Thematic Bible: Converts
Thematic Bible
Converts » Good ground,
But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the person who hears the word, understands it, and produces a crop that yields 100, 60, or 30 times what was sown."
Now while a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from every city, he said in a parable: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was sowing, some seeds fell along the path, were trampled on, and birds from the sky ate them up. Others fell on stony ground, and as soon as they came up, they dried up because they had no moisture. read more.
Others fell among thorn bushes, and the thorn bushes grew with them and choked them. But others fell on good soil, and when they came up, they produced 100 times as much as was planted." As he said this, he called out, "Let the person who has ears to hear, listen!" Then his disciples began to ask him what this parable meant. So he said, "You have been given knowledge about the secrets of the kingdom of God. But to others they are given in parables, so that "they might look but not see, and they might listen but not understand.'" "Now this is what the parable means. The seed is God's word. The ones on the path are the people who listen, but then the Devil comes and takes the word away from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. The ones on the stony ground are the people who joyfully welcome the word when they hear it. But since they don't have any roots, they believe for a while, but in a time of testing they fall away. The ones that fell among the thorn bushes are the people who listen, but as they go on their way they are choked by the worries, wealth, and pleasures of life, and their fruit doesn't mature. But the ones on the good soil are the people who hear the word but also hold on to it with good and honest hearts, producing a crop through endurance."
Others fell among thorn bushes, and the thorn bushes grew with them and choked them. But others fell on good soil, and when they came up, they produced 100 times as much as was planted." As he said this, he called out, "Let the person who has ears to hear, listen!" Then his disciples began to ask him what this parable meant. So he said, "You have been given knowledge about the secrets of the kingdom of God. But to others they are given in parables, so that "they might look but not see, and they might listen but not understand.'" "Now this is what the parable means. The seed is God's word. The ones on the path are the people who listen, but then the Devil comes and takes the word away from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. The ones on the stony ground are the people who joyfully welcome the word when they hear it. But since they don't have any roots, they believe for a while, but in a time of testing they fall away. The ones that fell among the thorn bushes are the people who listen, but as they go on their way they are choked by the worries, wealth, and pleasures of life, and their fruit doesn't mature. But the ones on the good soil are the people who hear the word but also hold on to it with good and honest hearts, producing a crop through endurance."
But other seeds fell on good soil and produced a crop, some 100, some 60, and some 30 times what was sown.
Converts » Instances of » Sergius paulus
When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, because he was astonished at the Lord's teaching.
He was associated with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. He sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.
"That is how I happened to be traveling to Damascus with authority based on a commission from the high priests. On the road at noon, O King, I saw a light from heaven that was brighter than the sun. It flashed around me and those who were traveling with me. "All of us fell to the ground, and I heard a voice asking me in the Hebrew language, "Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me? It is hurting you to keep on kicking against the cattle prods.' read more.
"I asked, "Who are you, Lord?' "The Lord answered, "I'm Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and stand on your feet, because I've appeared to you for the very purpose of appointing you to be my servant and witness of what you've seen and of what I'll show you. I'll continue to rescue you from your people and from the gentiles to whom I'm sending you. You will help them understand and turn them from darkness to light and from Satan's control to God, so that their sins will be forgiven and they will receive a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' "And so, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. Instead, I first told the people in Damascus and Jerusalem, then all the people in Judea and after that the gentiles to repent, turn to God, and perform deeds that are consistent with such repentance. For this reason the Jewish leaders grabbed me in the Temple and kept trying to kill me. I've had help from God to this day, and so I stand here to testify to both the powerful and the lowly alike, stating only what the prophets and Moses said would happen that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead and would bring light both to our people and to the gentiles."
"I asked, "Who are you, Lord?' "The Lord answered, "I'm Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and stand on your feet, because I've appeared to you for the very purpose of appointing you to be my servant and witness of what you've seen and of what I'll show you. I'll continue to rescue you from your people and from the gentiles to whom I'm sending you. You will help them understand and turn them from darkness to light and from Satan's control to God, so that their sins will be forgiven and they will receive a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' "And so, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. Instead, I first told the people in Damascus and Jerusalem, then all the people in Judea and after that the gentiles to repent, turn to God, and perform deeds that are consistent with such repentance. For this reason the Jewish leaders grabbed me in the Temple and kept trying to kill me. I've had help from God to this day, and so I stand here to testify to both the powerful and the lowly alike, stating only what the prophets and Moses said would happen that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead and would bring light both to our people and to the gentiles."
Converts » Zealous » The blind men
Then the neighbors and those who had previously seen him as a beggar said, "This is the man who used to sit and beg, isn't it?" Some were saying, "It's him," while others were saying, "No, but it's someone like him." But he himself kept saying, "It's me!" So they asked him, "How, then, did you gain your eyesight?" read more.
He said, "The man named Jesus made some mud, spread it on my eyes, and told me, "Go to Siloam and wash.' So off I went and washed, and I received my sight." They asked him, "Where is that man?" He said, "I don't know!" So they brought to the Pharisees the man who had once been blind. Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and healed his eyes. So the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had gained his sight. He told them, "He put mud on my eyes, then I washed, and now I can see." Some of the Pharisees began to remark, "This man is not from God because he does not keep the Sabbath." But others were saying, "How can a sinful man perform such signs?" And there was a division among them. So they asked the formerly blind man again, "What do you say about him, since it was your eyes he healed?" He said, "He is a prophet." The Jewish leaders did not believe that the man had been blind and had gained sight until they summoned his parents and asked them, "Is this your son, the one you say was born blind? How does he now see?" His parents replied, "We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. But we don't know how it is that he now sees, and we don't know who opened his eyes. Ask him. He is of age and can speak for himself." His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, since the Jewish leaders had already agreed that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be thrown out of the synagogue. That's why his parents said, "He is of age. Ask him." The Jewish leaders summoned the man who had been blind a second time and told him, "Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner." But he responded, "I don't know whether he is a sinner or not. The one thing I do know is that I used to be blind and now I can see!" Then they asked him, "What did he do to you? How did he heal your eyes?" He answered them, "I've already told you, but you didn't listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don't want to become his disciples, too, do you?" At this, they turned on him in fury and said, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! We know that God has spoken to Moses, but we do not know where this fellow comes from." The man answered them, "This is an amazing thing! You don't know where he comes from, yet he healed my eyes. We know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but he does listen to anyone who worships him and does his will. Ever since creation it has never been heard that anyone healed the eyes of a man who was born blind. If this man were not from God, he couldn't do anything like that." They asked him, "You were born a sinner and you are trying to instruct us?" And they threw him out. Jesus heard that they had thrown him out. So when he found him, he asked him, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered, "And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him." Jesus told him, "You have seen him. He is the person who is talking with you." He said, "Lord, I do believe," and worshipped him.
He said, "The man named Jesus made some mud, spread it on my eyes, and told me, "Go to Siloam and wash.' So off I went and washed, and I received my sight." They asked him, "Where is that man?" He said, "I don't know!" So they brought to the Pharisees the man who had once been blind. Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and healed his eyes. So the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had gained his sight. He told them, "He put mud on my eyes, then I washed, and now I can see." Some of the Pharisees began to remark, "This man is not from God because he does not keep the Sabbath." But others were saying, "How can a sinful man perform such signs?" And there was a division among them. So they asked the formerly blind man again, "What do you say about him, since it was your eyes he healed?" He said, "He is a prophet." The Jewish leaders did not believe that the man had been blind and had gained sight until they summoned his parents and asked them, "Is this your son, the one you say was born blind? How does he now see?" His parents replied, "We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. But we don't know how it is that he now sees, and we don't know who opened his eyes. Ask him. He is of age and can speak for himself." His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, since the Jewish leaders had already agreed that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be thrown out of the synagogue. That's why his parents said, "He is of age. Ask him." The Jewish leaders summoned the man who had been blind a second time and told him, "Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner." But he responded, "I don't know whether he is a sinner or not. The one thing I do know is that I used to be blind and now I can see!" Then they asked him, "What did he do to you? How did he heal your eyes?" He answered them, "I've already told you, but you didn't listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don't want to become his disciples, too, do you?" At this, they turned on him in fury and said, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! We know that God has spoken to Moses, but we do not know where this fellow comes from." The man answered them, "This is an amazing thing! You don't know where he comes from, yet he healed my eyes. We know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but he does listen to anyone who worships him and does his will. Ever since creation it has never been heard that anyone healed the eyes of a man who was born blind. If this man were not from God, he couldn't do anything like that." They asked him, "You were born a sinner and you are trying to instruct us?" And they threw him out. Jesus heard that they had thrown him out. So when he found him, he asked him, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered, "And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him." Jesus told him, "You have seen him. He is the person who is talking with you." He said, "Lord, I do believe," and worshipped him.
Converts » Instances of » The mariners with jonah
At last they cried out to the LORD, "Please, LORD, do not let us perish because of this man's life, and do not hold us responsible for innocent blood, because you, LORD, have done what pleased you."
At this point the mariners became terrified, and each man cried out to his gods. They began to throw the cargo into the sea in order to lighten the vessel. But Jonah had gone down into the vessel's hold, had lain down, and was fast asleep. So the captain approached him, and told him, "What are you doing asleep? Get up! Call on your gods! Maybe your god will think about us so we won't die!"
"I'm a Hebrew," he replied, "and I'm afraid of the LORD God of heaven, who made the sea along with the dry land!"
Then the men feared the LORD greatly, offered a sacrifice to the LORD, and made vows.
Converts » Stony ground,
Other seeds fell on stony ground, where they did not have a lot of soil. They sprouted at once because the soil wasn't deep.
As for what was sown on the stony ground, this is the person who hears the word and accepts it joyfully at once, but since he doesn't have any root in himself, he lasts for only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes along because of the word, he immediately falls away.
Converts » Instances of » The thief on the cross
Now one of the criminals hanging there kept insulting him, "You are the Messiah, aren't you? Save yourself"and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him, "Aren't you afraid of God, since you are suffering the same penalty? We have been condemned justly, because we are getting what we deserve for what we have done, but this man has done nothing wrong." read more.
Then he went on to plead, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom!" Jesus told him, "I tell you with certainty, today you will be with me in Paradise."
Then he went on to plead, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom!" Jesus told him, "I tell you with certainty, today you will be with me in Paradise."
Converts » Instances of » Jailer
When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, "Don't hurt yourself, because we are all here!" The jailer asked for torches and rushed inside. Trembling as he knelt in front of Paul and Silas, read more.
he took them outside and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you and your family will be saved." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and everyone in his home. At that hour of the night, he took them and washed their wounds. Then he and his entire family were baptized immediately. He brought Paul and Silas upstairs into his house and set food before them. He was thrilled, as was his household, to believe in God.
he took them outside and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you and your family will be saved." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and everyone in his home. At that hour of the night, he took them and washed their wounds. Then he and his entire family were baptized immediately. He brought Paul and Silas upstairs into his house and set food before them. He was thrilled, as was his household, to believe in God.
Converts » Instances of » The samaritans
Then the woman left her water jar and went back to town. She told people, "Come, see a man who told me everything I've ever done! Could he possibly be the Messiah?" The people left the town and started on their way to him. read more.
Meanwhile, the disciples were urging him, "Rabbi, have something to eat." But he told them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about." So the disciples began to say to one another, "No one has brought him anything to eat, have they?" Jesus told them, "My food is doing the will of the one who sent me and completing his work. You say, don't you, "In four more months the harvest will begin?' Look, I tell you, open your eyes and observe that the fields are ready for harvesting now! The one who harvests is already receiving his wages and gathering a crop for eternal life, so that the one who sows and the one who harvests may rejoice together. In this respect the saying is true: "One person sows, and another person harvests.' I have sent you to harvest what you have not worked for. Others have worked, and you have adopted their work as your own." Now many of the Samaritans of that town believed in Jesus because the woman had testified, "He told me everything I've ever done." So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there for two days. And many more believed because of what he said. They kept telling the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, because now we have heard him ourselves, and we know that he really is the Savior of the world."
Meanwhile, the disciples were urging him, "Rabbi, have something to eat." But he told them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about." So the disciples began to say to one another, "No one has brought him anything to eat, have they?" Jesus told them, "My food is doing the will of the one who sent me and completing his work. You say, don't you, "In four more months the harvest will begin?' Look, I tell you, open your eyes and observe that the fields are ready for harvesting now! The one who harvests is already receiving his wages and gathering a crop for eternal life, so that the one who sows and the one who harvests may rejoice together. In this respect the saying is true: "One person sows, and another person harvests.' I have sent you to harvest what you have not worked for. Others have worked, and you have adopted their work as your own." Now many of the Samaritans of that town believed in Jesus because the woman had testified, "He told me everything I've ever done." So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there for two days. And many more believed because of what he said. They kept telling the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, because now we have heard him ourselves, and we know that he really is the Savior of the world."
Converts » Instances of » Lydia
A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a dealer in purple goods, was listening to us. She was a worshiper of God, and the Lord opened her heart to listen carefully to what was being said by Paul. When she and her family were baptized, she urged us, "If you are convinced that I am a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home." And she continued to insist that we do so.
Converts » Zealous » The woman of samaria
Then the woman left her water jar and went back to town. She told people, "Come, see a man who told me everything I've ever done! Could he possibly be the Messiah?"
Converts » Zealous » Andrew
Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and say to him, "We have found the Anointed One!" (which is translated "Messiah").
Converts » Zealous » Philip
The next day, Jesus decided to go away to Galilee, where he found Philip and told him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathaniel and told him, "We have found the man about whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets wrote Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth."
Converts » Instances of » The eunuch
Then Philip began to speak, and, starting from this Scripture, he told him the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, "Look, there's some water. What keeps me from being baptized?" So he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
Converts » Instances of » Gadarenes
So the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out sitting at Jesus' feet, dressed and in his right mind, they were frightened. The people who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. Then all the people from the region surrounding the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were terrified. So he got into a boat and started back. read more.
Now the man from whom the demons had gone out kept begging Jesus to let him go with him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, "Go home and tell what God has done for you." So the man left and kept proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.
Now the man from whom the demons had gone out kept begging Jesus to let him go with him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, "Go home and tell what God has done for you." So the man left and kept proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.
Converts » Instances of » Greeks
Some of them were persuaded and began to be associated with Paul and Silas, especially a large crowd of devout Greeks and the wives of many prominent men.
Converts » Zealous » Nebuchadnezzar
"Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego! He sent his angel to deliver his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed the king's command and were willing to risk their lives in order not to serve or worship any god except their own God. So I decree that people from any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego will be destroyed and their house reduced to rubble, because there is no other god who can save like this."
Converts » Wayside,
When anyone hears the word about the kingdom yet doesn't understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.
As he was sowing, some seeds fell along the path, and birds came and ate them up.
Converts » Choked,
As for what was sown among the thorn bushes, this is the person who hears the word, but the worries of life and the deceitful pleasures of wealth choke the word so that it can't produce a crop.
Other seeds fell among thorn bushes, and the thorn bushes grew higher and choked them out.
Converts » Instances of » Saul of tarsus
As Saul traveled along and was approaching Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. He dropped to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting me?" He asked, "Who are you, Lord?" read more.
The voice said, "I'm Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up, go into the city, and you will be told what you are to do." Meanwhile, the men who were traveling with Saul were standing speechless, for they heard the voice but didn't see anyone. When Saul got up off the ground, he couldn't see anything, even though his eyes were open. So his companions took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. For three days he couldn't see, and he didn't eat or drink anything. Now in Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called out to him in a vision, "Ananias!" He answered, "Here I am, Lord." The Lord told him, "Get up, go to the street called Straight, and in the home of Judas look for a man from Tarsus named Saul. At this very moment he's praying. He has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so he would see again." But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard many people tell how much evil this man has done to your saints in Jerusalem. He is here with authority from the high priests to put in chains all who call on your name." But the Lord told him, "Go, because he's my chosen instrument to carry my name to unbelievers, to their kings, and to the descendants of Israel. since I'm going to show him how much he must suffer for my name's sake." So Ananias left and went to that house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were traveling, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." All at once something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again.
The voice said, "I'm Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up, go into the city, and you will be told what you are to do." Meanwhile, the men who were traveling with Saul were standing speechless, for they heard the voice but didn't see anyone. When Saul got up off the ground, he couldn't see anything, even though his eyes were open. So his companions took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. For three days he couldn't see, and he didn't eat or drink anything. Now in Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called out to him in a vision, "Ananias!" He answered, "Here I am, Lord." The Lord told him, "Get up, go to the street called Straight, and in the home of Judas look for a man from Tarsus named Saul. At this very moment he's praying. He has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so he would see again." But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard many people tell how much evil this man has done to your saints in Jerusalem. He is here with authority from the high priests to put in chains all who call on your name." But the Lord told him, "Go, because he's my chosen instrument to carry my name to unbelievers, to their kings, and to the descendants of Israel. since I'm going to show him how much he must suffer for my name's sake." So Ananias left and went to that house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were traveling, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." All at once something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again.
Converts » Instances of » Jews and greeks at antioch
When the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who kept talking to them and urging them to continue in the grace of God.
Converts » Instances of » At pentecost, about three-thousand people
So those who welcomed his message were baptized. That day about 3,000 people were added to their number.
Converts » Instances of » Ruth
But Ruth answered, "Stop urging me to abandon you and to turn back from following you. Because wherever you go, I'll go. Wherever you live, I'll live. Your people will be my people, and your God, my God.
Converts » Zealous » The man possessed by demons
"Go home and tell what God has done for you." So the man left and kept proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.
Converts » Zealous » The deaf man
Jesus ordered the people not to tell anyone, but the more he kept ordering them, the more they kept spreading the news.
Converts » Instances of » Post-pentecostal
But many of those who heard their message believed, and the men grew to number about 5,000.
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, surely I am one to you, for you are the evidence of my apostolic authority from the Lord.