^1:13For you have heard of my former way of life²⁶ in Judaism, how I was savagely persecuting the church of God and trying to destroy it. ^1:14I²⁷ was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my nation,²⁸ and was²⁹ extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.³⁰^1:15But when the one³¹ who set me apart from birth³² and called me by his grace was pleased ^1:16to reveal his Son in³³ me so that I could preach him³⁴ among the Gentiles, I did not go to ask advice from³⁵ any human being,³⁶

Read in Logos

Footnotes

26 Or “lifestyle,” “behavior.”
27 Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation. Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
28 Or “among my race.”
29 Grk “was advancing beyond … nation, being.” The participle ὑπάρχων (huparchōn) was translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
30 The traditions of my ancestors refers to both Pharisaic and popular teachings of this time which eventually were codified in Jewish literature such as the , Midrashim, and Targums.
31 Several important witnesses have ὁ θεός (ho theos) after εὐδόκησεν (eudokēsen; so א A D Ψ 0278 33 1739 1881 𝔐 co) while the shorter reading is supported by 𝔓46 B F G 629 1505 lat. There is hardly any reason why scribes would omit the words (although the Beatty papyrus and the Western text do at times omit words and phrases), but several reasons why scribes would add the words (especially the need to clarify). The confluence of witnesses for the shorter reading (including a few fathers and versions) adds strong support for its authenticity. It is also in keeping with Paul’s style to refrain from mentioning God by name as a rhetorical device (cf. [although this section deals with passive constructions, the principle is the same]). includes the words in brackets, indicating some doubts as to their authenticity.
32 Grk “from my mother’s womb.”
33 Or “to me”; the Greek preposition ἐν (en) can mean either, depending on the context.
34 This pronoun refers to “his Son,” mentioned earlier in the verse.
35 Or “I did not consult with.” For the translation “I did not go to ask advice from” see L&N 33.175.
36 Grk “from flesh and blood.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;

NIVNew International Version (2011)

For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism: I intensely persecuted God’s church and tried to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. But when God, who from my mother’s womb set me apart and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me, so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone.

NLTNew Living Translation

You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion—how I violently persecuted God’s church. I did my best to destroy it. I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors.

But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles.

When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism, that to an extraordinary degree I was persecuting the church of God, and trying to destroy it, and was progressing in Judaism beyond many contemporaries in my nation, because I was a far more zealous adherent of the traditions handed down by my forefathers.

But when the one who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace was pleased to reveal his Son in me in order that I would proclaim the gospel about him among the Gentiles, immediately I did not consult with flesh and blood,

KJV 1900King James Version

For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

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