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:
I never should have so utterly changed had not God been the Revealer.
For ye have heard - even before I came among you.
Conversation, х anastrofeen (G391] - 'my former way of life.'
Jews' religion - `Hebrew' expresses the language; 'Jew,' the nationality, as distinguished from the Gentiles; 'Israelite' (the highest title), the religious privileges as a member of the theocracy.
The church - here singular, marking its unity, though constituted of many particular churches, under the one Head, Christ. Of God - added to mark his sinful alienation from God (1 Corinthians 11:22).
Wasted - was laying it waste х eporthoun (G4199)]: the opposite of 'building it up.'