Galatians 1:13
What does Galatians 1:13 mean?
A plain-English look at Galatians 1:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Galatians 1:13 means
Paul reminds the Galatians of his notorious past: he zealously persecuted the church and sought to destroy it. This confession underlines the radical nature of his conversion. A man intent on crushing the faith did not gradually warm to it through human persuasion. Something supernatural happened. His violence against the church magnifies the grace that changed him and suggests that the content of his new message—salvation by grace—matches the way God dealt with him. His history also shows he had no earthly incentive to switch sides; therefore, the source and power of his Gospel must be God’s intervention, not human influence.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For ye have heard of my manner of life in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and made havoc of it:
KJV
King James Version · 1611For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For ye have heard of my manner of life in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and made havoc of it:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For news has come to you of my way of life in the past in the Jews' religion, how I was cruel without measure to the church of God, and did great damage to it:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for ye did hear of my behaviour once in Judaism, that exceedingly I was persecuting the assembly of God, and wasting it,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For you have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion: how that, beyond measure, I persecuted the church of God and wasted it.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For ye have heard [what was] my conversation formerly in Judaism, that I excessively persecuted the assembly ofGod, and ravaged it;
Context
This begins the autobiographical proof of verses 11–12. After asserting revelation from Christ, Paul demonstrates that his prior life made him an unlikely recipient or fabricator of the Gospel. The next verse will add his exceptional zeal and advancement in Judaism, reinforcing that he was deeply invested in traditions that stand opposed to the message now troubling Galatia. The setup leads to God’s decisive call (verses 15–16), which redirected Paul’s life and mission apart from human mediation.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 8:1
And Saul was consenting unto his death. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judæa and Samaria, except the apostles.
- Acts 9:26
And when he was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
- Acts 26:9
I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
- Acts 9:1
But Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
- Acts 9:21
And all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he that in Jerusalem made havoc of them that called on this name? and he had come hither for this intent, that he might bring them bound before the chief priests.
- Acts 22:3
I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as ye all are this day:
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