Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible



"I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the Law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are this day. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he traveled, it happened that he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him. read more.
He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" He said, "Who are you, Lord?" The Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

"I myself most certainly thought that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I severely persecuted the church of God, and tried to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless. Verse ConceptseagernessRestored In Jesus ChristPerfection, HumanZealFulfilling The LawPlea Of InnocenceThe Church UniversalPersecutionzealots


The Lord said to him, "Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying, and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight." But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your saints at Jerusalem. read more.
Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the sons of Israel.

"Whereupon as I traveled to Damascus with the authority and commission from the chief priests, at noon, O King, I saw on the way a light from the sky, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who traveled with me. When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' read more.
"I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' "He said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But arise, and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you a servant and a witness both of the things which you have seen, and of the things which I will reveal to you; delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom I send you, to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'

For I speak to you who are Gentiles. Since then as I am an apostle to Gentiles, I glorify my ministry; Verse ConceptsGentiles, In NtMission, Of The ChurchPreaching Gospel To ForeignersGentilesMinistry

For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I severely persecuted the church of God, and tried to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me through his grace, read more.
to reveal his Son to me, that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,

For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles, if it is so that you have heard of the administration of that grace of God which was given me toward you; how that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before in few words, read more.
by which, when you read, you can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ; which in other generations was not made known to the children of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Good News, of which I was made a servant, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power. To me, the very least of all saints, was this grace given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; Verse ConceptsCircumcision, physicalDay 8ScholarsLess Than A Year OldTaking The Law To HeartJewszealots

"I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the Law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are this day. Verse ConceptsEducation, Examples OfPaul, Life OfSelf ConfidenceLegalismSitting At The FeetSchoolsTaking The Law To HeartEducationSchoolzealots

But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he shouted in the council, "Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged." Verse ConceptsHope Object OfHope, As ConfidenceResurrection, Of BelieversSanhedrinStandingJewish SectsThe Dead Are Raisedgroupszealotspharisees

Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Verse ConceptsChildren Of Abrahamcats

having known me from the first, if they are willing to testify, that after the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. Verse ConceptsKnowing PeopleHeresiesJudaismSectsStrictness

I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. Verse ConceptsLegalismPharisees, Beliefs OfNew Age BeliefsResolving Conflictzealotscredibility

(For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders. Verse ConceptsAblutionelders, as community leadersJews, TheCharacteristics Of PhariseesHow People EatThe Elderlypharisees

I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. Verse ConceptsLegalismPharisees, Beliefs OfNew Age BeliefsResolving Conflictzealotscredibility

The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?" He said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' read more.
"For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men."

"I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the Law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are this day. Verse ConceptsEducation, Examples OfPaul, Life OfSelf ConfidenceLegalismSitting At The FeetSchoolsTaking The Law To HeartEducationSchoolzealots

Paul wanted to have him go out with him, and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts; for they all knew that his father was a Greek. Verse ConceptsCircumcision, physicalMissionary Work, Examples OfGoing TogetherIsrael HardenedJews

They, when they heard it, glorified God. They said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law. Verse ConceptsZealMany In The ChurchSalvation For IsraelSpecific Praising Of GodTaking The Law To Heartzealots

But some of the Pharisees said to them, "Why do you do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath day?" Verse ConceptsComplaintsConfrontationRitualLegalismDisputesPharisees Concerned About ChristThe Sabbath And Christ

I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. Verse ConceptsLegalismPharisees, Beliefs OfNew Age BeliefsResolving Conflictzealotscredibility

But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the Law of Moses." Verse ConceptsExclusivenessCircumcision, physicalBelieversHeresiesJudaismSectsNecessity Of CircumcisionThose Who Believed In ChristKeep The Commandments!pharisees

And the Pharisees said to him, "Look, why do they do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath day?" Verse ConceptsComplaintsRitualLegalismPharisees Concerned About ChristThe Sabbath And Christ

The ruler of the synagogue, being indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the crowd, "There are six days in which men ought to work. Therefore come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day." Verse ConceptsDays, Natural UsePharisees, Beliefs OfLegalismSix DaysAngry With ChristDoing One's WorkJesus HealingThe Sabbath And ChristJesus Healing On Sabbath

So the Jewish leaders said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath. It is not lawful for you to carry the mat." Verse ConceptsThe Sabbath And Christrelaxation

For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. Verse ConceptsZeal, Without KnowledgeUnwise ZealBeing Devoted to God

They zealously seek you, but for no good purpose; they desire to alienate you, that you may be zealous for them. Verse ConceptsExcommunicationmotives

For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I severely persecuted the church of God, and tried to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.


They, when they heard it, glorified God. They said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law. Verse ConceptsZealMany In The ChurchSalvation For IsraelSpecific Praising Of GodTaking The Law To Heartzealots

Do not be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself? Verse ConceptsBalance In LifeDestroying OneselfFalse WisdomRighteousnessHolier Than ThouBeing YourselfWork EthicEthicsactingplagiarismoverworking

Then a scribe came, and said to him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."

As they went on the way, a certain man said to him, "I want to follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

Some indeed proclaim Christ even out of envy and strife, and some also out of good will. The former insincerely proclaim Christ from selfish ambition, thinking that they add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the Good News. read more.
What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether out of false motives or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. I rejoice in this, yes, and will rejoice.

They, when they heard it, glorified God. They said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law. Verse ConceptsZealMany In The ChurchSalvation For IsraelSpecific Praising Of GodTaking The Law To Heartzealots

I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. Verse ConceptsLegalismPharisees, Beliefs OfNew Age BeliefsResolving Conflictzealotscredibility

For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. Verse ConceptsZeal, Without KnowledgeUnwise ZealBeing Devoted to God

"I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the Law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are this day. Verse ConceptsEducation, Examples OfPaul, Life OfSelf ConfidenceLegalismSitting At The FeetSchoolsTaking The Law To HeartEducationSchoolzealots

Paul wanted to have him go out with him, and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts; for they all knew that his father was a Greek. Verse ConceptsCircumcision, physicalMissionary Work, Examples OfGoing TogetherIsrael HardenedJews

They, when they heard it, glorified God. They said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law. Verse ConceptsZealMany In The ChurchSalvation For IsraelSpecific Praising Of GodTaking The Law To Heartzealots

But some of the Pharisees said to them, "Why do you do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath day?" Verse ConceptsComplaintsConfrontationRitualLegalismDisputesPharisees Concerned About ChristThe Sabbath And Christ

I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. Verse ConceptsLegalismPharisees, Beliefs OfNew Age BeliefsResolving Conflictzealotscredibility

But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the Law of Moses." Verse ConceptsExclusivenessCircumcision, physicalBelieversHeresiesJudaismSectsNecessity Of CircumcisionThose Who Believed In ChristKeep The Commandments!pharisees

And the Pharisees said to him, "Look, why do they do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath day?" Verse ConceptsComplaintsRitualLegalismPharisees Concerned About ChristThe Sabbath And Christ

The ruler of the synagogue, being indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the crowd, "There are six days in which men ought to work. Therefore come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day." Verse ConceptsDays, Natural UsePharisees, Beliefs OfLegalismSix DaysAngry With ChristDoing One's WorkJesus HealingThe Sabbath And ChristJesus Healing On Sabbath

So the Jewish leaders said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath. It is not lawful for you to carry the mat." Verse ConceptsThe Sabbath And Christrelaxation

For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. Verse ConceptsZeal, Without KnowledgeUnwise ZealBeing Devoted to God