Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Damascus » Paul's experiences in
neither did I go to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went to Arabia and returned again to Damascus.
Verse Concepts
In Damascus, the ethnarch, when Aretas was king, guarded the city of the Damascenes, desiring to take me,
Verse Concepts
as the chief priest also bears me witness, and all the eldership, from whom also receiving letters to the brothers I went to Damascus, to bring those who were there bound to Jerusalem to be punished. And when I was on the way and had come nigh to Damascus, about noon suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me, and I fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? read more.
And I answered, Who are you, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus the Nazoraean, whom you persecute. And those that were with me saw the light, but they heard not the voice of him that spoke to me. And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Arise, and go to Damascus, and there it shall be told you of all things which are appointed for you to do. And when I could not see from the brightness of that light, being led by the hand by those with me, I came to Damascus. And a certain Ananias, a man [living] according to the law, approved by all the Jews living [there], coming and standing by, said to me, Brother Saul, Receive your sight. And in that hour I looked upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers chose you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and hear the voice of his mouth, for you shall be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now, why do you delay? Arising, baptize and wash away your sins, calling on his name.
And I answered, Who are you, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus the Nazoraean, whom you persecute. And those that were with me saw the light, but they heard not the voice of him that spoke to me. And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Arise, and go to Damascus, and there it shall be told you of all things which are appointed for you to do. And when I could not see from the brightness of that light, being led by the hand by those with me, I came to Damascus. And a certain Ananias, a man [living] according to the law, approved by all the Jews living [there], coming and standing by, said to me, Brother Saul, Receive your sight. And in that hour I looked upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers chose you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and hear the voice of his mouth, for you shall be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now, why do you delay? Arising, baptize and wash away your sins, calling on his name.
In which [persecutions] also, going to Damascus with authority, and a commission from the chief priests, at midday I saw in the way O king, a light from heaven shining around me and those going with me, exceeding the brightness of the sun; and when we had all fallen on the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? it is hard for you to kick against the goads. read more.
And I said, Who are you, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you persecute. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and witness both of what you have seen and [of visions ] in which I will appear to you, delivering you from the people, and the gentiles, to whom I send you to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among the sanctified by faith in me. Whence, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but preached first to those at Damascus and Jerusalem, and in all the country of Judea, and to the gentiles, that they should change their minds and turn to God, performing works worthy of a change of mind.
And I said, Who are you, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you persecute. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and witness both of what you have seen and [of visions ] in which I will appear to you, delivering you from the people, and the gentiles, to whom I send you to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among the sanctified by faith in me. Whence, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but preached first to those at Damascus and Jerusalem, and in all the country of Judea, and to the gentiles, that they should change their minds and turn to God, performing works worthy of a change of mind.
Paul » His vision and conversion
AM I not a freeman? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are not you my work in the Lord?
Verse Concepts
and last of all he appeared to me also, as one born out of due time.
Verse Concepts
And I thank our Lord Jesus Christ who has empowered me [to preach,] that he accounted me faithful, putting me in the ministry, who formerly was a blasphemer and persecutor and an injurious man; but I obtained mercy because I did those things ignorantly in unbelief;
For you heard of my conduct formerly in Judaism, that I greatly persecuted the church of God and destroyed it;
Verse Concepts
And he was going and had come nigh to Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven, and falling on the earth he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, Why do you persecute me? And he said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom you persecute. read more.
But arise and enter into the city, and it shall be told you what you must do. And the men travelling with him stood amazed, hearing indeed the voice, but beholding no one. And Saul arose from the earth, and his eyes being opened he saw nothing; and leading him by the hand they conducted him to Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither eat nor drank. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus by the name of Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said to him, Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for [a man] by the name of Saul of Tarsus; for behold, he prays, and has seen a man by the name of Ananias coming and putting a hand on him, that he might receive his sight. And Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem; and here he has power from the chief priests to bind all that call on your name. But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen vessel to me, to bear my name both before nations and kings, and the children of Israel; for I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name. And Ananias went and entered into the house, and laying hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way which you came, that you may receive sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight, and rising up was baptized, and having received food was strengthened. And he was with the disciples at Damascus some days; and immediately in the synagogues he preached Jesus, that this is the Son of God. And all that heard him were astonished and said, Is not this he that destroyed those who called on this name at Jerusalem, and has come here for this purpose, that he might lead them bound to the chief priests? But Saul increased in power and confounded the Jews living at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
But arise and enter into the city, and it shall be told you what you must do. And the men travelling with him stood amazed, hearing indeed the voice, but beholding no one. And Saul arose from the earth, and his eyes being opened he saw nothing; and leading him by the hand they conducted him to Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither eat nor drank. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus by the name of Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said to him, Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for [a man] by the name of Saul of Tarsus; for behold, he prays, and has seen a man by the name of Ananias coming and putting a hand on him, that he might receive his sight. And Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem; and here he has power from the chief priests to bind all that call on your name. But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen vessel to me, to bear my name both before nations and kings, and the children of Israel; for I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name. And Ananias went and entered into the house, and laying hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way which you came, that you may receive sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight, and rising up was baptized, and having received food was strengthened. And he was with the disciples at Damascus some days; and immediately in the synagogues he preached Jesus, that this is the Son of God. And all that heard him were astonished and said, Is not this he that destroyed those who called on this name at Jerusalem, and has come here for this purpose, that he might lead them bound to the chief priests? But Saul increased in power and confounded the Jews living at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
and I persecuted this way to death, binding and committing to prison both men and women, as the chief priest also bears me witness, and all the eldership, from whom also receiving letters to the brothers I went to Damascus, to bring those who were there bound to Jerusalem to be punished. And when I was on the way and had come nigh to Damascus, about noon suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me, read more.
and I fell on the earth, 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 the Nazoraean, whom you persecute. And those that were with me saw the light, but they heard not the voice of him that spoke to me. And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Arise, and go to Damascus, and there it shall be told you of all things which are appointed for you to do. And when I could not see from the brightness of that light, being led by the hand by those with me, I came to Damascus. And a certain Ananias, a man [living] according to the law, approved by all the Jews living [there], coming and standing by, said to me, Brother Saul, Receive your sight. And in that hour I looked upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers chose you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and hear the voice of his mouth, for you shall be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now, why do you delay? Arising, baptize and wash away your sins, calling on his name. And when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I was in a trance, and saw him [Christ], saying to me, Hasten and depart immediately from Jerusalem, for they will not receive your testimony of me. And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in the synagogues those who believed on you;
and I fell on the earth, 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 the Nazoraean, whom you persecute. And those that were with me saw the light, but they heard not the voice of him that spoke to me. And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Arise, and go to Damascus, and there it shall be told you of all things which are appointed for you to do. And when I could not see from the brightness of that light, being led by the hand by those with me, I came to Damascus. And a certain Ananias, a man [living] according to the law, approved by all the Jews living [there], coming and standing by, said to me, Brother Saul, Receive your sight. And in that hour I looked upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers chose you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and hear the voice of his mouth, for you shall be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now, why do you delay? Arising, baptize and wash away your sins, calling on his name. And when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I was in a trance, and saw him [Christ], saying to me, Hasten and depart immediately from Jerusalem, for they will not receive your testimony of me. And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in the synagogues those who believed on you;
I indeed thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus the Nazoraean, which I also did at Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were killed I gave my vote against them. And punishing them often in all the synagogues, I compelled them to blaspheme, and being exceedingly mad against them, I pursued them even to cities abroad. read more.
In which [persecutions] also, going to Damascus with authority, and a commission from the chief priests, at midday I saw in the way O king, a light from heaven shining around me and those going with me, exceeding the brightness of the sun; and when we had all fallen on the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, 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 the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you persecute.
In which [persecutions] also, going to Damascus with authority, and a commission from the chief priests, at midday I saw in the way O king, a light from heaven shining around me and those going with me, exceeding the brightness of the sun; and when we had all fallen on the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, 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 the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you persecute.
Paul » His defense
Then the chiliarch approaching took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he was and what he had done. But some cried one thing, and some another, in the multitude, and not being able to learn the truth, on account of the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the fortress. And when he was on the steps, it happened that he was borne by the soldiers, on account of the violence of the multitude; read more.
for the multitude of the people followed, crying, Take him away. And being about to be carried into the fortress, Paul said to the chiliarch, May I have permission to speak to you? And he said, Do you understand Greek? Are you not the Egyptian who before these days excited a sedition, and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men who were murderers? And Paul said, I am a Jew, of Tarsus of Cilicia, a citizen of a not undistinguished city, I beg of you, permit me to speak to the people. And he giving him permission, Paul stood up on the steps, and motioned with his hand to the people; and when there was great silence, he spoke in the Hebrew language, and said,
for the multitude of the people followed, crying, Take him away. And being about to be carried into the fortress, Paul said to the chiliarch, May I have permission to speak to you? And he said, Do you understand Greek? Are you not the Egyptian who before these days excited a sedition, and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men who were murderers? And Paul said, I am a Jew, of Tarsus of Cilicia, a citizen of a not undistinguished city, I beg of you, permit me to speak to the people. And he giving him permission, Paul stood up on the steps, and motioned with his hand to the people; and when there was great silence, he spoke in the Hebrew language, and said,
Men, brothers and fathers, hear my present defense before you. And hearing that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept the greater silence. And he said, I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, instructed at the feet of Gamaliel in the accurate interpretation of the law of our fathers, and am a zealous worshipper of God as you all are to-day; read more.
and I persecuted this way to death, binding and committing to prison both men and women, as the chief priest also bears me witness, and all the eldership, from whom also receiving letters to the brothers I went to Damascus, to bring those who were there bound to Jerusalem to be punished. And when I was on the way and had come nigh to Damascus, about noon suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me, and I fell on the earth, 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 the Nazoraean, whom you persecute. And those that were with me saw the light, but they heard not the voice of him that spoke to me. And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Arise, and go to Damascus, and there it shall be told you of all things which are appointed for you to do. And when I could not see from the brightness of that light, being led by the hand by those with me, I came to Damascus. And a certain Ananias, a man [living] according to the law, approved by all the Jews living [there], coming and standing by, said to me, Brother Saul, Receive your sight. And in that hour I looked upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers chose you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and hear the voice of his mouth, for you shall be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now, why do you delay? Arising, baptize and wash away your sins, calling on his name. And when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I was in a trance, and saw him [Christ], saying to me, Hasten and depart immediately from Jerusalem, for they will not receive your testimony of me. And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in the synagogues those who believed on you; and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was poured out, I also stood by and consented, and kept the clothes of those that killed him. And he said to me, Go, for I will send you to nations far away.
and I persecuted this way to death, binding and committing to prison both men and women, as the chief priest also bears me witness, and all the eldership, from whom also receiving letters to the brothers I went to Damascus, to bring those who were there bound to Jerusalem to be punished. And when I was on the way and had come nigh to Damascus, about noon suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me, and I fell on the earth, 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 the Nazoraean, whom you persecute. And those that were with me saw the light, but they heard not the voice of him that spoke to me. And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Arise, and go to Damascus, and there it shall be told you of all things which are appointed for you to do. And when I could not see from the brightness of that light, being led by the hand by those with me, I came to Damascus. And a certain Ananias, a man [living] according to the law, approved by all the Jews living [there], coming and standing by, said to me, Brother Saul, Receive your sight. And in that hour I looked upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers chose you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and hear the voice of his mouth, for you shall be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now, why do you delay? Arising, baptize and wash away your sins, calling on his name. And when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I was in a trance, and saw him [Christ], saying to me, Hasten and depart immediately from Jerusalem, for they will not receive your testimony of me. And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in the synagogues those who believed on you; and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was poured out, I also stood by and consented, and kept the clothes of those that killed him. And he said to me, Go, for I will send you to nations far away.
Persecution » The world persecuting jesus Christ
And when they heard it they lifted up their voice with one consent to God, and said, Master, thou who hast made heaven, and the earth, the sea, and all things in them, who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the nations rage and the peoples devise vain things? the kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were assembled together against the Lord, and against his anointed. read more.
For of a truth, in this city, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the gentiles and people of Israel, were assembled together against thy holy servant Jesus whom thou hast anointed,
For of a truth, in this city, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the gentiles and people of Israel, were assembled together against thy holy servant Jesus whom thou hast anointed,
BUT Saul, yet breathing out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the chief priest and asked of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of that way, he might bring them bound, men and women, to Jerusalem. And he was going and had come nigh to Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven, read more.
and falling on the earth he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, Why do you persecute me? And he said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom you persecute.
and falling on the earth he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, Why do you persecute me? And he said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom you persecute.
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that bears not fruit he takes away; and every branch that bears fruit he trims, that it may bear more fruit. You are now pure, by means of the word which I have spoken to you; read more.
continue in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it continues in the vine, so you cannot, unless you continue in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He that continues in me and I in him, this man bears much fruit; for separated from me, you can do nothing. If any one continues not in me he is cast without as a branch, and is withered; and they collect them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If you continue in me, and my words continue in you, you shall ask whatever you will, and it shall be [given] you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, I also have loved you; continue in my love. If you keep my commandments you shall continue in my love, as I have kept my Father's commandments and continue in his love. I have spoken these things to you that my joy may be in you, and your joy be completed. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No man has greater love than this, that one should give his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you; I no longer call you servants, for the servant knows not what his Lord does; but I have called you friends: for all things which I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and appointed you to go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should continue, that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. These things I charge you, that you love one another. If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before you. If you were of this world, the world would be a friend to its own; but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word which I said to you, a servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you, on my account, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin; but now they have no pretext for their sin. He that hates me, hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no other one has done, they would not have had sin; but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father. But [they do this] that the word written in their law may be fulfilled, They hated me without cause.
continue in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it continues in the vine, so you cannot, unless you continue in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He that continues in me and I in him, this man bears much fruit; for separated from me, you can do nothing. If any one continues not in me he is cast without as a branch, and is withered; and they collect them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If you continue in me, and my words continue in you, you shall ask whatever you will, and it shall be [given] you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, I also have loved you; continue in my love. If you keep my commandments you shall continue in my love, as I have kept my Father's commandments and continue in his love. I have spoken these things to you that my joy may be in you, and your joy be completed. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No man has greater love than this, that one should give his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you; I no longer call you servants, for the servant knows not what his Lord does; but I have called you friends: for all things which I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and appointed you to go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should continue, that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. These things I charge you, that you love one another. If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before you. If you were of this world, the world would be a friend to its own; but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word which I said to you, a servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you, on my account, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin; but now they have no pretext for their sin. He that hates me, hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no other one has done, they would not have had sin; but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father. But [they do this] that the word written in their law may be fulfilled, They hated me without cause.
The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well; and on this account the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he had done these things on the sabbath. But Jesus answered them, My Father works even till now, and I work. read more.
Then, for this reason, the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath but also said, that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
Then, for this reason, the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath but also said, that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
And when I was on the way and had come nigh to Damascus, about noon suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me, and I fell on the earth, 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 the Nazoraean, whom you persecute.