In this verse and the next, Paul mentions his first visit to Jerusalem. It was three years later is literally “after three years,” but the purpose of this phrase is not merely chronological; rather it is used to put forth the argument that Paul did not establish contacts with the Jerusalem apostles for quite some time (Phillips “It was not until three years later”). It is difficult to determine just when these three years began. There are two possibilities: (1) from his return from Arabia or (2) from his conversion. Most commentators favor the latter. In some languages it may be necessary to stipulate the time from which the three years are to be reckoned, and so it may be necessary to say “three years after I returned to Damascus,” or “three years after I became a believer.” Note, however, that the latter of these alternatives is to be preferred.

To obtain information from Peter involves a verb which can mean either to gather information from him (Good News Translation) or to get acquainted with him (New English Bible “to get to know Cephas”; Moffatt “to make the acquaintance of Cephas”). In a number of languages the closest equivalent and most neutral way of expressing the meaning is “to talk with Peter.”

Peter is “Cephas” in the Greek; and “Cephas” (meaning “Rock”) is the equivalent of “Peter.”

Two weeks is literally “fifteen days.” The emphasis here is on the brevity of the visit; it would have been impossible for Paul to become a disciple of the Jerusalem apostles just by visiting Peter for such a short period of time. In order to emphasize the brevity of the visit and to play down this particular event, it is possible to translate this as “I stayed with him for just two weeks.”

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 .