Thematic Bible: Converts
Thematic Bible
Converts » Good ground,
And what was sown in good ground means the man who listens to the message and understands it, and yields one a hundred, and another sixty, and another thirty-fold."
Verse Concepts
When a great throng was gathering and people were coming to him from one town after another, he said in his figurative way, "A sower went out to sow his seed. As he was sowing, some of the seed fell by the path and was trodden on, and the wild birds ate it up. And some of it fell upon the rock, and when it sprang up it withered, because it had no moisture. read more.
And some fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out. And some fell on good soil, and grew up and yielded a hundred fold!" As he said this he called out, "Let him who has ears to hear with, listen!" His disciples asked him what this figure meant. And he said, "You are permitted to know the secrets of the Kingdom of God, but they are given to others in the form of figures, so that they may look and yet not see, and hear and yet not understand. This is what the figure means. The seed is God's message. The ones by the path are those who hear, and then the devil comes and carries off the message from their hearts, so that they may not believe it and be saved. The ones on the rock are those who receive the message joyfully when they first hear it, but it takes no real root. They believe for a little while, and then in the time of trial they draw back. And what falls among the thorns means those who listen and pass on, and the worries and wealth and pleasures of life stifle them and they yield nothing. But the seed in the good soil means those who listen to the message and keep it in good, true hearts, and yield unfailingly.
And some fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out. And some fell on good soil, and grew up and yielded a hundred fold!" As he said this he called out, "Let him who has ears to hear with, listen!" His disciples asked him what this figure meant. And he said, "You are permitted to know the secrets of the Kingdom of God, but they are given to others in the form of figures, so that they may look and yet not see, and hear and yet not understand. This is what the figure means. The seed is God's message. The ones by the path are those who hear, and then the devil comes and carries off the message from their hearts, so that they may not believe it and be saved. The ones on the rock are those who receive the message joyfully when they first hear it, but it takes no real root. They believe for a little while, and then in the time of trial they draw back. And what falls among the thorns means those who listen and pass on, and the worries and wealth and pleasures of life stifle them and they yield nothing. But the seed in the good soil means those who listen to the message and keep it in good, true hearts, and yield unfailingly.
And some fell on good soil, and yielded some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty-fold.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Instances of » Sergius paulus
Then the governor, seeing what had happened, believed, and was thunderstruck at the Lord's teaching.
Verse Concepts
He was attached to the governor, Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. He sent for Barnabas and Saul and asked them to let him hear God's message.
Verse Concepts
I was once going to Damascus on this business, authorized and commissioned by the high priests, when 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 persecute me? You cannot kick against the goad!' read more.
'Who are you, sir?' said I. The Lord said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for the express purpose of appointing you to serve me and to testify to what you have seen and to the visions you will have of me. I will save you from your people and from the heathen, to whom I will send you to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from Satan's control to God, so that they may have their sins forgiven and have a place among those who are consecrated through faith in me.' Therefore, King Agrippa, I did not disobey that heavenly vision, but first to the people of Damascus and Jerusalem and then all over Judea, and even to the heathen I preached that they must repent and turn to God and live as men who have repented should. That is why the Jews seized me in the Temple and tried to kill me. To this day I have had God's help and I stand here to testify to high and low alike, without adding a thing to what Moses and the prophets declared would happen, if the Christ was to suffer and by being the first to rise from the dead was to proclaim the light to our people and to the heathen."
'Who are you, sir?' said I. The Lord said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for the express purpose of appointing you to serve me and to testify to what you have seen and to the visions you will have of me. I will save you from your people and from the heathen, to whom I will send you to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from Satan's control to God, so that they may have their sins forgiven and have a place among those who are consecrated through faith in me.' Therefore, King Agrippa, I did not disobey that heavenly vision, but first to the people of Damascus and Jerusalem and then all over Judea, and even to the heathen I preached that they must repent and turn to God and live as men who have repented should. That is why the Jews seized me in the Temple and tried to kill me. To this day I have had God's help and I stand here to testify to high and low alike, without adding a thing to what Moses and the prophets declared would happen, if the Christ was to suffer and by being the first to rise from the dead was to proclaim the light to our people and to the heathen."
Converts » Zealous » The blind men
But they went out and spread the news about him all over that part of the country.
Verse Concepts
Then his neighbors and people who had formerly seen him begging, said, "Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?" Some said, "Yes! It is he!" Others said, "No! but he looks like him." He himself said, "I am the man." So they said to him, "Then how does it happen that you can see?" read more.
He answered, "The man they call Jesus made some clay and rubbed it on my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash them.' So I went and when I had washed them I could see." They said to 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 that Jesus had made the clay and made him able to see. So once more the Pharisees asked him how he had become able to see, and he said to them, "He put some clay on my eyes, and I washed them, and I can see." Then some of the Pharisees said, "This man does not come from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath." But others said, "How can a sinful man show such signs as this?" And there was a division of opinion among them. So they asked the blind man again, "What have you to say about him, because he has made you able to see?" He said, "He is a prophet!" But the Jews would not believe that he had been blind and had become able to see until they summoned the parents of the man who had been given his sight, and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How is it that he can see now?" 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 can see now, or who has made him able to see. You must ask him. He is grown up. Let him tell you about himself." His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already made an agreement that if anyone acknowledged Jesus as the Christ, he should be excluded from the synagogues. That was why his parents said, "He is grown up; you must ask him." So they again summoned the man who had been blind, and they said to him, "Give God the praise. This man we know is a sinful man." He answered, "I do not know about his being a sinful man. All I know is that I was blind before and now I can see." They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he make you able to see?" He answered, "I have already told you and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become disciples of his too?" Then they sneered at him, and said, "You are a disciple of his yourself, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this man came from." The man answered, "There is something very strange about this! You do not know where he came from, and yet he has made me able to see! We know that God does not listen to sinful people, but if a man is devout and obeys God, God will listen to him. It was never heard of in this world that anyone made a man born blind able to see. If this man were not from God, he could not do anything." They answered, "You were born in utter sin, and are you trying to teach us?" So they excluded him from the synagogue. Jesus learned that they had excluded him, and he found the man and said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" The man answered, "Who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him." Jesus said to him, "You have seen him already, and it is he who is now talking to you." And he said, "I believe, sir!" and he fell on his knees before him.
He answered, "The man they call Jesus made some clay and rubbed it on my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash them.' So I went and when I had washed them I could see." They said to 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 that Jesus had made the clay and made him able to see. So once more the Pharisees asked him how he had become able to see, and he said to them, "He put some clay on my eyes, and I washed them, and I can see." Then some of the Pharisees said, "This man does not come from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath." But others said, "How can a sinful man show such signs as this?" And there was a division of opinion among them. So they asked the blind man again, "What have you to say about him, because he has made you able to see?" He said, "He is a prophet!" But the Jews would not believe that he had been blind and had become able to see until they summoned the parents of the man who had been given his sight, and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How is it that he can see now?" 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 can see now, or who has made him able to see. You must ask him. He is grown up. Let him tell you about himself." His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already made an agreement that if anyone acknowledged Jesus as the Christ, he should be excluded from the synagogues. That was why his parents said, "He is grown up; you must ask him." So they again summoned the man who had been blind, and they said to him, "Give God the praise. This man we know is a sinful man." He answered, "I do not know about his being a sinful man. All I know is that I was blind before and now I can see." They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he make you able to see?" He answered, "I have already told you and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become disciples of his too?" Then they sneered at him, and said, "You are a disciple of his yourself, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this man came from." The man answered, "There is something very strange about this! You do not know where he came from, and yet he has made me able to see! We know that God does not listen to sinful people, but if a man is devout and obeys God, God will listen to him. It was never heard of in this world that anyone made a man born blind able to see. If this man were not from God, he could not do anything." They answered, "You were born in utter sin, and are you trying to teach us?" So they excluded him from the synagogue. Jesus learned that they had excluded him, and he found the man and said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" The man answered, "Who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him." Jesus said to him, "You have seen him already, and it is he who is now talking to you." And he said, "I believe, sir!" and he fell on his knees before him.
Converts » Instances of » The mariners with jonah
Converts » Stony ground,
and some fell on rocky ground where there was not much soil and it sprang up at once, because the soil was not deep,
Verse Concepts
And what was sown upon the rocky soil means the man who hears the message and at once accepts it joyfully, but it takes no real root in him, and lasts only a little while, and when trouble or persecution comes because of the message, he gives it up at once.
Converts » Instances of » The thief on the cross
One of the criminals who were hanging there, abused him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us too!" But the other reproved him and said, "Have you no fear even of God when you are suffering the same penalty? And we are suffering it justly, for we are only getting our deserts, but this man has done nothing wrong." read more.
And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom!" And he said to him, "I tell you, you will be in Paradise with me today!"
And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom!" And he said to him, "I tell you, you will be in Paradise with me today!"
Converts » Instances of » Jailer
It woke up the jailer, and when he saw that the doors of the jail were open, he drew his sword and was just going to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted out, "Do not do yourself any harm! We are all here!" Then he called for lights and rushed in, and fell trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. read more.
He led them out of the jail and said to them, "Gentlemen, what must I do to be saved?" "Believe in the Lord Jesus," they said, "and you and your household will be saved!" Then they told God's message to him and to all the members of his household. And right then in the night, he took them and washed their wounds, and he and all his household were baptized immediately. Then he took them up to his house and offered them food, and he and all his household were very happy over their new faith in God.
He led them out of the jail and said to them, "Gentlemen, what must I do to be saved?" "Believe in the Lord Jesus," they said, "and you and your household will be saved!" Then they told God's message to him and to all the members of his household. And right then in the night, he took them and washed their wounds, and he and all his household were baptized immediately. Then he took them up to his house and offered them food, and he and all his household were very happy over their new faith in God.
Converts » Instances of » The samaritans
So the woman left her pitcher and went back to the town, and said to the people, "Come, here is a man who has told me everything I ever did! Do you suppose he is the Christ?" The people went out of the town to see him. read more.
Meanwhile the disciples urged him, saying, "Master, eat something." But he said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know." So the disciples said to one another, "Do you suppose that someone has brought him something to eat?" Jesus said to them, "My food is doing the will of him who has sent me, and finishing his work. Are you not saying, 'Four months more and the harvest will come'? Look, I tell you! Raise your eyes and see the fields, for they are white for harvesting. The reaper is already being paid and gathering the harvest for eternal life, so that the sower may be glad with the reaper. For here the saying holds good, 'One sows, another reaps.' I have sent you to reap a harvest on which you have not worked. Other men have worked and you have profited by their work." Many of the Samaritans in that town came to believe in him because of the testimony the woman gave when she said, "He has told me everything I ever did!" So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they asked him to stay with them, and he did stay there two days. And a great many more believed because of what he said, and they said to the woman, "It is no longer because of your statement that we believe, for we have heard him ourselves, and we know that he is really the Savior of the world."
Meanwhile the disciples urged him, saying, "Master, eat something." But he said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know." So the disciples said to one another, "Do you suppose that someone has brought him something to eat?" Jesus said to them, "My food is doing the will of him who has sent me, and finishing his work. Are you not saying, 'Four months more and the harvest will come'? Look, I tell you! Raise your eyes and see the fields, for they are white for harvesting. The reaper is already being paid and gathering the harvest for eternal life, so that the sower may be glad with the reaper. For here the saying holds good, 'One sows, another reaps.' I have sent you to reap a harvest on which you have not worked. Other men have worked and you have profited by their work." Many of the Samaritans in that town came to believe in him because of the testimony the woman gave when she said, "He has told me everything I ever did!" So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they asked him to stay with them, and he did stay there two days. And a great many more believed because of what he said, and they said to the woman, "It is no longer because of your statement that we believe, for we have heard him ourselves, and we know that he is really the Savior of the world."
Converts » Instances of » Lydia
One of our hearers was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple goods, from the town of Thyatira. She was a believer in God, and the Lord touched her heart, and led her to accept Paul's teaching. When she and her household were baptized, she appealed to us, and said, "If you are really convinced that I am a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house." And she insisted upon our coming.
Converts » Zealous » The woman of samaria
So the woman left her pitcher and went back to the town, and said to the people, "Come, here is a man who has told me everything I ever did! Do you suppose he is the Christ?"
Converts » Zealous » Andrew
Converts » Zealous » Philip
Converts » Instances of » The eunuch
Then Philip began, and starting from this passage, he told him the good news about Jesus. As they went on along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Here is some water! What is there to prevent my being baptized?" OMITTED TEXT read more.
So he ordered the car to stop, and Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
So he ordered the car to stop, and Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
Converts » Instances of » Gadarenes
And the people came out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man out of whom the demons had gone sitting there, at Jesus' feet, with his clothes on and in his right mind, and they were frightened. And those who had seen it told them how the man who had been possessed was cured. Then all the people of the neighborhood of Gerasa asked him to go away from them, for they were terribly frightened. And he got into a boat and went back. read more.
The man out of whom the demons had gone begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, and said, "Go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you." And he went and told all over the town what Jesus had done for him.
The man out of whom the demons had gone begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, and said, "Go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you." And he went and told all over the town what Jesus had done for him.
Converts » Instances of » Greeks
He convinced some of them, and they joined Paul and Silas, along with a great many devout Greeks and a number of the principal women.
Verse Concepts
Many of them became believers and so did no small number of Greek women of position, and men too.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Zealous » Nebuchadnezzar
Converts » Wayside,
When anyone hears the teaching of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and robs him of the seed that has been sown in his mind. That is what was sown along the path.
Verse Concepts
and as he was sowing, some of the seed fell by the path and the birds came and ate it up,
Verse Concepts
Converts » Choked,
And what was sown among the thorns means the man who listens to the message, and then the worries of the time and the pleasure of being rich choke the message out, and it yields nothing.
Verse Concepts
And some of it fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it out.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Instances of » Saul of tarsus
But on his journey, as he was approaching Damascus, a sudden light flashed around him from heaven, and he fell to the ground. Then he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?" "Who are you, sir?" he asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," said the voice. read more.
"But get up and go into the city, and there you will be told what you ought to do." Saul's fellow-travelers stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could not see anyone. When he got up from the ground and opened his eyes he could see nothing. They had to take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus, and for three days he could not see, and neither ate nor drank. There was at Damascus a disciple named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias!" And he answered, "Yes, Lord!" The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called the Straight Street, and ask at the house of Judas for a man named Saul, from Tarsus, for he is there praying. He has had a vision and seen 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, and the harm he has done to your people in Jerusalem. He is here with authority to arrest everyone who calls upon your name." The Lord said to him, "Go! This man is the means I have chosen for carrying my name among the heathen and their kings, and among the descendants of Israel. For I am going to show him what he will have to endure for my sake." Ananias set out and went to the house, and there he laid his hands upon Saul, and said to him, "Saul, my brother, I have been sent by the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your journey, so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit." Something like scales immediately dropped from his eyes, and his sight was restored, and he got up and was baptized,
"But get up and go into the city, and there you will be told what you ought to do." Saul's fellow-travelers stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could not see anyone. When he got up from the ground and opened his eyes he could see nothing. They had to take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus, and for three days he could not see, and neither ate nor drank. There was at Damascus a disciple named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias!" And he answered, "Yes, Lord!" The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called the Straight Street, and ask at the house of Judas for a man named Saul, from Tarsus, for he is there praying. He has had a vision and seen 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, and the harm he has done to your people in Jerusalem. He is here with authority to arrest everyone who calls upon your name." The Lord said to him, "Go! This man is the means I have chosen for carrying my name among the heathen and their kings, and among the descendants of Israel. For I am going to show him what he will have to endure for my sake." Ananias set out and went to the house, and there he laid his hands upon Saul, and said to him, "Saul, my brother, I have been sent by the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your journey, so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit." Something like scales immediately dropped from his eyes, and his sight was restored, and he got up and was baptized,
Converts » Instances of » Jews and greeks at antioch
and after the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and the devout converts to Judaism went away with Paul and Barnabas, and they talked with them, and urged them to rely on the favor of God.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Instances of » At pentecost, about three-thousand people
So they welcomed his message and were baptized, and about three thousand people joined them that day.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Instances of » Ruth
Converts » Zealous » The man possessed by demons
"Go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you." And he went and told all over the town what Jesus had done for him.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Zealous » The deaf man
And Jesus forbade them to tell anyone about it, but the more he forbade them the more they spread the news far and wide.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Instances of » Post-pentecostal
But many of those who had heard what they said believed it, and their number grew to be 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, in your relation to the Lord, are the certificate of my apostleship.
Verse Concepts