Paul Called by God

¹¹ I want you to know, brothers and sisters,^(A) that the gospel I preached^(B) is not of human origin. ¹² I did not receive it from any man,^(C) nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation^(D) from Jesus Christ.^(E)

¹³ For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism,^(F) how intensely I persecuted the church of God^(G) and tried to destroy it.^{(H) 14} I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous^(I) for the traditions of my fathers.^{(J) 15} But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb^(K) and called me^(L) by his grace, was pleased ¹⁶ to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles,^(M) my immediate response was not to consult any human being.^{(N) 17} I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.^(O)

¹⁸ Then after three years,^(P) I went up to Jerusalem^(Q) to get acquainted with Cephas^[a] and stayed with him fifteen days. ¹⁹ I saw none of the other apostles—only James,^(R) the Lord’s brother. ²⁰ I assure you before God^(S) that what I am writing you is no lie.^(T)

²¹ Then I went to Syria^(U) and Cilicia.^{(V) 22} I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea^(W) that are in Christ.^{(X) 23} They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith^(Y) he once tried to destroy.”^{(Z) 24} And they praised God^(AA) because of me.

8 And Saul^(A) approved of their killing him.

The Church Persecuted and Scattered

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered^(B) throughout Judea and Samaria.^{(C) 2} Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. ³ But Saul^(D) began to destroy the church.^(E) Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

The Servant of the Lord