Religious Zeal: Exemplified by Paul

Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.” …

Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and began to speak: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who fear God, listen to me! …

At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue, where they spoke so well that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. …

…men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they assembled the congregation and delivered the letter. …

And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we got ready to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river, where it was customary to find a place of prayer. After sitting down, we spoke to the women who had gathered there.

This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!”

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Then Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house.

As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

…explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he declared.

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols.

So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace with those he met each day.

Then Paul stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that in every way you are very religious. …

Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks alike. …

When they reached Ephesus, Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue there and reasoned with the Jews.

After Paul had spent some time in Antioch, he traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

Then Paul went into the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. …

After these things had happened, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must see Rome as well.”

On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Since Paul was ready to leave the next day, he talked to them and kept on speaking until midnight.

When they came to him, he said, “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I arrived in the province of Asia. …

Therefore be alert and remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.

You yourselves know that these hands of mine have ministered to my own needs and those of my companions.

Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

I do confess to you, however, that I worship the God of our fathers according to the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, …

Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense: …

So they set a day to meet with Paul, and many people came to the place he was staying. He expounded to them from morning to evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets. …

Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him.

Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, and set apart for the gospel of God—

I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit. …

Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is for their salvation.

I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry

…in the hope that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them.

However, I have written you a bold reminder on some points, because of the grace God has given me …

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with words of wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

…but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,

When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. …

Among the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom—but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.

No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began.

And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—as infants in Christ.

I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for solid food. In fact, you are still not ready,

What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role. …

So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. …

If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast. …

No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

…as I also try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.

You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal.

Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, and in which you stand firm. …

For this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.

When I planned this, did I do it carelessly? Or do I make my plans by human standards, so as to say “Yes, yes” and also “No, no”? …

Not that we lord it over your faith, but we are fellow workers with you for your joy, because it is by faith that you stand firm.

Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and a door stood open for me in the Lord, …

And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.

Therefore, since God in His mercy has given us this ministry, we do not lose heart.

Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; …

Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well.

If we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died.

All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.

We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no one can discredit our ministry. …

Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one.

For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh.

We are not overstepping our bounds, as if we had not come to you. Indeed, we were the first to reach you with the gospel of Christ. …

Was it a sin for me to humble myself in order to exalt you, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?

But I will keep on doing what I am doing, in order to undercut those who want an opportunity to be regarded as our equals in the things of which they boast.

For you gladly put up with fools, since you are so wise.

Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. …

That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?

Did I exploit you by anyone I sent you? …

I am afraid that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery.

And I hope you will realize that we have not failed the test. …

Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, was pleased

…to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not rush to consult with flesh and blood,

I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running or had already run in vain.

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.

I fear for you, that my efforts for you may have been in vain.

My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

Now, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.

And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

…for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.

The former, however, preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add to the distress of my chains.

What then is the issue? Just this: that in every way, whether by false motives or true, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

But if I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. So what shall I choose? I do not know. …

Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending together as one for the faith of the gospel,

…as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.

But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

…though I myself could have such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: …

I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances.

I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. In any and every situation I have learned the secret of being filled and being hungry, of having plenty and having need.

Not that I am seeking a gift, but I am looking for the fruit that may be credited to your account.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church.

We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

To this end I also labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me.

For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me face to face,

…because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with great conviction—just as you know we lived among you for your sake.

And you became imitators of us and of the Lord when you welcomed the message with the joy of the Holy Spirit, in spite of your great suffering.

As you are aware, we had already endured suffering and shameful treatment in Philippi. But in the face of strong opposition, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God. …

We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us. …

For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you, …

To this end we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, and especially of those who believe.

I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as did my forefathers, as I constantly remember you night and day in my prayers.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.

…to which I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher. …

…for which I suffer to the extent of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained!

For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

You, however, have observed my teaching, my conduct, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my perseverance,

…my persecutions, and the sufferings that came upon me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.

Pray for us; we are convinced that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.