11. But I certify you, brethren, that the Gospel which was preached of me is not after man.--For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught _it_, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.--For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the Church of God, and wasted it:--And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.--But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called _me_ by his grace,--To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood,--Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were Apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.--Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.--But other of the Apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.--Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.--Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;--And was unknown by face unto the Churches of Judea which were in Christ.--But they had heard only, that he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. Thus, however indistinctly and incoherently stated, stands the matter, on the surface of both these accounts. On the surface. But, by a little reflection on the nature of the case--the obvious and indisputable nature of the case--as collected from all accounts, as already brought to view in a preceding chapter II, we shall be led to another conception, and the only tenable one. The plan of worldly ambition--that plan by which we have already seen his outward conversion produced--had been not only formed, but acted upon:--acted upon, during a course of at least three years: of three years, employed at Damascus in preparation,--in Arabia in probation. What remained, and was now become necessary, was--some sort of countenance from the Apostles: from the Apostles, and thence, if possible, from the rest of the then existing Church. Necessary altogether was this countenance for his support: for, to this plan the _name_ of Jesus was essential. It was in that _name_, that all his operations were to be carried on:--in that name, from the use of which it was to be universally understood, that it was according to directions, and with support, from the departed Jesus, that by this, his newly-enlisted servant, everything was said and done.