From Persecutor to Preacher | Wednesday in The Word for September 9, 2026

Paul’s story is a powerful reminder that the gospel is not something we manufacture, inherit, or improve through human effort. It is revealed by Jesus Christ—and when that gospel transforms a life, the result should point people back to God.

📖 Scripture Dive

Galatians 1:11-24 gives us Paul’s own account of the gospel he preached, his former life, his encounter with Christ, and the transformation that followed.

Galatians 1:11-24

11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.

12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.

14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace,

16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,

17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.

19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.

20 (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)

21 Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.

22 And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ.

23 But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.”

24 And they glorified God in me.

🔎 Deep Reflection

Paul’s testimony raises a bigger question: What happens when Jesus completely changes the direction of a person’s life?

1. The Source of the Gospel

Paul begins by establishing where his message came from. His gospel was not something he received from human teachers or created himself.

By what authority & source did ‘this gospel’ come?
(Galatians 1:1-5/10-12/2:8/1 Corinthians 1:1/2 Corinthians 1:1)

Consider the significance of Paul emphasizing that the gospel came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. His authority was ultimately rooted in Christ, not human approval.

2. The Person Paul Used to Be

Paul doesn’t hide his past. Before Christ, his zeal was directed toward persecuting the very people he would eventually serve.

What was Paul like before Christ?
(Acts 7:58/8:1-3/9:1/22:4/26:11,12/Galatians 1:13/Philippians 3:1-5)

Paul’s past makes his transformation even more remarkable. He wasn’t simply a person who needed a minor adjustment. His entire direction had to change.

3. From Persecutor to Preacher

Paul’s transformation presents one of the most dramatic examples of God’s grace in Scripture.

What’s significant about the conversion of Saul? How could one go from persecutor to preacher?
(Acts 9:3-9/1 Corinthians 15:8-10/Galatians 1:23)

The same man who once tried to destroy the church became someone who proclaimed the faith he once tried to destroy. His past did not become the end of his story.

4. The Season of Preparation

Paul didn’t immediately step into everything God had called him to do. There was a season when he went away before beginning the public work associated with his calling.

Why did he go away for a season?
(Acts 9:23-31/Galatians 1:16-21)

What might God accomplish in a person’s life during a season that appears quiet, hidden, or disconnected from the assignment ahead?

5. When Transformation Becomes a Testimony

Paul’s transformation wasn’t ultimately about making Paul look impressive. His changed life caused others to recognize the work of God.

Why did they ‘glorify God’ in him?
(Galatians 1:23,24)

The churches didn’t glorify Paul because of his accomplishments. They glorified God because the evidence of God’s transforming power could be seen in Paul’s life.

🔥 Living It Out

Paul’s story moves us from what God did in him to the question of what God is doing through us.

A transformed life is not meant to remain a private experience. What Jesus has done in us can become a testimony that encourages someone else to believe that transformation is possible.

Your Testimony

Who glorifies God because of your transformed life?

Have you ever written out your testimony?

How often are you sharing what Jesus did in your life?
(Jeremiah 20:9/Psalm 118:17/Acts 1:8/4:20/22:15/26:16/2 Corinthians 5:17,19-20)

✍️ Personal Commitment

Take a moment to examine your own story:

• Remember: What has Jesus changed in you?
• Recognize: Who can see God’s transforming work in your life?
• Record: Have you put your testimony into words?
• Respond: Who needs to hear what Jesus has done for you?
• Release: What is keeping you from sharing it?

Paul’s past was part of his story, but it wasn’t the final word. God’s grace was.

🙏 This Week’s Challenge

Write your testimony in three simple parts:

Who I was → What Jesus did → Who I am becoming

Then ask God to give you an opportunity this week to share it with someone who needs to know that God can transform a life.

Your testimony isn’t about glorifying who you used to be. It’s about giving God glory for who He has made you.