Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Conversion » Follows repentance
"Repent then! and reform, from the blotting out of your sins, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord;
Verse Concepts
"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.
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Converts » Instances of » Sergius paulus
Then the proconsul, seeing what had happened, believed. He was astounded at the teaching of the Lord.
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who belonged to the suite of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. He summoned Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God.
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"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. "For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple, and tried to kill me. "But having obtained the help that comes from God, I stand even to this day witnessing both to small and great, saying nothing except what the prophets and Moses said should come; "how that the Christ must suffer, and how he should be the first to rise from the dead, and should bring a message of light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."
"'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. "For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple, and tried to kill me. "But having obtained the help that comes from God, I stand even to this day witnessing both to small and great, saying nothing except what the prophets and Moses said should come; "how that the Christ must suffer, and how he should be the first to rise from the dead, and should bring a message of light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."
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.
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In Damascus, the governor under Aretas the King, kept guard over the city of the Damascus, to arrest me;
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"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.
Defense » Of paul
With a stedfast gaze at the Sanhedrin, Paul said, "Brothers, I have lived with a good conscience before God to this day." Then the High Priest Ananias ordered those who stood near Paul to strike him on the mouth. "You whited sepulcher," exclaimed Paul, "God will strike you! You are sitting there to judge me according to the law, are you? And do you command me to be struck, contrary to the Law?" read more.
"Do you rail at God's high priest?" said the bystanders. "Brothers, I did not know that he was the high priest," exclaimed Paul, "for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of my people." Then perceiving that half the Sanhedrin were Sadducees and the other half Pharisee, he cried out in the Sanhedrin. "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees! It is for the hope of the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial!"
"Do you rail at God's high priest?" said the bystanders. "Brothers, I did not know that he was the high priest," exclaimed Paul, "for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of my people." Then perceiving that half the Sanhedrin were Sadducees and the other half Pharisee, he cried out in the Sanhedrin. "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees! It is for the hope of the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial!"
Then at a nod from the governor, Paul spoke. "Because I know that for many years you have been a judge in this nation, I feel encouraged to make my defense. "For you have it in your power to know that it is not more than twelve days ago that I went up to Jerusalem to worship; "and that neither in the Temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city, did they find me disputing with any man or stirring up a crowd. read more.
"Nor can they prove the charges which they are now bringing against me. "But this I confess to you, that I worship the God of our ancestors, according to the Way which they call a heresy, believing everything that is according to the Law, or is written in the Prophets, "and having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there is to be a resurrection both of the just and the unjust. "Hence I too endeavor to have a conscience void of offense toward God and men alway. "Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and to offer sacrifices. "While I was thus engaged, they found me in the temple, purified, with no crowd and no uproar. But there were certain Asiatic Jews "who ought to have been here before you, and to have made accusations if they had anything against me. "Or let these men themselves say what fault they found, when I appeared before the Sanhedrin! "Unless it was for this one sentence which I uttered when I stood and cried, 'It is for the resurrection of the dead that I am on my trial today before you.'"
"Nor can they prove the charges which they are now bringing against me. "But this I confess to you, that I worship the God of our ancestors, according to the Way which they call a heresy, believing everything that is according to the Law, or is written in the Prophets, "and having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there is to be a resurrection both of the just and the unjust. "Hence I too endeavor to have a conscience void of offense toward God and men alway. "Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and to offer sacrifices. "While I was thus engaged, they found me in the temple, purified, with no crowd and no uproar. But there were certain Asiatic Jews "who ought to have been here before you, and to have made accusations if they had anything against me. "Or let these men themselves say what fault they found, when I appeared before the Sanhedrin! "Unless it was for this one sentence which I uttered when I stood and cried, 'It is for the resurrection of the dead that I am on my trial today before you.'"
Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You are permitted to speak for yourself." So Paul stretched forth his hand and began to make his defense. "I think myself happy, King Agrippa, that I am to make my defense before you this day, in regard to all the accusations brought against me by the Jews; "especially since you are an export in all Jewish customs and questions. I pray you, expert in all Jewish customs and questions. I pray you, hear me with patience. read more.
"The kind of life I have lived from my youth upward among my own nation and at Jerusalem, all that early life of mine, is well known to all the Jews. "They know me of old, if they are willing to testify, how that according to the strict sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee. "Today I am standing trial because of the hope of the promise made by God to our ancestors, "a promise which our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. It is concerning this hope, King Agrippa, that I am accused by the Jews. "Why is it deemed incredible by you all, if God raises the dead? "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. "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. "'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. "For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple, and tried to kill me. "But having obtained the help that comes from God, I stand even to this day witnessing both to small and great, saying nothing except what the prophets and Moses said should come; "how that the Christ must suffer, and how he should be the first to rise from the dead, and should bring a message of light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."
"The kind of life I have lived from my youth upward among my own nation and at Jerusalem, all that early life of mine, is well known to all the Jews. "They know me of old, if they are willing to testify, how that according to the strict sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee. "Today I am standing trial because of the hope of the promise made by God to our ancestors, "a promise which our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. It is concerning this hope, King Agrippa, that I am accused by the Jews. "Why is it deemed incredible by you all, if God raises the dead? "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. "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. "'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. "For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple, and tried to kill me. "But having obtained the help that comes from God, I stand even to this day witnessing both to small and great, saying nothing except what the prophets and Moses said should come; "how that the Christ must suffer, and how he should be the first to rise from the dead, and should bring a message of light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."
Repentance » Should be accompanied by » Conversion
"Repent then! and reform, from the blotting out of your sins, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord;
Verse Concepts
"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.
Verse Concepts