Paul, an apostle (one not sent from men, nor through man, but through the Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father, who raised him from the dead), 2along with all the brothers who are with me:
To the congregations of Galatia.
3Grace to you, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age – 5to whom be glory forever and ever, amen.
6I am astonished that you are so quickly defecting to a different gospel from the one who called you in the grace of Christ. 7Not that there is another gospel, even if some are troubling you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we, or even if an angel from heaven, were to preach to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, may he be cursed! 9As we’ve said before, I’ll say it again: if anyone is preaching a gospel that is contrary to what you received, may he be cursed!
10Am I now seeking people’s approval, or God’s? Am I really still trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ. 11But I assure you, brothers, that the gospel I’m preaching does not come from men. 12For I did not receive it from men, nor was it taught to me; rather, I received it through a revelation from Jesus Christ.
13You have heard about my previous life within Judaism , how I had furiously persecuted the congregation of God, intent on destroying it. 14I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my peers, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15But when it pleased God – the One who had selected me in my mother’s womb and called me by his grace – 16to reveal his Son to me, so I might preach him among the Gentiles, I didn’t immediately consult with flesh and blood, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles who came before me, but I went away to Arabia before returning to Damascus.
18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to make acquaintance with Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days. 19I didn’t see any other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. 20Before God, I swear I am not lying in the things I write to you.
21From there, I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22I was still an unknown face to the congregations of Judea that are in Christ; 23they had only heard that “The one who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he had tried to destroy.” 24So they gave glory to God because of me.