Thematic Bible: Converts
Thematic Bible
Converts » Good ground,
But what was sown on the good soil--this is the one who hears the word and understands [it], who indeed bears fruit and produces, this one a hundred [times as much], and this one sixty, and this one thirty."
Verse Concepts
And [while] a large crowd was gathering and [they] were going to him from town [after town], he spoke by means of a parable: "The sower went out to sow his seed, and while he was sowing, {some seed} fell on the side of the path and was trampled under foot, and the birds of the sky devoured it. And other [seed] fell on the rock, and [when it] came up, it withered, because it did not have moisture. read more.
And other [seed] fell in the midst of the thorn plants, and the thorn plants grew up with [it] [and] choked it. And other [seed] fell on the good soil, and [when it] came up, it produced a hundred times as much grain." [As he] said these [things], he called out, "The one who has ears to hear, let him hear!" And his disciples asked him what this parable meant. And he said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest [they are] in parables, so that 'Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.' Now the parable means this: the seed is the word of God, and those beside the path are the ones who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they may not believe [and] be saved. And those on the rock [are those] who receive the word with joy when they hear [it], and these do not have [enough] root, who believe for a time and in a time of testing fall away. And the [seed] that fell into the thorn plants--these are the ones who hear and [as they] go along are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life, and they do not bear fruit to maturity. But the [seed] on the good soil--these are the ones who, [after] hearing the word, hold fast to [it] with a noble and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.
And other [seed] fell in the midst of the thorn plants, and the thorn plants grew up with [it] [and] choked it. And other [seed] fell on the good soil, and [when it] came up, it produced a hundred times as much grain." [As he] said these [things], he called out, "The one who has ears to hear, let him hear!" And his disciples asked him what this parable meant. And he said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest [they are] in parables, so that 'Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.' Now the parable means this: the seed is the word of God, and those beside the path are the ones who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they may not believe [and] be saved. And those on the rock [are those] who receive the word with joy when they hear [it], and these do not have [enough] root, who believe for a time and in a time of testing fall away. And the [seed] that fell into the thorn plants--these are the ones who hear and [as they] go along are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life, and they do not bear fruit to maturity. But the [seed] on the good soil--these are the ones who, [after] hearing the word, hold fast to [it] with a noble and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.
But other [seed] fell on the good soil and produced grain, this one a hundred [times as much] and this one sixty and this one thirty.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Instances of » Sergius paulus
Then [when] the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, [because he] was astounded at the teaching about the Lord.
Verse Concepts
who was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul [and] wished to hear the word of God.
Verse Concepts
In {this activity} I was traveling to Damascus with the authority and full power of the chief priests. In the middle of the day along the road, O king, I saw a light from heaven, more than the brightness of the sun, shining around me and those who were traveling with me. And [when] we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Aramaic language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? [It is] hard for you to kick against the goads!' read more.
So I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But get up and stand on your feet, because for this [reason] I have appeared to you, to appoint you a servant and witness both [to the things] in which you saw me and [to the things] in which I will appear to you, rescuing you from the people and from the Gentiles to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes [so that they] may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, [so that] they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' "Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but to those in Damascus first, and in Jerusalem and all the region of Judea and to the Gentiles, I proclaimed [that they should] repent and turn to God, doing deeds worthy of repentance. On account of these [things] the Jews seized me in the temple [courts] [and] were attempting to kill [me]. Therefore I have experienced help from God until this day, [and] I stand here testifying to both small and great, saying nothing except what both the prophets and Moses have said were going to happen, that the Christ was to suffer [and] that [as] the first of the resurrection from the dead, he was going to proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles."
So I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But get up and stand on your feet, because for this [reason] I have appeared to you, to appoint you a servant and witness both [to the things] in which you saw me and [to the things] in which I will appear to you, rescuing you from the people and from the Gentiles to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes [so that they] may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, [so that] they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' "Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but to those in Damascus first, and in Jerusalem and all the region of Judea and to the Gentiles, I proclaimed [that they should] repent and turn to God, doing deeds worthy of repentance. On account of these [things] the Jews seized me in the temple [courts] [and] were attempting to kill [me]. Therefore I have experienced help from God until this day, [and] I stand here testifying to both small and great, saying nothing except what both the prophets and Moses have said were going to happen, that the Christ was to suffer [and] that [as] the first of the resurrection from the dead, he was going to proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles."
Converts » Zealous » The blind men
But they went out [and] spread the report about him in that whole region.
Verse Concepts
Then the neighbors and those who saw him previously (because he was a beggar) began to say, "Is this man not the one who used to sit and beg?" Others were saying, "It is this man"; others were saying, "No, but he is like him." That one was saying, "I am [he]!" So they began to say to him, "How were your eyes opened?" read more.
He replied, "The man who is called Jesus made clay and smeared [it] on my eyes and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash!' So I went, and I washed, [and] I received sight." And they said to him, "Where is that man?" He said, "I do not know." They brought him--the one formerly blind--to the Pharisees. (Now the day on which Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes was the Sabbath.) So the Pharisees also were asking him again how he received sight. And he said to them, "He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see." So some of the Pharisees were saying, "This man is not from God, because he does not observe the Sabbath!" Others were saying, "How can a man [who is] a sinner perform such signs?" And there was a division among them. So they said to the blind man again, "What do you say about him, because he opened your eyes?" And he said, "He is a prophet." So the Jews did not believe concerning him that he had been blind and received sight, until they summoned the parents of the one who received sight. And they asked them, saying, "Is this man your son, whom you say was born blind? Then how does he now see?" So his parents answered and said, "We know that this man is our son, and that he was born blind. But how he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. Ask him! {He is a mature adult}; he will speak for himself!" (His parents said these [things] because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already decided that if anyone should confess him [to be] Christ, he would be expelled from the synagogue. Because of this his parents said, "{He is a mature adult}; ask him.") So they summoned the man who had been blind for the second time and said to him, "Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner!" Then that man replied, "Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One [thing] I know--that [although I] was blind, now I see!" So they said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He replied to them, "I told you already and you did not listen! Why do you want to hear [it] again? You do not want to become his disciples also, [do you]?" They reviled him 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 man is from." The man answered and said to them, "For the remarkable thing is this, that you do not know where he is from, and he opened my eyes! We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if someone is devout and does his will, he listens to this one. From {time immemorial} it has not been heard that someone opened the eyes of one born blind. If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything!" They answered and said to him, "You were born completely in sin, and are you attempting to teach us?" And they threw him out. Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and finding him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered and said, "And who is [he], sir, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have both seen him, and he is the one who is speaking with you." [[ And he said, "I believe, Lord!" and he worshiped him.
He replied, "The man who is called Jesus made clay and smeared [it] on my eyes and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash!' So I went, and I washed, [and] I received sight." And they said to him, "Where is that man?" He said, "I do not know." They brought him--the one formerly blind--to the Pharisees. (Now the day on which Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes was the Sabbath.) So the Pharisees also were asking him again how he received sight. And he said to them, "He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see." So some of the Pharisees were saying, "This man is not from God, because he does not observe the Sabbath!" Others were saying, "How can a man [who is] a sinner perform such signs?" And there was a division among them. So they said to the blind man again, "What do you say about him, because he opened your eyes?" And he said, "He is a prophet." So the Jews did not believe concerning him that he had been blind and received sight, until they summoned the parents of the one who received sight. And they asked them, saying, "Is this man your son, whom you say was born blind? Then how does he now see?" So his parents answered and said, "We know that this man is our son, and that he was born blind. But how he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. Ask him! {He is a mature adult}; he will speak for himself!" (His parents said these [things] because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already decided that if anyone should confess him [to be] Christ, he would be expelled from the synagogue. Because of this his parents said, "{He is a mature adult}; ask him.") So they summoned the man who had been blind for the second time and said to him, "Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner!" Then that man replied, "Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One [thing] I know--that [although I] was blind, now I see!" So they said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He replied to them, "I told you already and you did not listen! Why do you want to hear [it] again? You do not want to become his disciples also, [do you]?" They reviled him 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 man is from." The man answered and said to them, "For the remarkable thing is this, that you do not know where he is from, and he opened my eyes! We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if someone is devout and does his will, he listens to this one. From {time immemorial} it has not been heard that someone opened the eyes of one born blind. If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything!" They answered and said to him, "You were born completely in sin, and are you attempting to teach us?" And they threw him out. Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and finding him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered and said, "And who is [he], sir, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have both seen him, and he is the one who is speaking with you." [[ And he said, "I believe, Lord!" and he worshiped him.
Converts » Instances of » The mariners with jonah
So they cried out to Yahweh, and they said, "O Yahweh! Please do not let us perish because of this man's life, and {do not make us guilty of innocent blood}, because you, O Yahweh, did what you wanted."
Verse Concepts
And the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they threw the {contents} that were in the merchant ship into the sea to lighten it for them. And [meanwhile] Jonah went down into the hold of the vessel and lay down and fell asleep. And the captain of the ship approached him and said to him, "Why are you {sound asleep}? Get up! Call on your god! Perhaps [your] god will take notice of us and we won't perish!"
And he said to them, "I [am] a Hebrew, and I fear Yahweh, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land."
Verse Concepts
So the men feared Yahweh {greatly}, and they offered a sacrifice to Yahweh and {made} vows.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Stony ground,
And other [seed] fell on the rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up at once because it did not have [any] depth of soil.
Verse Concepts
And what was sown on the rocky ground--this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. But he does not have a root in himself, but {lasts only a little while}, and [when] affliction or persecution happens because of the word, immediately he falls away.
Converts » Instances of » The thief on the cross
And one of the criminals who were hanged there reviled him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself--and us!" But the other answered [and] rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, because you are undergoing the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving {what we deserve} [for] what we have done. 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, "Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise."
And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom!" And he said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise."
Converts » Instances of » Jailer
And [after] the jailer was awake and saw the doors of the prison open, he drew [his] sword [and] was about to kill himself, [because he] thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, "Do no harm to yourself, for we are all here!" And demanding lights, he rushed in and, {beginning to tremble}, fell down at the feet of Paul and Silas. read more.
And he brought them outside [and] said, "Sirs, what must I do so that I can be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household!" And they spoke the message of the Lord to him, together with all those in his house. And he took them at that [very] hour of the night [and] washed [their] wounds, and he himself was baptized at once, and all those of his [household]. And he brought them up into [his] house [and] set a meal before [them], and rejoiced greatly that he had believed in God with his whole household.
And he brought them outside [and] said, "Sirs, what must I do so that I can be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household!" And they spoke the message of the Lord to him, together with all those in his house. And he took them at that [very] hour of the night [and] washed [their] wounds, and he himself was baptized at once, and all those of his [household]. And he brought them up into [his] house [and] set a meal before [them], and rejoiced greatly that he had believed in God with his whole household.
Converts » Instances of » The samaritans
So the woman left her water jar and went away into the town and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me everything I have ever done! Perhaps this one is the Christ?" They went out from the town and were coming to him. read more.
In the meanwhile the disciples were asking him, saying, "Rabbi, eat [something]!" But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about." So the disciples began to say to one another, "No one brought him [anything] to eat, [did they]?" Jesus said to them, "My food is that I do the will of the one who sent me and complete his work. Do you not say, 'There are yet four months and the harvest comes'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, that they are white for harvest already. The one who reaps receives wages and gathers fruit for eternal life, in order that the one who sows and the one who reaps can rejoice together. For in this [instance] the saying is true, 'It is one who sows and another who reaps.' I sent you to reap what you did not work for; others have worked, and you have entered into their work." Now from that town many of the Samaritans believed in him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me everything that I have done." So when the Samaritans came to him, they began asking him to stay with them. And he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word, And they were saying to the woman, "No longer because of {what you said} do we believe, for we ourselves have heard, and we know that this one is truly the Savior of the world!"
In the meanwhile the disciples were asking him, saying, "Rabbi, eat [something]!" But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about." So the disciples began to say to one another, "No one brought him [anything] to eat, [did they]?" Jesus said to them, "My food is that I do the will of the one who sent me and complete his work. Do you not say, 'There are yet four months and the harvest comes'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, that they are white for harvest already. The one who reaps receives wages and gathers fruit for eternal life, in order that the one who sows and the one who reaps can rejoice together. For in this [instance] the saying is true, 'It is one who sows and another who reaps.' I sent you to reap what you did not work for; others have worked, and you have entered into their work." Now from that town many of the Samaritans believed in him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me everything that I have done." So when the Samaritans came to him, they began asking him to stay with them. And he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word, And they were saying to the woman, "No longer because of {what you said} do we believe, for we ourselves have heard, and we know that this one is truly the Savior of the world!"
Converts » Instances of » Lydia
And a certain woman {named} Lydia from the city of Thyatira, a merchant dealing in purple cloth who showed reverence for God, was listening. The Lord opened {her} heart to pay attention to what was being said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household, she urged [us], saying, "If you consider me to be a believer in the Lord, come to my house [and] stay." And she prevailed upon us.
Converts » Zealous » The woman of samaria
So the woman left her water jar and went away into the town and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me everything I have ever done! Perhaps this one is the Christ?"
Converts » Zealous » Andrew
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed him. This one first found his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah!" (which is translated "Christ").
Converts » Zealous » Philip
On the next day he wanted to depart for Galilee, and he found Philip. And Jesus said to him, "Follow me!" (Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter.) Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found [the one] whom Moses wrote [about] in the law, and the prophets wrote [about]--Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth!"
Converts » Instances of » The eunuch
So Philip opened his mouth and beginning from this scripture, proclaimed the good news to him [about] Jesus. And as they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" And he ordered the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water--Philip and the eunuch--and he baptized him.
Converts » Instances of » Gadarenes
So they went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out sitting [there] clothed and in his right mind, at the feet of Jesus, and they were afraid. And those who had seen [it] reported to them how the man who had been demon-possessed had been healed. And all the people of the surrounding region of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, because they had been seized with great fear. So he got into the boat [and] returned. read more.
And the man from who the demons had gone out was begging him to stay with him, but he sent him away, saying, "Return to your home and tell all that God has done for you." And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole town all that Jesus had done for him.
And the man from who the demons had gone out was begging him to stay with him, but he sent him away, saying, "Return to your home and tell all that God has done for you." And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole town all that Jesus had done for him.
Converts » Instances of » Greeks
And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, and [also] a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few of the prominent women.
Verse Concepts
Therefore many of them believed, and not a few of the prominent Greek women and men.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Zealous » Nebuchadnezzar
And from me {is set forth} a decree that any people, nation, or language that [may] utter criticism against their God--[the God of] Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego--will be broken into pieces and their house will be made like ruins. {For} there is not another God who is able to rescue like this [God]."
Verse Concepts
Converts » Wayside,
[When] anyone hears the word about the kingdom and does not understand [it], the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is what was sown on the side of the path.
Verse Concepts
and while he was sowing, {some seed} fell on the side of the path, and the birds came [and] devoured it.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Choked,
And what was sown into the thorn plants--this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of this world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word and it becomes unproductive.
Verse Concepts
And other [seed] fell among the thorn plants, and the thorn plants came up and choked it.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Instances of » Saul of tarsus
Now as [he] proceeded, it happened that [when] he approached Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" So he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he [said], "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting! read more.
But get up and enter into the city, and it will be told to you {what you must do}." (Now the men who were traveling together with him stood speechless, [because they] heard the voice but saw no one.) So Saul got up from the ground, but [although] his eyes were open he could see nothing. And leading him by the hand, they brought [him] into Damascus. And he was {unable to see} [for] three days, and he did not eat or drink. Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus {named} Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias!" And he said, "Behold, [here] I [am], Lord!" And the Lord [said] to him, "Get up, go to the street called 'Straight' and in the house of Judas look for {a man named Saul from Tarsus}. For behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man {named} Ananias coming in and placing hands on him so that he may regain [his] sight." But Ananias replied, "Lord, I have heard from many [people] about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem, and here he has authority from the chief priests to tie up all who call upon your name!" But the Lord said to him, "Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." So Ananias departed and entered into the house, and placing [his] hands on him, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me so that you may regain [your] sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." And immediately [something] like scales fell from his eyes and he regained [his] sight and got up [and] was baptized,
But get up and enter into the city, and it will be told to you {what you must do}." (Now the men who were traveling together with him stood speechless, [because they] heard the voice but saw no one.) So Saul got up from the ground, but [although] his eyes were open he could see nothing. And leading him by the hand, they brought [him] into Damascus. And he was {unable to see} [for] three days, and he did not eat or drink. Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus {named} Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias!" And he said, "Behold, [here] I [am], Lord!" And the Lord [said] to him, "Get up, go to the street called 'Straight' and in the house of Judas look for {a man named Saul from Tarsus}. For behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man {named} Ananias coming in and placing hands on him so that he may regain [his] sight." But Ananias replied, "Lord, I have heard from many [people] about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem, and here he has authority from the chief priests to tie up all who call upon your name!" But the Lord said to him, "Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." So Ananias departed and entered into the house, and placing [his] hands on him, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me so that you may regain [your] sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." And immediately [something] like scales fell from his eyes and he regained [his] sight and got up [and] was baptized,
Converts » Instances of » Jews and greeks at antioch
And [after] the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking to them [and] were persuading them to continue in the grace of God.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Instances of » At pentecost, about three-thousand people
So those who accepted his message were baptized, and on that day about three thousand souls were added.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Instances of » Ruth
But Ruth said, "{Do not urge} me to leave you [or] to return from {following you}! For where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people [will be] my people and your God [will be] my God.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Zealous » The man possessed by demons
"Return to your home and tell all that God has done for you." And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole town all that Jesus had done for him.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Zealous » The deaf man
And he ordered them that they should say nothing, but as much as he ordered them [not to], they proclaimed [it] even more instead.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Instances of » Post-pentecostal
But many of those who listened to the message believed, and the number of the men was approximately five thousand.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Instances of » Cornelius
Converts » Instances of » Ninevites
Converts » Instances of » Nebuchadnezzar
Seals » Illustrative of » Converts
If to others I am not an apostle, yet indeed I am to you, for you are my seal of apostleship in the Lord.
Verse Concepts