Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Damascus » Paul's experiences in
or even going up to Jerusalem to see those who had been apostles before me, I went off at once to Arabia, and on my return came back to Damascus.
Verse Concepts
In Damascus, the governor under Aretas the King, kept guard over the city of the Damascus, to arrest me;
Verse Concepts
"To this the high priest and all the council of elders are witnesses. It was from them that I received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I was already on my way to bring those also who were there back to Jerusalem, in bonds, for punishment. "But when, on my journey, I was nearing Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone round about me. "I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, "'Saul! Saul! why are you persecuting me?' read more.
"'Who are you, Lord?' I asked. "'I am Jesus, the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting,' he answered me. "Now my companions, though they beheld the light, did not hear the words of Him who spoke to me. "And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' and the Lord said to me, 'Rise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about all that you are destined to do.' "And as I was seeing nothing for the glory of the light, I was led by the hand of my companions, and so came into Damascus. "And a certain Ananias, a pious man according to the Law, well thought of by all the Jews who lived there, "came to me, and standing by me, said to me, "'Brother Saul, receive your sight' "In that very hour I regained my sight and looked up at him. "Then he said: "'The God of our forefathers has appointed you to know his will; and to see the righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth. "'For before the face of all men you will be a witness for him of what you have seen and heard. "'And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling upon his name.'
"'Who are you, Lord?' I asked. "'I am Jesus, the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting,' he answered me. "Now my companions, though they beheld the light, did not hear the words of Him who spoke to me. "And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' and the Lord said to me, 'Rise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about all that you are destined to do.' "And as I was seeing nothing for the glory of the light, I was led by the hand of my companions, and so came into Damascus. "And a certain Ananias, a pious man according to the Law, well thought of by all the Jews who lived there, "came to me, and standing by me, said to me, "'Brother Saul, receive your sight' "In that very hour I regained my sight and looked up at him. "Then he said: "'The God of our forefathers has appointed you to know his will; and to see the righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth. "'For before the face of all men you will be a witness for him of what you have seen and heard. "'And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling upon his name.'
"On this errand I was traveling to Damascus one day, armed with authority and commission of the chief priests, "when at noon, as I journeyed, O King, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and around those who journeyed with me. "We all fell to the ground; and I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew. "'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goad.' read more.
"'Who are you, Lord?' I said." And the Lord said: 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. "'But rise and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you in order to appoint you my minister and my witness both of what you have already seen and of those things in which I will appear to you. "'I will deliver you from the Jewish people, and from the Gentiles to whom I am sending you to open their eyes "'so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, in order to receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' "So then, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision; "but I proceeded to preach, first to those in Damascus, and then in Jerusalem and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they must repent and turn to God and do deeds worthy of repentance.
"'Who are you, Lord?' I said." And the Lord said: 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. "'But rise and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you in order to appoint you my minister and my witness both of what you have already seen and of those things in which I will appear to you. "'I will deliver you from the Jewish people, and from the Gentiles to whom I am sending you to open their eyes "'so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, in order to receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' "So then, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision; "but I proceeded to preach, first to those in Damascus, and then in Jerusalem and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they must repent and turn to God and do deeds worthy of repentance.
Paul » His vision and conversion
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?
Verse Concepts
and last of all, as by one born out of due time, he was seen by me also.
Verse Concepts
And I am thankful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has thus enabled me, that he accounted me faithful, and appointed me to his service, although I had formerly been a blasphemer and a persecutor and a doer of outrage. But I obtained mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief.
For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how furiously I used to persecute the church of God, and how I kept seeking to root it out;
Verse Concepts
And as he journeyed, when he was approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed round him. He fell to the ground, and heard a voice which said to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" And he said, "Who are you Lord?" read more.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he said: "Stand up and go into the city, and there you shall be told what you must do." Meanwhile the men who were his fellow travelers stood speechless, hearing indeed the voice, but beholding no one. And Saul got up from the ground, but although his eyes were open, he continued to perceive nothing; so they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. And he remained there three days, seeing nothing, and without eating or drinking. Now there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision, saying, "Ananias!" And he answered, "Lo, I am here, Lord." And the Lord said to him. "Arise, go into the street named 'Straight,' and make inquiries in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus, one Saul. He is now praying, and has seen a man named Ananias enter and lay his hands on him to restore his sight." "But, Lord," said Ananias, "I have heard from many about that man, and how much evil he did to the saints at Jerusalem! "In this city, too, he has authority from the chief priests to arrest all those who call upon thy name." "Go," answered the Lord, "this man is chosen instrument of mine to bear my name before the nations and their kings, and before the Children of Israel also; "for I am going to show him all he has to suffer for the sake of my name." And so Ananias went and entered into the house, and laying his hands on him, said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared to you on your journey, has sent me that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Instantly something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized. Afterward he took food and was strengthened. And he remained for some time with the disciples at Damascus. And he began at once to proclaim in the synagogues Jesus as the Son of God. His hearers were all astonished, and began to say. "Is not this the very man who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called upon the Name? Did he not come hither for the express purpose of carrying them all in chains to the high priests?" But Saul gained more and more influence, and kept putting the Jews who lived in Damascus to confusion by his proof that Jesus was the Christ.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he said: "Stand up and go into the city, and there you shall be told what you must do." Meanwhile the men who were his fellow travelers stood speechless, hearing indeed the voice, but beholding no one. And Saul got up from the ground, but although his eyes were open, he continued to perceive nothing; so they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. And he remained there three days, seeing nothing, and without eating or drinking. Now there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision, saying, "Ananias!" And he answered, "Lo, I am here, Lord." And the Lord said to him. "Arise, go into the street named 'Straight,' and make inquiries in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus, one Saul. He is now praying, and has seen a man named Ananias enter and lay his hands on him to restore his sight." "But, Lord," said Ananias, "I have heard from many about that man, and how much evil he did to the saints at Jerusalem! "In this city, too, he has authority from the chief priests to arrest all those who call upon thy name." "Go," answered the Lord, "this man is chosen instrument of mine to bear my name before the nations and their kings, and before the Children of Israel also; "for I am going to show him all he has to suffer for the sake of my name." And so Ananias went and entered into the house, and laying his hands on him, said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared to you on your journey, has sent me that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Instantly something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized. Afterward he took food and was strengthened. And he remained for some time with the disciples at Damascus. And he began at once to proclaim in the synagogues Jesus as the Son of God. His hearers were all astonished, and began to say. "Is not this the very man who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called upon the Name? Did he not come hither for the express purpose of carrying them all in chains to the high priests?" But Saul gained more and more influence, and kept putting the Jews who lived in Damascus to confusion by his proof that Jesus was the Christ.
"I persecuted to the death this way, continually binding and delivering up to prisons both men and women. "To this the high priest and all the council of elders are witnesses. It was from them that I received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I was already on my way to bring those also who were there back to Jerusalem, in bonds, for punishment. "But when, on my journey, I was nearing Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone round about me. read more.
"I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, "'Saul! Saul! why are you persecuting me?' "'Who are you, Lord?' I asked. "'I am Jesus, the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting,' he answered me. "Now my companions, though they beheld the light, did not hear the words of Him who spoke to me. "And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' and the Lord said to me, 'Rise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about all that you are destined to do.' "And as I was seeing nothing for the glory of the light, I was led by the hand of my companions, and so came into Damascus. "And a certain Ananias, a pious man according to the Law, well thought of by all the Jews who lived there, "came to me, and standing by me, said to me, "'Brother Saul, receive your sight' "In that very hour I regained my sight and looked up at him. "Then he said: "'The God of our forefathers has appointed you to know his will; and to see the righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth. "'For before the face of all men you will be a witness for him of what you have seen and heard. "'And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling upon his name.' "After my return to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, "I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, "'Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive your testimony concerning me.' "'Lord,' I replied, 'they themselves well know that I was beating and imprisoning in synagogue after synagogue those who believed in you,
"I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, "'Saul! Saul! why are you persecuting me?' "'Who are you, Lord?' I asked. "'I am Jesus, the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting,' he answered me. "Now my companions, though they beheld the light, did not hear the words of Him who spoke to me. "And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' and the Lord said to me, 'Rise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about all that you are destined to do.' "And as I was seeing nothing for the glory of the light, I was led by the hand of my companions, and so came into Damascus. "And a certain Ananias, a pious man according to the Law, well thought of by all the Jews who lived there, "came to me, and standing by me, said to me, "'Brother Saul, receive your sight' "In that very hour I regained my sight and looked up at him. "Then he said: "'The God of our forefathers has appointed you to know his will; and to see the righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth. "'For before the face of all men you will be a witness for him of what you have seen and heard. "'And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling upon his name.' "After my return to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, "I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, "'Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive your testimony concerning me.' "'Lord,' I replied, 'they themselves well know that I was beating and imprisoning in synagogue after synagogue those who believed in you,
"I indeed once thought with myself that I ought to do many things against the name of Jesus, the Nazarene. "And this also I did in Jerusalem. Armed with authority from the chief priests, I shut up many of the saints in prison, and when they were condemned to death I gave my vote against them. "In all the synagogues also I punished them oftentimes, and tried to make them blaspheme; and in my mad fury I was pursuing them even to foreign cities. read more.
"On this errand I was traveling to Damascus one day, armed with authority and commission of the chief priests, "when at noon, as I journeyed, O King, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and around those who journeyed with me. "We all fell to the ground; and I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew. "'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goad.' "'Who are you, Lord?' I said." And the Lord said: 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.
"On this errand I was traveling to Damascus one day, armed with authority and commission of the chief priests, "when at noon, as I journeyed, O King, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and around those who journeyed with me. "We all fell to the ground; and I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew. "'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goad.' "'Who are you, Lord?' I said." And the Lord said: 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.
Paul » His defense
Then the tribune came up and seized him, and ordered that he be bound with two chains. "Who is he?" he began asking, "and what has he done?" Some among the crowd kept shouting one thing, some another; and when the tribune could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered Paul into the barracks. When was going up the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers, because of the violence of the mob, read more.
for the whole mass of the people were following him, shouting, "Away with him!" Just as he was about to be taken into the barracks, Paul said to the tribune, "May I speak to you?" "Do you know Greek?" said the tribune; "Are you not, then, the Egyptian who in days gone by stirred up to sedition, and let into the wilderness the four thousand cutthroats?" "I am a Jew," answered Paul, "a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city. And I pray you, give me permission to speak to the people." So when he had given leave, Paul stood on the stairs, beckoning with his hands to the people. There came a great hush, and he spoke to them as follows, in Hebrew.
for the whole mass of the people were following him, shouting, "Away with him!" Just as he was about to be taken into the barracks, Paul said to the tribune, "May I speak to you?" "Do you know Greek?" said the tribune; "Are you not, then, the Egyptian who in days gone by stirred up to sedition, and let into the wilderness the four thousand cutthroats?" "I am a Jew," answered Paul, "a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city. And I pray you, give me permission to speak to the people." So when he had given leave, Paul stood on the stairs, beckoning with his hands to the people. There came a great hush, and he spoke to them as follows, in Hebrew.
"Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make in your presence." When they heard him speaking in Hebrew they became the more quiet. "I am a Jew," he said, "born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strict manner of the Law of our forefathers, ardent for God, even as you all are this day. read more.
"I persecuted to the death this way, continually binding and delivering up to prisons both men and women. "To this the high priest and all the council of elders are witnesses. It was from them that I received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I was already on my way to bring those also who were there back to Jerusalem, in bonds, for punishment. "But when, on my journey, I was nearing Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone round about me. "I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, "'Saul! Saul! why are you persecuting me?' "'Who are you, Lord?' I asked. "'I am Jesus, the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting,' he answered me. "Now my companions, though they beheld the light, did not hear the words of Him who spoke to me. "And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' and the Lord said to me, 'Rise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about all that you are destined to do.' "And as I was seeing nothing for the glory of the light, I was led by the hand of my companions, and so came into Damascus. "And a certain Ananias, a pious man according to the Law, well thought of by all the Jews who lived there, "came to me, and standing by me, said to me, "'Brother Saul, receive your sight' "In that very hour I regained my sight and looked up at him. "Then he said: "'The God of our forefathers has appointed you to know his will; and to see the righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth. "'For before the face of all men you will be a witness for him of what you have seen and heard. "'And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling upon his name.' "After my return to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, "I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, "'Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive your testimony concerning me.' "'Lord,' I replied, 'they themselves well know that I was beating and imprisoning in synagogue after synagogue those who believed in you, "'and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by and consenting, and holding the garments of his murders.' "'Depart,' he said to me, 'for I will send you forth, far hence, to the Gentiles.'"
"I persecuted to the death this way, continually binding and delivering up to prisons both men and women. "To this the high priest and all the council of elders are witnesses. It was from them that I received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I was already on my way to bring those also who were there back to Jerusalem, in bonds, for punishment. "But when, on my journey, I was nearing Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone round about me. "I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, "'Saul! Saul! why are you persecuting me?' "'Who are you, Lord?' I asked. "'I am Jesus, the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting,' he answered me. "Now my companions, though they beheld the light, did not hear the words of Him who spoke to me. "And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' and the Lord said to me, 'Rise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about all that you are destined to do.' "And as I was seeing nothing for the glory of the light, I was led by the hand of my companions, and so came into Damascus. "And a certain Ananias, a pious man according to the Law, well thought of by all the Jews who lived there, "came to me, and standing by me, said to me, "'Brother Saul, receive your sight' "In that very hour I regained my sight and looked up at him. "Then he said: "'The God of our forefathers has appointed you to know his will; and to see the righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth. "'For before the face of all men you will be a witness for him of what you have seen and heard. "'And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling upon his name.' "After my return to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, "I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, "'Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive your testimony concerning me.' "'Lord,' I replied, 'they themselves well know that I was beating and imprisoning in synagogue after synagogue those who believed in you, "'and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by and consenting, and holding the garments of his murders.' "'Depart,' he said to me, 'for I will send you forth, far hence, to the Gentiles.'"
Persecution » The world persecuting jesus Christ
And when they heard it they all lifted up their voices in prayer to God, saying. "O Sovereign Lord, who madest heaven and earth and sea, and all that in them is, "who saidest through the Holy Spirit, by the lips of thy servant David, our forefather. "Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples form futile plans? "The kings of the earth set themselves in array, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against his Christ. read more.
"In this very city they did gather together against thy holy Servant, Jesus whom thou hast anointed??erod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and also the tribes of Israel??28 "to do all that thy power and thy will had predetermined should be done.
"In this very city they did gather together against thy holy Servant, Jesus whom thou hast anointed??erod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and also the tribes of Israel??28 "to do all that thy power and thy will had predetermined should be done.
Meanwhile Saul, still breathing out threats of murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and begged of him letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any that were of the Way, either men or women, he could bind them and bring them to Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, when he was approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed round him. read more.
He fell to the ground, and heard a voice which said to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" And he said, "Who are you Lord?"
He fell to the ground, and heard a voice which said to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" And he said, "Who are you Lord?"
"I am the vine, and my Father the vine-grower. "He cuts back any of my branches that bear no fruit, and prunes every fruit-bearing branch, that it may bear more. "Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken to you. read more.
"Abide in me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine, no more can you, unless you abide in me. "I am the Vine you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him, bears abundant fruit; because apart from me you can do nothing. "If any one does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers. Such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire and burned. "If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever your will is, and it shall be yours. "By this is my Father glorified, by your bearing abundant fruit, and so being my disciples. "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. "If you obey my commands you will abide in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and abide in his love. "I have told you these things that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. "This is my command, Love one another as I have loved you. "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. "You are my friends if you do what I command you. "I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have learned from my Father. "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. "This is my command. to love one another. If the worlds hates you, "do not forget that it hated me first. "If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, for that reason the world hates you. "Remember what I told you, 'A slave is not better than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you. If they have obeyed my word, they will obey yours also. "But they will do all these things to you for my name's sake, because they know not Him who sent me. "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. "He who hates me hates my Father also. "If I had not done among them such works as none ever did, they would have had no sin; but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father. "And so is fulfilled the word written in their Law, 'They hate me without cause.'
"Abide in me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine, no more can you, unless you abide in me. "I am the Vine you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him, bears abundant fruit; because apart from me you can do nothing. "If any one does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers. Such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire and burned. "If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever your will is, and it shall be yours. "By this is my Father glorified, by your bearing abundant fruit, and so being my disciples. "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. "If you obey my commands you will abide in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and abide in his love. "I have told you these things that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. "This is my command, Love one another as I have loved you. "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. "You are my friends if you do what I command you. "I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have learned from my Father. "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. "This is my command. to love one another. If the worlds hates you, "do not forget that it hated me first. "If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, for that reason the world hates you. "Remember what I told you, 'A slave is not better than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you. If they have obeyed my word, they will obey yours also. "But they will do all these things to you for my name's sake, because they know not Him who sent me. "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. "He who hates me hates my Father also. "If I had not done among them such works as none ever did, they would have had no sin; but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father. "And so is fulfilled the word written in their Law, 'They hate me without cause.'
The man went to and told the Jews that it was Jesus who made him well; and because of this the Jews began to persecute Jesus, because he had done it on the Sabbath. But he answered them, "My Father has continued working until now, and I am working too." read more.
For this reason the Jews continued to seek the more eagerly to put him to death, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was actually speaking of God as his own Father, thus making himself of God's equal.
For this reason the Jews continued to seek the more eagerly to put him to death, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was actually speaking of God as his own Father, thus making himself of God's equal.
"But when, on my journey, I was nearing Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone round about me. "I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, "'Saul! Saul! why are you persecuting me?' "'Who are you, Lord?' I asked. "'I am Jesus, the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting,' he answered me.