Galatians 1:23

Galatians 1:23

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

a. NLT: All they knew was that people were saying, “The one who used to persecute us is now preaching the very faith he tried to destroy!”

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

c. YLT: And only they were hearing, that 'he who is persecuting us then, doth now proclaim good news -- the faith that then he was wasting;'

d. Amplified Bible Classic: They were only hearing it said, He who used to persecute us is now proclaiming the very faith he once reviled and which he set out to ruin and tried with all his might to destroy.

e. Worrell Translation: But they were only hearing, “He who was once persecuting us now proclaims the faith which once he was destroying.”

f. Wuest Translation: Indeed, they only kept hearing, The one who used to persecute us at one time now is announcing the glad tidings of the Faith which at one time he was ravaging.

1. “But they had heard only…”

a. But [Strong: 1161 de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. they had [Strong: 2258 en ane imperfect of 1510; I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were):--+ agree, be, X have (+ charge of), hold, use, was(-t), were.]

c. heard [Strong: 191 akouo ak-oo'-o a primary verb; to hear (in various senses):--give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.]

d. only [Strong: 3440 monon mon'-on neuter of 3441 as adverb; merely:--alone, but, only.

2. “…That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.”

a. That [Strong: 3754 hoti hot'-ee neuter of 3748 as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.]

b. he which [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

c. persecuted [Strong: 1377 dioko dee-o'-ko a prolonged (and causative) form of a primary verb dio (to flee; compare the base of 1169 and 1249); to pursue (literally or figuratively); by implication, to persecute:--ensue, follow (after), given to, (suffer) persecute(-ion), press forward.]

d. us [Strong: 2248 hemas hay-mas' accusative case plural of 1473; us:--our, us, we.]

e. in times past [Strong: 4218 pote pot-eh' from the base of 4225 and 5037; indefinite adverb, at some time, ever:--afore-(any, some-)time(-s), at length (the last), (+ n- )ever, in the old time, in time past, once, when.]

f. now [Strong: 3568 nun noon a primary particle of present time; "now" (as adverb of date, a transition or emphasis); also as noun or adjective present or immediate:--henceforth, + hereafter, of late, soon, present, this (time).]

g. preacheth [Strong: 2097 euaggelizo yoo-ang-ghel-id'-zo from 2095 and 32; to announce good news ("evangelize") especially the gospel:--declare, bring (declare, show) glad (good) tidings, preach (the gospel).]

h. the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

i. faith [Strong: 4102 pistis pis'-tis from 3982; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself:--assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.]

1). It appears from these verses that Paul ministered in these areas, the areas of Syria and Celicia. In Galatians 2:1 Paul mentions there was a 14 year gap between when he was driven out of Jerusalem and when he came back to Jerusalem. During those 14 years he spent time in Celicia (which is where Tarsus his home city is), he spent time in Syria (some of this time includes his time spent at the church at Antioch.) I believe that before Barnabas came from Antioch to Tarsus to get Saul that Saul ministered in Celicia. In fact, looking at the Scriptural evidence about Paul’s zeal I find it impossible to believe that he didn’t preach. Looking at the whole text it says that while Paul was in the regions of Syria and Celicia he was preaching “the faith which once he destroyed.” According to scholars, Paul spent between 8-11 years in this area, the area he was brought up in. Paul was raised in Tarsus. Indeed from Jerusalem to Damascus he was known as Saul of Tarsus. Everybody knew who he was.

a). Acts 9:10-14 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

9:11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

9:12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

9:13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

9:14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

2). Scripture does not give any details but Saul preached in this area for 8-11 years. I am fully persuaded that at least some of the things that Paul lists in 2 Corinthians 11 happened to him during this time.

a). 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

11:24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

11:25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

11:26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

11:27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

3). One in particular I can see happening to Saul, especially considering his zeal.

a). 2 Corinthians 11:24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

b). This punishment mentioned in 2 Corinthians is a punishment listed in Deuteronomy to be meted out by the leaders of the local Jewish group (or synagogue) to settle controversies between men.

(1) Deuteronomy 25:1-3 If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.

25:2 And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number.

25:3 Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee.

c). I can see the Apostle Paul in his zeal to preach Christ Jesus as the Jewish Messiah constantly running into opposition within synagogues and being brought before them to be disciplined, in fulfillment of the words of Jesus.

(1). Mark 13:9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.