^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,³⁶^1:17nor did I go up to Jerusalem³⁷ to see those who were apostles before me, but right away I departed to Arabia,³⁸ and then returned to Damascus.

^1:18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem³⁹ to visit Cephas⁴⁰ and get information from him,⁴¹ and I stayed with him fifteen days. ^1:19But I saw none of the other apostles⁴² except James the Lord’s brother. ^1:20I assure you⁴³ that, before God, I am not lying about what I am writing to you!⁴⁴^1:21Afterward I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. ^1:22But I was personally⁴⁵ unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. ^1:23They were only hearing, “The one who once persecuted us is now proclaiming the good news⁴⁶ of the faith he once tried to destroy.” ^1:24So⁴⁷ they glorified God because of me.⁴⁸

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Footnotes

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.”
37 For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
38 As a geographical region Arabia included the territory west of Mesopotamia, east and south of Syria and Palestine, extending to the isthmus of Suez. During the Roman occupation, some independent kingdoms arose like that of the Nabateans south of Damascus, and these could be called simply Arabia. In light of the proximity to Damascus, this may well be the territory Paul says he visited here. See also C. W. Briggs, “The Apostle Paul in Arabia,” Biblical World 41 (1913): 255–59.
39 For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
40 Cephas. This individual is generally identified with the Apostle Peter (L&N 93.211).
41 Although often translated “to get acquainted with Cephas,” this could give the impression of merely a social call. L&N 34.52 has “to visit, with the purpose of obtaining information” for the meaning of ἱστορέω (historeō), particularly in this verse.
42 Grk “But another of the apostles I did not see, except …” with “another” in emphatic position in the Greek text. Paul is determined to make the point that his contacts with the original twelve apostles and other leaders of the Jerusalem church were limited, thus asserting his independence from them.
43 Grk “behold.”
44 Grk “What things I am writing to you, behold, before God [that] I am not lying.”
45 Or “by sight”; Grk “by face.”
46 The Greek verb here is εὐαγγελίζεται (euangelizetai).
47 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the result of the report about Paul’s conversion.
48 The prepositional phrase ἐν εμοί (en emoi) has been translated with a causal force.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

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; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God because of me.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

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. I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.

Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.

Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they praised God because of me.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

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. I did not go up to Jerusalem to those who had become apostles before me; instead I went to Arabia and came back to Damascus.

Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to get to know Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days. But I didn’t see any of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. I declare in the sight of God: I am not lying in what I write to you.

Afterward, I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. I remained personally unknown to the Judean churches that are in Christ. They simply kept hearing, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God because of me.

NLTNew Living Translation

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. Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus.

Then three years later I went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter, and I stayed with him for fifteen days. The only other apostle I met at that time was James, the Lord’s brother. I declare before God that what I am writing to you is not a lie.

After that visit I went north into the provinces of Syria and Cilicia. And still the churches in Christ that are in Judea didn’t know me personally. All they knew was that people were saying, “The one who used to persecute us is now preaching the very faith he tried to destroy!” And they praised God because of me.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

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, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away to Arabia and I returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days, but I did not see any others of the apostles except James, the brother of the Lord. (Now the things which I am writing to you, behold, I assure you before God that I am not lying.) Then I came to the regions of Syria and of Cilicia, but I was unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ, and they were only hearing, “The one formerly persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith that formerly he was attempting to destroy,” and they were glorifying God because of me.

KJV 1900King James Version

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: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother. Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me.

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