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Selected Verse: Galatians 1:13 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ga 1:13	Strong Concordance	For [1063] ye have heard [191] of my [1699] conversation [391] in time past [4218] in [1722] the Jews' religion [2454], how that [3754] beyond [2596] measure [5236] I persecuted [1377] the church [1577] of God [2316], and [2532] wasted [4199] it [846]:
	King James	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:

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
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 (Co1 15:19). wasted--laid it waste: the opposite of "building it up."

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

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 (Co1 15:19).

wasted--laid it waste: the opposite of "building it up."

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
For ye have heard of my conversation - My conduct, my mode of life, my deportment; see the note at Co2 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. At first, Paul had been decidedly opposed to the Lord Jesus, and had been converted only by God's 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 practiced 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 uses here (καθ ̓ ὑπερβολὴν kath' huperbolēn), 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 text in Rom 7:13; Co1 12:31; Co2 1:8; Co2 4:7, Co2 4:17. I persecuted the church - See Act 8:3; Act 9:1 ff. And wasted it - Destroyed it. The word which is used here, means properly to waste or destroy, as when a city or country is ravaged by an army or by wild beasts. His purpose was utterly to root out and destroy the Christian religion.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
Jews' religion The new dispensation of grace having come in, the Mosaic system, if still persisted in, becomes a mere "Jews' religion."

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Conversation (ἀναστροφήν) Better, manner of life. See on Pe1 1:15. In the Jews' religion (ἐν τῷ Ἱουδαΐσμῷ) Only here and Gal 1:14. Lit. in Judaism. It signifies his national religious condition. In lxx, 2 Macc. 2:21; 8:2; 14:38; 4 Macc. 4:26. Beyond measure (καθ' ὑπερβολὴν) P. Lit. according to excess. The noun primarily means a casting beyond, thence superiority, excellency. See Co2 4:7, Co2 4:17. It is transliterated in hyperbole. For similar phrases comp. Co1 2:1; Act 19:20; Act 3:17; Act 25:23. Wasted (ἐπόρθουν) Better, laid waste. In Class. applied not only to things - cities, walls, fields, etc. - but also to persons. So Act 9:21.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
I Persecuted the church of God - That is, the believers in Christ.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
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.

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¹⁹ If [1487] in [1722] this [5026] life [2222] only [3440] we have hope [1679] [2070] in [1722] Christ [5547], we are [2070] of all [3956] men [444] most miserable [1652].

³ As [1161] for Saul [4569], he made havock [3075] of the church [1577], entering into [1531] every [2596] house [3624], and haling [4951] [5037] men [435] and [2532] women [1135] committed [3860] them to [1519] prison [5438].

¹⁷ For [1063] our [2257] light [1645] affliction [2347], which [3588] is but for a moment [3910], worketh [2716] for us [2254] a far [2596] [5236] more exceeding [1519] [5236] and eternal [166] weight [922] of glory [1391];

⁷ But [1161] we have [2192] this [5126] treasure [2344] in [1722] earthen [3749] vessels [4632], that [2443] the excellency [5236] of the power [1411] may be [5600] of God [2316], and [2532] not [3361] of [1537] us [2257].

⁸ For [1063] we would [2309] not [3756], brethren [80], have [50] you [5209] ignorant [50] of [5228] our [2257] trouble [2347] which [3588] came [1096] to us [2254] in [1722] Asia [773], that [3754] we were pressed [2596] out [916] of measure [5236], above [5228] strength [1411], insomuch [5620] that we [2248] despaired [1820] even [2532] of life [2198]:

³¹ But [1161] covet earnestly [2206] the best [2909] gifts [5486]: and [2532] yet [2089] shew I [1166] unto you [5213] a more [2596] excellent [5236] way [3598].

¹³ Was then [3767] that which is good [18] made [1096] death [2288] unto me [1698]? God forbid [3361] [1096]. But [235] sin [266], that [2443] it might appear [5316] sin [266], working [2716] death [2288] in me [3427] by [1223] that which is good [18]; that [2443] sin [266] by [1223] the commandment [1785] might become [1096] exceeding [2596] [5236] sinful [268].

¹² For [1063] our [2257] rejoicing [2746] is [2076] this [3778], the testimony [3142] of our [2257] conscience [4893], that [3754] in [1722] simplicity [572] and [2532] godly [2316] sincerity [1505], not [3756] with [1722] fleshly [4559] wisdom [4678], but [235] by [1722] the grace [5485] of God [2316], we have had our conversation [390] in [1722] the world [2889], and [1161] more abundantly [4056] to [4314] you-ward [5209].

²¹ But [1161] all [3956] that heard [191] him were amazed [1839], and [2532] said [3004]; Is [2076] not [3756] this [3778] he that destroyed [4199] them which [3588] called on [1941] this [5124] name [3686] in [1722] Jerusalem [2419], and [2532] came [2064] hither [5602] for [1519] that [5124] intent [1519], that [2443] he might bring [71] them [846] bound [1210] unto [1909] the chief priests [749]?

²³ And on the morrow [1887], when [3767] Agrippa [67] was come [2064], and [2532] Bernice [959], with [3326] great [4183] pomp [5325], and [2532] was entered [1525] into [1519] the place of hearing [201], with [4862] [5037] the chief captains [5506], and [2532] principal [2596] [1851] men [435] of [5607] the city [4172], at [2532] Festus [5347]' commandment [2753] Paul [3972] was brought forth [71].

¹⁷ And [2532] now [3568], brethren [80], I wot [1492] that [3754] through [2596] ignorance [52] ye did [4238] it, as [5618] did also [2532] your [5216] rulers [758].

²⁰ So [3779] mightily [2596] [2904] grew [837] the word [3056] of God [2962] and [2532] prevailed [2480].

¹ And I [2504], brethren [80], when I came [2064] to [4314] you [5209], came [2064] not [3756] with [2596] excellency [5247] of speech [3056] or [2228] of wisdom [4678], declaring [2605] unto you [5213] the testimony [3142] of God [2316].

¹⁴ And [2532] profited [4298] in [1722] the Jews' religion [2454] above [5228] many [4183] my equals [4915] in [1722] mine own [3450] nation [1085], being [5225] more exceedingly [4056] zealous [2207] of the traditions [3862] of my [3450] fathers [3967].

¹⁵ But [235] as [2596] he which hath called [2564] you [5209] is holy [40], so [2532] be [1096] ye [846] holy [40] in [1722] all [3956] manner of conversation [391];

⁴ And I [3739] persecuted [1377] this [5026] way [3598] unto [891] the death [2288], binding [1195] and [2532] delivering [3860] into [1519] prisons [5438] both [5037] men [435] and [2532] women [1135].

¹ And [1161] Saul [4569], yet [2089] breathing out [1709] threatenings [547] and [2532] slaughter [5408] against [1519] the disciples [3101] of the Lord [2962], went [4334] unto the high priest [749],
² And desired [154] of [3844] him [846] letters [1992] to [1519] Damascus [1154] to [4314] the synagogues [4864], that [3704] if [1437] he found [2147] any [5100] of this way [3598], whether [5037] they were [5607] men [435] or [2532] women [1135], he might bring them [71] bound [1210] unto [1519] Jerusalem [2419].