12 Bible Verses about Apologetics

and be always ready to answer every one that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and reverence:

destroying false reasonings, and every height that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and captivating every thought to the obedience of Christ.

redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with discretion to know how ye ought to answer every one.

Now Stephen being full of grace and power, wrought miracles and great signs among the people. But there rose up some of the synagogue, which is called that of the libertines, and some of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia, and Asia, to dispute with Stephen: and they were not able to resist the wisdom and spirit by which he spake.

And he discoursed in the synagogue every sabbath-day, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

holding fast the faithful word, according as he hath been taught, that he may be able both to instruct in sound doctrine, and to convince gainsayers.

For he disputed vehemently with the Jews in public, proving by the scriptures, that Jesus was the Christ.

Then Paul stood up in the midst of the Areopagus and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that you are indeed over-much religious: for as I was passing along, and looking at what ye worshipped, I found an altar on which there was inscribed, "To the unknown God." Whom therefore ye worship unknown, Him do I declare unto you. The God that made the world and all things therein, being lord of heaven and earth dwelleth not in temples made with hands:read more.
nor is He served by the hands of men, as needing any thing: for He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood every nation of men to dwell upon all the face of the earth, having determined the seasons before-appointed them, and the bounds of their habitation; that they might seek the Lord, if possibly they might trace Him, and find Him: though indeed He is not far from every one of us. For in Him we live and move, and exist; as some also of your own poets have said, "For we his offspring are." Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to imagine that the Deity is like to gold, or silver, or stone, carved by the art and device of man. Wherefore though God overlooked the times of this ignorance, He now requireth all men every where to repent. Because He hath fixed a day, in which He will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom He hath appointed thereto; having given assurance of it to all men, by raising Him from the dead.

and spake boldly, disputing with them for the space of three months, and persuading them of the things concerning the kingdom of God. But as some were hardened and refractory, speaking evil of the way of life before the multitude, he departed from them, and took away the disciples with him, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. And this he did for two years; so that all the inhabitants of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord Jesus.

And after three days Paul called together the chief of the Jews. And when they were come together, he said unto them, Brethren, though I have done nothing against the people of the Jews, or the customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans: who when they had examined me, would have set me at liberty, because there was no crime worthy of death found in me: but the Jews opposing it, I was obliged to appeal to Cesar; though not as having any thing to accuse my nation of.read more.
For this reason therefore I desired to see and to speak to you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. And they said to him, We have neither received letters concerning thee from Judea, nor has any of the brethren, that is come hither, related or spoken any ill of thee. But we would willingly hear from thee what thou thinkest: for as to this sect, we know that it is every where spoken against. And having appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging; to whom he discoursed and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them of the things concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses, and from the prophets, from morning till evening. And some regarded the things that were spoken, but others did not believe. And so disagreeing one with another they separated, when Paul had said one word, to wit, that the holy Spirit spake rightly by Esaias the prophet to our fathers, saying, Go to this people and say, Ye shall hear by the hearing of the ear, and not understand; and in seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: for the heart of this people is stupified, and they hear heavily with their ears, and have closed their eyes; least they should see at all with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it. And when he had said these things, the Jews departed, having much debate among themselves. And Paul abode two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came to him: preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, with all freedom, none forbidding him.

And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he attempted to associate with the disciples: and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took and brought him to the apostles, and related to them, how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that He had spoken to him; and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem, and preaching openly in the name of the Lord Jesus:read more.
and he talked and disputed with the Hellenists, who attempted to kill him: but when the brethren knew it, they brought him down to Cesarea, and sent him away to Tarsus.

But Peter standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and listen to my words: for these men are not drunk, as ye suppose; for it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel,read more.
"And it shall come to pass in the last days (saith God) that I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: yea and on my servants and on my handmaids, in those days, I will pour out of my Spirit, and they also shall prophesy. And I will give prodigies in the heaven, and signs upon the earth; blood, and fire, and smoky vapour. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and illustrious day of the Lord come. And whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord, shall be saved." Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you, by miracles, and prodigies, and signs, which God wrought by Him in the midst of you, (as ye yourselves also know,) Him being given up by the determinate counsel and fore-knowlege of God ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. Whom God hath raised up again, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. For David saith concerning Him, "I set the Lord always before me, for He is at my right hand, that I should not be moved: therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; and my flesh shall rest in hope, that Thou wilt not leave my soul in the invisible state, nor suffer thine holy one to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; and Thou wilt fill me with joy by the light of thy countenance." Men and brethren, allow me to speak with freedom to you concerning the patriarch David, that he is dead and buried, and his sepulchre is among us to this day. Therefore being a prophet; and knowing that God had sworn to him with an oath, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Messiah, to sit on his throne; foreseeing this he spake of the resurrection of Christ, when he said, that his soul was not left in the invisible state, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up from the dead, of which we all are witnesses. Therefore being exalted by the right hand of God, and having received of the Father the promise of the holy Spirit, He hath poured forth this gift, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he himself says, "The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool." Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made this very Jesus, whom ye crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked to the heart, and said unto Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do? And Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Spirit: for the promise is to you and to your children, yea and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he press and exhort them, saying, Save yourselves from this perverse generation. They therefore that received his word with readiness were baptized: and in that same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.