(The people of Gibeon were not Israelites; they were a small group of Amorites whom the Israelites had promised to protect, but Saul had tried to destroy them because of his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah.)

saying, "Come with me and see for yourself how devoted I am to the LORD." And they rode on together to Samaria.

After hearing him, they all praised God. Then they said, "Brother Paul, you can see how many thousands of Jews have become believers, and how devoted they all are to the Law.

I can assure you that they are deeply devoted to God; but their devotion is not based on true knowledge.

You have been told how I used to live when I was devoted to the Jewish religion, how I persecuted without mercy the church of God and did my best to destroy it.

I was ahead of most other Jews of my age in my practice of the Jewish religion, and was much more devoted to the traditions of our ancestors.

But Saul tried to destroy the church; going from house to house, he dragged out the believers, both men and women, and threw them into jail.

In the meantime Saul kept up his violent threats of murder against the followers of the Lord. He went to the High Priest

As Saul was coming near the city of Damascus, suddenly a light from the sky flashed around him.

"Who are you, Lord?" he asked. "I am Jesus, whom you persecute," the voice said.

The men who were traveling with Saul had stopped, not saying a word; they heard the voice but could not see anyone.

For three days he was not able to see, and during that time he did not eat or drink anything.

The Lord said to him, "Get ready and go to Straight Street, and at the house of Judas ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying,

Ananias answered, "Lord, many people have told me about this man and about all the terrible things he has done to your people in Jerusalem.

The Lord said to him, "Go, because I have chosen him to serve me, to make my name known to Gentiles and kings and to the people of Israel.

So Ananias went, entered the house where Saul was, and placed his hands on him. "Brother Saul," he said, "the Lord has sent me---Jesus himself, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here. He sent me so that you might see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

and after he had eaten, his strength came back. Saul stayed for a few days with the believers in Damascus.

"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up here in Jerusalem as a student of Gamaliel. I received strict instruction in the Law of our ancestors and was just as dedicated to God as are all of you who are here today.

I persecuted to the death the people who followed this Way. I arrested men and women and threw them into prison.

"I myself thought that I should do everything I could against the cause of Jesus of Nazareth.

That is what I did in Jerusalem. I received authority from the chief priests and put many of God's people in prison; and when they were sentenced to death, I also voted against them.

For I am the least of all the apostles---I do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted God's church.

even though in the past I spoke evil of him and persecuted and insulted him. But God was merciful to me because I did not yet have faith and so did not know what I was doing.

I tell you, then, that you will be able to enter the Kingdom of heaven only if you are more faithful than the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees in doing what God requires.

"How terrible for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You clean the outside of your cup and plate, while the inside is full of what you have gotten by violence and selfishness.

"Teacher," the man said, "ever since I was young, I have obeyed all these commandments."

Jesus looked straight at him with love and said, "You need only one thing. Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me."

They both lived good lives in God's sight and obeyed fully all the Lord's laws and commands.

They have always known, if they are willing to testify, that from the very first I have lived as a member of the strictest party of our religion, the Pharisees.

I myself was once alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life,

while God's people, who were seeking a law that would put them right with God, did not find it.

And why not? Because they did not depend on faith but on what they did. And so they stumbled over the "stumbling stone"

I can assure you that they are deeply devoted to God; but their devotion is not based on true knowledge.

For Christ has brought the Law to an end, so that everyone who believes is put right with God.