Galatians 1:11-21

Modern English Version

How Paul Became an Apostle

¹¹ But I reveal to you, brothers, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. ¹² For I neither received it from man, neither was I taught it, except by a revelation of Jesus Christ.

¹³ For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it, ¹⁴ and progressed in Judaism above many of my equals in my own heritage, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. ¹⁵ But when it pleased God, who set me apart since I was in my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, ¹⁶ to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the nations, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, ¹⁷ nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me. But I went into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

¹⁸ After three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter and stayed with him for fifteen days. ¹⁹ I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. ²⁰ In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!

²¹ Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia