Albert Barnes Commentary Galatians 1:12

"For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but [it came to me] through revelation of Jesus Christ." — Galatians 1:12 (ASV)

For I neither received it of man. This is very probably said in reply to his opponents, who had maintained that Paul had derived his knowledge of the gospel from other men, as he had not been personally known to the Lord Jesus, or been among those whom he called to be his apostles. In reply to this, he says that he did not receive his gospel in any way from man.

Neither was I taught it. That is, by man. He was not taught it by any written account of it, or by the instruction of man in any way. The only plausible objection to this statement that could be urged would be the fact that Paul had an interview with Ananias (Acts 9:17) before his baptism, and that he would probably have received instructions from him. But to this it may be replied:

1. That there is no evidence that Ananias went into an explanation of the nature of the Christian religion in his interview with Paul;
2. Paul had before this been taught what Christianity was by his interview with the Lord Jesus on the way to Damascus (Acts 9:5; Acts 26:14–18);
3. The purpose for which Ananias was sent to him in Damascus was that he might receive his sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 9:17).

Whatever instructions he may have received through Ananias, it is still true that his call was directly from the Lord Jesus, and his information of the nature of Christianity from his revelation.

But by the revelation of Jesus Christ. On his way to Damascus, and subsequently in the temple (Acts 22:17–21). Doubtless, he received communications at various times from the Lord Jesus regarding the nature of the gospel and his duty. The sense here is that he was not indebted to men for his knowledge of the gospel, but had derived it entirely from the Saviour.