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:
Parallel translations
- WEB For you have heard of my way of living in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the assembly of God, and ravaged it.
- BSB For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how severely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.
- NKJV For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.
- NASB For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it;
- NLT 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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul recalls his former life in Judaism, when he violently persecuted the church. His past makes his conversion all the more clearly an act of God.
Overview
Paul appeals to his well-known history as evidence that his gospel was not learned from the believers he once attacked. His zeal in 'ravaging' the church shows he had no natural inclination toward the faith he now preaches. Only God's intervention could account for such a transformation.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Acts 8:3As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
- Acts 22:3–5I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
- 1 Cor 15:9For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
- Acts 26:4–5My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
- Acts 9:21But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?
- Acts 26:9–11I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
- 1 Tim 1:13Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
- Acts 9:26And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
- Acts 9:1–2And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
- Acts 9:13–14Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
- Acts 8:1And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
- Phil 3:6Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
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