Bible Verses About Religious Zeal

to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the authority of the Adversary unto God, for their receiving forgiveness of sins, and a lot among those having been sanctified, by faith that is toward me.

`Whereupon, king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,

but to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem, to all the region also of Judea, and to the nations, I was preaching to reform, and to turn back unto God, doing works worthy of reformation;

because of these things the Jews--having caught me in the temple--were endeavouring to kill me .

`Having obtained, therefore, help from God, till this day, I have stood witnessing both to small and to great, saying nothing besides the things that both the prophets and Moses spake of as about to come,

that the Christ is to suffer, whether first by a rising from the dead, he is about to proclaim light to the people and to the nations.'

And, he thus making a defence, Festus with a loud voice said, `Thou art mad, Paul; much learning doth turn thee mad;'

and he saith, `I am not mad, most noble Festus, but of truth and soberness the sayings I speak forth;

for the king doth know concerning these things, before whom also I speak boldly, for none of these things, I am persuaded, are hidden from him; for this thing hath not been done in a corner;

thou dost believe, king Agrippa, the prophets? I have known that thou dost believe!'

And Agrippa said unto Paul, `In a little thou dost persuade me to become a Christian!'

and Paul said, `I would have wished to God, both in a little, and in much, not only thee, but also all those hearing me to-day, to become such as I also am--except these bonds.'

and having appointed him a day, they came, more of them unto him, to the lodging, to whom he was expounding, testifying fully the reign of God, persuading them also of the things concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses, and the prophets, from morning till evening,

and, some, indeed, were believing the things spoken, and some were not believing.

And not being agreed with one another, they were going away, Paul having spoken one word--`Well did the Holy Spirit speak through Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers,

saying, Go on unto this people and say, With hearing ye shall hear, and ye shall not understand, and seeing ye shall see, and ye shall not perceive,

for made gross was the heart of this people, and with the ears they heard heavily, and their eyes they did close, lest they may see with the eyes, and with the heart may understand, and be turned back, and I may heal them.

`Be it known, therefore, to you, that to the nations was sent the salvation of God, these also will hear it;'

and Paul remained an entire two years in his own hired house , and was receiving all those coming in unto him,

preaching the reign of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness--unforbidden.

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, a called apostle, having been separated to the good news of God--

first, indeed, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is proclaimed in the whole world;

for God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the good news of His Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you,

always in my prayers beseeching, if by any means now at length I shall have a prosperous journey, by the will of God, to come unto you,

for I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, that ye may be established;