Galatians 1 · Verse 13

Galatians 1:13

For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
Galatians 1:13, King James Version

Galatians 1:13 in other translations

BSBFor you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how severely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.
WEBFor you have heard of my way of living in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the assembly of God and ravaged it.
ASVFor ye have heard of my manner of life in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and made havoc of it:
YLTfor ye did hear of my behaviour once in Judaism, that exceedingly I was persecuting the assembly of God, and wasting it,
DARBYFor ye have heard what was my conversation formerly in Judaism, that I excessively persecuted the assembly of God, and ravaged it;
BBEFor news has come to you of my way of life in the past in the Jews' religion, how I was cruel without measure to the church of God, and did great damage to it:
WebsterFor ye have heard of my manner of life in time past in the Jews' religion, that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it;

What does Galatians 1:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. heard--even before I came among you. conversation--"my former way of life." Jews' religion--The term, "Hebrew," expresses the language; "Jew," the nationality, as distinguished from the Gentiles; "Israelite," the highest title, the religious privileges, as a member of the theocracy. the church--Here singular, marking its unity, though constituted of many particular churches, under the one Head, Christ. of God--added to mark the greatness of his sinful alienation from God (1Co 15:19). wasted--laid it waste: the opposite of "building it up."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 13. For ye have heard of my conversation. My conduct, my mode of life, my deportment. 2Cor 1:12. Probably Paul had himself made them acquainted with the events of his early years. The reason why he refers to this is to show them that he had not derived his knowledge of the Christian religion from any instruction which he had received in his early years, or any acquaintance which he had formed with the apostles, he had at first been decidedly opposed to the Lord Jesus, and had been converted only by his wonderful grace.

In the Jews' religion. In the belief and practice of Judaism; that is, as it was understood in the time when he was educated. It was not merely in the religion of Moses, but it was in that religion as understood and practised by the Jews in his time, when opposition to Christianity constituted a very material part of it. In that religion Paul proceeds to show that he had been more distinguished than most persons of his time.

How that beyond measure. In the highest possible degree; beyond all limits or bounds; exceedingly. The phrase which Paul here uses, καθυπερβολην by hyperbole, is one which he frequently employs to denote anything that is excessive, or that cannot be expressed by ordinary language. See the Greek in Rom 7:13, 1Cor 12:31, 2Cor 1:8, 4:7,17.

I persecuted the church. See @Ac 8:3 9:1.

And wasted it. Destroyed it. The word which is here used means, properly, to waste or destroy, as when a city or country is ravaged by an army or by wild beasts. His purpose was to utterly to root out and destroy the Christian religion.

(++) "beyond measure" "exceedingly" (c) "church of God" Acts 8:1,3, 9:1,2, 26:9 (&) "wasted it" "laid it waste"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 Ye have heard of my conversation - Την εμην αναστροφην· My manner of life; the mode in which I conducted myself. Beyond measure I persecuted the Church - For proofs of this the reader is referred to Act 9:1-2 (note); Act 22:4 (note), and the notes there. The apostle tells them that they had heard this, because, being Jews, they were acquainted with what had taken place in Judea, relative to these important transactions.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Galatians 1:10-14

In preaching the gospel, the apostle sought to bring persons to the obedience, not of men, but of God. But Paul would not attempt to alter the doctrine of Christ, either to gain their favour, or to avoid their fury. In so important a matter we must not fear the frowns of men, nor seek their favour, by using words of men's wisdom. Concerning the manner wherein he received the gospel, he had it by revelation from…

Read the full comment on Galatians 1:10-14 →

Galatians 1:13 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἠκούσατεēkousateYou have heard ofG191
γὰρgarforG1063
τὴνtēn<the>G3588
ἐμὴνemēnmyG1473
ἀναστροφήνanastrophēnway of lifeG391
ποτεpoteformerG4218
ἐνeninG1722
τῷtō<the>G3588
ἸουδαϊσμῷIoudaismōJudaismG2454
ὅτιhotithatG3754
καθ᾽kath᾽beyondG2596
ὑπερβολὴνhuperbolēnexceeding measureG5236
ἐδίωκονediōkonI was persecutingG1377
τὴνtēntheG3588
ἐκκλησίανekklēsianchurchG1577
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦtheouof GodG2316
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐπόρθουνeporthounwas destroyingG4199
αὐτήν·autēnit;G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Galatians 1:13

  • Acts 22:3-5

    I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.

  • Acts 8:3

    As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:9

    For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

  • Acts 26:4-5

    My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

  • Acts 26:9-11

    I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

  • 1 Timothy 1:13

    Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

  • Acts 9:21

    But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

  • Acts 9:26

    And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

  • Acts 9:13-14

    Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

  • Acts 8:1

    And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

  • Acts 9:1-2

    And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

  • Philippians 3:6

    Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
ye.
Ac 22:3-5; 26:4,5
how.
Ac 8:1,3; 9:1,2,13,14,21,26; 22:4,5; 26:9-11; 1Co 15:9; Php 3:6
1Ti 1:13

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Galatians 1:12

    For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

  • Galatians 1:13

    For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

  • Galatians 1:14

    And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

Read all of Galatians 1

Galatians 1:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque ya habéis oído acerca de mi conducta otro tiempo en el Judaismo, que perseguía sobremanera la iglesia de Dios, y la destruía;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car vous avez entendu dire quelle a été autrefois ma conduite dans le judaïsme, comment je persécutais outre mesure l’assemblée de Dieu et la dévastais,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn ihr habt von meinem ehemaligen Wandel in dem Judentum gehört, daß ich die Versammlung Gottes über die Maßen verfolgte und sie zerstörte,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Audistis enim conversationem meam aliquando in Judaismo: quoniam supra modum persequebar Ecclesiam Dei, et expugnabam illam,