1:13 For you have heard of my former way of life ¹  in Judaism, how I was savagely persecuting the church of God and trying to destroy it. 1:14 I ²  was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my nation, ³  and was ⁴  extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. ⁵  1:15 But when the one ⁶  who set me apart from birth ⁷  and called me by his grace was pleased 1:16 to reveal his Son in ⁸  me so that I could preach him ⁹  among the Gentiles, I did not go to ask advice from ¹⁰  any human being, ¹¹  1:17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem ¹²  to see those who were apostles before me, but right away I departed to Arabia, ¹³  and then returned to Damascus.