13. You heard about the way I once lived when I followed the Jewish religion. You heard how I violently persecuted God’s church and tried to destroy it.
14. You also heard how I was far ahead of other Jews in my age group in following the Jewish religion. I had become that fanatical for the traditions of my ancestors.
15. But God, who appointed me before I was born and who called me by his kindness, was pleased
16. to show me his Son. He did this so that I would tell people who are not Jewish that his Son is the Good News. When this happened, I didn’t talk it over with any other person.
17. I didn’t even go to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went to Arabia and then came back to Damascus.
18. Then, three years later I went to Jerusalem to become personally acquainted with Cephas. I stayed with him for fifteen days.
19. I didn’t see any other apostle. I only saw James, the Lord’s brother.
20. (God is my witness that what I’m writing is not a lie.)
21. Then I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
22. The churches of Christ in Judea didn’t know me personally.