Charles Ellicott Commentary Galatians 1:15

"But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me, [even] from my mother`s womb, and called me through his grace," — Galatians 1:15 (ASV)

In pursuing his main argument, the Apostle emphasizes the fact that his very conversion and mission to the Gentiles had first been predestined in the divine counsels, and afterwards carried out through divine intervention: it was throughout the work of God, and not of man.

Pleased.—This word is specifically used for the free will and pleasure of God, determined absolutely by itself and not by any external cause.

God.—This word should be printed in italics. It is missing from the true text but is to be supplied by the reader.

Separated me.—Set me apart, marked me off from the rest of mankind, for this specific purpose (i.e., the Apostleship of the Gentiles). (Compare to Romans 1:1, and Note there.)

From my mother’s womb.—A comparison of other passages where this phrase is used seems to make it clear that the sense is rather “from the moment of my birth” than “from before my birth.” (Isaiah 49:1; Isaiah 49:5; Matthew 19:12; Acts 3:2; Acts 14:8.) From the moment that he became a living and conscious human being, he was marked out in the purpose of God for his future mission.

Called me.—The call is identical with the conversion of the Apostle through the vision that appeared to him on the way to Damascus. As the Apostle was conscious of having done nothing to deserve so great a mark of divine favour, it is attributed entirely to an act of grace.