Focused Passage

Galatians 1:11-24

No Other Gospel: Paul’s Apostolic Authority and Gospel Defense

Paul opens by grounding his apostleship in divine commission, announces Christ's self-giving rescue, condemns any rival gospel, and defends the divine origin of his message through his conversion testimony.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

11 For I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached was not devised by man.

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, 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.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 11

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction I want you to know γνωρίζω G1107 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular . . . ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural brothers ἀδελφοί G80 Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural [that] the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular gospel εὐαγγέλιον G2098 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular I preached εὐαγγελισθὲν G2097 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Accusative Neuter Singular . . . ὑπ’ G5259 Preposition . . . ἐμοῦ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction was ἔστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular not οὐκ G3756 Adverb devised by κατὰ G2596 Preposition man ἄνθρωπον G444 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular

BSB notes

  • Literally not according to man
Verse 12

Original words

- γὰρ G1063 Conjunction I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular did not οὐδὲ G3761 Adverb receive παρέλαβον G3880 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular it αὐτό G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Singular from παρὰ G3844 Preposition any man ἀνθρώπου G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular nor οὔτε G3777 Conjunction was I taught [it] ἐδιδάχθην G1321 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 1st Person Singular rather, [ I received it ] ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction by δι’ G1223 Preposition revelation ἀποκαλύψεως G602 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular from Jesus Ἰησοῦ G2424 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Christ Χριστοῦ G5547 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 13

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction you have heard of Ἠκούσατε G191 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural my ἐμὴν G1699 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Feminine 1st Person Singular former ποτε G4218 Particle - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular way of life ἀναστροφήν G391 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular Judaism Ἰουδαϊσμῷ G2454 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular how ὅτι G3754 Conjunction severely καθ’ G2596 Preposition . . . ὑπερβολὴν G5236 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular I persecuted ἐδίωκον G1377 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular church ἐκκλησίαν G1577 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction tried to destroy ἐπόρθουν G4199 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular it αὐτήν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Verse 14

Original words

- καὶ G2532 Conjunction I was advancing προέκοπτον G4298 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular Judaism Ἰουδαϊσμῷ G2454 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular beyond ὑπὲρ G5228 Preposition many πολλοὺς G4183 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural of my contemporaries συνηλικιώτας G4915 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural . . . ἐν G1722 Preposition . . . μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular . . . τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular . . . γένει G1085 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular [and] was ὑπάρχων G5225 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular extremely περισσοτέρως G4057 Adverb zealous ζηλωτὴς G2207 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular for the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Plural traditions παραδόσεων G3862 Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural of my μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular fathers πατρικῶν G3967 Adjective - Genitive Feminine Plural
Verse 15

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction when Ὅτε G3753 Adverb - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular God θεὸς G2316 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular who G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular set me apart ἀφορίσας G873 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular from ἐκ G1537 Preposition my μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular mother’s μητρός G3384 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular womb κοιλίας G2836 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction called [me] καλέσας G2564 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular by διὰ G1223 Preposition His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular grace χάριτος G5485 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular was pleased εὐδόκησεν G2106 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 16

Original words

to reveal ἀποκαλύψαι G601 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Son Υἱὸν G5207 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition me ἐμοὶ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular so that ἵνα G2443 Conjunction I might preach εὐαγγελίζωμαι G2097 Verb - Present Subjunctive Middle - 1st Person Singular Him αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular among ἐν G1722 Preposition the τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Plural Gentiles ἔθνεσιν G1484 Noun - Dative Neuter Plural I did not rush to consult προσανεθέμην G4323 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 1st Person Singular . . . οὐ G3756 Adverb . . . εὐθέως G2112 Adverb with flesh σαρκὶ G4561 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction blood αἵματι G129 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Verse 17

Original words

nor οὐδὲ G3761 Conjunction did I go up ἀνῆλθον G424 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular to εἰς G1519 Preposition Jerusalem Ἱεροσόλυμα G2414 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural to πρὸς G4314 Preposition the τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural apostles ἀποστόλους G652 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural [who came] before πρὸ G4253 Preposition me ἐμοῦ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular but ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction I went ἀπῆλθον G565 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular into εἰς G1519 Preposition Arabia Ἀραβίαν G688 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction [later] πάλιν G3825 Adverb returned ὑπέστρεψα G5290 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular to εἰς G1519 Preposition Damascus Δαμασκόν G1154 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 18

Original words

Only after Ἔπειτα G1899 Adverb . . . μετὰ G3326 Preposition three τρία G5140 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural years ἔτη G2094 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural did I go up ἀνῆλθον G424 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular to εἰς G1519 Preposition Jerusalem Ἱεροσόλυμα G2414 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural to confer with ἱστορῆσαι G2477 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active Cephas Κηφᾶν G2786 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction I stayed ἐπέμεινα G1961 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular with πρὸς G4314 Preposition him αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular fifteen δεκαπέντε G1178 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Plural days ἡμέρας G2250 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural

BSB notes

  • That is, Peter
Verse 19

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction I saw εἶδον G3708 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular none οὐκ G3756 Adverb of the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural other ἕτερον G2087 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular apostles ἀποστόλων G652 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural except εἰ G1487 Conjunction . . . μὴ G3361 Adverb James Ἰάκωβον G2385 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular Lord’s Κυρίου G2962 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular brother ἀδελφὸν G80 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Verse 20

Original words

I assure you ἰδοὺ G2400 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular before ἐνώπιον G1799 Preposition - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction what G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural vvv δὲ G1161 Conjunction I am writing γράφω G1125 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular to you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb is no lie ψεύδομαι G5574 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular
Verse 21

Original words

Later Ἔπειτα G1899 Adverb I went ἦλθον G2064 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular to εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural regions κλίματα G2824 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular of Syria Συρίας G4947 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular Cilicia Κιλικίας G2791 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Verse 22

Original words

I was ἤμην G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle - 1st Person Singular personally προσώπῳ G4383 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular unknown ἀγνοούμενος G50 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular however δὲ G1161 Conjunction - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular to the ταῖς G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Plural churches ἐκκλησίαις G1577 Noun - Dative Feminine Plural - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular of Judea Ἰουδαίας G2449 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular that [are] ταῖς G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Plural in ἐν G1722 Preposition Christ Χριστῷ G5547 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Verse 23

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction They ἦσαν G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural only μόνον G3440 Adverb heard ἀκούοντες G191 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural the account ὅτι G3754 Conjunction The [man who] G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular formerly ποτε G4218 Particle persecuted διώκων G1377 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular us ἡμᾶς G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Plural {is} now νῦν G3568 Adverb preaching εὐαγγελίζεται G2097 Verb - Present Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular faith πίστιν G4102 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular - ἥν G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Singular {he} once ποτε G4218 Particle tried to destroy ἐπόρθει G4199 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 24

Original words

And καὶ G2532 Conjunction they glorified ἐδόξαζον G1392 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular God Θεόν G2316 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular because of ἐν G1722 Preposition me ἐμοὶ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.