Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



and he saith) I am verily a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and accurately instructed in the law of our fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. And I persecuted this way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women: As likewise the high priest is my witness, and all the estate of the elders:

But Saul still breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, going to the high priest, Desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, he might bring both men and women bound to Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he drew near Damascus; and suddenly there shone about him a light from heaven. read more.
And falling to the earth, he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee, to kick against the goads.

I indeed thought myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth:

For ye have heard of my behaviour in time past in the Jewish religion, that above measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it. And I profited in the Jewish religion above many of my years among my countrymen, being more abundantly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.



I indeed thought myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth:

And Paul earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God till this day.


And Paul earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God till this day. And Ananias the high priest commanded them that stood by, to smite him on the mouth. Then said Paul to him, God is about to smite thee, thou whited wall. For sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? read more.
But they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest? Then said Paul, I was not aware, brethren, that it was the high priest; for it is written, Thou shalt not revile the ruler of thy people. But Paul perceiving, that the one part were Saducees, and the other Pharisees, cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; for the hope of the resurrection of the dead am I called in question.

Then Paul, after the governor had made a sign to him to speak, answered, Knowing thou hast been for several years a judge to this nation, I the more chearfully answer for myself: As thou mayst know, that it is but twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem. And they neither found me disputing with any man in the temple, nor making an insurrection among the people, either in the synagogues or in the city. read more.
Nor can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. But this I confess unto thee, that after the way, which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: Having hope in God, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and of the unjust, which they themselves also expect. And for this cause do I exercise myself to have always a conscience void of offence toward God and toward man. Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and offerings. Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purifying in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult: Who ought to have been present before thee, and to accuse me, if they had any thing against me. Or let these themselves say, what crime they found in me, when I stood before the council, Unless it be concerning this one word, that I cried, standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead, I am called in question by you this day.

Then Agrippa said to Paul, It is permitted thee to speak for thyself. And Paul, stretching forth his hand, made his defence. I think myself happy, King Agrippa, that I am this day to make my defence before thee, concerning all those things whereof I am accused by the Jews, Who art accurately acquainted with all the customs and questions which are among the Jews, wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. read more.
The manner of my life from my youth which was from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know, Who knew me from the first, (if they would testify) that I lived a Pharisee, after the strictest sect of our religion. And now I stand in judgment, for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers: To which our twelve tribes, worshiping continually night and day, hope to attain: concerning which hope, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. What? Is it judged by you an incredible thing, that God should raise the dead? I indeed thought myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth: Which also I did in Jerusalem: and having received authority from the chief priests, I shut up many of the saints in prisons, and when they were killed, I gave my vote against them. And frequently punishing them in all the synagogues, I compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities. Whereupon as I was going to Damascus, with authority and commission from the chief priests, At mid-day, O king, I saw in the way, a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round me and them that journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen down to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goads. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise and stand upon thy feet; for I have appeared to thee for this purpose, to ordain thee a minister and a witness, both of the things which thou hast seen, and of those in which I will appear to thee, Delivering thee from the people, and the Gentiles, to whom I now send thee, To open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God; that they may receive through faith which is in me, forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them that are sanctified. From that time, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, But first to them at Damascus and at Jerusalem, and through all the country of Judea, and then to the Gentiles I declare, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance. For these things the Jews seizing me in the temple, attempted to kill me with their own hands. But having obtained help from God, I continue till this day, testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what both the prophets and Moses have declared should be, That the Christ having suffered, and being the first who rose from the dead, should shew light to the people and to the Gentiles.


Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord?


And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, in that he accounted me faithful, having put me into the ministry, Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecuter, and a reviler; but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

For ye have heard of my behaviour in time past in the Jewish religion, that above measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it.

And as he journeyed, he drew near Damascus; and suddenly there shone about him a light from heaven. And falling to the earth, he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee, to kick against the goads. read more.
And he trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said to him, Arise and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men that journeyed with him stood astonished, hearing a noise, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and his eyes being opened, he saw no man; but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named 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, go into the street called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas, for one named Saul of Tarsus; for behold, he is praying. And he hath seen in a vision a man, named Ananias, coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he may recover his sight. But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem. And here also he hath authority from the chief priests, to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go: for he is a chosen vessel to me, to bear my name before nations and kings, and the children of Israel. For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. And Ananias went and entered into the house, and putting his hands on him, said, Brother Saul, the Lord hath sent me, Jesus who appeared to thee in the way thou camest, that thou mayst recover thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately as it were scales fell from his eyes, and he recovered his sight, and arose and was baptized. And having received food, he was strengthened. And he was certain days with the disciples in Damascus: And straightway he preached Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all that heard were amazed, and said, Is not this he who destroyed those that call on this name at Jerusalem? And came hither for this intent, that he might bring them bound to the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.

And I persecuted this way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women: As likewise the high priest is my witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them who were there to Jerusalem to be punished. But as I journeyed and drew near to Damascus, about noon suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. read more.
And I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. And they that were with me, saw the light, and were terrified; but they did not hear the voice of him that spake to me, And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Rise and go into Damascus, and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed thee to do. And as I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand by them that were with me, I came into Damascus. And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews that dwelt there, Coming to me, stood and said to me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, to know his will, and see that Just one, and hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness to all men, of what thou hast seen and heard. And now, why tarriest thou? Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. And when I was returned to Jerusalem, and was praying in the temple, I was in a trance, And saw him saying to me, Make haste and depart quickly out of Jerusalem; for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned, and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee.

I indeed thought myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth: Which also I did in Jerusalem: and having received authority from the chief priests, I shut up many of the saints in prisons, and when they were killed, I gave my vote against them. And frequently punishing them in all the synagogues, I compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities. read more.
Whereupon as I was going to Damascus, with authority and commission from the chief priests, At mid-day, O king, I saw in the way, a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round me and them that journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen down to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goads. And I said, Who art thou, Lord?


But the Jews stirred up the devout, honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

I indeed thought myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth: Which also I did in Jerusalem: and having received authority from the chief priests, I shut up many of the saints in prisons, and when they were killed, I gave my vote against them. And frequently punishing them in all the synagogues, I compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.