Paul writes to the church at Galatia giving his credentials to be called an apostle. He defends his position in several of the other letters as well. He wanted people to know that his revelations from God didn’t stop at his “flash bulb” experience on the road to Damascus. He let them know that he spent other time with Jesus.

“When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong.”
Paul didn’t beat around the bush!

“What is the purpose of the law?”
The law was given as an illustration that a sacrifice must be paid for sin. Sacrifice of the animals was a foreshadowing of the sacrifice that Jesus would make for the remission of sins. The provisions of the old law were never enough. Sacrifices had to be continually made. Complete remission of sins was never satisfied. That can only come through Jesus alone. We don’t receive eternal life through strict adherence to the law. Until Jesus came people were held in bondage to the law.

“Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.”
Now that Jesus has come, we aren’t bound to the strict observance of all the laws. Being given an understanding of all the laws give us better insight into the good news of salvation through Jesus, and not salvation through the law.

Paul speaks about an “illness” when he first preached the gospel and that it was a trial to them.
“…you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me…”

Is Paul’s vision not completely restored? Did the blinding light on that road to Damascus still have lingering affects? Did the beatings and stoning have residual affects? Did the marks on his body include a visual reminder?
“See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand.”

“…for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus…”
Paul was experiencing the many persecutions that he himself had inflicted on Jesus’ followers.