They were only hearing, “The one who once persecuted us is now proclaiming the good news of the faith he once tried to destroy.”

For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I was savagely persecuting the church of God and trying to destroy it.

But from those who were influential (whatever they were makes no difference to me; God shows no favoritism between people) – those influential leaders added nothing to my message.