Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on human reasoning. I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Christ Jesus.
You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion – how I violently persecuted God’s church. I did my best to destroy it. I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors.
But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by His marvelous grace. Then it pleased Him to reveal His Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles.
When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being. Nor did I go tup to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later returned to the city of Damascus. (vv. 11-17, NLT)