# Galatians 1.15-19

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-10-28 | updated: 2026-10-28 -->

**Book:** [Galatians](/codex/galatians/) · NASB95

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 13. For 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: 14. and I advanced in the Jews' religion beyond many of mine own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
>
> **15. But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me, even from my mother's womb, and called me through his grace, 16. to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles; straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17. neither went I up to Jerusalem to them that were apostles before me: but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned unto Damascus. 18. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and tarried with him fifteen days. 19. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.**
>
> 20. Now touching the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. 21. Then I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. (Galatians 1:13-21, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 13. For 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. 14. I advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
>
> **15. But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me through his grace, 16. to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I didn’t immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17. nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus. 18. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days. 19. But of the other apostles I saw no one, except James, the Lord’s brother.**
>
> 20. Now about the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I’m not lying. 21. Then I came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. (Galatians 1:13-21, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 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: 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. <sup>equals: Gr. equals in years</sup>
>
> **15. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, 16. To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17. Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. 18. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. <sup>went up: or, returned</sup> 19. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.**
>
> 20. Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. 21. Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; (Galatians 1:13-21, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 13. for ye did hear of my behaviour once in Judaism, that exceedingly I was persecuting the assembly of God, and wasting it, 14. and I was advancing in Judaism above many equals in age in mine own race, being more abundantly zealous of my fathers' deliverances,
>
> **15. and when God was well pleased, having separated me from the womb of my mother, and having called [me] through His grace 16. to reveal His Son in me, that I might proclaim him good news among the nations, immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood, 17. nor did I go up to Jerusalem unto those who were apostles before me, but I went away to Arabia, and again returned to Damascus, 18. then, after three years I went up to Jerusalem to enquire about Peter, and remained with him fifteen days, 19. and other of the apostles I did not see, except James, the brother of the Lord.**
>
> 20. And the things that I write to you, lo, before God, I lie not; 21. then I came to the regions of Syria and of Cilicia, (Galatians 1:13-21, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** _TBD_
- **Audience:** _TBD_
- **Location:** _TBD_
- **Time period:** _TBD_

## Theological reading

_Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added._

## Key words

_Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word._

- None of the words in this verse has its own lexicon entry yet.


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## Quoted in

**Arguments and defeaters:**

- [Argument from the Resurrection](/codex/argument-from-the-resurrection/), via [Galatians 1.11-17](/codex/galatians-1-11-17/), [Galatians 1.18-19](/codex/galatians-1-18-19/), [Galatians 1.19](/codex/galatians-1-19/)
- [Argument from Transformed Lives](/codex/argument-from-transformed-lives/), via [Galatians 1.13-17](/codex/galatians-1-13-17/)
- [Causal Adequacy Argument](/codex/causal-adequacy-argument/), via [Galatians 1.18-19](/codex/galatians-1-18-19/)
- [Christ Before Jesus Thesis Defeater](/codex/christ-before-jesus-thesis-defeater/), via [Galatians 1.18-19](/codex/galatians-1-18-19/)
- [Christian God is the Only True God](/codex/christian-god-is-the-only-true-god/), via [Galatians 1.19](/codex/galatians-1-19/)
- [Christianity Is a Cult Objection Defeater](/codex/christianity-is-a-cult-objection-defeater/), via [Galatians 1.18-19](/codex/galatians-1-18-19/)
- [Crucifixion Denial Refutation](/codex/crucifixion-denial-refutation/), via [Galatians 1.19](/codex/galatians-1-19/)
- [Dating of Paul's Letters](/codex/dating-of-pauls-letters/), via [Galatians 1.18](/codex/galatians-1-18/), [Galatians 1.18-19](/codex/galatians-1-18-19/)
- [Jesus Is an Egregore Objection Defeater](/codex/jesus-is-an-egregore-objection-defeater/), via [Galatians 1.13-16](/codex/galatians-1-13-16/)
- [Jesus Was Not Buried in a Tomb Objection Defeater](/codex/jesus-was-not-buried-in-a-tomb-objection-defeater/), via [Galatians 1.18](/codex/galatians-1-18/), [Galatians 1.18-19](/codex/galatians-1-18-19/)
- [Minimal Facts Argument](/codex/minimal-facts-argument/), via [Galatians 1.15-16](/codex/galatians-1-15-16/), [Galatians 1.19](/codex/galatians-1-19/)
- [Mormonism Spread the Same Way Objection Defeater](/codex/mormonism-spread-the-same-way-objection-defeater/), via [Galatians 1.18-19](/codex/galatians-1-18-19/)
- [Mythicism Refutation](/codex/mythicism-refutation/), via [Galatians 1.16-17](/codex/galatians-1-16-17/), [Galatians 1.18-19](/codex/galatians-1-18-19/), [Galatians 1.19](/codex/galatians-1-19/)
- [Paul Invented Christianity Objection Defeater](/codex/paul-invented-christianity-objection-defeater/), via [Galatians 1.18-19](/codex/galatians-1-18-19/)
- [Stolen Body Hypothesis Defeater](/codex/stolen-body-hypothesis-defeater/), via [Galatians 1.18-19](/codex/galatians-1-18-19/)
- [Substitution Theory Objection Defeater](/codex/substitution-theory-objection-defeater/), via [Galatians 1.19](/codex/galatians-1-19/)
- [The Bible Is Just Second-Hand Sources Objection Defeater](/codex/the-bible-is-just-second-hand-sources-objection-defeater/), via [Galatians 1.18](/codex/galatians-1-18/)
- [Why Didnt Jesus Write Anything Himself Objection Defeater](/codex/why-didnt-jesus-write-anything-himself-objection-defeater/), via [Galatians 1.18](/codex/galatians-1-18/)

**Concepts:**

- [Apostle](/codex/apostle/), via [Galatians 1.19](/codex/galatians-1-19/)
- [Biblical Figures Confirmed by Archaeology](/codex/biblical-figures-confirmed-by-archaeology/), via [Galatians 1.19](/codex/galatians-1-19/)
- [Churches the Disciples Started](/codex/churches-the-disciples-started/), via [Galatians 1.19](/codex/galatians-1-19/)
- [Evidence Behind the Bible's Most Incredible Stories](/codex/evidence-behind-the-bibles-most-incredible-stories/), via [Galatians 1.18-19](/codex/galatians-1-18-19/)
- [Great Commission](/codex/great-commission/)
- [Historical Evidence for the Martyrs](/codex/historical-evidence-for-the-martyrs/), via [Galatians 1.18-19](/codex/galatians-1-18-19/)
- [James Ossuary](/codex/james-ossuary/), via [Galatians 1.19](/codex/galatians-1-19/)
- [NT Geographical Reliability](/codex/nt-geographical-reliability/), via [Galatians 1.17](/codex/galatians-1-17/)
- [Pre-Pauline Creeds](/codex/pre-pauline-creeds/), via [Galatians 1.11-23](/codex/galatians-1-11-23/), [Galatians 1.13-17](/codex/galatians-1-13-17/), [Galatians 1.18](/codex/galatians-1-18/), [Galatians 1.18-19](/codex/galatians-1-18-19/), [Galatians 1.19](/codex/galatians-1-19/)
- [Pro-Life Premise-Based Argument](/codex/pro-life-premise-based-argument/), via [Galatians 1.15](/codex/galatians-1-15/)
- [Quick Objection Responses](/codex/quick-objection-responses/), via [Galatians 1.19](/codex/galatians-1-19/)
- [Resurrection](/codex/resurrection/), via [Galatians 1.13-16](/codex/galatians-1-13-16/), [Galatians 1.19](/codex/galatians-1-19/)
- [Resurrection of Jesus - Minimal Facts Case](/codex/resurrection-of-jesus-minimal-facts-case/), via [Galatians 1.11-17](/codex/galatians-1-11-17/), [Galatians 1.18](/codex/galatians-1-18/), [Galatians 1.18-19](/codex/galatians-1-18-19/), [Galatians 1.19](/codex/galatians-1-19/)
- [Resurrection of Jesus - Naturalistic Counter-Theories](/codex/resurrection-of-jesus-naturalistic-counter-theories/), via [Galatians 1.19](/codex/galatians-1-19/)
- [Zeitgeist - Constructed Religion Claims](/codex/zeitgeist-constructed-religion-claims/), via [Galatians 1.19](/codex/galatians-1-19/)
- [Zeitgeist Movie Defeater](/codex/zeitgeist-movie-defeater/), via [Galatians 1.19](/codex/galatians-1-19/)

**People:**

- [James the Brother of Jesus](/codex/james-the-brother-of-jesus/), via [Galatians 1.19](/codex/galatians-1-19/)
- [James the Lesser](/codex/james-the-lesser/), via [Galatians 1.19](/codex/galatians-1-19/)
- [Josephus](/codex/josephus/), via [Galatians 1.19](/codex/galatians-1-19/)
- [Mike Licona](/codex/mike-licona/), via [Galatians 1.13-16](/codex/galatians-1-13-16/)
- [Paul the Apostle](/codex/paul-the-apostle/), via [Galatians 1.17-18](/codex/galatians-1-17-18/), [Galatians 1.18-21](/codex/galatians-1-18-21/), [Galatians 1.19](/codex/galatians-1-19/)

**Lexicon:**

- [G0602 - apokalypsis](/codex/g0602-apokalypsis/), via [Galatians 1.16](/codex/galatians-1-16/)
- [G2097 - euangelizo](/codex/g2097-euangelizo/), via [Galatians 1.16](/codex/galatians-1-16/)
- [G3860 - paradidomi](/codex/g3860-paradidomi/), via [Galatians 1.18](/codex/galatians-1-18/)

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## Notes

_Your annotations._

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.