Galatians 1:11-17

11Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning.

12I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.

13You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion—how I violently persecuted God’s church. I did my best to destroy it.

14I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors.

15But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him

16to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being.

17Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus.