Galatians 1:23
in Galatians 1They only heard the account: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
but they only heard say, He that once persecuted us now preacheth the faith of which he once made havoc;
KJV
But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
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This verse in Galatians 1
Commentary
10 notes on this verse(Verses 22-24.) But I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea, which were in Christ Jesus. They only heard it said: He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy. And they glorified God in me. The churches of Judea had only heard of me by reputation. And among them, they saw me more as a persecutor than as an apostle.
This site's exposition
regions of Syria and Cilicia
on Galatians 1:21-24
Paul's next years in Syria and Cilicia kept him personally unknown to the Judean churches. They had only the report that their former persecutor now preached the faith he once destroyed.
This site's exposition
is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy
The report is quoted in its own words. It sets the persecutor and the preacher side by side in one sentence. The faith here is the gospel believed, the same faith Paul had once tried to wipe away.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"And I was still unknown by face unto the Churches of Judaea; but they only heard say, he that once persecuted us now preacheth the faith of which he once made havoc." What modesty in thus again mentioning the facts of his persecuting and laying waste the Church, and in thus making infamous his former life, while he passes over the illustrious deeds he was about to achieve! He might have told, had he wished it, all his successes, but he mentions none of these and stepping with one word over a vast expanse, he says merely, "I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;" and, "they had heard, that he, which once persecuted us, now preacheth the faith of which he once made havoc." The purpose of the words, "I was unknown to the Churches of Judaea," is to show, that so far from preaching to them the necessity of circumcision, he was not known to them even by sight.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then when he says, "Afterwards, I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia," he shows how he was approved by the other churches of Judea. Here he does three things: first he shows where he lived, namely in Cilicia. Hence he says, "then I …
But they had only heard about me that I had turned to Christ and was preaching the Gospel about Him.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
But they had heard only,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
But 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 Act 26:26.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
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."
They 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.
The words behind it
16 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| μόνον | monon | Only | G3441 → | 110 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἀκούοντες | akouontes | hearing | G191 → | 425 times |
| ἦσαν | esan | they were | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ὁ | ho | the [one] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| διώκων | diokon | persecuting | G1377 → | 45 times |
| ἡμᾶς | hemas | us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ποτε | pote | formerly | G4218 → | 54 times |
| νῦν | nun | now | G3568 → | 145 times |
| εὐαγγελίζεται | euangelizetai | is evangelising | G2097 → | 54 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πίστιν | pistin | faith | G4102 → | 242 times |
| ἥν | hen | which | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ποτε | pote | once | G4218 → | 54 times |
| ἐπόρθει· | eporthei | he was destroying; | G4199 → |
μόνονOnly
mononG3441 →110 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ἀκούοντεςhearing
akouontesG191 →425 times
ἦσανthey were
esanG1510 →2333 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ὁthe [one]
hoG3588 →19766 times
διώκωνpersecuting
diokonG1377 →45 times
ἡμᾶςus
hemasG3165 →1936 times
ποτεformerly
poteG4218 →54 times
νῦνnow
nunG3568 →145 times
εὐαγγελίζεταιis evangelising
euangelizetaiG2097 →54 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
πίστινfaith
pistinG4102 →242 times
ἥνwhich
henG3739 →1405 times
ποτεonce
poteG4218 →54 times
ἐπόρθει·he was destroying;
eportheiG4199 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 9:26When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
it leads to
- Acts 26:20
First to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to everyone in the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I declared that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds worthy of…
- Galatians 1:17–19
nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles who came before me, but I went into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.
- Acts 26:20
Through
Acts 9:20Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.”
it leads to
- John 20:28
Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God!”
- 1 John 4:14–15
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.
- Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved…
- John 20:28
Through
Acts 9:13But Ananias answered, “Lord, many people have told me about this man and all the harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 1:13–15
I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.
- Acts 8:3
But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
- Acts 22:19–20
‘Lord,’ I answered, ‘they know very well that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You.
- 1 Timothy 1:13–15
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies8
About Galatians
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Galatians; John Chrysostom, Homily on Galatians 1; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Galatians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Galatians.