Acts 26:4

Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh in ceasing to pray for you: but I will instruct you in the good and the right way.

Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the offspring of Abraham? So am I.

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,

But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little while.

The Lord said to him, “Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judah for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying,

night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

For Yahweh will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased Yahweh to make you a people for himself.

On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house and dragged both men and women off to prison.

They, when they heard it, glorified God. They said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law.

But Paul said, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city. I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.”

But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”

having known me from the first, if they are willing to testify, that after the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

But you know the proof of him, that as a child serves a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the Good News.

If you instruct the brothers of these things, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which you have followed.

But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

All who heard him were amazed, and said, “Isn’t this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before the chief priests!”

Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, “Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until today.”

But this I confess to you, that after the Way, which they call a sect, so I serve the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets;

But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was given to me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

I thank my God whenever I remember you,

The things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same things to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

He who is eight days old will be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he who is born in the house, or bought with money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring.

Yes, he loves the people. All his saints are in your hand. They sat down at your feet. Each receives your words.

Elisha came again to Gilgal. There was a famine in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him; and he said to his servant, “Get the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.”

Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service.

But some of those who were of the synagogue called “The Libertines”, and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen.

In this I also practice always having a conscience void of offense toward God and men.

For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God.

For you have heard of my way of living in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the assembly of God and ravaged it.

if it is so that you have heard of the administration of that grace of God which was given me toward you,

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

We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

You are witnesses with God how holy, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved ourselves toward you who believe.

but the goal of this command is love, out of a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith,

although I used to be a blasphemer, a persecutor, and insolent. However, I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all patience and teaching.

In all things be showing yourself an example of good works. In your teaching, be showing integrity, seriousness, incorruptibility,

I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,

Beloved, don’t imitate that which is evil, but that which is good. He who does good is of God. He who does evil hasn’t seen God.

“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf. In the morning he will devour the prey. At evening he will divide the plunder.”

In the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

“Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,

that every man should let his male servant, and every man his female servant, who is a Hebrew or a Hebrewess, go free; that no one should make bondservants of them, of a Jew his brother.

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s dainties, nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

He said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear Yahweh, the God of heaven, who has made the sea and the dry land.”

They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.

who, when he had come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord.

When they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you all the time,

“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict tradition of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are today.

I also did this in Jerusalem. I both shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were put to death I gave my vote against them.

For there stood by me this night an angel, belonging to the God whose I am and whom I serve,

I tell the truth in Christ. I am not lying, my conscience testifying with me in the Holy Spirit

I ask then, did God reject his people? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

rejoicing in hope; enduring in troubles; continuing steadfastly in prayer;

Because of this I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every assembly.

For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.

When I therefore was thus determined, did I show fickleness? Or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be the “Yes, yes” and the “No, no?”

I advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

don’t cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers,

that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;

circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;

and that our Good News came to you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we showed ourselves to be among you for your sake.

As I urged you when I was going into Macedonia, stay at Ephesus that you might command certain men not to teach a different doctrine,

holding faith and a good conscience, which some having thrust away made a shipwreck concerning the faith,

I thank God, whom I serve as my forefathers did, with a pure conscience. How unceasing is my memory of you in my petitions, night and day

But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness,

Therefore since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness,