Galatians 1:11-24

Paul Called by God

11 For u I would have you know, brothers, that v the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. 1 12 w For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it x through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of y my former life in Judaism, how z I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely a zealous was I for b the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he c who had set me apart d before I was born, 2 and who e called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to 3 me, in order f that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 4 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

18 Then g after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James h the Lord's brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, i before God, I do not lie!) 21 j Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to k the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, "He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." 24 And they glorified God because of me.

  1. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 15:1
    Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand.
  2. Cross References
    Romans 2:16
    On that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
  3. Cross References
    Galatians 1:1
    Paul, an apostle - not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead -
    1 Corinthians 11:23
    For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread.
    1 Corinthians 15:3
    For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures.
    Acts 22:14
    And he said, 'The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth.
  4. Cross References
    Galatians 1:16
    Was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone.
    1 Corinthians 2:10
    These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
    2 Corinthians 12:1
    I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
  5. Cross References
    Acts 26:4
    My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews.
  6. Cross References
    Acts 8:3
    But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
  7. Cross References
    Philippians 3:6
    As to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
    Acts 21:20
    And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law.
  8. Cross References
    Jeremiah 9:14
    But have stubbornly followed their own hearts and have gone after the Baals, as their fathers taught them.
    2 Timothy 1:3
    I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.
    Matthew 15:2
    "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat."
  9. Cross References
    Acts 13:2
    While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.
    Romans 1:1
    Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God.
  10. Cross References
    Isaiah 49:1
    Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name.
    Isaiah 49:5
    And now the Lord says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him - for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength -
    Jeremiah 1:5
    "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."
    Luke 1:15
    For he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
  11. Cross References
    Galatians 1:6
    I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel -
  12. Cross References
    Galatians 2:9
    And when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
    Acts 9:15
    But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.
  13. Cross References
    Acts 9:22 - 23
    But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
  14. Cross References
    Matthew 12:46
    While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.
    Acts 12:17
    But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Tell these things to James and to the brothers." Then he departed and went to another place.
  15. Cross References
    Romans 1:9
    For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you
    Romans 9:1
    I am speaking the truth in Christ - I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit -
  16. Cross References
    Acts 9:30
    And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
    Acts 11:25 - 26
    So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul.
    Acts 13:1
    Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
  17. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 2:14
    For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.