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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Then the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, "Arise and go towards midday unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is in the desert." And he arose and went on, and behold, a man of Ethiopia which was a chamberlain and of great authority with Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, and had the rule of all her treasure, came to Jerusalem for to pray. read more. And as he returned home again, sitting in his chariot, he read Isaiah the prophet. Then the spirit said unto Philip, "Go near, and join thyself to yonder chariot." And Philip ran to him, and heard him read Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Understandest thou what thou readest?" And he said, "How can I, except I had a guide?" And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The tenor of the scripture which he read was this, "He was led as a sheep to be slain: And like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth. Because of his humbleness, he was not esteemed. Who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth." The chamberlain answered Philip, and said, "I pray thee of whom speaketh the prophet this? Of himself? Or of some other man?" And Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water, and the chamberlain said, "See: here is water, what shall let me to be baptised?" Philip said unto him, "If thou believe with all thine heart, thou mayest." He answered, and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God." And he commanded the chariot to stand still. And they went down both into the water: both Philip and also the chamberlain. And he baptised him. And as soon as they were come out of the water, the spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; that the chamberlain saw him no more. And he went on his way rejoicing: but Philip was found at Azotus. And he walked throughout the country preaching in their cities, till he came to Caesarea.
And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues: that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. read more. But as he journeyed, it fortuned that he drew nigh to Damascus, and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" And he said, "What art thou, Lord?" And the Lord said, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it shall be hard for thee to kick against the prick." And he, both trembling and astonished, said, "Lord what wilt thou have me to do?" And the Lord said unto him, "Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou shalt do." The men which journeyed with him on his way stood amazed, for they heard a voice, but saw no man. And Saul arose from the earth, and opened his eyes, but saw no man. Then led they him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias, and to him said the Lord in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Behold, I am here Lord." And the Lord said to him, "Arise, and go into the street which is called straight, and seek in the house of Judas after one called Saul of the city of Tarsus. For behold, he prayeth; And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in unto him; And putting his hands on him, that he might receive his sight." Then Ananias answered, "Lord I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: and here he hath authority of the high priests to bind all that call on thy name." The Lord said unto him, "Go thy ways: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the gentiles, and kings and the children of Israel: For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake." Ananias went his way and entered into the house and put his hands on him and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight and be filled with the holy ghost." And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales and he received his sight, and arose and was baptised. And received meat and was comforted. Then was Saul a certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the Synagogues how that he was the son of God. All that heard him were amazed and said, "Is not this he that spoiled them which called on this name in Jerusalem? And came hither for the intent that he should bring them bound unto the high priests?" But Saul increased in strength; And confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus affirming that this was very Christ.
And after they were brought on their way by the congregation, they passed over Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy unto all the brethren.
And on the Sabbath days, we went out of the city besides a river where men were wont to pray, and we sat down and spake unto the women which thither resorted. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, gave us audience: whose heart the Lord opened that she attended unto the things which Paul spake. read more. When she was baptised, and her household, she besought us saying, "If ye think that I believe on the Lord come into my house, and abide there." And she constrained us.
And when her master and mistress saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, and brought them to the officers, saying, "These men trouble our city, which are Jews read more. and preach ordinances which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, seeing we are Romans." And the people ran on them, and the officers rent their clothes, and commanded them to be beaten with rods, and when they had beaten them sore, they cast them into prison commanding the jailer to keep them surely. Which jailer, when he had received such commandment, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. At midnight, Paul and Silas prayed, and lauded God. And the prisoners heard them. And suddenly, there was a great earthquake, so that the foundation of the prison was shaken, and by and by all the doors opened, and every man's bonds were loosed. When the keeper of the prison waked out of his sleep, and saw the prison doors open, he drew out his sword and would have killed himself, supposing the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice saying, "Do thyself no harm, for we are all here." Then he called for a light and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved and thy household." And they preached unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds, and was baptised, with all that belonged unto him, straightway. When he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and joyed that he with all his household believed on God.
to open their eyes that they might turn from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith in me.'
Hastings
The noun occurs only in Ac 15:3 (epistroph
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If thou hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and ordinances which are written in the book of this law, if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart and all thy soul.
Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked, that sinners may be converted unto thee.
Let the ungodly man forsake his ways and the unrighteous his imaginations, and turn again unto the LORD: so shall he be merciful unto him; and to our God, for he is ready to forgive.
Wherefore, tell the house of Israel, 'Thus sayeth the LORD God: Be converted, forsake your idols, and turn your faces from all your abominations.
"As for me, I will judge every man, according to his ways, O ye house of Israel, sayeth the LORD God. Wherefore be converted, and turn you clean from all your wickedness, so shall there no sin do you harm.
For this people's hearts are waxed gross. And their ears were dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their hearts, and should turn, that I might heal them.
and said, "Verily, I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as children, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.
and said, "Verily, I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as children, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.
that when they see, they shall see, and not discern: and when they hear they shall hear, and not understand: lest at any time they should turn, and their sins should be forgiven them."
Wherefore I say unto thee, Many sins are forgiven her, for she loved much. To whom less is forgiven, the same doeth less love."
Then he came to himself and said, 'How many hired servants at my father's have bread enough, and I die for hunger.
And Zacchaeus stood forth and said unto the Lord, "Behold Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have done any man wrong, I will restore him four fold."
But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not. And when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."
But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not. And when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."
And he said unto Jesus, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." And Jesus said unto him, "Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise."
"He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their hearts: that they should not see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and should be converted and I should heal them."
Then they that gladly received his preaching were baptised; And the same day, there were added unto them about a three thousand souls.
and had favour with all the people, and the Lord added to the congregation daily such as should be saved.
Repent ye, therefore, and turn: that your sins may be done away when the time of refreshing cometh, which we shall have of the presence of the Lord,
Repent ye, therefore, and turn: that your sins may be done away when the time of refreshing cometh, which we shall have of the presence of the Lord,
Repent ye, therefore, and turn: that your sins may be done away when the time of refreshing cometh, which we shall have of the presence of the Lord,
Then came Philip into a city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people gave heed unto those things which Philip spake with one accord, in that they heard and saw the miracles which he did.
But as soon as they believed Philip's preaching of the kingdom of God and of the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised: both men and women.
But as he journeyed, it fortuned that he drew nigh to Damascus, and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven.
And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord.
And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord.
and saying, "Sirs, why do ye this? We are mortal men like unto you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven and earth and the sea and all that in them is,
And after they were brought on their way by the congregation, they passed over Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy unto all the brethren.
And after they were brought on their way by the congregation, they passed over Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy unto all the brethren.
and brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
witnessing both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, the repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus.
but showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Jewry, and to the gentiles, that they should repent, and turn to God, and do the right works of repentance.
For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears were thick of hearing, and their eyes have they closed, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and should be converted, and I should heal them.'
Nevertheless when they turn to the Lord, the veil 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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Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked, that sinners may be converted unto thee.
But Zion shall be redeemed with equity, and they shall turn again unto her in righteousness.
Harden the heart of this people, stop their ears, and shut their eyes, that they see not with their eyes, hear not with their ears, and understand not with their heart, and convert and be healed."
Then thou shalt see, and shalt have plenty: thine heart shall wonder and break out in joy, when the multitude of the sea are turned to thee, and the armies of the heathen are come unto thee.
and said, "Verily, I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as children, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Repent ye, therefore, and turn: that your sins may be done away when the time of refreshing cometh, which we shall have of the presence of the Lord,
And after they were brought on their way by the congregation, they passed over Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy unto all the brethren.
for they themselves show of you what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from images for 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 that they might turn from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith in me.'