13 You have been told how I used to live when I was devoted to the Jewish religion, how I persecuted without mercy the church of God and did my best to destroy it.
14 I was ahead of most fellow-Jews of my age in my practice of the Jewish religion, and was much more devoted to the traditions of our ancestors.
15 But God in his grace chose me even before I was born, and called me to serve him. And when he decided
16 to reveal his Son to me, so that I might preach the Good News about him to the Gentiles, I did not go to anyone for advice,
17 nor did I go to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before me. Instead, I went at once to Arabia, and then I returned to Damascus.
18 It was three years later that I went to Jerusalem to obtain information from Peter, and I stayed with him for two weeks.
19 I did not see any other apostle except James, the Lord's brother.