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 a messenger of the Lord spake to Philip, saying, Arise, and go at noon in the way going down from Jerusalem to Gaza, (this is desert.) And having risen, he went: and, behold, an Ethiopian man, an eunuch of great power of Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come going to worship in Jerusalem, read more. And he was returning, and sitting in his chariot he read the prophet Esaias. And the Spirit said to Philip, Come near, and be joined to this chariot. And Philip running near, heard him reading the prophet Esaias, and he said, Truly knowest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except somebody guide me? And he called upon Philip coming up to sit with him. And the passage of the writing which he read was this, As a sheep for slaughter was he brought; and as a lamb before him shearing it dumb, so he opened not his mouth: In his humiliation was his judgment taken away: and his generation who shall recount? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch having answered Philip, said, I pray thee, of whom speaks the prophet this of himself or of some other? And Philip having opened his mouth, and begun from this writing, announced to him the good news, Jesus. And as they went in the way, they came to some water: and the eunuch said, Behold water; what hinders me to be immersed? And Philip said, If thou believest from the whole heart, it is lawful. And having answered, he said, I believe the Son of God to be Jesus Christ. And he ordered the chariot to stand: and 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 carried away Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more: for he went his way rejoicing. And Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he announced the good news to all of the cities, even till he came to Cesarea.
And Saul, yet breathing out threatening and murder against the disciples of the Lord, having come to the chief priest, He asked of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues, so that if he find certain men being of the way, and also women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. read more. And in going, it was he drawing near to Damascus: and suddenly a light from heaven flashed with lightning around him: And having fallen upon the earth, he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, Why drivest thou me out? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom thou drivest out: hard for thee to kick against goads. And he trembling and amazed said, Lord, What wilt thou me to do? And the Lord to him, Arise, and come into the city, and it shall be spoken to thee what thou must do. And the men journeying with him stood astonished, hearing the voice truly, and seeing no one. And Saul was raised up from the earth; and his eyes being opened, he saw no one: and leading him by the hand, they brought him to Damascus. And he was three days not seeing, and he ate not, nor drank. And a certain disciple was in Damascus, Ananias by name; and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I, Lord. And the Lord to him, Having risen, go thou to the street called Straight, and seek in the house of Judas Saul by name, of Tarsus; for, behold, he prays, And he saw in a vision a man, by name Ananias, coming in, and having put hand upon him, so that he might look up and see again. And Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how many evils he did to thy holy ones in Jerusalem: And here has he authority from the chief priests to bind all those calling on thy name. And the Lord said to him, Go: for he is a vessel of choice to me, to lift up my name before nations, and kings, and the sons of Israel: For I will show him what he must suffer for my name. And Ananias departed, and came into the house; and having put hands upon him said, Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me, Jesus, he seen to thee in the way which thou earnest, so that thou mightest look up, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And quickly there fell from his eyes as scales: and he immediately looked up, and having risen, he was immersed. And having taken food, he was strong. And Saul was in Damascus with the disciples certain days. And quickly in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, that he is the Son of God. And all they hearing were affected in mind, and said: Is not this he having laid waste in Jerusalem those calling upon this name, and he has come here for this, that he might bring them having been bound to the chief priests? And Saul was the more strengthened, and confounded the Jews dwelling in Damascus, demonstrating that this is the Christ.
Truly therefore the sent by the church passed through Phenice and Samaria, relating the turning back of the nations: and they made great joy to all the brethren.
And the day of the sabbaths we came out of the city by the river, where prayer was customary to be; and having sat down, we spake to the women come together. And a certain woman, by name Lydia, a dealer in purple garments, of the city of Thyatira, worshipping God, heard: whose heart the Lord opened to attend to things spoken by Paul. read more. And when she was immersed, and her house, she besought, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, having come into my house, remain. And she forced us.
And her lords having seen that the hope of their gain went out, taking Paul and Silas, they drew to the assembly to the rulers, And having brought them to the generals, they said, These the men who cause disturbance to our city, being Jews, read more. And they announce customs, which it is not lawful for us to receive, nor do, being Romans. And the crowd set together against them: and the generals having rent their garments, commanded to scourge with rods. And many blows having been put upon them, they cast into prison, having commanded the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such an order, cast them into the inner prison, and placed their feet firmly in wood. And at midnight Paul and Silas praying, praised God: and the imprisoned heard them. And suddenly was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and the bonds of all were let loose. And the jailor being awakened, and having seen the doors of the prison opened, having drawn a sword, was about to kill himself, supposing the imprisoned to have fled. And Paul called with a great voice, saying, Thou shouldest do no injury to thyself; for we are all here. And having asked for a light, he rushed in, and being trembling, fell before Paul and Silas, And bringing them out, he said, Lords, what must I do that I might be saved And they said, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake to him the word of the Lord, and to all in his house. And having taken them in that hour of the night, he washed out the blows; and was immersed, he and all his, immediately. And having brought them up to his house, he set a table before, and rejoiced with the entire household, having believed God.
To open their eyes, to turn them back from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, fur them to receive remission of sins, and inheritance with the consecrated by faith in me.
Hastings
The noun occurs only in Ac 15:3 (epistroph
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If thou shalt hear to the voice of Jehovah thy God to watch his commands and his laws written in the book of this law, if thou shalt turn back to Jehovah thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
I will teach those transgressing, thy ways, and those sinning shall turn back to thee.
The unjust one shall forsake his way, and the man of vanity his purposes, and turn back to Jehovah, and he will pity him, and to our God, for he will multiply to forgive.
For this, say to the house of Israel, Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Turn ye back, and turn away from your blocks; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.
For this I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his ways, says the Lord Jehovah: Turn back and withdraw from all your transgressions; and iniquity shall not be to you for a stumbling block.
For the heart of this people has been thickened, and with their ears have they heard heavily, and their eyes have they closed; lest perhaps they should see with the eyes, and hear with the ears, and understand with the heart, and turn back, and I should heal them.
And said, Truly I say to you, Except ye be turned, and become as young children, ye should not come into the kingdom of the heavens.
And said, Truly I say to you, Except ye be turned, and become as young children, ye should not come into the kingdom of the heavens.
That seeing they might see, and not know; and hearing they might hear, and not understand; lest they turn back, and their sins be remitted to them.
For which I say to thee, Her many sins are remitted; for she loved much: and he to whom little is remitted, loves little.
And having come to himself, he said, Many hired of my father abound in loaves, and I am perishing with hunger!
And Zaccheus having stood, said to the Lord, Behold, the half of my possessions, Lord, I give to the poor; and if I have made any false accusation against any one, I give back fourfold.
And I have supplicated for thee that thy faith fail not: and thou, when having turned back, confirm thy brethren.
And I have supplicated for thee that thy faith fail not: and thou, when having turned back, confirm thy brethren.
And he said to Jesus, Remember me, Lord, when thou shouldest come into thy kingdom. And Jesus said to him, Truly I say to you, This day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
He has blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart: lest they see with the eyes, and understand with the heart, and should turn back, and I should heal them.
Then truly they having gladly received his word were immersed: and in that day were added about three thousand souls.
Praising God, and having favor with the whole people. And in the day the Lord added the saved to the church.
Therefore repent, and return, for your sins to be wiped out, so that times of refreshment might come from the face of the Lord;
Therefore repent, and return, for your sins to be wiped out, so that times of refreshment might come from the face of the Lord;
Therefore repent, and return, for your sins to be wiped out, so that times of refreshment might come from the face of the Lord;
And Philip having come down to the city of Samaria, proclaimed Christ to them. And the crowds unanimously attended to things spoken by Philip, in their hearing and seeing the signs which he did.
And when they believed Philip announcing the good news of the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were immersed, both men and women.
And in going, it was he drawing near to Damascus: and suddenly a light from heaven flashed with lightning around him:
And all dwelling in Lydda and Saron saw him, who turned back to the Lord.
And the hand of the Lord was with them; and a great number having believed, turned to the Lord.
And the hand of the Lord was with them; and a great number having believed, turned to the Lord.
And saying, Men, why do ye these things? We also are men of similar passions with you, announcing good news to turn you back from these vanities to the living God, who made heaven, and earth, and sea, and all in them:
Truly therefore the sent by the church passed through Phenice and Samaria, relating the turning back of the nations: and they made great joy to all the brethren.
Truly therefore the sent by the church passed through Phenice and Samaria, relating the turning back of the nations: and they made great joy to all the brethren.
And bringing them out, he said, Lords, what must I do that I might be saved
Testifying to both Jews, and Greeks, repentance towards God, and the faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ.
But to them in Damascus first, and Jerusalem, and all the country of Judea, and to the nations, announcing to change the mind, and to turn back to God, doing works worthy of change of mind.
For the heart of this people was thickened, and with ears heard they heavily, and their eyes they closed; lest they should see with the eyes, and with ears should hear, and with the heart they should understand, and turn back, and I should heal them.
And whenever it turn to the Lord, the veil is 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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I will teach those transgressing, thy ways, and those sinning shall turn back to thee.
Zion shall be ransomed with judgment and her captivity with justice.
Make the heart of this people fat and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes, lest they shall see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and their heart shall understand and turn back and be healed to them.
Then thou shalt see and flow together, and thy heart shall fear and be enlarged; for the multitude of the sea shall turn to thee, the strength of the nations shall come to thee.
And said, Truly I say to you, Except ye be turned, and become as young children, ye should not come into the kingdom of the heavens.
Therefore repent, and return, for your sins to be wiped out, so that times of refreshment might come from the face of the Lord;
Truly therefore the sent by the church passed through Phenice and Samaria, relating the turning back of the nations: and they made great joy to all the brethren.
For they themselves proclaim of us what entrance we have to you, and how ye turned to God from images 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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To open their eyes, to turn them back from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, fur them to receive remission of sins, and inheritance with the consecrated by faith in me.