For I am the least of the apostles, who am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and dragging away men and women committed them to prison.
Give no offense, either to the Jews, or to the Gentiles, or to the church of God:
For I suppose I was not at all behind the very chief apostles.
I have become a fool in glorying; you have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended by you: for in nothing am I behind the very chief apostles, though I am nothing.
For you have heard of my conduct in times past in the Jews’ religion, that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and devastated it:
But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preaches the faith which once he destroyed.
Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; with respect to the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.