and how I surpassed many of my own age among my people in my devotion to Judaism, I was so fanatically devoted to what my forefathers had handed down.

And when God, who had set me apart from my birth and had called me in his mercy, saw fit

or going up to Jerusalem to see those who had been apostles before me, I went off to Arabia, and on my return came back to Damascus.

to gratify the false brothers who had been smuggled in, who sneaked in to spy upon the freedom we enjoy in Christ Jesus, so as to reduce us to slavery again.

Those who were regarded as the leaders??hat they once were makes no difference to me; God takes no account of external differences??he leaders contributed nothing new to me.

On the contrary, when they saw that I had been intrusted with the good news for the heathen, just as Peter had been intrusted with it for the Jews??8 for he who actuated Peter to be an apostle to the Jews also actuated me to be one to the heathen??9 and when they recognized the favor God had shown me, James, Cephas, and John, who were regarded as pillars of the church, pledged Barnabas and me their co-operation, with the understanding that we should work among the heathen and they among the Jews.

You senseless Galatians! Who has bewitched you, when you had Jesus Christ shown crucified right before your eyes?

Just as Abraham had faith in God and it was credited to him as uprightness.

Is the Law then contrary to God's promises? By no means. For if a law had been given that could have brought life, uprightness would really have come through law.

For the Scripture says that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave-girl, and one by the free woman.