# Connecting Statement:

Paul begins to tell how he acted in the past.

# I was a blasphemer

"I was a person who spoke evil against Christ." Paul is referring to his character before he was a Christian.

# a persecutor

"a person who persecuted those who believed in Christ"

# a violent man

"a person who was cruel to other people" or "a person who believed I had the right to hurt others"

# But I received mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief

"But because I did not believe in Jesus, and I did not know what I was doing, I received mercy from Jesus"

# I received mercy

"Jesus showed me mercy" or "Jesus had mercy on me"