Thematic Bible: Converts
Thematic Bible
Converts » Good ground,
He that was sown upon the good ground hears the word, and understands it. He bears fruit, producing sometimes a hundredfold, sometimes sixty, and sometimes thirty.
A great crowd came to him from every city. He spoke to them with an illustration: The farmer went out to sow his seed. As he sowed some fell by the side of the road. It was trampled under foot and the birds of heaven devoured it. Other seed fell on the rock. As soon as it grew it withered away because it had no moisture. read more.
Still other seed fell among the thorns. The thorns grew with it, and choked it. Other seed fell on the good ground. It grew and produced fruit a hundredfold. As he said these things he cried. He said: He who has ears to hear let him hear. His disciples asked him what this illustration means. He said: You are meant to know the secrets of the kingdom of God. I speak to the rest in illustrations, that seeing they may not see and hearing they may not understand. Now the illustration is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the side of the road are they who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes the word from their hearts that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are those who receive the word with joy. These have no root. They believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. The seeds that fell among the thorns are people who hear the word and go their own way. They are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and do not produce fruit. The good ground represents the honest and good-hearted people. They hear the word, hold fast to it and produce forth fruit with patience.
Still other seed fell among the thorns. The thorns grew with it, and choked it. Other seed fell on the good ground. It grew and produced fruit a hundredfold. As he said these things he cried. He said: He who has ears to hear let him hear. His disciples asked him what this illustration means. He said: You are meant to know the secrets of the kingdom of God. I speak to the rest in illustrations, that seeing they may not see and hearing they may not understand. Now the illustration is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the side of the road are they who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes the word from their hearts that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are those who receive the word with joy. These have no root. They believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. The seeds that fell among the thorns are people who hear the word and go their own way. They are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and do not produce fruit. The good ground represents the honest and good-hearted people. They hear the word, hold fast to it and produce forth fruit with patience.
Some fell on good ground and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.
Converts » Instances of » Sergius paulus
When he saw what was done the deputy believed. He was astonished at the teaching of God.
He was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man, who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests. At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven. It was brighter than the sun and shinned all around me. It also shinned around those who journeyed with me. We all fell to the ground. I heard a voice speaking to me. It said in the Hebrew tongue: 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' (You only hurt yourself.) read more.
I said: 'Who are you, Lord?' And he answered: 'I am Jesus whom you persecute. Stand up on your feet. I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of these things that you have seen, and of those things I will show to you. I will rescue you from the people and the nations. I am sending you to them. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. They may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' You see, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. I preached first to Damascus, and to Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the people of the nations, that they should repent and turn to God, and prove their repentance by deeds. For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. Having obtained help from God, I continue to this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those that the prophets and Moses said should come. That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first to rise from the dead, and should show light to the people, and to the nations.
I said: 'Who are you, Lord?' And he answered: 'I am Jesus whom you persecute. Stand up on your feet. I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of these things that you have seen, and of those things I will show to you. I will rescue you from the people and the nations. I am sending you to them. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. They may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' You see, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. I preached first to Damascus, and to Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the people of the nations, that they should repent and turn to God, and prove their repentance by deeds. For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. Having obtained help from God, I continue to this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those that the prophets and Moses said should come. That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first to rise from the dead, and should show light to the people, and to the nations.
Converts » Zealous » The blind men
The neighbors saw him afterwards. They knew he was a blind beggar. So they asked: Is this he who sat and begged? Others said: It is he. Yet others said: No, but he is like him. He said: I am he! How were your eyes opened? They asked. read more.
He answered: The man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes. Then he told me to go to Siloam and wash. I went there and washed, and I received sight. They inquired asked: Where is he? He responded: I do not know. They brought the former blind man to the Pharisees. Jesus healed the blind man on the Sabbath day. The Pharisees asked him how he received his sight. He said to them: He put clay on my eyes, I washed and now I see. Some of the Pharisees said: This man is not from God, because he does not keep the Sabbath. Others said: How could a man that is a sinner perform such signs? There was division among them. They spoke again to the former blind man. What do you say about him? He said: He is a prophet. The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and then received his sight. So they called his parents. They asked the parents: Is this your son? Was he born blind? How does he see now? His parents answered: This is our son and he was born blind. We do not know how he now sees or who opened his eyes. Ask him. He is of age and he will speak for himself. The parents said these things because they feared the Jews. The Jews had agreed that if any man should confess him to be Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. So the parents said: Ask him, he is of age. So they called the man that was blind a second time, and said to him: Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner. He answered: I do not know if he is a sinner. One thing I know, I was blind and now I see. They asked: What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes? He answered them: I told you before and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Would you also become his disciples? Then they spoke abusively to him: You are his disciple! We are disciples of Moses. We know that God spoke to Moses. As for this man we do not know where he is from. The man answered: This certainly is a marvel that you do not know where he is from and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. If any man respects God and does his will, God listens to him. Since the world began no one ever heard of a man opening the eyes of someone born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing. They answered: You were born in sin and you teach us? Then they threw him out. Jesus heard that they threw him out. He found him and said: Do you believe in the Son of God? He answered: Who is he Lord that I may believe in him? Jesus replied: You both see and hear him for he speaks with you. Lord I believe, he said. And he bowed down to him.
He answered: The man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes. Then he told me to go to Siloam and wash. I went there and washed, and I received sight. They inquired asked: Where is he? He responded: I do not know. They brought the former blind man to the Pharisees. Jesus healed the blind man on the Sabbath day. The Pharisees asked him how he received his sight. He said to them: He put clay on my eyes, I washed and now I see. Some of the Pharisees said: This man is not from God, because he does not keep the Sabbath. Others said: How could a man that is a sinner perform such signs? There was division among them. They spoke again to the former blind man. What do you say about him? He said: He is a prophet. The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and then received his sight. So they called his parents. They asked the parents: Is this your son? Was he born blind? How does he see now? His parents answered: This is our son and he was born blind. We do not know how he now sees or who opened his eyes. Ask him. He is of age and he will speak for himself. The parents said these things because they feared the Jews. The Jews had agreed that if any man should confess him to be Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. So the parents said: Ask him, he is of age. So they called the man that was blind a second time, and said to him: Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner. He answered: I do not know if he is a sinner. One thing I know, I was blind and now I see. They asked: What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes? He answered them: I told you before and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Would you also become his disciples? Then they spoke abusively to him: You are his disciple! We are disciples of Moses. We know that God spoke to Moses. As for this man we do not know where he is from. The man answered: This certainly is a marvel that you do not know where he is from and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. If any man respects God and does his will, God listens to him. Since the world began no one ever heard of a man opening the eyes of someone born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing. They answered: You were born in sin and you teach us? Then they threw him out. Jesus heard that they threw him out. He found him and said: Do you believe in the Son of God? He answered: Who is he Lord that I may believe in him? Jesus replied: You both see and hear him for he speaks with you. Lord I believe, he said. And he bowed down to him.
Converts » Instances of » The mariners with jonah
So they cried to Jehovah, and said: We earnestly request that you, O Jehovah, do not let us perish because of this man. Do not allow the loss of innocent blood! For you, O Jehovah, have done as you pleased.
The sailors were so afraid that each man cried out to his own god. They threw the cargo that was on the ship into the sea to lighten the load. At that time Jonah was fast asleep down in the innermost parts of the ship. So the captain came to him, and said: Why are you sleeping? Get up and call on your god. Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish.
He replied: I am Hebrew and I respect Jehovah, the God of heaven, who has made the sea and the dry land.
The men greatly reverenced Jehovah. They offered a sacrifice to Jehovah, and made vows.
Converts » Stony ground,
Others fell on rocky places and did not have much soil.
Anyone sown among the rocky places hears the word and immediately with joy receives it. There is no root in him. He endures for a while. When he has tribulation or persecution because of the word, he falls away.
Converts » Instances of » The thief on the cross
One of the criminals who were hanged complained bitterly to him saying: Are you the Christ? Save yourself and us. The other rebuked him saying: Do you not respect God, seeing you are also condemned? We are indeed justly condemned for we receive the due reward of our deeds. But this man has done nothing wrong. read more.
He said: Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom. He replied: Today I tell you this. You will be with me in paradise.
He said: Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom. He replied: Today I tell you this. You will be with me in paradise.
Converts » Instances of » Jailer
The jailor, who was roused out of sleep and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. Paul cried with a loud voice: Do not harm yourself for we are all here. The jailer called for lights. He rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. read more.
He brought them out and asked: Sirs, what must I do to be saved? They said: Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your house. They spoke the Word of God to him and those in his house. That very hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds. Then he and all his family were baptized. He took them to his house and fed them. They rejoiced along with his entire house, having believed in God.
He brought them out and asked: Sirs, what must I do to be saved? They said: Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your house. They spoke the Word of God to him and those in his house. That very hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds. Then he and all his family were baptized. He took them to his house and fed them. They rejoiced along with his entire house, having believed in God.
Converts » Instances of » The samaritans
The woman left her water pot and went to the city. She spoke to the men. Come see a man who told me everything I have ever done. Could this be the Christ? They left the city to see him. read more.
In the meantime his disciples urged him to eat. He said: I have food to eat that you do not know about. So the disciples said to each other: Has any man brought him something to eat? Jesus said: My food is to do the will of him that sent me. To finish his work! Do you say there are four months until the harvest comes? I say to you lift up your eyes and look on the fields. They are already white for harvest. He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for life eternal. Both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. That saying is true. One sows and another reaps. I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Other men labored and you entered into their labors. Many Samaritans of that city put faith (believed) in him because of what the woman said: He told me everything I have ever done. When the Samaritans came to him they urged him to stay with them. So he stayed there two days. Many more believed because of the words he spoke. They told the woman: We believe because of what you said and we heard him ourselves. We know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world!
In the meantime his disciples urged him to eat. He said: I have food to eat that you do not know about. So the disciples said to each other: Has any man brought him something to eat? Jesus said: My food is to do the will of him that sent me. To finish his work! Do you say there are four months until the harvest comes? I say to you lift up your eyes and look on the fields. They are already white for harvest. He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for life eternal. Both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. That saying is true. One sows and another reaps. I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Other men labored and you entered into their labors. Many Samaritans of that city put faith (believed) in him because of what the woman said: He told me everything I have ever done. When the Samaritans came to him they urged him to stay with them. So he stayed there two days. Many more believed because of the words he spoke. They told the woman: We believe because of what you said and we heard him ourselves. We know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world!
Converts » Instances of » Lydia
A woman named Lydia who was a seller of purple came from Thyatira. She worshipped God because God opened her heart to listen to the things spoken by Paul. When she and her household were baptized she came to us saying, If you judge me to be faithful to God, come to my house, and stay there. She absolutely insisted that we come.
Converts » Zealous » The woman of samaria
The woman left her water pot and went to the city. She spoke to the men. Come see a man who told me everything I have ever done. Could this be the Christ?
Converts » Zealous » Andrew
One of the two, who heard John speak and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He found his brother Simon first. He said to him: We have found the Messiah (Christ).
Converts » Zealous » Philip
The next day he was reminded to go into Galilee. There he found Philip. Jesus said to him, Follow me. Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and said to him: We have found the person Moses and the prophets wrote about in the Law and God's word. It is Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
Converts » Instances of » The eunuch
Then Philip began at the same Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. On their way, they came to a body of water and the eunuch said, See, here is water. What prevents me from getting baptized? Philip said: If you believe with all your heart, you may. He answered: I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. read more.
He commanded the chariot to stop. They both went into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
He commanded the chariot to stop. They both went into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Converts » Instances of » Gadarenes
They went out to see what happened. They came to Jesus and found the man who had been demon possessed. He was clothed, in his right mind and sitting at the feet of Jesus. They were afraid. They then learned how he was possessed with demons and became whole. The people of the country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to depart. They were very much afraid. So he boarded a boat and left. read more.
The man who once had demons asked him if he could go with him. Jesus sent him away saying: Return to your house and declare the great things God has done for you. He went throughout the whole city telling the great things Jesus had done for him.
The man who once had demons asked him if he could go with him. Jesus sent him away saying: Return to your house and declare the great things God has done for you. He went throughout the whole city telling the great things Jesus had done for him.
Converts » Instances of » Greeks
Some of them were convinced (believed) and joined with Paul and Silas. A large crowd of the devout Greeks and of the prominent women also joined.
Converts » Zealous » Nebuchadnezzar
Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut into pieces. Their houses shall be made a dunghill. There is no other god that is able to deliver like this.
Converts » Wayside,
When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand, the evil one takes away that which was sown in his heart. This is what was sown by the roadside.
Some seeds fell by the roadside, and the birds devoured them.
Converts » Choked,
He that was sown among thorns hears the word. The cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
Others fell upon the thorns. The thorns grew up and choked them.
Converts » Instances of » Saul of tarsus
As he journeyed to Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven shined around him. He fell to the earth and heard a voice saying: Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute me? Who are you Lord? He asked. The Lord said: I am Jesus whom you persecute. read more.
Get up and go into the city, and it will be told to you what you must do. The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. Saul got up from the ground. Even though he opened his eyes, he saw nothing. They led him by the hand into Damascus. He went for three days without sight. He did not eat or drink. The disciple Ananias was in Damascus. The Lord spoke to Ananias in a vision: Ananias. He replied: Yes, I am here, Lord. The Lord said to him, Arise, and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus for he is praying. He has seen a man named Ananias in a vision. He came in and laid his hand on him that he might receive his sight. Ananias answered: Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your holy ones at Jerusalem. He has authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name. The Lord said to him: Be on your way. This man is a chosen vessel to bear my name to the people of the nations, and kings and the children of Israel. I will show him plainly how many things he must suffer for my name. Ananias went his way. He entered the house and put his hands on him and said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared to you along the road sent me, that you might receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he received sight. He got up and was baptized.
Get up and go into the city, and it will be told to you what you must do. The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. Saul got up from the ground. Even though he opened his eyes, he saw nothing. They led him by the hand into Damascus. He went for three days without sight. He did not eat or drink. The disciple Ananias was in Damascus. The Lord spoke to Ananias in a vision: Ananias. He replied: Yes, I am here, Lord. The Lord said to him, Arise, and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus for he is praying. He has seen a man named Ananias in a vision. He came in and laid his hand on him that he might receive his sight. Ananias answered: Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your holy ones at Jerusalem. He has authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name. The Lord said to him: Be on your way. This man is a chosen vessel to bear my name to the people of the nations, and kings and the children of Israel. I will show him plainly how many things he must suffer for my name. Ananias went his way. He entered the house and put his hands on him and said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared to you along the road sent me, that you might receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he received sight. He got up and was baptized.
Converts » Instances of » Jews and greeks at antioch
When the congregation dismissed, many followed Paul and Barnabas. They urged them to continue in the grace of God.
Converts » Instances of » At pentecost, about three-thousand people
Those who gladly received his word were baptized. About three thousand persons were added the same day.
Converts » Instances of » Ruth
Ruth replied: Do not ask me to leave you! Let me go with you. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
Converts » Zealous » The man possessed by demons
Return to your house and declare the great things God has done for you. He went throughout the whole city telling the great things Jesus had done for him.
Converts » Zealous » The deaf man
Jesus told them not to tell anyone. The more he told them not to talk the more they talked.
Converts » Instances of » Post-pentecostal
Many who heard the word believed. There were about five thousand men.
Converts » Instances of » Cornelius
Converts » Instances of » Ninevites
Converts » Instances of » Nebuchadnezzar
Seals » Illustrative of » Converts
If I am not an apostle to others, I most certainly am to you, for you are the seal (stamp) (proof) of my apostleship in the Lord.