3 y“I am a zJew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of aGamaliel1 according to the bstrict manner of the law of our fathers, being czealous for God as all of you are this day.
4 “My manner of life from my vyouth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. 5 They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the wstrictest party of our religion I have lived as a xPharisee.
The Remnant of Israel
1 I ask, then, has God arejected his people? By no means! For bI myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham,1 a member of the tribe of Benjamin.
13 For you have heard of my former life in uJudaism, how I vpersecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And wI was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the xtraditions of my fathers.
4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. xIf anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the yeighth day, zof the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a aHebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a bPharisee; 6 as to czeal, a dpersecutor of the church; as to erighteousness under the law,1 blameless.
