BIBLICAL INDEX References to fasting in New Testament Scripture, whether full or partial, are given in order.
By our Lord for forty days
"And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred." (Matthew 4:2)Not to be practised as the hypocrites do
"(16)Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. (17)But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; (18)That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." (Matthew 6:16-18)By John's disciples and the Pharisees
"(14)Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? (15)And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast." (Matthew 9:14-15)By the guests when the bridegroom has departed
"And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast." (Matthew 9:15)The abstemious character of John the Baptist
"For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil." (Matthew 11:18)State of the four thousand before our Lord fed them
"Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way." (Matthew 15:32)This kind can only come forth by it
"Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." (Matthew 17:21)By John's disciples and the Pharisees
"And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?" (Mark 2:18).By the guests when the bridegroom has departed
"(19)And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. (20)But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days." (Mark 2:19-20)State of the four thousand when our Lord fed them
"And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far." (Mark 8:3)This kind can only come forth by it
"And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting." (Mark 9:29)By Anna worshipping in the temple
"And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day." (Luke 2:37)By our Lord for forty days
"Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered." (Luke 4:2)By John's disciples and the Pharisees
"And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?" (Luke 5:33).By the guests when the bridegroom has departed
"(34)And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? (35)But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days." (Luke 5:34-35)The abstemious character of John the Baptist
"For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil." (Luke 7:33)By the boastful Pharisee, twice a week
"I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess." (Luke 18:12)Saul of Tarsus after his encounter with Christ
"And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink." (Acts 9:9)By Cornelius when an angel appeared to him
"And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing," (Acts 10:30).By prophets and teachers in Antioch
"(2)As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. (3)And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away." (Acts 13:2-3)At the appointment of elders in the churches
"And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed." (Acts 14:23)By Jews under an oath to kill Paul
"(12)And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. (13)And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. (14)And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. (15) Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him. (16)And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul. (17)Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him. (18)So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee. (19)Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me? (20)And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly. (21) But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee." (Acts 23:12-21)Allusion to the annual day of Atonement
"Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them," (Acts 27:9).By those with Paul before the shipwreck
"(21)But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. (33)And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing." (Acts 27:21,33)Abstaining for the sake of a weaker brother
"It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak." (Romans 14:21)In the marriage relationship
"Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency." (I Corinthians 7:5)Abstaining for the sake of a weaker brother
"Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend." (I Corinthians 8:13)An ingredient of the apostolic ministry
"In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;" (II Corinthians 6:5).In the list of Paul's sufferings
"In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness." (II Corinthians 11:27)False teachers commanding abstinence
"Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth." (I Timothy 4:3)