Study Desk

For you have heard of ^(C1)my former way of life in Judaism, how I ^(C2)used to persecute ^(C3)the church of God beyond measure and ^(C4)tried to destroy it;

and I ^(C1)was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my ^(F1)countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ^(C2)ancestral traditions.

But when ^(F1)He who had set me apart even from my mother's womb and ^(C1)called me through His grace was pleased

to reveal His Son in me so that I might ^(C1)preach Him among the Gentiles, ^(C2)I did not immediately consult with ^(F1)(C3)flesh and blood,

^(C1)nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to ^(C2)Damascus.

Then ^(C1)three years later I went up ^(C2)to Jerusalem to ^(F1)become acquainted with ^(F2)(C3)Cephas, and stayed with him for fifteen days.

But I did not see another one of the apostles except ^(F1)(C1)James, the Lord's brother.

(Now in what I am writing to you, ^(F1)I assure you ^(C1)before God that I am not lying.)

Then ^(C1)I went into the regions of ^(C2)Syria and ^(C3)Cilicia.

I was still unknown by ^(F1)sight to ^(C1)the churches of Judea which are ^(C2)in Christ;

but they only kept hearing, "The man who once persecuted us is now preaching ^(C1)the faith which he once ^(C2)tried to destroy."

And they ^(C1)were glorifying God ^(F1)because of me.