"Then after the space of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me. And I went up by revelation; and I laid before them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately before them who were of repute, [_asking them_ whether I am running, or had run, in vain: but not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. But _it was_[32]] because of the false brethren privily brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: to whom we gave place in the way of subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you."--GAL. ii. 1-5. [32] The writer is compelled in this instance to depart from the rendering of the English Version, for reasons given in the sequel. See also a paper on _Paul and Titus at Jerusalem_, in THE EXPOSITOR, 3rd series, vol. vi., pp. 435-442. The last three words within the brackets agree with the R.V. _margin_. "Fourteen years" had elapsed since Paul left Jerusalem for Tarsus, and commenced his Gentile mission.[33] During this long period--a full half of his missionary course--the Apostle was lost to the sight of the Judean Churches. For nearly half this time, until Barnabas brought him to Antioch, we have no further trace of his movements. But these years of obscure labour had, we may be sure, no small influence in shaping the Apostle's subsequent career. It was a kind of Apostolic apprenticeship. Then his evangelistic plans were laid; his powers were practised; his methods of teaching and administration formed and tested. This first, unnoted period of Paul's missionary life held, we imagine, much the same relation to his public ministry that the time of the Arabian retreat did to his spiritual development. [33] These fourteen years probably amounted to something less in our reckoning,--say, from 38 to 51 A.D. Some six years elapsed before Paul was summoned to Antioch.