Conversion on the Way to Damascus

BibleScripture

Galatians

Paulc. 50

Bible

Read this if you…

want Paul at his angriest — calling the Galatians 'foolish' for backsliding into legalism
like the verse that became a manifesto: 'neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female — for ye are all one in Christ Jesus'
care about the historical fight that made Christianity portable to Gentiles: do you have to be circumcised to be saved? Paul says no, and it sticks

Skip this if you…

don't want to read explicitly religious/Christian texts

Connections

The lineage through Galatians

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Gallery

Depicted in Art

Saul lies sprawled on his back beneath a massive horse, arms raised toward an unseen light; an aged groom steadies the horse while the apostle is overwhelmed by his vision. — Saul lies sprawled on his back beneath a massive horse, arms raised toward an unseen light; an aged groom steadies the horse while the apostle is overwhelmed by his vision.
Caravaggio, 1601

Paul sits in a darkened cell, pen and codex on his lap, a sword leaning beside him — caught mid-composition by a shaft of light from a small window. — Paul sits in a darkened cell, pen and codex on his lap, a sword leaning beside him — caught mid-composition by a shaft of light from a small window.
Rembrandt van Rijn, 1627

Paul stands on a stone platform in a Greek square, arms raised, preaching to a half-circle of Athenians — the canonical Renaissance image of Paul's Greek mission. — Paul stands on a stone platform in a Greek square, arms raised, preaching to a half-circle of Athenians — the canonical Renaissance image of Paul's Greek mission.
Raphael, 1515

Half-length Paul in red and white robes holds a sword and an open epistle, gazing upward in inspired thought against a stormy sky. — Half-length Paul in red and white robes holds a sword and an open epistle, gazing upward in inspired thought against a stormy sky.
Pompeo Batoni, 1742

Paul stands with arm outstretched, exhorting a seated crowd of Thessalonians — figures lean in, faces lit; the apostle gestures upward as he preaches. — Paul stands with arm outstretched, exhorting a seated crowd of Thessalonians — figures lean in, faces lit; the apostle gestures upward as he preaches.
Gustave Doré, 1866

Paul looks up from a sheet on a stone ledge, reed pen in hand, sword and books beside him, in tenebrist Caravaggesque half-shadow. — Paul looks up from a sheet on a stone ledge, reed pen in hand, sword and books beside him, in tenebrist Caravaggesque half-shadow.
Valentin de Boulogne, 1620

Rembrandt looks out from beneath a turban, a manuscript pressed to his chest and a sword-hilt protruding from his cloak — the painter casting himself as the letter-writing apostle. — Rembrandt looks out from beneath a turban, a manuscript pressed to his chest and a sword-hilt protruding from his cloak — the painter casting himself as the letter-writing apostle.
Rembrandt van Rijn, 1661

Paul tears his garments in dismay while Barnabas restrains the Lystrians from sacrificing an ox to them as Hermes and Zeus; the priest raises the axe at center. — Paul tears his garments in dismay while Barnabas restrains the Lystrians from sacrificing an ox to them as Hermes and Zeus; the priest raises the axe at center.
Raphael, 1515

Standing Paul leans forward in red robe, gesturing in argument, while a weeping Peter sits hunched on the ground clutching his keys, tears on his face. — Standing Paul leans forward in red robe, gesturing in argument, while a weeping Peter sits hunched on the ground clutching his keys, tears on his face.
Guido Reni, 1609

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King James Version

Oxford University Press · 1611

The most influential and commonly quoted translation in English. The prose rhythm everyone else is responding to, even modern translations.

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Notable Quotes

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:28 (KJV)

All 15 quotes, with sources →

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