Galatians 1:23

They only heard the account: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Paul addresses the Galatian churches, recounting the period after his conversion when he remained personally unrecognized by the Judean congregations.

The words — The Greek διώκων (diōkōn) = persecuting and μόνον (monon) = only.

The thread — The narrative of Paul’s former hostility and subsequent divine encounter runs through 1 Corinthians 15:8, 1 Timothy 1:13, and Acts 9:13.

Why it lands — The text states that the Judean believers only heard reports of Paul’s reversal from persecutor to preacher, which prompted them to glorify God. This requires the reader to accept that gospel advancement relies on reported testimony rather than personal familiarity, and to recognize divine transformation as the factual basis for corporate worship.

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

μόνονmononOnly δὲdehowever ἀκούοντεςakouonteshearing ἦσανēsanthey were ὅτιhotithat ὁhothe [one]διώκωνdiōkōnpersecuting ἡμᾶςhēmasus ποτεpoteformerly νῦνnunnow εὐαγγελίζεταιeuangelizetaiis evangelising τὴνtēnthe πίστινpistinfaith ἥνhēnwhich ποτεpoteonce ἐπόρθει·eportheihe was destroying;

King James Version

But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 15:8 And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one of untimely birth.
1 Timothy 1:13 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 9:13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, many people have told me about this man and all the harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.
Acts 9:20 Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.”
Acts 9:26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
Acts 6:7 So the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.