Being Zealous and Wrong

Have you ever had a moment or even a long period of time when you really thought you were right about something…you were convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that you saw something, heard something, read something…to the point that you were willing to argue about it? Or, more importantly, you followed a particular person or philosophy or even religion, knowing that you were right…except you found out that you were wrong? If you are married and cannot think of a time when this happened, just ask your spouse…they’ll remind you of at least one time.

In Acts 22 Paul is making his defense before the religious leaders in Jerusalem. If you’ve been following along you know that Paul was once a persecutor of the followers of Jesus. Paul states it this way in verses 3-5: 3 “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, 5 as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished. Paul considered himself to be “zealous toward God”. He was passionate about what he believed and he acted accordingly…except he was 100% wrong. After meeting Jesus Paul turns around 180 degrees and begins to follow Jesus. Never mistake intensity for accuracy. You might be zealous for something but be incredibly wrong…and your “speed” of activity might lead to a big crash. Please check your activity against the word of God. Then you’ll know that your zealousness or intensity is putting you in the right direction.