Bible Strands
Galatians 1:15
But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, was pleased
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Galatian churches, interrupting his defense of his apostolic authority to describe the divine origin of his commission. He speaks immediately after recounting his former zeal for Judaism and directly before explaining his refusal to consult human authorities.
The words — The Greek term ἀφορίσας (aphorisas) translates literally as "having set apart" or "having selected," while εὐδόκησεν (eudokēsen) means "was pleased." These terms anchor the verse's declaration that God's sovereign choice initiated Paul's mission.
The thread — The text parallels Jeremiah 1:5, Isaiah 49:5, and Isaiah 49:1, where God declares setting apart or calling His servant from the womb. Each passage records the same pattern of prenatal divine selection preceding earthly service.
Why it lands — The text states that Paul's calling originated in God's grace and will, explicitly excluding human planning or tradition. It requires the reader to accept that divine authority precedes and overrides human consultation or personal ambition.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
- Isaiah 49:5 And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, that Israel might be gathered to Him—for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and My God is My strength—
- Isaiah 49:1 Listen to Me, O islands; pay attention, O distant peoples: The LORD called Me from the womb; from the body of My mother He named Me.
- 2 Timothy 1:9 He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.
- Ephesians 1:5 He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,
- 1 Corinthians 1:9 God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctification of the Spirit and by faith in the truth.
- Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, and set apart for the gospel of God—
- Acts 9:15 “Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel.
- Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”