I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.

就热心说，我是逼迫教会的；就律法上的义说，我是无可指摘的。

就热心说，我是迫害教会的；就律法上的义说，我是无可指责的。

就热心说，我是迫害教会的；就律法上的义说，我是无可指责的。

论热心，我曾经迫害教会；论律法要求的义，我是无可指责的。

按着热诚来说，我是迫害教会的；按着律法上的义来说，我是无可指摘的。

按照热心说，我曾经逼迫教会；按照律法上的义说，我是无可指责的。

就熱心說，我是逼迫教會的；就律法上的義說，我是無可指摘的。

就熱心說，我是迫害教會的；就律法上的義說，我是無可指責的。

就熱心說，我是迫害教會的；就律法上的義說，我是無可指責的。

論熱心，我曾經迫害教會；論律法要求的義，我是無可指責的。

按著熱誠來說，我是迫害教會的；按著律法上的義來說，我是無可指摘的。

按熱心說呢、我逼迫教會；按律法上的義說呢、我則無可責備。

按照熱心說，我曾經逼迫教會；按照律法上的義說，我是無可指責的。

依熱衷則窘逐教會、依律中之義、則無間然、

論及熱中、則窘逐教會、論及守法稱義、則無疵可摘、

以律法言、則為法利賽人、以熱心言、則窘逐教會、以守律法之義言、則無過可責、

以熱情論、固迫辱聖教會、不遺餘力者也。以守法論、固無懈可擊也。

as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

As far as being committed is concerned, I opposed and attacked the church. As far as keeping the law is concerned, I kept it perfectly.

as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless.

as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.

concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

as touching zeal, persecuting the church; as touching the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.

regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless.

Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

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

concerning zeal, persecuting the assembly; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.

But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.

You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion— how I violently persecuted God’s church. I did my best to destroy it.I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors.

“ I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene.Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem. Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many believers there to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death.

Then Paul said,“ I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today.And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison.

“ But I warn you— unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

So the king summoned the Gibeonites. They were not part of Israel but were all that was left of the nation of the Amorites. The people of Israel had sworn not to kill them, but Saul, in his zeal for Israel and Judah, had tried to wipe them out.

I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal.For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law.For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands.

After hearing this, they praised God. And then they said,“ You know, dear brother, how many thousands of Jews have also believed, and they all follow the law of Moses very seriously.

“ What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy— full of greed and self indulgence!

But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded.Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path.

At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life,

Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest.He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them— both men and women— back to Jerusalem in chains.As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him.He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him,“ Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”“ Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied,“ I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one!Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus.He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling,“ Ananias!”“ Yes, Lord!” he replied.The Lord said,“ Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now.I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.”“ But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias,“ I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem!And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”But the Lord said,“ Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said,“ Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength. Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days.

If they would admit it, they know that I have been a member of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of our religion.

and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.

For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.

Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations.

“ Teacher,” the man replied,“ I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him.“ There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him.“ Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Then Jehu said,“ Now come with me, and see how devoted I am to the Lord.” So Jehonadab rode along with him.

even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief.