Bible Verses About Religious Zeal

to open their eyes; so that they will turn from darkness to light, from the power of the Adversary to God, and thus receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who have been separated for holiness by putting their trust in me.’

“So, King Agrippa, I did not disobey the vision from heaven!

On the contrary, I announced first in Dammesek, then in Yerushalayim and throughout Y’hudah, and also to the Goyim, that they should turn from their sins to God and then do deeds consistent with that repentance.

It was because of these things that Jews seized me in the Temple and tried to kill me.

However, I have had God’s help; so to this day, I stand testifying to both small and great, saying nothing but what both the prophets and Moshe said would happen —

that the Messiah would die, and that he, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to both the People and the Goyim.”

But just as he reached this point in his defense, Festus shouted at the top of his voice, “Sha’ul, you’re out of your mind! So much learning is driving you crazy!”

But Sha’ul said, “No, I am not ‘crazy,’ Festus, your Excellency; on the contrary, I am speaking words of truth and sanity.

For the king understands these matters, so to him I express myself freely, because I am sure that none of these things have been hidden from him. After all, they didn’t happen in some back alley.

King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe!”

Agrippa said to Sha’ul, “In this short time, you’re trying to convince me to become Messianic?”

Sha’ul replied, “Whether it takes a short time or a long time, I wish to God that not only you, but also everyone hearing me today, might become just like me except for these chains!”

So they arranged a day with him and came to his quarters in large numbers. From morning until evening he explained the matter to them, giving a thorough witness about the Kingdom of God and making use of both the Torah of Moshe and the Prophets to persuade them about Yeshua.

Some were convinced by what he said,

while others refused to believe. So they left, disagreeing among themselves, after Sha’ul had made one final statement: “The Ruach HaKodesh spoke well in saying to your fathers through Yesha‘yahu the prophet,

‘Go to this people and say, “You will keep on hearing but never understand, and you will keep on seeing but never perceive,

because the heart of this people has grown thick — with their ears they barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, for fear that they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and do t’shuvah, so that I could heal them.”’

Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Goyim, and they will listen!”

Sha’ul remained two whole years in a place he rented for himself; and he continued receiving all who came to see him,

openly and without hindrance proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Yeshua the Messiah.

From: Sha’ul, a slave of the Messiah Yeshua, an emissary because I was called and set apart for the Good News of God.

First, I thank my God through Yeshua the Messiah for all of you, because the report of your trust is spreading throughout the whole world.

For God, whom I serve in my spirit by spreading the Good News about his Son, is my witness that I regularly remember you

in my prayers; and I always pray that somehow, now or in the future, I might, by God’s will, succeed in coming to visit you.

For I long to see you, so that I might share with you some spiritual gift that can make you stronger —