Galatians 1:13

Galatians 1:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For 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:
• New International Version (NIV)For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.

Context of Galatians 1:13

11For I would have you know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel which was preached by me is not of human invention. 12For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; 14and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions. 15But when He who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace was pleased

Galatians 1:13 word by word

ἠκούσατε γὰρ τὴν ἐμὴν ἀναστροφήν ποτε ἐν τῷ Ἰουδαϊσμῷ ὅτι καθ᾽ ὑπερβολὴν ἐδίωκον τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἐπόρθουν αὐτήν·Read the interlinear

• For you have heardἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• my formerποτέpote · once/whenG4218
• wayἀναστροφήanastrophē · behaviourG391
• in JudaismἸουδαϊσμόςIoudaismos · JudaismG2454
• howὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• used to persecuteδιώκωdiōkō · to pursueG1377
• the churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• beyondκατάkata · according toG2596
• beyondὑπερβολήhuperbolē · surpassingG5236
• tried to destroyπορθέωportheō · to lay wasteG4199

Cross-references for Galatians 1:13

• Acts 22:3“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the Law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today.
• Acts 26:4“So then, all Jews know my way of life since my youth, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and in Jerusalem,
• Acts 8:1Now Saul approved of putting Stephen to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles.
• Acts 9:1Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,
• Acts 22:4I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons,
• Acts 26:9“So I thought to myself that I had to act in strong opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
• 1 Corinthians 15:9For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
• Philippians 3:6as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.
• 1 Timothy 1:13even though I was previously a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;

Commentaries on Galatians 1:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Ye have heard of my conversation - · My manner of life; the mode in which I conducted myself. Beyond measure I persecuted the Church - For proofs of this the reader is referred to Acts 9:1-2; (note); Acts 22:4; (note), and the notes there. The apostle tells them that they had heard this, because, being Jews, they were acquainted with what had taken place in Judea, relative to these important transactions.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13For ye have heard of my conversation - My conduct, my mode of life, my deportment; see the note at 2 Corinthians 1:12. Probably Paul had himself made them acquainted with the events of his early years. The reason why he refers to this is, to show them that he had not derived his knowledge of the Christian religion from any instruction which he had received in his early years, or any acquaintance which he had formed with the apostles. At first, Paul had…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-14Verses 10-14 In preaching the gospel, the apostle sought to bring persons to the obedience, not of men, but of God. But Paul would not attempt to alter the doctrine of Christ, either to gain their favour, or to avoid their fury. In so important a matter we must not fear the frowns of men, nor seek their favour, by using words of men's wisdom. Concerning the manner wherein he received the gospel, he had it by revelation from Heaven. He was not led to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-14To show that his message was not from human reasoning (devised by man, 1:11), Paul explains his life before meeting Jesus. He was a very successful Jew (see Acts 8:1–3; 22:1–5; 26:4–5; Philippians 3:4–7). His opposition to God's church and strict following of Judaism showed his belief in the law before Christ confronted him (Galatians 1:15–16).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. heard--even before I came among you. conversation--"my former way of life." Jews' religion--The term, "Hebrew," expresses the language; "Jew," the nationality, as distinguished from the Gentiles; "Israelite," the highest title, the religious privileges, as a member of the theocracy. the church--Here singular, marking its unity, though constituted of many particular churches, under the one Head, Christ. of God--added to mark the greatness of his sinful…Read the comment

Topics related to Galatians 1:13

• Bigotry
• Church
• Ignorance
• Paul
• Persecution
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• God
• Church
• Equal
• Faith
• Beyond
• Christianity
• Conversation
• Criticism of the Bible
• Discrepancies, Biblical
• Galatians, Epistle to the

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