For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law,
but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,
as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,
For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.
Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.
And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
And he said, “Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord.” So he had him ride in his chariot.
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
“I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them.
“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day.
Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the Lord?
For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,
crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.”
What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me.
For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.
They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you,
Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.”
In that day the Lord with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea.
They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.