Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible






In all things show yourself a pattern of virtue: in teaching shewing uncorruptness, gravity; let your doctrine be sound and inoffensive, that your opponents may be ashamed, and have nothing that is ill to say of us.



and you imitated us, and were imitators of the Lord, having receiv'd the word, notwithstanding all your afflictions, with that alacrity, which the holy spirit inspires. so that you became examples to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. for the gospel has made so favourable a progress not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every other place, where the reputation of your divine faith has spread, that 'tis needless to mention any thing of it; since they all relate of us,

let the prophets, my brethren, who were commission'd by the Lord, be your examples; suffer persecution with constancy like them. we pronounce those happy, who have so endur'd. you have heard of the constancy of Job, you know with what success he was crown'd by the Lord, who is all mercy and compassion.

but at present have obtain'd it. I exhort you, my dear brethren, as strangers and travellers to avoid all sensual passions, as destructive to your souls. Let your behaviour among the Gentiles be virtuous, that instead of inveighing against you as vicious, they may observe your honest behaviour, and glorify God in the times of distress. be subject therefore, for the Lord's sake to every human establishment: whether it be to the king, read more.
as supreme; or to governors, as being deputed by him to punish those who do ill, and to encourage those who do well. for such is the divine pleasure, that by your good conduct you obviate the cavils of inconsiderate men. You are free, don't let your liberty serve as a pretext for vice: but act as the servants of God. Be respectful to all, love your brethren, fear God, and honour the king. You that are servants, be subject to your masters with all reverence: not only to such as are kind and gentle, but even to the morose. for it is a recommendation to the divine favour, to suffer unjust persecution from a principle of conscience. what glory is there in suffering corporal punishment for real offences? but if you meet with ill usage for doing your duty, and bear it with constancy, this will conciliate the divine favour. and this is the condition of your vocation, since Christ himself has suffer'd for us, leaving an example for your exact imitation, he who never offended, and from whose lips no fallacy was ever utter'd, who, when he was reviled, did not revile again: when he was in his sufferings, he did not threat, but referr'd his cause to the righteous judge. he himself cancel'd our sins by the crucifixion of his body, that we being set free from sin, might live in the service of virtue. it is by his bruises that you were healed: for you were as sheep going astray, but now you are brought back to the pastor and overseer of your souls.

the holy religious women of former times were thus adorned, and were submissive to their husbands. such was Sarah, who show'd her obeysance to Abraham, by stiling him her Lord: and you will be stiled her children, if you imitate her conduct, and are not to be terrified out of your virtue.






true, I baptized the family of Stephanas: but I don't know that I baptized any other besides. Verse ConceptsBaptism, practice ofChristian BaptismBaptizing Infants

Peter was yet speaking, when the holy spirit descended on all that heard him. Verse ConceptsBaptism Of The Holy SpiritGiftsPreaching, Importance OfSpiritual UnderstandingWhile Still Speakingghosts




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immediately I sent to you; and you have done well to come. now here we are all in the presence of God, to hear whatever he has given you in charge. Verse ConceptseagernessHearing God's Word





In Cesarea there was a centurion of a cohort in the Italic legion, whose name was Cornelius, a religious man, and was a proselyte, together with all his family: he gave much alms to the people, and was assiduous in his prayers to God. one day about the ninth hour, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God, who addrest himself to him, and said, Cornelius! read more.
and when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, what is it, Lord? and he said to him, thy prayers and thine alms have been observ'd and approv'd by God. send messengers immediately to Joppa, for one Simon, whose sirname is Peter: he lodges with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea-side.

then Peter said, can we refuse the water of baptism to such as have received the holy spirit as well as we? so he directed they should be baptized in the name of the Lord. after which they desired him to stay some time with them.

At midnight Paul and Silas went to prayers, and sang praises to God, which the other prisoners heard: when all of a sudden there was such a great earthquake, that the foundations of the prison were shaken: immediately all the doors opened, and the setters dropp'd from the prisoners. the jayler waking, and seeing the prison-doors open, drew his sword, designing to dispatch himself from the apprehension that the prisoners had escaped. read more.
but Paul call'd to him aloud, and said, do thy self no harm, for we are all here. then having called for a light, he ran in, and with trembling fell down before Paul and Silas; and bringing them out, he said, sirs, what must I do to be saved? believe, said they, on the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you, and your family. then they declared the word of the Lord to him, and to all his family. at the same time of night he washed their stripes, and immediately he was baptized, he, and all that belong'd to him. then he conducted them to his house, and gave them an entertainment; and he and his family were affected with joy, for having believed in God.