Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Conversion » Follows repentance
Change your minds, therefore, and turn yourselves, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
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.
Converts » Instances of » Sergius paulus
Then the proconsul seeing what was done believed, and was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
who was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man having called for Barnabas and Saul desired to hear the word of God;
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. On this account the Jews seized me in the temple and endeavored to kill me. Having obtained therefore help from God, I have continued to this day, testifying to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said should take place; that the Christ should suffer, and that he first from the resurrection of the dead should proclaim light both to the people and the nations.
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. On this account the Jews seized me in the temple and endeavored to kill me. Having obtained therefore help from God, I have continued to this day, testifying to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said should take place; that the Christ should suffer, and that he first from the resurrection of the dead should proclaim light both to the people and the nations.
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.
In Damascus, the ethnarch, when Aretas was king, guarded the city of the Damascenes, desiring to take me,
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.
Defense » Of paul
And Paul looking steadily at the Sanhedrim, said, Men and brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience to this day. And the chief priest Ananias commanded those standing by to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, God is about to strike you, whitewashed wall; and do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law? read more.
And those standing by said, Do you revile God's chief priest? And Paul said, I knew not brothers that he was a chief priest; for it is written, You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people. And Paul knowing that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, cried in the Sanhedrim, Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee and the son of Pharisees; for the hope and resurrection of the dead am I under trial.
And those standing by said, Do you revile God's chief priest? And Paul said, I knew not brothers that he was a chief priest; for it is written, You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people. And Paul knowing that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, cried in the Sanhedrim, Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee and the son of Pharisees; for the hope and resurrection of the dead am I under trial.
And the procurator making a sign to him to speak, Paul answered, Knowing that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I shall defend myself cheerfully, you being able to know that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem. And they did not find me in the temple disputing with any one, or making a disturbance of the multitude, neither in the synagogues nor in the city; read more.
neither can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. But this I confess to you, that in the way which they call a heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers; believing all things written in the law and the prophets, having a hope in God which they also hold, that there will be a resurrection both of the righteous and wicked. And in this also I endeavor always to have a conscience without offense towards God and man. But after many years I came to bring charities and offerings to my nation, in which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, not with a multitude, nor with a tumult, who ought to be present and accuse me before you, if they have any thing against me. Or let them say whether they found any unrighteousness in me when I stood before the Sanhedrim, except in this one statement which I made, as I stood among them, that I am under trial by you to-day concerning the resurrection of the dead.
neither can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. But this I confess to you, that in the way which they call a heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers; believing all things written in the law and the prophets, having a hope in God which they also hold, that there will be a resurrection both of the righteous and wicked. And in this also I endeavor always to have a conscience without offense towards God and man. But after many years I came to bring charities and offerings to my nation, in which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, not with a multitude, nor with a tumult, who ought to be present and accuse me before you, if they have any thing against me. Or let them say whether they found any unrighteousness in me when I stood before the Sanhedrim, except in this one statement which I made, as I stood among them, that I am under trial by you to-day concerning the resurrection of the dead.
And Agrippa said to Paul, You are permitted to speak for yourself. Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense. I think myself happy, King Agrippa, in being allowed to make my defense before you to-day in respect to all things of which I am accused by the Jews, especially as you are acquainted with all the customs and questions of the Jews; wherefore, I beg you to hear me patiently. read more.
My mode of life from my childhood, the early part of it being with my nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews, who knew me from the first, if they would testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand on trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers, which our twelve tribes, serving God continually, day and night, hope to attain; of this hope, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. Why is it judged by you incredible that God raises the dead? 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. 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. 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. On this account the Jews seized me in the temple and endeavored to kill me. Having obtained therefore help from God, I have continued to this day, testifying to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said should take place; that the Christ should suffer, and that he first from the resurrection of the dead should proclaim light both to the people and the nations.
My mode of life from my childhood, the early part of it being with my nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews, who knew me from the first, if they would testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand on trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers, which our twelve tribes, serving God continually, day and night, hope to attain; of this hope, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. Why is it judged by you incredible that God raises the dead? 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. 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. 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. On this account the Jews seized me in the temple and endeavored to kill me. Having obtained therefore help from God, I have continued to this day, testifying to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said should take place; that the Christ should suffer, and that he first from the resurrection of the dead should proclaim light both to the people and the nations.
Repentance » Should be accompanied by » Conversion
Change your minds, therefore, and turn yourselves, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
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.