But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace

 Good morning. Paul now digresses for a chapter and a half. Concerning this gospel that he has been talking about: I would have you know that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. There are a couple of places he could be talking about. The first is when he was knocked off his donkey on the way to Damascus. The second is the one mentioned in second Corinthians about being caught up into Paradise and hearing a revelation from God. Part of that revelation was that the Gentiles were also allowed to become Christians – not just Jews - and that they did not have to be circumcised nor follow the Law. He then tells them about his life in Judaism. But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace - this reminds me of what Jeremiah said that God had done for him (“before I formed you in the womb I knew you. And before you were born I consecrated you; I have anointed you a prophet to the nations.”. We will continue this next time. Father thank You that no matter what we have done in life on our own, it pales in comparison to what You want to do in our lives from now on.

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