Paul now notes that he went from Jerusalem to Syria and Cilicia and that because he stayed for only a short time in Judea, the Christians in Jerusalem and Judea had no occasion to get to know him personally (verse 22).

Afterward connects this event with what immediately precedes, namely, Paul’s visit to Jerusalem. The phrase Syria and Cilicia probably refers to the Roman province which included both regions. It is not necessary to assume that Paul visited all the places in the province, but only some parts of it (compare Phillips “I visited districts in Syria and Cilicia,” also Moffatt).

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1976. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .