Add parallel Print Page Options

13 [a]For you heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it,(A) 14 and progressed in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my race, since I was even more a zealot for my ancestral traditions.(B) 15 But when [God], who from my mother’s womb had set me apart and called me through his grace, was pleased(C)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1:13–17 Along with Phil 3:4–11, which also moves from autobiography to its climax in a discussion on justification by faith (cf. Gal 2:15–21), this passage is Paul’s chief account of the change from his former way of life (Gal 1:13) to service as a Christian missionary (Gal 1:16); cf. Acts 9:1–22; 22:4–16; 26:9–18. Paul himself does not use the term “conversion” but stresses revelation (Gal 1:12, 16). In Gal 1:15 his language echoes the Old Testament prophetic call of Jeremiah. Unlike the account in Acts (cf. Acts 22:4–16), the calling of Paul here includes the mission to proclaim Christ to the Gentiles (Gal 1:16).

13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism,(A) how intensely I persecuted the church of God(B) and tried to destroy it.(C) 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous(D) for the traditions of my fathers.(E) 15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb(F) and called me(G) by his grace, was pleased

Read full chapter