as to zeal,a persecutorof the church;as to the righteousnesswhich is in the Law,foundblameless.
So the kingcalledthe Gibeonitesand spoketo them (now the Gibeoniteswere not of the sonsof Israelbut of the remnantof the Amorites,and the sonsof Israelmadea covenantwith them, but Saulhad soughtto killthem in his zealfor the sonsof Israeland Judah).
He said,"Comewith me and seemy zealfor the LORD."So he made him ridein his chariot.
Do not be excessivelyrighteousand do not be overlywise.Whyshould you ruinyourself?
"Orifthe rawfleshturnsagainand is changedto white,then he shall cometo the priest,
"Woeto you, scribesand Pharisees,hypocrites!For you cleanthe outsideof the cupand of the dish,but insidethey are fullof robberyand self-indulgence.
"For I sayto you that unlessyour righteousnesssurpasses[that] of the scribesand Pharisees,you will not enterthe kingdomof heaven.
They were bothrighteousin the sightof God,walkingblamelesslyin allthe commandmentsand requirementsof the Lord.
And when they heardit they [began] glorifyingGod;and they saidto him, "You see,brother,how manythousandsthere are amongthe Jewsof thosewho have believed,and they are allzealousfor the Law;
as alsothe high priestand allthe Council of the elderscan testify.From them I alsoreceivedlettersto the brethren,and startedoff for Damascusin order to bringeventhosewho were thereto Jerusalemas prisonersto be punished.
since they have knownabout me for a long time,ifthey are willingto testify,that I lived[as] a Phariseeaccordingto the strictestsectof our religion.
But Saul[began] ravagingthe church,enteringhouseafterhouse,and draggingoff menand women,he would putthem in prison.
I was oncealiveapartfrom the Law;but when the commandmentcame,sinbecame aliveand I died;
Giveno offenseeitherto Jewsorto Greeksorto the churchof God;
For I amthe leastof the apostles,and not fitto be calledan apostle,becauseI persecutedthe churchof God.
sothat you will proveyourselves to be blamelessand innocent,childrenof Godabove reproachin the midstof a crookedand perversegeneration,amongwhomyou appearas lightsin the world,
and may be foundin Him, not havinga righteousnessof my ownderivedfrom [the] Law,but that which is throughfaithin Christ,the righteousnesswhich [comes] from Godon the basisof faith,
even though I was formerlya blasphemerand a persecutorand a violent aggressor.YetI was shown mercybecauseI actedignorantlyin unbelief;
Then the menof the citysaidto Joash,"Bringout your son,that he may die,for he has torndownthe altarof Baal,and indeed,he has cutdownthe Asherahwhichwas besideit."
