Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible



the proconsul seeing the fact, embraced the faith, being struck with admiration of the christian doctrine. Verse ConceptsProconsulMiracles, Responses ToThose Who Believed In ChristConversion, examples of

he was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, a man of prudence: who sent for Barnabas and Saul, desiring to hear the word of God. Verse Conceptsevangelism, kinds ofDerision

with such views, authorized by commission from the high priests, I was on the road to Damascus: when at mid-day, O king, a light from heaven exceeding the splendor of the sun, broke all around me, and those that accompanied me. we were all struck down: when I heard a voice directed to me pronounce these words in the Hebrew tongue, "Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me? it is dangerous for thee to kick against the goad." read more.
I answer'd, who art thou, Lord? he said, "I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. but rise upright upon thy feet: for I have appear'd to thee in order to establish you my minister in testifying both what you have seen, and what I shall hereafter show to you, by delivering you from this people, and from the Gentiles to whom I now send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and partake of the inheritance of the saints, by believing on me." this heavenly vision, king Agrippa, I presently obey'd: first I warn'd the people of Damascus, of Jerusalem, of all Judea, and then the Gentiles, to repent, and turn to God, by acting suitably to their repentance. for such a conduct the Jews seiz'd upon me in the temple, designing to assassinate me; but by the divine favour I am still preserv'd alive, testifying to the small and to the great nothing but what Moses and the prophets have predicted should happen: "that Christ should suffer: that he should be the first that was to rise from the dead: and that he should enlighten both the Jews and the Gentiles."

neither went I up to Jerusalem, to those who were apostles before me: but I went immediately to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Verse ConceptsSolitudedamascus

in Damascus the governor for king Aretas, posted guards at the city-gates, with a design to apprehend me: Verse ConceptsGovernorsdamascus

this the high-priest and the senate know too well: from them I receiv'd my warrant directed to the Jews of Damascus, where I went, to bring the converts there in chains to Jerusalem, in order to be punished. as I was upon the road, advanc'd near Damascus, about mid-day, all of a sudden a great light from heaven broke all around me. I fell to the ground, and heard a voice pronounce these words, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" read more.
I answered, who art thou, Lord? it answered, "I am Jesus the Nazarene whom thou dost persecute." the company actually saw the light, but did not hear the voice of him that spoke to me. then I said, Lord, what must I do? and the Lord answer'd, arise, go to Damascus; there you will be inform'd what you are to do. but as I had lost the use of my eyes by the splendor of that light, I was led by the hand to Damascus, by those who were with me. there one Ananias a religious observer of the law, who had the good word of all the Jews in that place, came to see me, and being introduc'd, he said, brother Saul, receive thy sight. and instantly I saw him. then he said, the God of our fathers has singled you out to be acquainted with his will, to see the just one, and to hear the words of his mouth: that you might testify to all men, what you have seen and heard. why should you now delay? arise, be baptized, and cleansed from your sins, by invoking the name of the Lord.

with such views, authorized by commission from the high priests, I was on the road to Damascus: when at mid-day, O king, a light from heaven exceeding the splendor of the sun, broke all around me, and those that accompanied me. we were all struck down: when I heard a voice directed to me pronounce these words in the Hebrew tongue, "Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me? it is dangerous for thee to kick against the goad." read more.
I answer'd, who art thou, Lord? he said, "I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. but rise upright upon thy feet: for I have appear'd to thee in order to establish you my minister in testifying both what you have seen, and what I shall hereafter show to you, by delivering you from this people, and from the Gentiles to whom I now send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and partake of the inheritance of the saints, by believing on me." this heavenly vision, king Agrippa, I presently obey'd: first I warn'd the people of Damascus, of Jerusalem, of all Judea, and then the Gentiles, to repent, and turn to God, by acting suitably to their repentance.

Then Paul directing himself to the council, thus said, "hitherto I have liv'd strictly conscientious, as God knows." at which the high priest Ananias order'd those that were near him to strike him on the face: which made Paul say, "may God strike thee, thou plaister'd wall: you sit to judge me according to law, and in defiance of the law you order me to be struck!" read more.
what, said the standers-by, do you revile the high priest of God? Paul replied, I did not consider, brethren, that he was the high priest. it is indeed written, "thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people." But as Paul knew that one part of the Sanhedrim were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out, my brethren, "I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee, and I am now prosecuted for believing the resurrection of the dead."

Then the governour sign'd to Paul to reply; who said, I enter upon my defence with the greater confidence, by considering you have govern'd this nation several years: possibly you are appriz'd, that it is not above twelve days since, that I went to Jerusalem to worship. they neither found me in conference with any one in the temple, nor working up the people either in the assemblies or in the streets: read more.
so far are they from proving what they lay to my charge. I do indeed own, that I serve the God of our nation according to the discipline they call sect: and believe whatever is written in the law and in the prophets. I have the same expectations from the DEITY, which they themselves entertain, that of the resurrection both of the just and of the unjust. and 'tis my endeavour to preserve a conscience free from reproach both with respect to God, and with respect to men. after several years absence I came to Jerusalem, with contributions for my brethren, and oblations for the temple: there religiously employ'd some Asiatic Jews found me, without crowd or tumult: and here they ought to have appear'd, if they had any thing to object against me. or let these now declare, if they could convict me of any misdemeanor, when I was brought before the Sanhedrim: unless it be, that I did indeed break out into this expression, it "is for the resurrection of the dead, that I am now call'd into question."

Then Agrippa said to Paul, you are at liberty to make your defence. upon which Paul disengaging his hand from his cloak, thus made his plea. I think myself happy, king Agrippa, in having this opportunity of vindicating myself in your presence, from every thing the Jews have laid to my charge: for I know you are fully acquainted with the Jewish customs and controversies: and therefore I beg the indulgence of your attention. read more.
what course of life I led at Jerusalem, where I was brought up from my youth among those of my own nation, is known to all the Jews. they can testify, if they will, that I early profess'd myself a Pharisee, a member of the most rigorous sect of our religion: and now I stand arraign'd for expecting the accomplishment of the divine promise made to our fathers, which our twelve tribes by their continual services, night and day, hope themselves to obtain: yet for that hope, king Agrippa, do the Jews now accuse me. you may think it something incredible that God should raise the dead: I myself too once thought myself oblig'd strenuously to oppose the professors of Jesus the Nazarene, as I actually did at Jerusalem, where numbers of converts I threw into jail, by warrant from the high priests: and when they were put to death, I myself was an accomplice. it was I that persecuted them from synagogue to synagogue, and tortured them even to blaspheme: and in the transport of my rage I pursued them to foreign cities. with such views, authorized by commission from the high priests, I was on the road to Damascus: when at mid-day, O king, a light from heaven exceeding the splendor of the sun, broke all around me, and those that accompanied me. we were all struck down: when I heard a voice directed to me pronounce these words in the Hebrew tongue, "Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me? it is dangerous for thee to kick against the goad." I answer'd, who art thou, Lord? he said, "I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. but rise upright upon thy feet: for I have appear'd to thee in order to establish you my minister in testifying both what you have seen, and what I shall hereafter show to you, by delivering you from this people, and from the Gentiles to whom I now send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and partake of the inheritance of the saints, by believing on me." this heavenly vision, king Agrippa, I presently obey'd: first I warn'd the people of Damascus, of Jerusalem, of all Judea, and then the Gentiles, to repent, and turn to God, by acting suitably to their repentance. for such a conduct the Jews seiz'd upon me in the temple, designing to assassinate me; but by the divine favour I am still preserv'd alive, testifying to the small and to the great nothing but what Moses and the prophets have predicted should happen: "that Christ should suffer: that he should be the first that was to rise from the dead: and that he should enlighten both the Jews and the Gentiles."

your christianity is very well known in the world. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you as expert in that which is good, as unpractis'd in what is evil. Verse ConceptsGenuinenessInnocence, Teaching OnJoy, Of The ChurchWisdom, Human ImportanceCharacter Of SaintsHarmlessnessGuileBe Wise!Obeying The GospelYou Will Rejoice In Salvation

this heavenly vision, king Agrippa, I presently obey'd: Verse ConceptsFaith, Nature OfVisions From GodWe ObeyHeavenly Visiondisobedience

this heavenly vision, king Agrippa, I presently obey'd: Verse ConceptsFaith, Nature OfVisions From GodWe ObeyHeavenly Visiondisobedience

this heavenly vision, king Agrippa, I presently obey'd: Verse ConceptsFaith, Nature OfVisions From GodWe ObeyHeavenly Visiondisobedience