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New International Version (NIV) |
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13 I'm sure that you've heard the story of my earlier life when I lived in the Jewish way. In those days I went all out in persecuting God's church. I was systematically destroying it.
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13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.
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14 I was so enthusiastic about the traditions of my ancestors that I advanced head and shoulders above my peers in my career.
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14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
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15 Even then God had designs on me. Why, when I was still in my mother's womb he chose and called me out of sheer generosity!
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15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased
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16 Now he has intervened and revealed his Son to me so that I might joyfully tell non-Jews about him.
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16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man,
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17 and without going up to Jerusalem to confer with those who were apostles long before I was - I got away to Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus,
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17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.
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| Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved. (The Message Bible Online) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
