although I was before a blasphemer, a persecutor, and insolent. However, I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
Because I did it ignorantly in unbelief ...  The fact of Paul's being able to commit so grievous sins against God demonstrates the "pitiable, guilty blindness of sin  (Ephesians 4:18;  1 Peter 1:14)."[30] Dummelow perceptively observed on this that "This is an instance of that form of ignorance which excuses acts done through it, ignorance of facts, not of moral principles."[31]