Galatians 1:23

Galatians 1:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
• New International Version (NIV)They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)They only were hearing it said, "He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy."
• New King James Version (NKJV)But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.”

Context of Galatians 1:23

21Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22And I was still unknown by sight to the churches which were in Christ in Judea (Jerusalem and the surrounding region); they only kept hearing, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the [good news of the] faith which he once was trying to destroy.” 24And they were glorifying God [as the Author and Source of what had taken place and all that had been accomplished] in me.

Galatians 1:23 word by word

μόνον δὲ ἀκούοντες ἦσαν ὅτι ὁ διώκων ἡμᾶς ποτε νῦν εὐαγγελίζεται τὴν πίστιν ἥν ποτε ἐπόρθει·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• they hadεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• heardἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• onlyμόνονmonon · onlyG3440
• Thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• he whichὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• persecutedδιώκωdiōkō · to pursueG1377
• usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• in times pastποτέpote · once/whenG4218
• nowνῦνnun · nowG3568
• preachethεὐαγγελίζομαιeuaggelizō · to speak good newsG2097
• the faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• he destroyedπορθέωportheō · to lay wasteG4199

Cross-references for Galatians 1:23

• Acts 9:13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, especially how much suffering and evil he has brought on Your saints (God’s people) at Jerusalem;
• 1 Corinthians 15:8and last of all, as to one untimely (prematurely, traumatically) born, He appeared to me also.
• 1 Timothy 1:13even though I was formerly a blasphemer [of our Lord] and a persecutor [of His church] and a shameful and outrageous and violent aggressor [toward believers]. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief.

Commentaries on Galatians 1:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23They had heard only - As a persecutor of the Church of Christ, I was well known; and as a convert to Christ I was not less so. The fame of both was great, even where I was personally unknown.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23But they had heard only … - They had not seen me; but the remarkable fact of my conversion had been reported to them. It was a fact that could hardly be concealed; see the note at Acts 26:26.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-24Verses 15-24 St. Paul was wonderfully brought to the knowledge and faith of Christ. All who are savingly converted, are called by the grace of God; their conversion is wrought by his power and grace working in them. It will but little avail us to have Christ revealed to us, if he is not also revealed in us. He instantly prepared to obey, without hesitating as to his worldly interest, credit, ease, or life itself. And what matter of thanksgiving and joy is…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23-24The church in Jerusalem was very happy when Paul became a follower of Jesus. This change (compare 1:13–14) and his message were both God's work (compare Acts 9:31). The way Paul taught about Jesus matched what the Jerusalem church believed.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. Translate as Greek, "They were hearing": tidings were brought them from time to time [Conybeare and Howson]. he which persecuted us in times past--"our former persecutor" [Alford]. The designation by which he was known among Christians still better than by his name "Saul." destroyed--Greek, "was destroying."Read the comment

Topics related to Galatians 1:23

• Minister, Christian
• Paul

In the dictionaries

• Equal
• Faith
• Acts of the Apostles
• Criticism of the Bible
• Discrepancies, Biblical
• Galatians, Epistle to the
• Havoc
• Laodiceans, Epistle to the
• Paul, the Apostle
• Peter, Simon

Commentaries on Galatians 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings