Paul Preaches the Gospel

10 {Am I} now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. 11 For I want you to know brothers, [that] the gospel I preached was not devised by man.[fn] 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught [it]; rather, [ I received it ] by revelation from Jesus Christ.

13 For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how severely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries [and] was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called [me] by His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not rush to consult with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles [who came] before me, but I went into Arabia and [later] returned to Damascus.

18 Only after three years did I go up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas,[fn] and I stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. 20 I assure you before God that what I am writing to you is no lie.

21 Later I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was personally unknown, however, to the churches of Judea that [are] in Christ. 23 They only heard the account: “The [man who] formerly persecuted us {is} now preaching the faith {he} once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.