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;
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.
- KJV 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:
- 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.
- 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 8:3But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house, and dragged both men and women off to prison.
- Acts 22:3–5“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict tradition of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are today.
- 1 Cor 15:9For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God.
- Acts 26:4–5“Indeed, all the Jews know my way of life from my youth up, which was from the beginning among my own nation and at Jerusalem;
- Acts 9:21All who heard him were amazed, and said, “Isn’t this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before the chief priests!”
- Acts 26:9–11“I myself most certainly thought that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
- 1 Tim 1:13although I was before a blasphemer, a persecutor, and insolent. However, I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
- Acts 9:26When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
- Acts 9:1–2But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,
- Acts 9:13–14But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your saints at Jerusalem.
- Acts 8:1Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.
- Phil 3:6concerning zeal, persecuting the assembly; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.
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Christ became a curse for us to redeem us from the law's curse, that we might receive the Spirit and be sons — justified by faith in him, not by works.
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