Thematic Bible: Converts
Thematic Bible
Converts » Good ground,
And what was sown in rich soil illustrates the man who hears the message and understands it, and yields fruit, one a hundred, one sixty, another thirty-fold."
Verse Concepts
Now as a great crowd was coming together and people were coming to Him from one town after another, He said by way of a story: "A sower went out to sow his seed. As he was sowing, some of the seed fell along the path, and were trodden down, and the wild birds ate them up. Another portion of them fell upon the rock, and as soon as they sprang up, they withered, because they had no moisture. read more.
Still another portion fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up with them and choked them out. And another portion fell in rich soil and grew and yielded a crop of a hundredfold." As He said this, He exclaimed, "Let him who has ears to hear with, listen!" His disciples were asking Him what this story meant. So He said, "You are granted the privilege of knowing the secrets of the kingdom of God, but to others they are told in stories, so that they may look and not see, may hear and not understand. This is what the story means: The seed is God's message. Those along the path illustrate those who hear it, but then the devil comes and carries off the message from their hearts, so that they may not believe it and be saved. The portion of them on the rock illustrates those who accept the message, bubbling over with joy when they first hear it, but it takes no real root. They believe for awhile, but in the time of testing they fall away. And the portion of them falling among the thorns illustrates those who hear it, but as soon as they pass on they are choked out by the worries and wealth and pleasures of life, and thus yield no mature fruit. But the portion in rich soil illustrates those who listen to the message, keep it in good and honest hearts, and in patience yield fruit.
Still another portion fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up with them and choked them out. And another portion fell in rich soil and grew and yielded a crop of a hundredfold." As He said this, He exclaimed, "Let him who has ears to hear with, listen!" His disciples were asking Him what this story meant. So He said, "You are granted the privilege of knowing the secrets of the kingdom of God, but to others they are told in stories, so that they may look and not see, may hear and not understand. This is what the story means: The seed is God's message. Those along the path illustrate those who hear it, but then the devil comes and carries off the message from their hearts, so that they may not believe it and be saved. The portion of them on the rock illustrates those who accept the message, bubbling over with joy when they first hear it, but it takes no real root. They believe for awhile, but in the time of testing they fall away. And the portion of them falling among the thorns illustrates those who hear it, but as soon as they pass on they are choked out by the worries and wealth and pleasures of life, and thus yield no mature fruit. But the portion in rich soil illustrates those who listen to the message, keep it in good and honest hearts, and in patience yield fruit.
And some fell in rich soil, and yielded a crop, some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty-fold.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Instances of » Sergius paulus
The governor, because he saw what had occurred, was thunderstruck at the Lord's teaching, and so came to believe.
Verse Concepts
He was an intimate friend of the governor, Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. The governor sent for Barnabas and Saul and in this way tried to hear God's message.
Verse Concepts
While in this business I once was on my way to Damascus with authority based on a commission from the high priests, and on the road at noon, your Majesty, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, flash around me and my fellow-travelers. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew, 'Saul! Saul! Why do you continue to persecute me? It is hurting you to keep on kicking against the goad.' read more.
'Who are you, Sir?' said I. 'I am Jesus,' the Lord said, 'whom you are persecuting. But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for the very purpose of appointing you my servant and a witness to me of the things which you have seen and those which I shall yet enable you to see. I will continue to rescue you from the Jewish people and from the heathen to whom I am going to send you, to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from Satan's power to God, so as to have their sins forgiven and have a possession among those that are consecrated by faith in me.' Therefore, King Agrippa, I could not disobey that heavenly vision, but I began to preach first to the people of Damascus and Jerusalem, and all over Judea, and then to the heathen, to repent and turn to God, and to live lives consistent with such repentance. For these very things the Jews arrested me in the temple and kept on trying to kill me. As I have gotten help from God clear down to this very day, I stand here to testify to high and low alike, without adding a syllable to what Moses and the prophets said should take place, if the Christ should suffer, and by being the first to rise from the dead was to proclaim the light to the Jewish people and to the heathen."
'Who are you, Sir?' said I. 'I am Jesus,' the Lord said, 'whom you are persecuting. But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for the very purpose of appointing you my servant and a witness to me of the things which you have seen and those which I shall yet enable you to see. I will continue to rescue you from the Jewish people and from the heathen to whom I am going to send you, to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from Satan's power to God, so as to have their sins forgiven and have a possession among those that are consecrated by faith in me.' Therefore, King Agrippa, I could not disobey that heavenly vision, but I began to preach first to the people of Damascus and Jerusalem, and all over Judea, and then to the heathen, to repent and turn to God, and to live lives consistent with such repentance. For these very things the Jews arrested me in the temple and kept on trying to kill me. As I have gotten help from God clear down to this very day, I stand here to testify to high and low alike, without adding a syllable to what Moses and the prophets said should take place, if the Christ should suffer, and by being the first to rise from the dead was to proclaim the light to the Jewish people and to the heathen."
Converts » Zealous » The blind men
But they went out and spread the news about Him all over that country.
Verse Concepts
Now his neighbors and those who saw that he was formerly blind, kept saying, "Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?" Some said, "Yes, it is he." Others said, "No, but it surely does look like him." He himself said, "I am the man." So they kept on asking him, "How in the world did you come to see?" read more.
He answered, "The man called Jesus made some clay and rubbed it on my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash them.' So when I had gone and washed them I could see." Then they asked him, "Where is He?" He answered, "I do not know." They took the man who had been blind to the Pharisees. Now it was on the Sabbath when Jesus had made the clay and caused the man's eyes to see. So the Pharisees again asked him how he had come to see. He answered them: "He put some clay on my eyes, and I washed them, and so now I can see." Then some of the Pharisees said, "This man does not come from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath." Others said, "How can a sinful man perform such wonder- works?" So there was a difference of opinion among them. Then again they asked the blind man, "What do you say about Him yourself, since He has made your eyes to see?" He answered, "He is a prophet." But the Jews did not believe that he had really been blind and that he had come to see again, until they called the parents of the man who saw again, and asked them, "Is this your son, and do you affirm that he was born blind? If so, how is it then that he now can see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind. But we do not know how it is that he now can see, or who it was that made his eyes to see. Ask him; he is of age; he can speak for himself." His parents said this, because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone owned Jesus as the Christ, he should be shut out of the synagogues. This is why his parents said, "He is of age, ask him." So a second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, "Give God the praise; we know this man is a sinner." Then he answered, "I do not know whether He is a sinner. I do know one thing, that once I was blind but now I can see." Again they said to him, "What did He do to you? How did He make your eyes to see again?" He answered them, "I have already told you and you would not listen to me. Why do you want to hear it again? You do not want to become His disciples, do you?" Then they jeered him, and said, "You are a disciple of His yourself, but we are disciples of Moses. We do know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this fellow comes from." The man answered them, "Well, there is something strange about this! You do not know where He comes from! And yet He has made my eyes to see! We know that God does not listen to sinful men, but He does listen to anyone who worships God and lives to do His will. It has never been heard of in this world that anyone ever made the eyes of a man who was born blind to see. If this man had not come from God, He could not have done anything like this." Then they retorted, "You were born in total depravity, and yet you are trying to teach us!" And so they turned him out of the synagogue. Jesus heard that they had turned the man out of the synagogue; so He found him and said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of Man yourself?" He answered, "Who is He, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in Him." Jesus answered him, "You have seen Him; you are talking to Him right now!" So he said, "Lord, I believe!" Then he worshiped Him.
He answered, "The man called Jesus made some clay and rubbed it on my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash them.' So when I had gone and washed them I could see." Then they asked him, "Where is He?" He answered, "I do not know." They took the man who had been blind to the Pharisees. Now it was on the Sabbath when Jesus had made the clay and caused the man's eyes to see. So the Pharisees again asked him how he had come to see. He answered them: "He put some clay on my eyes, and I washed them, and so now I can see." Then some of the Pharisees said, "This man does not come from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath." Others said, "How can a sinful man perform such wonder- works?" So there was a difference of opinion among them. Then again they asked the blind man, "What do you say about Him yourself, since He has made your eyes to see?" He answered, "He is a prophet." But the Jews did not believe that he had really been blind and that he had come to see again, until they called the parents of the man who saw again, and asked them, "Is this your son, and do you affirm that he was born blind? If so, how is it then that he now can see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind. But we do not know how it is that he now can see, or who it was that made his eyes to see. Ask him; he is of age; he can speak for himself." His parents said this, because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone owned Jesus as the Christ, he should be shut out of the synagogues. This is why his parents said, "He is of age, ask him." So a second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, "Give God the praise; we know this man is a sinner." Then he answered, "I do not know whether He is a sinner. I do know one thing, that once I was blind but now I can see." Again they said to him, "What did He do to you? How did He make your eyes to see again?" He answered them, "I have already told you and you would not listen to me. Why do you want to hear it again? You do not want to become His disciples, do you?" Then they jeered him, and said, "You are a disciple of His yourself, but we are disciples of Moses. We do know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this fellow comes from." The man answered them, "Well, there is something strange about this! You do not know where He comes from! And yet He has made my eyes to see! We know that God does not listen to sinful men, but He does listen to anyone who worships God and lives to do His will. It has never been heard of in this world that anyone ever made the eyes of a man who was born blind to see. If this man had not come from God, He could not have done anything like this." Then they retorted, "You were born in total depravity, and yet you are trying to teach us!" And so they turned him out of the synagogue. Jesus heard that they had turned the man out of the synagogue; so He found him and said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of Man yourself?" He answered, "Who is He, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in Him." Jesus answered him, "You have seen Him; you are talking to Him right now!" So he said, "Lord, I believe!" Then he worshiped Him.
Converts » Instances of » The mariners with jonah
Converts » Stony ground,
and some fell upon rocky ground where they did not have much soil, and at once they sprang up, because there was no depth of soil,
Verse Concepts
And what was sown upon the thin rocky soil illustrates the man who hears the message and bubbling over with joy at once accepts it, but it takes no real root in him, and he lasts only a little while, and just as soon as suffering and persecution come for the truth's sake, he at once yields and falls.
Converts » Instances of » The thief on the cross
Now one of the criminals who were hanging from their crosses kept abusing Him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Then save yourself and us too!" But the other one reproved him and said, "Do you not fear even God when you are suffering the same penalty? And we are suffering it justly, for we are getting our deserts for what we have done, but this man has done nothing wrong." read more.
Then he went on to say, "Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom!" So He said to him, "I solemnly say to you, this very day you will be in paradise with me."
Then he went on to say, "Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom!" So He said to him, "I solemnly say to you, this very day you will be in paradise with me."
Converts » Instances of » Jailer
When the jailer awoke and saw that the jail doors were open, he drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, because he thought that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul at once shouted out to him, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here!" Then the jailer called for lights and rushed in and fell trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. read more.
After leading them out of the jail, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you and your household will be saved." Then they told God's message to him and to all the members of his household. Even at that time of the night he took them and washed their wounds, and he and all the members of his household at once were baptized. Then he took them up to his house and gave them food, and he and all the members of his household were happy in their faith in God.
After leading them out of the jail, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you and your household will be saved." Then they told God's message to him and to all the members of his household. Even at that time of the night he took them and washed their wounds, and he and all the members of his household at once were baptized. Then he took them up to his house and gave them food, and he and all the members of his household were happy in their faith in God.
Converts » Instances of » The samaritans
The woman then left her pitcher and went back to town and said to the people, "Come, see a man who has told me everything I ever did. He is not the Christ, is He?" So the people left town and rushed out to see Him. read more.
Meanwhile the disciples were asking Him, and saying, "Teacher, eat something." But He said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know." So the disciples began to say to one another, "Nobody has brought Him anything to eat, has he?" Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to finish His work. Are you not saying, 'In four months more the harvest comes'? Look! I tell you, lift up your eyes and scan the fields, for they are already white for harvesting. Now the reaper is already getting pay, for he is gathering a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may rejoice together. For in this matter the adage is true, 'One sows, another reaps.' I have sent you to reap a harvest which you have not labored to make. Other men have labored, but you have reaped the results of their labors." Many of the Samaritans in that town believed in Him because of the woman's testimony, when she said, "He has told me everything I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they kept on urging Him to stay with them; so He did stay there two days. Then a much larger number believed in Him because of what He said Himself, and they were saying to the woman, "It is not merely because of what you said that we now believe, for we have heard Him ourselves, and we know that He is really the Saviour of the world."
Meanwhile the disciples were asking Him, and saying, "Teacher, eat something." But He said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know." So the disciples began to say to one another, "Nobody has brought Him anything to eat, has he?" Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to finish His work. Are you not saying, 'In four months more the harvest comes'? Look! I tell you, lift up your eyes and scan the fields, for they are already white for harvesting. Now the reaper is already getting pay, for he is gathering a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may rejoice together. For in this matter the adage is true, 'One sows, another reaps.' I have sent you to reap a harvest which you have not labored to make. Other men have labored, but you have reaped the results of their labors." Many of the Samaritans in that town believed in Him because of the woman's testimony, when she said, "He has told me everything I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they kept on urging Him to stay with them; so He did stay there two days. Then a much larger number believed in Him because of what He said Himself, and they were saying to the woman, "It is not merely because of what you said that we now believe, for we have heard Him ourselves, and we know that He is really the Saviour of the world."
Converts » Instances of » Lydia
Among them was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple goods from the town of Thyatira, and she stayed to listen to us. She was already a worshiper of God, and the Lord so moved upon her heart that she accepted the message spoken by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she begged us by continuing to say, "If you have made up your mind that I am a real believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house." And she continued to insist that we do so.
Converts » Zealous » The woman of samaria
The woman then left her pitcher and went back to town and said to the people, "Come, see a man who has told me everything I ever did. He is not the Christ, is He?"
Converts » Zealous » Andrew
Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means, the Christ).
Converts » Zealous » Philip
The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. So He sought out Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter. Philip sought out Nathaniel and said to him, "We have found the One about whom Moses wrote in the law and the One about whom the prophets wrote; it is Jesus, the son of Joseph, who comes from Nazareth."
Converts » Instances of » The eunuch
Then Philip opened his mouth, and starting from this passage, he told him the good news about Jesus. As they continued down the road, they came to some water, and the official said, "Look! here is some water! What is there to keep me from being baptized?" Omitted Text. read more.
So he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the official both went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
So he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the official both went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
Converts » Instances of » Gadarenes
So the people went out to see what had taken place, and they went to Jesus and found the man out of whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, with his clothes on and in his right mind; and they were frightened. Then they who had seen it told them how the man who had been under the power of demons was cured. Then all the inhabitants of the country around Gerasa asked Him to go away from them, because they were terribly frightened. So He got into a boat and went back. read more.
The man out of whom the demons had gone begged Him to let him go with Him, but Jesus sent him away and said, "Go back to your home, and continue to tell what great things God has done for you." But he went off and told all over the town what great things Jesus had done for him.
The man out of whom the demons had gone begged Him to let him go with Him, but Jesus sent him away and said, "Go back to your home, and continue to tell what great things God has done for you." But he went off and told all over the town what great things Jesus had done for him.
Converts » Instances of » Greeks
So some of them were convinced, and they joined Paul and Silas; also quite a number of devout Greeks and not a few women of the first rank.
Verse Concepts
Many of them came to believe, and not a few distinguished Greek women and men.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Zealous » Nebuchadnezzar
Converts » Wayside,
When anyone hears the message of the kingdom and does not understand it, the wicked one comes and carries off the seed that was sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.
Verse Concepts
and as he was sowing, some of the seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate them up,
Verse Concepts
Converts » Choked,
And what was sown among the thorns illustrates the man who hears the message, and the worries of the times and the pleasures of being rich choke the truth out, and he yields no fruit.
Verse Concepts
And some fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them out.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Instances of » Saul of tarsus
As he traveled on he finally approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He dropped to the ground; then he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" He asked, "Who are you, sir?" And He said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. read more.
But get up and go into the city, and there it will be told you what you ought to do." His fellow-travelers stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could not see anyone. Then Saul got up off the ground, but he could not see anything, although his eyes were wide open. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus, and for three days he could not see, and he did not eat or drink anything. Now there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias!" And he answered, "Yes, Lord, I am here." And the Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called 'The Straight Street,' and ask at the house of Judas for one named Saul, from Tarsus, for he is now praying there. He has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, to restore his sight." But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard many people tell of this man, especially the great sufferings he has brought on your people in Jerusalem. Now he is here and has authority from the high priests to put in chains all who call upon your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name to the heathen and their kings, and to the descendants of Israel. For I am going to show him how great are the sufferings he must endure for my name's sake." So Ananias left and went to that house, and there he laid his hands upon Saul, and said, "Saul, my. brother, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road on which you were coming here, has sent me that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." And all at once something like scales fell from his eyes, he regained his sight, got up and was baptized,
But get up and go into the city, and there it will be told you what you ought to do." His fellow-travelers stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could not see anyone. Then Saul got up off the ground, but he could not see anything, although his eyes were wide open. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus, and for three days he could not see, and he did not eat or drink anything. Now there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias!" And he answered, "Yes, Lord, I am here." And the Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called 'The Straight Street,' and ask at the house of Judas for one named Saul, from Tarsus, for he is now praying there. He has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, to restore his sight." But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard many people tell of this man, especially the great sufferings he has brought on your people in Jerusalem. Now he is here and has authority from the high priests to put in chains all who call upon your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name to the heathen and their kings, and to the descendants of Israel. For I am going to show him how great are the sufferings he must endure for my name's sake." So Ananias left and went to that house, and there he laid his hands upon Saul, and said, "Saul, my. brother, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road on which you were coming here, has sent me that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." And all at once something like scales fell from his eyes, he regained his sight, got up and was baptized,
Converts » Instances of » Jews and greeks at antioch
and after the congregation had broken up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism allied themselves with Paul and Barnabas, and they kept talking to them and urging them to continue to rely on the unmerited favor of God.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Instances of » At pentecost, about three-thousand people
So they accepted his message and were baptized, and about three thousand persons united with them on that day.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Instances of » Ruth
Converts » Zealous » The man possessed by demons
"Go back to your home, and continue to tell what great things God has done for you." But he went off and told all over the town what great things Jesus had done for him.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Zealous » The deaf man
Then He charged them not to tell anybody about it, but the more He kept charging them, the more they kept spreading the news.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Instances of » Post-pentecostal
But many of those who heard their message believed, and the number of the men grew to about five thousand.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Instances of » Cornelius
Converts » Instances of » Ninevites
Converts » Instances of » Nebuchadnezzar
Seals » Illustrative of » Converts
If I am not an apostle to other people, I certainly am one to you, for you yourselves, by virtue of your union with the Lord, are the proof of my apostleship.
Verse Concepts