Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible



I am truly a man, a Jew born in Tarsus in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the exactness of the Law of the fathers, being a zealous one of God, as you all are today. I persecuted this Way as far as death, binding and delivering both men and women into prisons;

And Saul, still breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to Damascus to the synagogues; so that if he found any of the Way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. But in going, it happened as he drew near to Damascus, even suddenly a light from the heaven shone around him. read more.
And he fell to the earth and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? And he said, Who are you, lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you persecute. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.

I truly thought within myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth,

For you heard my manner of life when I was in Judaism, that I persecuted the church of God with surpassing zeal, and ravaged it. And I progressed in Judaism beyond many contemporaries in my race, being much more a zealot of the traditions of my fathers.

concerning zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness in the Law, blameless. Verse ConceptseagernessRestored In Jesus ChristPerfection, HumanZealFulfilling The LawPlea Of InnocenceThe Church UniversalPersecutionzealots



for it happened when Jezebel cut off the prophets of Jehovah, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.) Verse ConceptsBad InfluenceCavesProphets, Lives OfSchool Of ProphetsWaterLove to Others, Examples OfFiftiesOne HundredPeople In CavesKilling ProphetsPeople Hiding PeopleProphets Killedprophetsjezebelhidinggroups

And Saul, still breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest Verse ConceptsThreatsThreateningsJudged As Murderersdamascusmotheringbreath

And he said, I have been very zealous for Jehovah the God of Hosts. For the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and have slain Your prophets with the sword. And I, I alone, am left. And they seek to take my life away. Verse ConceptsFriendlessnessFaithfulness, Examples OfForsaking GodExaggerationsdoubtersDepression, SymptomsGod, Zeal OfLonelinessMartyrdom, Examples OfOpposition, To Sin And EvilRejection Of GodSelfishnessSelf PitySoldiersEvil TimesDestruction Of The TempleKilling ProphetsForsaking God's ThingsSole SurvivorsOnly One PersonBreaking The Covenant

so that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the temple. Truly I say to you, It shall be required of this generation.


which I also did in Jerusalem. And I shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests. And they being put to death, I cast a vote. Verse ConceptsChief priestsPrisonersPunishment, Legal Aspects OfSaintsShutting SecurelyKilling DisciplesAuthority Delegated To People

Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? Verse ConceptsPaul, Apostle To GentilesOne's DeedsWorking For The Lord

And last of all He was seen by me also, as one born out of time. Verse ConceptsResurrection Of Christ, AppearancesUntimelinessChrist AppearingEnd Of ActionsAbortion

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who strengthened me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry-- the one who before was a blasphemer and a persecutor and insolent. But I obtained mercy, because being ignorant, I did it in unbelief.

For you heard my manner of life when I was in Judaism, that I persecuted the church of God with surpassing zeal, and ravaged it. Verse ConceptsPaul, Life OfZeal, Without KnowledgeDestruction Of The ChurchThe Church UniversalChurch Of GodPersecutionchristianitypasttrying

But in going, it happened as he drew near to Damascus, even suddenly a light from the heaven shone around him. And he fell to the earth and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? And he said, Who are you, lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you persecute. It is hard for you to kick against the goads. read more.
And trembling and astonished, he said, Lord, what will You have me to do? And the Lord said to him, Arise and go into the city, and you shall be told what you must do. And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, indeed hearing a voice but seeing no one. And Saul was lifted up from the earth, his eyes were opened, but he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days not seeing, and did not eat or drink. And there was a certain disciple in Damascus named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias! And he said, Behold me, Lord. And the Lord said to him, Arise and go into the street which is called Straight and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying, and has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him so that he might receive his sight. And Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how many evil things he has done to Your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your Name. But the Lord said to him, Go! For this one is a chosen vessel to 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's sake. And Ananias went and entered into the house. And putting his hands on him, he said, Brother Saul, the Lord, Jesus, who appeared to you in the way in which you came, has sent me to you that you might see and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And instantly scales as it were fell from his eyes, and he instantly saw again. And rising up, he was baptized. And taking food, he was strengthened. And Saul was certain days with the disciples in Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. But all who heard him were amazed and said, Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem and came here for that reason, that he might bring them bound to the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in strength and confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus, proving that this One is the Christ.

I persecuted this Way as far as death, binding and delivering both men and women into prisons; as also the high priest bears witness to me, and all the elderhood. And receiving letters from them to the brothers, I traveled into Damascus indeed to lead those being bound to Jerusalem, in order that they might be punished. And it happened to me, traveling and drawing near to Damascus: suddenly, about midday, a great light out of the heaven shone around me. read more.
And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? And I answered, Who are you, lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute. And they who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid. But they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Arise and go into Damascus. And there it shall be told you all things which are appointed for you to do. And I did not see, because of the glory of that light; being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus. And one Ananias, a devout man according to the Law, testified to by all the Jews who lived there, coming to me and standing by, said to me, Brother Saul, look up! And the same hour I looked up on him. And he said, The God of our fathers has chosen you to know His will and to see the Just One, and to hear a voice out of His mouth. For you shall be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now what do you intend? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. And it happened to me, I returning to Jerusalem and praying in the temple, I became in an ecstasy. And I saw Him say to me, Hurry and go quickly out of Jerusalem, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me. And I said, Lord, they know that I was imprisoning and beating those who believed on You throughout the synagogues.

I truly thought within myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth, which I also did in Jerusalem. And I shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests. And they being put to death, I cast a vote. And I punished them often in every synagogue; I compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly furious against them, I persecuted them even to the outside cities. read more.
In which pursuit also traveling to Damascus with authority and power of decision from the chief priests, at midday, along the highway, O king, I and those with me saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun; shining around me. And all of us falling to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew dialect, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads. And I said, Who are you, lord? And He said, I am Jesus whom you persecute.

But Saul ravaged the church, entering into every house. And dragging men and women, he delivered them up to prison. Verse ConceptsArrestingIntimidationenemies, of believersChurchPrisonersPulling PeopleDestruction Of The ChurchThe Church UniversalPersecutionjail

And Saul, still breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest Verse ConceptsThreatsThreateningsJudged As Murderersdamascusmotheringbreath

And Saul was consenting to his death. And in that day there was a great persecution on the church at Jerusalem, and all were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Verse ConceptsFugitivesChristiansdispersion, theJerusalem, Significance OfSamaritansChurch, Description OfChurch, Examples OfThe Church ScatteredAssentingApproval To KillThe Apostles In Action

And throwing him outside the city, they stoned him. And the witnesses laid their clothes down at the feet of a young man named Saul. Verse ConceptsCrimesevangelists, ministry ofMartyrdom, Examples OfMartyrdom Of The SaintsMartyrdom, Methods OfOutside The City


Then going near, the chiliarch laid hold on him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains. And he demanded who he was and what he had done. And others cried something else in the crowd, and not being able to know the certainty on account of the uproar, he commanded him to be carried into the fortress. And when he came on the stairs, it happened that he was carried by the soldiers, because of the violence of the crowd. read more.
For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him! And as Paul was about to be led into the fortress, he said to the chiliarch, Is it lawful for me to say a thing to you? And he said, Do you know Greek? Then are you not the Egyptian who before these days caused a riot, and led four thousand men of the assassins out into the wilderness? But Paul said, I am a man, a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no small city. And I beseech you, allow me to speak to the people. And he allowing him, standing on the stairs, Paul signaled with his hand to the people. And much silence taking place, he spoke in the Hebrew dialect, saying:

Men, brothers and fathers! Hear my defense now to you. And hearing that he spoke to them in the Hebrew dialect, they all the more kept silence. And he said, I am truly a man, a Jew born in Tarsus in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the exactness of the Law of the fathers, being a zealous one of God, as you all are today. read more.
I persecuted this Way as far as death, binding and delivering both men and women into prisons; as also the high priest bears witness to me, and all the elderhood. And receiving letters from them to the brothers, I traveled into Damascus indeed to lead those being bound to Jerusalem, in order that they might be punished. And it happened to me, traveling and drawing near to Damascus: suddenly, about midday, a great light out of the heaven shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? And I answered, Who are you, lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute. And they who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid. But they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Arise and go into Damascus. And there it shall be told you all things which are appointed for you to do. And I did not see, because of the glory of that light; being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus. And one Ananias, a devout man according to the Law, testified to by all the Jews who lived there, coming to me and standing by, said to me, Brother Saul, look up! And the same hour I looked up on him. And he said, The God of our fathers has chosen you to know His will and to see the Just One, and to hear a voice out of His mouth. For you shall be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now what do you intend? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. And it happened to me, I returning to Jerusalem and praying in the temple, I became in an ecstasy. And I saw Him say to me, Hurry and go quickly out of Jerusalem, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me. And I said, Lord, they know that I was imprisoning and beating those who believed on You throughout the synagogues. And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was poured out, I also was standing by and consenting to his death, and holding the garments of those who killed him. And He said to me, Go, for I will send you far away to the nations.


and asked letters from him to Damascus to the synagogues; so that if he found any of the Way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Verse ConceptsArrestingequipping, physicalWay, TheTying Updamascus

But I confess this to you, that after the Way which they call heresy, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things that are written in the Law and in the Prophets. Verse ConceptsFollowing Jesus ChristHeresiesSectsWay, TheFaith, Object OfBelieving ProphetsTaking The Law To HeartWritten In The ProphetsWorshiping TogetherBeing DifferentbeliefconfessingChristians Are Called Followers Of The Way

And having heard these things, Felix put them off, knowing more accurately of the Way, saying, When Lysias the chiliarch has come down, I will examine the things concerning you. Verse ConceptsCommanderRankPeople Who DelayedChiliarchsPeople With General KnowledgeChristians Are Called Followers Of The Way

And about that time there was not a little a stir about the Way. Verse ConceptsDisorder Among PeopleChristians Are Called Followers Of The Way


And the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. And the Gibeonites were not of the sons of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites. And the sons of Israel had sworn to them. And Saul sought to kill them in his zeal to the sons of Israel and Judah. Verse ConceptsTribes Of IsraelZeal

I am truly a man, a Jew born in Tarsus in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the exactness of the Law of the fathers, being a zealous one of God, as you all are today. I persecuted this Way as far as death, binding and delivering both men and women into prisons;