Set apart, called, and revealed in me (1:15–16)

Says Galatians 1:15 begins ὅτε δὲ εὐδόκησεν (hote de eudokēsen, “but when he was pleased”); εὐδοκέω, “to be well pleased, to think it good”, takes the infinitive ἀποκαλύψαι (apokalypsai, “to reveal”) in 1:16. The subject is two participles under one article: ὁ ἀφορίσας με ἐκ κοιλίας μητρός μου (ἀφορίζω, “to set apart, devote to a special purpose”) and καλέσας διὰ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ. The printed text has no ὁ θεός; the BSB “But when God” follows the longer reading (see the textual note on 1:15).

Says The purpose is ἵνα εὐαγγελίζωμαι αὐτὸν ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν (hina euangelizōmai auton en tois ethnesin, “so that I might preach him among the Gentiles”), a present subjunctive. Then εὐθέως οὐ προσανεθέμην σαρκὶ καὶ αἵματι (eutheōs ou prosanethemēn sarki kai haimati): προσανατίθημι is “to consult, communicate”, and “flesh and blood” names human beings.

Uncertain ἐν ἐμοὶ is read two ways. Burton (pp. 50–51), Wesley (p. 493) and Calvin (p. 42) take it of the revelation given to Paul himself; Calvin calls the phrase “a Hebrew idiom for to me”. Lightfoot (p. 83) takes it of “a revelation made through him to others”. No lean is taken here.