Galatians 1:11-24

New International Reader's Version

Paul Was Appointed by God

¹¹ Brothers and sisters, here is what I want you to know. The good news I preached does not come from human beings. ¹² No one gave it to me. No one taught it to me. Instead, I received it from Jesus Christ. He showed it to me.

¹³ You have heard how I lived earlier in my Jewish way of life. With all my strength I attacked the church of God. I tried to destroy it. ¹⁴ I was moving ahead in my Jewish way of life. I went beyond many of my people who were my own age. I held firmly to the teachings passed down by my people. ¹⁵ But God set me apart from before the time I was born. He showed me his grace by appointing me. He was pleased ¹⁶ to show his Son in my life. He wanted me to preach about Jesus among the Gentiles. When God appointed me, I decided right away not to ask anyone for advice. ¹⁷ I didn’t go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.

¹⁸ Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem. I went there to get to know Peter. I stayed with him for 15 days. ¹⁹ I didn’t see any of the other apostles. I only saw James, the Lord’s brother. ²⁰ Here is what you can be sure of. And God is even a witness to it. What I am writing you is not a lie.

²¹ Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. ²² The members of Christ’s churches in Judea did not know me in a personal way. ²³ They only heard others say, “The man who used to attack us has changed. He is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” ²⁴ And they praised God because of me.