13 For you have heard of amy former manner of life in Judaism, how I bused to persecute cthe church of God beyond measure and dtried to destroy it;

14 and I awas advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my 1countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my bancestral traditions.

15 But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and acalled me through His grace, was pleased

16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might apreach Him among the Gentiles, bI did not immediately consult with 1cflesh and blood,

17 anor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to bDamascus.

18 Then athree years later I went up bto Jerusalem to 1become acquainted with cCephas, and stayed with him fifteen days.

19 But I did not see any other of the apostles except 1aJames, the Lord’s brother.

20 (Now in what I am writing to you, 1I assure you abefore God that I am not lying.)

21 Then aI went into the regions of bSyria and cCilicia.

22 I was still unknown by 1sight to athe churches of Judea which were bin Christ;

23 but only, they kept hearing, “He who once persecuted us is now preaching athe faith which he once btried to destroy.”

24 And they awere glorifying God 1because of me.