Where then is your sense of happiness now? For I testify about you that if it were possible, you would have pulled out your eyes and given them to me!

For I can testify that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

That they

Jehu said, "Come with me and see how zealous I am for the Lord's cause." So he took him along in his chariot.

They will put you out of the synagogue, yet a time is coming when the one who kills you will think he is offering service to God.

When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all ardent observers of the law.

"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated with strictness under Gamaliel according to the law of our ancestors, and was zealous for God just as all of you are today.

Of course, I myself was convinced that it was necessary to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus the Nazarene.

I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my nation, and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.

They court you eagerly, but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you would seek them eagerly.

In my zeal for God I persecuted the church. According to the righteousness stipulated in the law I was blameless.

But not

For ignoring the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking instead to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to God's righteousness.

but Israel even though pursuing a law of righteousness did not attain it.

All those who behave wickedly do not understand -- those who devour my people as if they were eating bread, and do not call out to the Lord.

It is dangerous to have zeal without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily makes poor choices.

At that time the Lord will punish with his destructive, great, and powerful sword Leviathan the fast-moving serpent, Leviathan the squirming serpent; he will kill the sea monster.

among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.

And I pray this, that your love may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight

General references

Micah said, "Now I know God will make me rich, because I have this Levite as my priest."

I will denounce your so-called righteousness and your deeds, but they will not help you.

The man replied, "I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws since my youth."