Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible




or the day before the sabbath,) Joseph of Arimathea, an honorable counsellor, who also was expecting the kingdom of God, came and went in boldly to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.



They therefore stayed a considerable time speaking freely of the Lord, who bare witness to the word of his grace, and gave signs and wonders to be done by their hands.






I have fought the good fight, I have finished my race, I have kept the faith. As to what remains, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me in that day: and not to me only, but also to all those who have longed for his appearance.

According to my earnest expectation and hope, that I shall be put to shame in nothing; but that with all freedom of speech, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain: and if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor:





Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and know that thou art the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

Then said Peter, Behold, we have quitted all, and followed Thee.

And now I stand arraigned for the hope of the promise which was made by God to our fathers:



But there rose up some of the synagogue, which is called that of the libertines, and some of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia, and Asia, to dispute with Stephen: and they were not able to resist the wisdom and spirit by which he spake. Then they suborned men to say, we heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God. read more.
And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, and forced him along with them, and brought him to the council: and they set up false witnesses; who said, This man is continually speaking blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law. For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and change the rites which Moses delivered to us.

Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him even before the tribunal: but Gallio did not concern himself about the matter.





And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he attempted to associate with the disciples: and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took and brought him to the apostles, and related to them, how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that He had spoken to him; and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem, and preaching openly in the name of the Lord Jesus: read more.
and he talked and disputed with the Hellenists, who attempted to kill him:


But Saul still breathing out threatnings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, came to the high priest, and desired of him letters to the synagogues at Damascus, that if he should find any of this persuasion, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. And as he was on his journey, and came near to Damascus, suddenly there shone round about him a light from heaven; read more.
and he fell to the ground, and 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 the Nazarene whom thou art persecuting: it is hard for thee to kick against the goads. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise and go into the city, and it shall be told thee, what thou must do. And the men that went along with him, stood astonished, hearing the voice, but seeing no one. And Saul rose from the earth, but when he opened his eyes he could not see: so they led him by the hand, and brought him to Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink. Now 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 unto him, Arise and go into the street which is called Strait, and enquire in the house of Judas for one Saul, of Tarsus: for behold he is praying, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias, coming in and putting his hand upon him, that he might recover his sight. And Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much mischief he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: and here too he hath authority from the chief priests to apprehend all that call upon thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way, for he is the instrument I have chosen, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: for I will shew him how great sufferings he must endure for my name. And Ananias went away and came into the house; and putting his hands on him, said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared to thee on the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the holy Spirit." And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales; and he instantly recovered his sight, and arose and was baptized. And when he had taken some nourishment, he was strengthened. Now Saul was with the disciples at Damascus for some time. And he immediately preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. But all that heard him, were amazed, and said, Is not this he that persecuted those in Jerusalem who called on this name, and came hither for this end, that he might carry them bound to the chief priests? But Saul prevailed more and more, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, fully proving that this same Jesus is the Christ. And after a considerable time, the Jews conspired to kill him: but Saul was apprised of their design. And they watched the gates day and night, to make away with him: but the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall, in a basket. And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he attempted to associate with the disciples: and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took and brought him to the apostles, and related to them, how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that He had spoken to him; and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem, and preaching openly in the name of the Lord Jesus: and he talked and disputed with the Hellenists, who attempted to kill him: but when the brethren knew it, they brought him down to Cesarea, and sent him away to Tarsus. Then the churches throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, had rest, being edified and walking in the fear of the Lord; and through the consolation of the holy Spirit were multiplied.