Reference: Conversion
Easton
(1) the turning of a sinner to God (Ac 15:3). In a general sense the heathen are said to be "converted" when they abandon heathenism and embrace the Christian faith; and in a more special sense men are converted when, by the influence of divine grace in their souls, their whole life is changed, old things pass away, and all things become new (Ac 26:18). Thus we speak of the conversion of the Philippian jailer (Ac 16:19-34), of Paul (Ac 9:1-22), of the Ethiopian treasurer (Ac 8:26-40), of Cornelius (10), of Lydia (Ac 16:13-15), and others. (See Regeneration.)
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And an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying: Arise, and go toward the south, to the road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza; this is desert. And he arose and went. And be hold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, read more. was returning, and, sitting in his chariot, read the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip: Go forward and join your self to this chariot. And Philip ran forward, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah; and he said: Do you understand what you are reading? He answered: How can I, unless some one instruct me? And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. The passage of the scripture which he was reading, was this: As a sheep for the slaughter was he led; and as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, so opened he not his mouth in his humiliation. The sentence against him was taken away; but who shall describe the men of his generation? For his life was taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said: I pray you, of whom speaks the prophet this? Of himself, or of some other man? And Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached to him Jesus. And as they went along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said: See, here is water; what hinders me from being immersed? #VALUE! And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he immersed him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus, and, passing through, he preached the gospel in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea
And Saul, still breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the chief priest, and asked of him letters to Damascus, for the synagogues, that, if he should find any who were of this persuasion, either men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. read more. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus; and suddenly there shone round about him a light from heaven. And when he had fallen to the earth, he heard a voice saying to him: Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? He answered: "Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said: I am Jesus, whom you persecute. But rise, and go into the city, and it shall be told you what you must do. The men who journeyed with him stood amazed; for they heard a voice, but saw no one. And Saul arose from the earth, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one; but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision: Ananias. He answered: Behold me, Lord. And the Lord said to him: Arise, and go into the street that is called Straight, and in quire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus: for behold, he is praying; and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias, coming in and laying his hand on him, that he may receive his sight. But Ananias answered: Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much evil he has done to thy saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name. But the Lord said to him: Go; for he is a vessel chosen by me to bear my name before nations and kings, and the sons of Israel. For I will show him what great things he must suffer for my name. And Ananias went, and entered the house, and laying his hands on him, said: Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me, that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he instantly received his sight; and he arose, and was immersed. And, having taken food, he was strengthened. And he was with the disciples in Damascus for some days; and immediately he preached Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Sou of God. And all that heard him were astonished, and said: Is not this he who destroyed in Jerusalem those that call on this name, and who has come hither for this purpose, that he might carry them bound to the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confuted the Jews that dwelt in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
Being, therefore, con ducted on their journey by the church, they passed through Phenicia and Samaria, making known the conversion of the Gentiles; and they gave great joy to all the brethren.
and on the sabbath-day we went out of the city to the side of a river, where, as usual, was the house of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. And a certain woman, named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God, heard; whose heart the Lord opened to attend to the things that were spoken by Paul. read more. And when she and her household had been immersed, she be sought us, saying: If you judge me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and make it your home. And she con strained us.
And when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the market to the rulers. And having brought them to the magistrates, they said: These men, who are Jews, do greatly trouble our city; read more. and they teach customs which it is not lawful for us, who are Romans, to receive or to observe. And the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates stripped off their clothes, and gave command to beat them with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, and charged the jailer to keep them securely. And having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sung a hymn to God; and the prisoners were listening to them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bonds were loosed. And the jailer, being aroused from sleep, and seeing the doors of the prison open, drew his sword, and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had fled. But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying: Do yourself no harm, for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and trembling, he fell down before Paul and Silas; and, having brought them out, he said: Sirs, what must I do to be saved? They replied: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you and your house shall be saved. And they spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all that were in his house. And he took them at that hour of the night, and washed the blood from their stripes; and he was immersed, himself and all his, immediately. And he brought them into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced, believing in God, with all his house.
in order to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the authority of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins, and an inheritance among the sanctified, by faith in me.
Hastings
The noun occurs only in Ac 15:3 (epistroph
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For the heart of this people has become fat; and with their ears they hear heavily; and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should turn to me, and I should give them health.
and said: Verily I say to you, Unless you turn and become as little children, you can not enter the kingdom of heaven.
and said: Verily I say to you, Unless you turn and become as little children, you can not enter the kingdom of heaven.
that they may surely see, and not perceive; and that they may surely hear, and not understand; lest they should turn to me, and their sins should be forgiven them.
Wherefore, I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much. But he to whom little is forgiven, loves little.
But when he came to himself, he said, How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I am perishing with hunger!
And Zacchaeus stood, and said to the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken from any one by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith fail not. And when you have turned to me again, strengthen your brethren.
But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith fail not. And when you have turned to me again, strengthen your brethren.
And he said to Jesus: remember me, Lord, when thou comest in thy kingdom. And Jesus said to him: Verily I say to you, to-day you shall be with me in paradise.
He has blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and should turn, and I should give them health.
Then they that gladly received his word were immersed, and on that day there were added to them about three thou sand souls.
praising God, and being in favor with all the people. And the Lord added the saved daily to the Church.
Repent, therefore, and turn, in order that your sins may be blotted out, so that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
Repent, therefore, and turn, in order that your sins may be blotted out, so that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
Repent, therefore, and turn, in order that your sins may be blotted out, so that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached the Christ to them. And the multitudes with one mind gave heed to the things which were spoken by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs which he did.
But when they believed Philip, who preached the good news concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were immersed, both men and women.
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus; and suddenly there shone round about him a light from heaven.
And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed, and turned to the Lord.
And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed, and turned to the Lord.
and saying: Men, why are you doing these things? We also are human beings, with passions like your own, and we preach the gospel to you, that you may turn from these vanities to the living God, who made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them;
Being, therefore, con ducted on their journey by the church, they passed through Phenicia and Samaria, making known the conversion of the Gentiles; and they gave great joy to all the brethren.
Being, therefore, con ducted on their journey by the church, they passed through Phenicia and Samaria, making known the conversion of the Gentiles; and they gave great joy to all the brethren.
and, having brought them out, he said: Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
bearing full testimony both to Jews and to Greeks, of the repentance that leads to God, and of the faith that leads to our Lord Jesus Christ.
but announced first to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance.
For the heart of this people has become fat, and with their ears they hear heavily, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should turn, and I should restore them to health.
but whenever their heart shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
Morish
This is from ?????????, 'to turn to.' It is in scripture the real effect that accompanies the new birth, a turning to God. It is beautifully expressed in the case of the Thessalonians, showing how they "turned to the same word God from idols, to serve the living and true God." 1Th 1:9. Paul and Barnabas were able to make known to the saints the 'conversion of the Gentiles.' Ac 15:3. In Peter's address to the Jews he said, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out." Ac 3:19. Without being converted they could not enter the kingdom of heaven. Mt 18:3. The word is used in a somewhat different sense in respect to Peter himself. The Lord, knowing that he would fall under the sifting of Satan, said, "When thou art converted strengthen thy brethren;" that is, when he had returned in contrition, or been restored. In the O.T. the Hebrew words signify the same, 'to be turned,' 'to turn back.' Ps 51:13; Isa 6:10; 60:5: cf. Isa 1:27, margin
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and said: Verily I say to you, Unless you turn and become as little children, you can not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Repent, therefore, and turn, in order that your sins may be blotted out, so that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
Being, therefore, con ducted on their journey by the church, they passed through Phenicia and Samaria, making known the conversion of the Gentiles; and they gave great joy to all the brethren.
For they themselves declare concerning us what kind of entrance we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God,
Watsons
CONVERSION, a change from one state or character to another. Conversion, considered theologically, consists in a renovation of the heart and life, or a being turned from sin and the power of Satan unto God, Ac 26:18; and is produced by the influence of divine grace upon the soul. This is conversion considered as a state of mind; and is opposed both to a careless and unawakened state, and to that state of conscious guilt and slavish dread, accompanied with struggles after a moral deliverance not yet attained, which precedes our justification and regeneration; both of which are usually understood to be comprised in conversion. But this is not the only Scriptural import of the term; for the first turning of the whole heart to God in penitence and prayer is generally termed conversion. In its stricter sense, as given above, it is, however, now generally used by divines.
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in order to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the authority of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins, and an inheritance among the sanctified, by faith in me.