Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



And when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him in the face, for he was worthy to be blamed. For yer that certain came from James, he ate with the gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision, and the other Jews dissembled likewise; Insomuch that Barnabas was brought into their simulation also. read more.
But when I saw that they went not the right way after the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter, before all men, "If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of the gentiles, and not as do the Jews: why causest thou the gentiles to live as do the Jews?" We which are Jews by nature and not sinners of the gentiles,


And some of them believed and came and companied with Paul and Silas. Also of the honorable Greeks, a great multitude; and of the chief women, not a few.

This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other gentiles walk; in vanity of their mind, blinded in their understanding, being strangers from the life which is in God, through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their hearts. Which, being past repentance, have given themselves unto wantonness, to work all manner of uncleanness even with greediness.

Therefore take no thought, saying, 'What shall we eat?' Or. 'What shall we drink?' Or, 'Wherewith shall we be clothed?' After all these things seek the gentiles: For your heavenly father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.


Nay, but I say, that these things which the gentiles offer, they offer to devils, and not to God. And I would not that ye should have fellowship with the devils.

Thus sayeth the LORD, "Ye shall not learn after the manner of the Heathen, and ye shall not be afraid for the tokens of heaven: for the Heathen are afraid of such. Yea all the customs and laws of the Gentiles are nothing but vanity. They hew down a tree in the wood with the hands of the workman, and fashion it with the axe;

"And when ye pray, babble not much, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard, for their much babbling's sake. Be ye not like them therefore: for your father knoweth whereof ye have need, before ye ask of him.

the which in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

While Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was moved in him to see the city given to worshipping of images. Then he disputed in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons; And in the market daily with them that came unto him.

Paul stood in the midst of Mars Street and said, "Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by and beheld the manner how ye worship your gods, I found an altar wherein was written, Unto the unknown God. Whom ye then ignorantly worship, him show I unto you: God, that made the world, and all that are in it, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, he dwelleth not in temples made with hands, read more.
neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed of any thing. Seeing he himself giveth life and breath to all men everywhere, and hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth; and hath assigned before: how long time, and also the ends of their inhabitation. That they should seek God, if they might feel and find him: though he be not far from every one of us.

For the wrath of God appeareth from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men which withhold the truth in unrighteousness. Seeing what may be known of God, that same is manifest among them: For God did show it unto them. So that his invisible things, that is to say, his eternal power and godhead, are understood and seen by the works from the creation of the world. So that they are without excuse, read more.
inasmuch as when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful: but waxed full of vanities in their imaginations. And their foolish hearts were blinded. When they counted themselves wise, they became fools and turned the glory of the immortal God, unto the similitude of the image: of mortal man, and of birds, and four footed beasts and of serpents. Wherefore God, likewise, gave them up unto their hearts' lusts, unto uncleanness to defile their own bodies between themselves: which turned his truth unto a lie, and worshipped and served the creatures more than the creator, which is blessed forever, Amen. For this cause, God gave them up unto shameful lusts. For even their women did change the natural use unto the unnatural. And likewise also the men left the natural use of the woman, and burnt in their lusts, one on another, among themselves. And man with man wrought filthiness: and received in themselves the reward of their error, as it was according. And as it seemed not good unto them to be a known of God, even so God delivered them up unto a lewd mind, that they should do those things which were not comely, being full of all unrighteous doing: of fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, evil-conditioned whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, doers of wrong, proud, boasters, bringers-up of evil things, disobedient to fathers and mothers, without understanding, covenant-breakers, unloving, truce-breakers, and merciless. Which men, though they knew the righteousness of God, how that they which such things commit are worthy of death: yet not only do the same, but also have pleasure in them that do them.

Therefore art thou inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou be that judgest. For in the same wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself. For thou that judgest doest even the same self things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth, against them which commit such things. Thinkest thou this, O thou man that judgest them which do such things and yet doest even the very same: that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? read more.
Either despisest thou the riches of his goodness and patience, and long sufferance? And rememberest not how that the kindness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But thou, after thine hard heart that cannot repent, heapest thee together the treasure of wrath against the day of vengeance: when shall be opened the righteous judgment of God, which will reward every man according to his deeds, that is to say: praise, honour, and immortality, to them which continue in good doing, and seek eternal life. But unto them that are rebellious, and disobey the truth, and follow iniquity, shall come indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon the soul of every man that doth evil. Of the Jew first: And also of the gentile. To every man that doth good shall come praise, honour and peace, to the Jew first, and also to the gentile. For there is no partiality with God: But whosoever hath sinned without law, shall perish without law. And as many as have sinned under the law, shall be judged by the law. For before God they are not righteous which hear the law: but the doers of the law shall be justified. For if the gentiles, which have no law, do of nature the things contained in the law: then they having no law, are a law unto themselves, which show the deed of the law written in their hearts: While their conscience beareth witness unto them, and also their thoughts, accusing one another, or excusing,

Ye know that ye were gentiles, and went your ways unto dumb idols, even as ye were led.

We which are Jews by nature and not sinners of the gentiles,

For it is shame even to name those things which are done of them in secret:


For it is sufficient for us that we have spent the time that is past of the life, after the will of the gentiles; walking in wantonness, lusts, drunkenness, in eating, drinking, and in abominable idolatry. And it seemeth to them a strange thing that ye run not also with them unto the same excess of riot, and therefore speak they evil of you,



Then came certain from Jewry and taught the brethren, "Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses ye cannot be saved." And when there was risen dissension and disputing not a little unto Paul and Barnabas, against them: they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should ascend to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. And after they were brought on their way by the congregation, they passed over Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy unto all the brethren. read more.
And when they were come to Jerusalem they were received of the congregation and of the apostles and elders. And they declared what things God had done by them. Then arose there up certain of the sect of the Pharisees, which did believe: saying that it was needful to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders came together to reason of this matter. And when there was much disputing, Peter rose up and said unto them, "Ye men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago, God chose among us that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God which knoweth the heart, bare them witness, and gave unto them the holy ghost, even as he did unto us; And he put no difference between them and us, but with faith purified their hearts. Now therefore, why tempt ye God, that ye would put a yoke on the disciples necks which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, as they do." Then all the multitude was peaced and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul which told what signs and wonders God had showed among the gentiles by them. And when they held their peace, James answered, saying, "Men and brethren hearken unto me; Simeon told how God at the beginning did visit the gentiles, and received of them people unto his name. And to this agreeth the words of the prophets, as it is written, 'After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David which is fallen down, and that which is fallen in decay of it will I build again and I will set it up, that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and also the Gentiles upon whom my name is named saith the Lord, which doth all these things.' Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them which from among the gentiles are turned to God: but that we write unto them, that they abstain themselves from filthiness of images, from fornication, from strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time in every city hath them that preach him, and he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath day." Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole congregation, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas, called also Barsabbas, and Silas, which were chief men among the brethren: and gave them letters in their hands after this manner, "The apostles, elders, and brethren send greetings unto the brethren which are of the gentiles in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia. Forasmuch as we have heard that certain which departed from us, have troubled you with words, and cumbered your minds saying ye must be circumcised and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment. It seemed therefore to us a good thing, when we were come together with one accord, to send chosen men unto you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul: men that have jeopardized their lives, for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, which shall also tell you the same things by mouth. For it seemed good to the holy ghost and to us, to put no grievous thing to you more than these necessary things, that is to say: that ye abstain from things offered to images, from blood, from strangled and fornication. From which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. So fare ye well."


If it be of grace, then is it not of works. For then were grace no more grace. If it be by the deserving of works, then is it no more grace. For then were deserving no longer deserving.

But when I saw that they went not the right way after the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter, before all men, "If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of the gentiles, and not as do the Jews: why causest thou the gentiles to live as do the Jews?" We which are Jews by nature and not sinners of the gentiles, know that a man is not justified by the deeds of the law: but by the faith of Jesus Christ - and therefore we have believed on Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the deeds of the law: because that no flesh shall be justified by the deeds of the law. read more.
If then, while we seek to be made righteous by Christ, we ourselves are found sinners, is not then Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again that which I destroyed, then make I myself a trespasser. But I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ. I live verily, yet now not I, but Christ liveth in me. For the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the son of God, which loved me, and gave himself for me. I despise not the grace of God: For if righteousness come of the law, then is Christ died in vain.