Galatians 1 · Verse 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.
Galatians 1:23, King James Version

Galatians 1:23 in other translations

BSBThey only heard the account: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”
WEBbut they only heard, “He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy.”
ASVbut they only heard say, He that once persecuted us now preacheth the faith of which he once made havoc;
YLTand only they were hearing, that ‘he who is persecuting us then, doth now proclaim good news--the faith that then he was wasting;'
DARBYonly they were hearing that he who persecuted us formerly now announces the glad tidings of the faith which formerly he ravaged:
BBEOnly it came to their ears that he who at one time was cruel to us is now preaching the faith which before had been attacked by him;
WebsterBut they had heard only, That he who persecuted us in times past, now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

What does Galatians 1:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
23. Translate as Greek, "They were hearing": tidings were brought them from time to time [Conybeare and Howson]. he which persecuted us in times past--"our former persecutor" [Alford]. The designation by which he was known among Christians still better than by his name "Saul." destroyed--Greek, "was destroying."

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

Barnes' Notes
But they had heard only, etc. They had not seen me; but the remarkable fact of my conversions had been reported to them. It was a fact that they could hardly be concealed. Acts 26:26.

(a) "heard only" Acts 9:13,26, 1Timm 1:13-16

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 23 They had heard only - As a persecutor of the Church of Christ, I was well known; and as a convert to Christ I was not less so. The fame of both was great, even where I was personally unknown.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Galatians 1:15-24

St. Paul was wonderfully brought to the knowledge and faith of Christ. All who are savingly converted, are called by the grace of God; their conversion is wrought by his power and grace working in them. It will but little avail us to have Christ revealed to us, if he is not also revealed in us. He instantly prepared to obey, without hesitating as to his worldly interest, credit, ease, or life itself. And what matter…

Read the full comment on Galatians 1:15-24 →

Galatians 1:23 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.

μόνονmononOnlyG3441
δὲdehoweverG1161
ἀκούοντεςakouonteshearingG191
ἦσανēsanthey wereG1510
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ὁhothe [one]G3588
διώκωνdiōkōnpersecutingG1377
ἡμᾶςhēmasusG3165
ποτεpoteformerlyG4218
νῦνnunnowG3568
εὐαγγελίζεταιeuangelizetaiis evangelisingG2097
τὴνtēntheG3588
πίστινpistinfaithG4102
ἥνhēnwhichG3739
ποτεpoteonceG4218
ἐπόρθει·eportheihe was destroying;G4199

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

Cross references for Galatians 1:23

  • 1 Corinthians 15:8-10

    And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

  • 1 Timothy 1:13-16

    Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

  • Acts 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:

  • Acts 9:20

    And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

  • 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 6:7

    And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
he which.
Ac 9:13,20,26; 1Co 15:8-10; 1Ti 1:13-16

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

Context

  • Galatians 1:22

    And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judea which were in Christ:

  • Galatians 1:23

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

  • Galatians 1:24

    And they glorified God in me.

Read all of Galatians 1

Galatians 1:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Solamente habían oído decir: Aquel que en otro tiempo nos perseguía, ahora anuncia la fe que en otro tiempo destruía.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		mais seulement elles entendaient dire: Celui qui nous persécutait autrefois, annonce maintenant la foi qu’il détruisait jadis;
German
Elberfelder 1871		sie hatten aber nur gehört: Der, welcher uns einst verfolgte, verkündigt jetzt den Glauben, den er einst zerstörte.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		tantum autem auditum habebant quoniam qui persequebatur nos aliquando, nunc evangelizat fidem, quam aliquando expugnabat: