Thematic Bible: Conversion


Thematic Bible



On hearing this, the Gentiles were glad and extolled God's Message; and all those who had been enrolled for Immortal Life became believers in Christ; Verse ConceptsGentiles, In NtHappinessHonouring GodPredestined PeopleThe Call Of GodPredestination, Of PersonsReligious AwakeningsThe Gentiles ConversionThose Who Believed In ChristElect

Those converts from Judaism, who had come with Peter, were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been bestowed even upon the Gentiles; Verse ConceptsCircumcision, physicalGenerosity, God'sBelieversPrejudiceAstonishmentThe Gentiles ConversionThe Holy Spirit Described As God's Gift

However, as they set themselves against him and became abusive, Paul shook his clothes in protest and said to them: "Your blood be on your own heads. My conscience is clear. From this time forward I shall go to the Gentiles." Verse ConceptsGentiles, In NtConfrontationBlood, as symbol of guiltInsultsSpiritual Warfare, Causes OfAbuse, To God's PeopleRejection Of God's CallShakingName CallingThe Gentiles ConversionPreaching Gospel To ForeignersResponsibility For Blood ShedPeople Abandoning PeopleBlasphemy


The Apostles and the Brethren throughout Judea heard that even the Gentiles had welcomed God's Message. Verse ConceptsAcceptance, Of The GospelThe Gentiles ConversionForeigners Saved By FaithThe Apostles In Action

After much discussion, Peter rose and said: "You, my Brothers, know well that long ago God singled me out--that through my lips the Gentiles should hear the Message of the Good News, and become believers in Christ. Verse Conceptsevangelists, identity ofevangelists, ministry ofHeraldLipsDissensionDisputesMissionary ExamplesThe Gentiles ConversionPreaching Gospel To ForeignersForeigners Saved By FaithChosen DisciplesSpeaking With The Mouth


And whom he called-even us-Not only from among the Jews but from among the Gentiles also! Verse ConceptsThe Gentiles ConversionConsider Your Call To Salvation

And that the Gentiles also may praise God for his mercy. As Scripture says--'Therefore will I make acknowledgment to thee among the Gentiles and sing in honor of thy Name.' Verse ConceptsThe Gentiles ConversionI Will Sing PraisesI Will Praise You With MusicPraise God For His Benefits
























After greeting them, Paul related in detail all that God had done among the Gentiles through his efforts; Verse ConceptsGentiles, In Nt



To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God; so that they may receive pardon for their sins, and a place among those who have become God's People, by faith in me.' Verse ConceptsenlightenmentReceiving An InheritanceRepentance, Nature OfSatan, Kingdom OfSpiritual Blindness, Removal OfSatan, Power OfClarityFrom Darkness To LightReceiving SightHealing Of The BlindBenefits Of Faith In ChristMan's Authority Over The DevilGod Will ForgiveDarknessForgiving YourselfSanctificationdominion

Indeed, in speaking about us, the people themselves tell of the reception you gave us, and how, turning to God from your idols, you became servants of the true and living God, Verse Conceptsdiscipleship, nature ofServing JesusGod, Living And Self sustainingHonestyRepentance, Nature OfSin, Accepting Forgiveness OfTurning To GodWelcoming BelieversIdolatryAvoiding Idolatry

The Church, therefore, sent them on their journey, and they made their way through Phoenicia and Samaria, telling the story of the conversion of the Gentiles, to the great joy of all the Brethren. Verse ConceptsConversion, examples ofChristiansTravelThe Soul Winners JoyPeople ConvertedPeople Sending People

All that they had heard was--'The man who once persecuted us is now telling the Good News of the very Faith of which he once made havoc.' And they praised God on my account.


My Brothers, should one of you be led astray from the Truth, and some one bring him back again, Be sure that he who brings a sinner back from his mistaken ways will save that man's soul from Death, and throw a veil over countless sins.


We could but make merry and rejoice, for here is your brother who was dead, and is alive; who was lost, and is found.'" Verse ConceptsAlive, Description OfBeing Dead In SinSpiritually DeadLost People

For you, first, God raised up his Servant, and sent him to bless you, by turning each one of you from his wicked ways." Verse ConceptsChrist, The High PriestGod Raising ChristTo The Jew Firstservanthood

For I will not dare to speak of anything but what Christ has done through me to win the obedience of the Gentiles-- Verse ConceptsCurbing SpeechMere TalkObeying The Gospel


On coming there he saw to his great joy these tokens of the loving-kindness of God, and encouraged them all to make up their minds to be faithful to the Lord-- Verse ConceptsHappinessHeart, And Holy SpiritGladnessSteadfastnessWhole HeartednessThe Grace Of GodPeople Encouraging OthersRejoicing In God's WorksWitnessing


On the contrary, first to those at Damascus and Jerusalem, and then through the whole of Judea, and to the Gentiles as well, I began to preach repentance and conversion to God, and a life befitting that repentance. Verse ConceptsConversion, nature ofMissionaries, Task OfPreaching, Content OfProof, As EvidenceRepentance, Nature OfRevelation, Responses ToUrgencyPreaching Gospel To ForeignersRepentance And ForgivenessSigns Of RepentanceWorks Of FaithRepentancedamascusevangelising



On the same occasion the disciples came to Jesus, and asked him: "Who is really the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" Jesus called a little child to him, and placed it in the middle of them, and then said: "I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven at all.

Then Peter began to swear, with most solemn imprecations: "I do not know the man." At that moment a cock crowed; Verse ConceptsBad LanguagePrayerlessnessUnfaithfulness, To PeopleApostasy, RestoredBirds, Types Of BirdsChickensBird SoundsNot Knowing About ChristSwearingcursesdenial

My Brothers, should one of you be led astray from the Truth, and some one bring him back again, Be sure that he who brings a sinner back from his mistaken ways will save that man's soul from Death, and throw a veil over countless sins.

And that very hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds, and he himself and every one belonging to him were baptized without delay. Afterwards he took them up to his house and set before them something to eat, rejoicing that he, with all his household, had come to believe in God.



"I have no husband," answered the woman. "You are right in saying 'I have no husband,'" replied Jesus, "For you have had five husbands, and the man with whom you are now living is not your husband; in saying that, you have spoken the truth."

But the people there did not welcome him, because his face was set in the direction of Jerusalem. When James and John saw this, they said: "Master, do you wish us to call for fire to come down from the heavens and consume them?"








It was then that Paul made the reply: "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart like this? For my part, I am ready not only to be bound, but even to suffer death at Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord Jesus." Verse ConceptsGiving, Of OneselfAfflicted Saints, Examples OfeagernessMartyrdom, Qualities OfReadinessSelf DenialShepherds, As Church LeaderWeepingLove Towards Christ, The Nature OfMartyrdom Of The SaintsLove For GodMartyrdom, Believers Attitude TowardsDeath Of God's PeopleEvangelismBreaking Chainsjerusalem

On receiving so strict an order, the Governor put them into the inner cell, and secured their feet in the stocks. Verse ConceptsImprisonmentsInjury To Feet

And that very hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds, and he himself and every one belonging to him were baptized without delay. Verse ConceptsHourLove, For One AnotherRelatives Also InvolvedChristian BaptismBaptism




When the Governor saw what had happened, he became a believer in Christ, being greatly impressed by the teaching about the Lord. Verse ConceptsProconsulMiracles, Responses ToThose Who Believed In ChristConversion, examples of

Among them was a woman, named Lydia, belonging to Thyatira, a dealer in purple cloth, who was accustomed to join in the worship of God. The Lord touched this woman's heart, so that she gave attention to the Message delivered by Paul, Verse ConceptsHearingListeningColors, PurpleReceptivenessResponseProselytesThe Act Of OpeningOpening To OthersPurple ClothMissionariesevangelising



The consequence was that people would bring out their sick even into the streets, and lay them on mattresses and mats, in the hope that, as Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some one of them. Verse ConceptsShadowsBedsUsing RoadsPeople Carrying Live PeopleHope And Healing


When they came to Jesus, they found the possessed man sitting there, clothed and in his right mind--the very man who had had the 'Legion' in him--and they were awe-struck. Verse ConceptsExorcismsevil, victory overDemons, Delivered FromFear, Caused ByLiving WitnessesNakednessClothing OneselfDrawing Near To ChristSitting At The FeetRegaining SanityFear Of ChristThose Demonised



"Salvation has come to this house to-day," answered Jesus, "for even this man is a son of Abraham. Verse ConceptsTodayChildren Of AbrahamThe Gospel Of SalvationAdoption By Faith



Meanwhile Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the High Priest, Verse ConceptsThreatsThreateningsJudged As Murderersdamascusmotheringbreath


"Yet stand up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." Verse ConceptsNecessityTeachablenessUnquestioning ServiceEntering CitiesGiving InformationGet Up!


On the contrary, first to those at Damascus and Jerusalem, and then through the whole of Judea, and to the Gentiles as well, I began to preach repentance and conversion to God, and a life befitting that repentance. Verse ConceptsConversion, nature ofMissionaries, Task OfPreaching, Content OfProof, As EvidenceRepentance, Nature OfRevelation, Responses ToUrgencyPreaching Gospel To ForeignersRepentance And ForgivenessSigns Of RepentanceWorks Of FaithRepentancedamascusevangelising

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the High Priest, And asked him to give him letters to the Jewish congregations at Damascus, authorizing him, if he found there any supporters of the Cause, whether men or women, to have them put in chains and brought to Jerusalem. While on his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, suddenly a light from the heavens flashed around him. read more.
He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him-- "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" "Who are you, Lord?" he asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," the voice answered; "Yet stand up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." The men traveling with Saul were meanwhile standing speechless; they heard the sound of the voice, but saw no one. When Saul got up from the ground, though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So his men led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus; And for three days he was unable to see, and took nothing either to eat or to drink. Now there was at Damascus a disciple named Ananias, to whom, in a vision, the Lord said: "Ananias." "Yes, Lord," he answered. "Go at once," said the Lord, "to the 'Straight Street', and ask at Judas's house for a man named Saul, from Tarsus. He is at this moment praying, And he has seen, in a vision, a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him, so that he may recover his sight." "Lord," exclaimed Ananias, "I have heard from many people about this man--how much harm he has done at Jerusalem to your People there. And, here, too, he holds authority from the Chief Priests to put in chains all those who invoke your Name." But the Lord said to him: "Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to uphold my Name before the Gentiles and their kings, and the people of Israel. I will myself show him all that he has to suffer for my Name." So Ananias went, entered the house, and, placing his hands on Saul, said: "Saul, my Brother, I have been sent by the Lord--by Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here--so that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Instantly it seemed as if a film fell from Saul's eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, And, after he had taken food, he felt his strength return. Saul stayed for some days with the disciples who were at Damascus, And at once began in the Synagogues to proclaim Jesus as the Son of God. All who heard him were amazed. "Is not this," they asked, "the man who worked havoc in Jerusalem among those that invoke this Name, and who had also come here for the express purpose of having such persons put in chains and taken before the Chief Priests?" Saul's influence, however, kept steadily increasing, and he confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by the proofs that he gave that Jesus was the Christ. After some time the Jews laid a plot to kill Saul, But it became known to him. They even watched the gates day and night, to kill him; But his disciples let him down by night through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. On his arrival in Jerusalem, Saul attempted to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, as they did not believe that he was really a disciple. Barnabas, however, taking him by the hand, brought him to the Apostles, and told them the whole story of how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord, and how the Lord had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken out fearlessly in the Name of Jesus. After that, Saul remained in Jerusalem, in close intercourse with the Apostles; and he spoke fearlessly in the Name of the Lord, Talking and arguing with the Jews of foreign birth, who, however, made attempts to kill him. But, when the Brethren found this out, they took him down to Caesarea, and sent him on his way to Tarsus. And so it came about that the Church, throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, enjoyed peace and became firmly established; and, ordering its life by reverence for the Lord and the help of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.