he preached among the Gentiles — noting the prophetic program had been interrupted.
Paul's Unique Gospel
Les emphasizes that Paul communicated his gospel plainly and that it was unique — Peter and the others had not preached Paul's gospel, and Peter never had a ministry among Gentiles except with Cornelius.
A Supernatural Trip
Les explains the phrase 'by revelation' meant the trip to Jerusalem was supernatural — God had instructed it and led Paul there, in a letter written because Judaizers were deluging Gentile believers with legalism.
Separated from the Twelve
Les shows God did not send Paul to Jerusalem to join the twelve's ministry; He separated Paul from the Twelve, revealed these doctrines in the desert, and Paul saw only Peter for fourteen days, never the other apostles.
Revealed from the Ascended Lord in Glory
Les concludes that everything Paul received to pass on to the Roman world was revealed from the ascended Lord in glory — not from the twelve, not from the earthly ministry of Christ — and Paul communicated that gospel at Jerusalem.
Galatians 2:1-2: Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
These are the very verses where Paul says he went up by revelation and communicated his gospel.
Galatians 1:11-12: But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Establishes that Paul's gospel was not received from man but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:16-17: To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
Shows Paul did not confer with flesh and blood or immediately go to the Jerusalem apostles.
Les Feldick explains that whenever Paul uses the word 'revelation,' he means God had revealed to him the necessity to go — the trip was supernatural, instructed and led by God. Paul's revelations always came from the ascended Lord in glory, never from the twelve apostles or from Christ's earthly ministry.
Paul went to Jerusalem to communicate unto the Jerusalem leaders the gospel he preached among the Gentiles. Les teaches that Paul went to convince them that his gospel to the Gentiles was not connected with Judaism and was totally different from what the Jerusalem believers knew.
No. Les teaches that God did not send Paul back to Jerusalem to become part of the twelve's ministry. God separated him totally from the Twelve, revealed these doctrines to him in the desert, and Paul never had contact with those twelve men — everything Paul received came from the ascended Lord in glory.
Watch the Teaching: Why Carnal Believers Are Still Blameless — 1 Corinthians 1:8-9