Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible



"Who can keep these people [i.e., Cornelius' household] from being immersed in water now that they have received the Holy Spirit just like we [apostles] have?" [See 2:4]. Verse ConceptsBaptism Of The Holy SpiritBaptism, Features OfThe Outpouring Of The Holy Spirit,Like Good PeopleChristian BaptismWater For BaptismBaptism

Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had responded to the message of God, they sent Peter and John to them. Verse ConceptsMissionaries, Support ForAcceptance, Of The GospelThe Apostles In ActionAcceptance

So, when the apostles and the brothers from Judea heard these things, they stopped arguing [See verse 2] and gave honor to God, saying, "[This means] that God has permitted the Gentiles also [as well as the Jews] to repent [i.e., change their hearts and lives] so they, too, could have [the promise of never ending] life." Verse Conceptseternal life, gift ofNationalismRepentance, Importance OfGifts From God, SpiritualRepentanceForeigners Saved By FaithGod Gives RepentanceSpecific Praising Of GodElectPromise Of HeavenUniversalism

So, my advice is not to make it difficult for those who turn to God from among the Gentiles, Verse ConceptsdiscouragementConverts To ChristianityTurning To GodTroubling Groups Of PeopleGentilesDecision Making

I have a debt to pay [i.e., an obligation to preach] to Greeks and heathens; to the educated and to the ignorant. Verse ConceptsBarbariansGreeksNecessityPreaching Gospel To ForeignersWise Man Or FoolDebtculture

Also, when they perceived that this [special] favor [of preaching to Gentiles] was granted to me, James, Cephas [i.e., Peter] and John, the highly regarded pillars [i.e., leaders of the church] extended to me and Barnabas their right hands [signifying an agreement] to share [in the preaching of the Gospel], with us going to the Gentiles and they going to the circumcised ones [i.e., Jews]. Verse ConceptsFellowship, In Christian ServiceFellowship, Among BelieversApostles, Function In Early ChurchGrace, And Christian LifePaul, Apostle To GentilesPillarsCompanionshipMissionary WorkMetaphorical PillarsBlessings For The Right HandThe Gospel To Jew And Gentilepartnership

[In this relationship] there is to be no [distinction between] Jews or Greeks [i.e., Gentiles], slaves or free persons, men or women; for all of you are united into one [body] because of your relationship with Christ Jesus. Verse ConceptsGentiles, In NtAfrican AmericansequalityBeing FairRacial EqualityServant, BondMenParticipation, In ChristRelationshipsStatusUnity, God's Goal OfWomenLibertyBigotryRacismOne ChurchSlavesNo DistinctionsFamily SolidarityInterracial MarriageGentilesJewsslaveryIdentity In ChristRacefreemovement

And [this] Simon also believed [Philip's message] and was immersed. [After that] he continued [to travel] with Philip and was amazed by the [supernatural] signs and great miracles he saw [him perform]. Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had responded to the message of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When these two apostles had come [to Samaria] they prayed for some [of the disciples] to receive [miraculous power from] the Holy Spirit, read more.
for as yet [such power] had not fallen on any of them; they had only been immersed into the name of the Lord Jesus [i.e., with no accompanying miraculous powers]. Then the apostles placed their hands on [some of] them [and prayed, see verse 15] and they received [miraculous power from] the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that through the placing of the apostles' hands [on people] the Holy Spirit was given [Note: The fact that Simon "saw" something happen suggests it was supernatural and therefore highly desirable by Simon], he offered to pay them money [for this power], saying, "Give me also the ability to place my hands on people [and pray] so that they will receive [the miraculous power of] the Holy Spirit." But Peter said to him, "You and your money will both be destroyed for thinking you could buy the gift from God with money. You do not have any share or involvement in this matter because your heart is not right before God. So, repent [i.e., change your heart and life] of such a terrible thing and pray for the Lord to forgive you for even thinking of such a thing. Perhaps He will [if you are really sincere]. For I can see that your life is as bitter gall [i.e., very evil] and you are enslaved by [your] sins."

Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had responded to the message of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When these two apostles had come [to Samaria] they prayed for some [of the disciples] to receive [miraculous power from] the Holy Spirit, for as yet [such power] had not fallen on any of them; they had only been immersed into the name of the Lord Jesus [i.e., with no accompanying miraculous powers]. read more.
Then the apostles placed their hands on [some of] them [and prayed, see verse 15] and they received [miraculous power from] the Holy Spirit.

Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had responded to the message of God, they sent Peter and John to them. Verse ConceptsMissionaries, Support ForAcceptance, Of The GospelThe Apostles In ActionAcceptance

Now the disciples, who had become scattered all over, went everywhere preaching the message [of God]. And Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed Christ to them. Great crowds of people joined together in accepting Philip's message when they heard and saw the [miraculous] signs he was able to perform. read more.
Evil spirits came out, with loud shrieks, from many persons and large numbers of people were healed of their paralysis and crippled conditions. And there was much rejoicing in Samaria [over the wonderful effects of Philip's ministry]. But a certain man named Simon, from there in Samaria, who had been amazing the people with his magical powers, was claiming to be someone great. Everyone, from the least to the greatest [in importance], was being impressed by him. They were saying, "This man is being called Great [and has] power from God." And people were paying attention to him because he had been amazing them with his magic for a long time. When people believed the good news about God's kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, which Philip was preaching, both men and women were immersed [in water]. And [this] Simon also believed [Philip's message] and was immersed. [After that] he continued [to travel] with Philip and was amazed by the [supernatural] signs and great miracles he saw [him perform]. Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had responded to the message of God, they sent Peter and John to them.

And Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed Christ to them. Great crowds of people joined together in accepting Philip's message when they heard and saw the [miraculous] signs he was able to perform. Evil spirits came out, with loud shrieks, from many persons and large numbers of people were healed of their paralysis and crippled conditions. read more.
And there was much rejoicing in Samaria [over the wonderful effects of Philip's ministry].

Then many Samaritans from Sychar believed in Jesus because of the testimony of the woman, who said, "He told me everything that I ever did." When the Samaritans came to Him, they urged Jesus to stay with them, so He remained there for two days. And many more people believed [in Jesus] because of His [own] words, read more.
and they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not just because of what you said, but because we have heard [it] for ourselves and know that this is truly the Savior of the world."

Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had responded to the message of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When these two apostles had come [to Samaria] they prayed for some [of the disciples] to receive [miraculous power from] the Holy Spirit, for as yet [such power] had not fallen on any of them; they had only been immersed into the name of the Lord Jesus [i.e., with no accompanying miraculous powers]. read more.
Then the apostles placed their hands on [some of] them [and prayed, see verse 15] and they received [miraculous power from] the Holy Spirit.

When Peter and John had testified [regarding the truth] and had proclaimed the message of God [to the people] they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the good news [about Jesus] in many Samaritan villages [on their way back]. Verse Conceptsevangelists, identity ofLordship, Human And DivineVillagesThe Gospel PreachedIndividuals going homeevangelizing

And Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed Christ to them. Great crowds of people joined together in accepting Philip's message when they heard and saw the [miraculous] signs he was able to perform. Evil spirits came out, with loud shrieks, from many persons and large numbers of people were healed of their paralysis and crippled conditions. read more.
And there was much rejoicing in Samaria [over the wonderful effects of Philip's ministry]. But a certain man named Simon, from there in Samaria, who had been amazing the people with his magical powers, was claiming to be someone great. Everyone, from the least to the greatest [in importance], was being impressed by him. They were saying, "This man is being called Great [and has] power from God." And people were paying attention to him because he had been amazing them with his magic for a long time. When people believed the good news about God's kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, which Philip was preaching, both men and women were immersed [in water]. And [this] Simon also believed [Philip's message] and was immersed. [After that] he continued [to travel] with Philip and was amazed by the [supernatural] signs and great miracles he saw [him perform]. Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had responded to the message of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When these two apostles had come [to Samaria] they prayed for some [of the disciples] to receive [miraculous power from] the Holy Spirit, for as yet [such power] had not fallen on any of them; they had only been immersed into the name of the Lord Jesus [i.e., with no accompanying miraculous powers]. Then the apostles placed their hands on [some of] them [and prayed, see verse 15] and they received [miraculous power from] the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that through the placing of the apostles' hands [on people] the Holy Spirit was given [Note: The fact that Simon "saw" something happen suggests it was supernatural and therefore highly desirable by Simon], he offered to pay them money [for this power], saying, "Give me also the ability to place my hands on people [and pray] so that they will receive [the miraculous power of] the Holy Spirit." But Peter said to him, "You and your money will both be destroyed for thinking you could buy the gift from God with money. You do not have any share or involvement in this matter because your heart is not right before God. So, repent [i.e., change your heart and life] of such a terrible thing and pray for the Lord to forgive you for even thinking of such a thing. Perhaps He will [if you are really sincere]. For I can see that your life is as bitter gall [i.e., very evil] and you are enslaved by [your] sins." And Simon answered, "[Please] pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said about me will [really] happen." When Peter and John had testified [regarding the truth] and had proclaimed the message of God [to the people] they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the good news [about Jesus] in many Samaritan villages [on their way back].