18 Bible Verses about Converts To Christianity
Most Relevant Verses
Now when Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people believed in His name [i.e., in Jesus Himself] when they saw the [miraculous] signs He was doing.
However, even many [Jewish] leaders believed in Him, but did not admit it, for fear of being expelled from the synagogue. For they loved the honor they received from people more than the honor they [could] receive from God.
And [this] Simon also believed [Philip's message] and was immersed. [After that] he continued [to travel] with Philip and was amazed by the [supernatural] signs and great miracles he saw [him perform]. Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had responded to the message of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When these two apostles had come [to Samaria] they prayed for some [of the disciples] to receive [miraculous power from] the Holy Spirit,read more.
for as yet [such power] had not fallen on any of them; they had only been immersed into the name of the Lord Jesus [i.e., with no accompanying miraculous powers]. Then the apostles placed their hands on [some of] them [and prayed, see verse 15] and they received [miraculous power from] the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that through the placing of the apostles' hands [on people] the Holy Spirit was given [Note: The fact that Simon "saw" something happen suggests it was supernatural and therefore highly desirable by Simon], he offered to pay them money [for this power], saying, "Give me also the ability to place my hands on people [and pray] so that they will receive [the miraculous power of] the Holy Spirit." But Peter said to him, "You and your money will both be destroyed for thinking you could buy the gift from God with money. You do not have any share or involvement in this matter because your heart is not right before God. So, repent [i.e., change your heart and life] of such a terrible thing and pray for the Lord to forgive you for even thinking of such a thing. Perhaps He will [if you are really sincere]. For I can see that your life is as bitter gall [i.e., very evil] and you are enslaved by [your] sins." And Simon answered, "[Please] pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said about me will [really] happen."
Now there was a certain man in Caesarea named Cornelius. He was [a military man] in charge of one hundred soldiers and belonged to the "battalion of Italy." He was very devoted [to his religious principles] and had great respect for God, along with the members of his household. He gave [money] liberally to poor people and prayed to God regularly. About three o'clock one afternoon [Note: This is based on Jewish time calculations; if Roman time were employed, it would have beenread more.
As he stared at [the angel] in fright, he asked, "What is it, Lord?" [Note: The word "Lord" here could also be translated "Sir," and its correct rendering depends on whether or not Cornelius understood the angel to be from God]. And the angel replied, "Your [continual] prayers and [generous] gifts to poor people have not gone unnoticed before God. And now send men to Joppa to get Simon Peter; he is staying with Simon, a tanner [of animal hides], whose house is close to the [Mediterranean] sea." When the angel who spoke with him had left, Cornelius called two of his house servants and a soldier who was devoted [to God], men who worked for him regularly, and after explaining the whole situation to them, he sent them on to Joppa. AM], while he was wide awake, he had a vision in which an angel of God came to him [and spoke his name] "Cornelius." He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while lunch was being prepared he was overcome by a "trance" [i.e., a semi-conscious, vision-like state] and could see the sky open up and a huge sheet-like container being lowered to the ground by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, crawling [reptiles] and birds. A voice then directed Peter with the words, "Get up; kill and eat [one of] them." But Peter answered, "No, Lord, I cannot. I have never eaten any such ordinary or [ceremonially] unfit creatures." So, the voice spoke again, saying, "What God has made [ceremonially] acceptable, you must not consider ordinary [and therefore defiled]." And after this was done three times, the huge sheet-like container was lifted back up into the sky. Now while Peter was much perplexed over the meaning of this vision, the men sent by Cornelius, having learned where Simon [the tanner] lived, arrived at the gate [of his house], and asked if Simon Peter were staying there. While Peter was thinking about [the meaning of] the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, "Look, there are three men [here] looking for you. Go downstairs and [then] leave with them. Do not worry about anything because I have sent them [to you]." So, Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking for. Why have you come here?" They said, "Cornelius, a [military] man in charge of one hundred soldiers, [and] a man who does what is right, [and] who respects God and who has a good reputation among all the Jews [who know him], was urged by God through a holy angel to have you come to his house so he could hear you speak [about salvation, See 11:14]." So, Peter invited them to stay [for the night]. The next day Peter got up and went with the men, [who were] accompanied by certain [Christian] brothers from Joppa. The following day they arrived at Caesarea where they found Cornelius, gathered with his relatives and close friends, waiting for them. When Peter entered [the house] Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet [and attempted] to worship him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, "I am just a man, myself." As they talked, Peter went into the house and found many people gathered together [there]. And he said to them, "You people know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with, or even go near a person from another [i.e., non-Jewish] country, and yet God showed me that I should not consider any person ordinary or [ceremonially] unacceptable. So, I came [here] when I was sent for, without objecting. [Now,] why have you sent for me?" Cornelius [then] said, "Four days ago, when I was at home, praying at the appointed hour (i.e., three o'clock in the afternoon) [See verse 3], suddenly a man in bright clothing appeared in front of me. He said to me, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and God has taken account of your giving money to poor people. Therefore, send [men] to Joppa and ask for Simon Peter to come to you. He is staying at the house of Simon, a tanner [of animal hides] who lives close to the [Mediterranean] sea.' So, I proceeded to send [my men] for you and you have done the right thing in coming [here]. Now, therefore, we are all assembled here before God, to hear everything you were commanded by the Lord [to tell us]."
So, my advice is not to make it difficult for those who turn to God from among the Gentiles,
Then after some days Paul suggested to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we proclaimed the message of the Lord, to see how they are doing."
Some of the Jews were convinced [that Jesus was the Messiah] and so joined with Paul and Silas. Also, a large number of devoted Greeks [i.e., Gentiles] and leading women [joined their group].
But certain men continued to listen to him and became believers [in Jesus]. Among them was Dionysius, [an official] of the Areopagus, a woman named Damaris and others with them.
I also send greetings to the church that meets in their house. Greetings to my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia [Note: This was a province in the western part of present-day Turkey].
I always thank God for you, [especially] for God's unearned favor that was given to you [in providing salvation and blessings] in Christ Jesus. For in [fellowship with] Him you people have been made [spiritually] rich in every way, through all [kinds of] speech and knowledge. [Note: This probably refers to the communication and comprehension of truth represented by the spiritual gifts of languages and revelation]. The message about Christ has become firmly established there among you [i.e., by such gifts],
Now consider how you were when you were called, brothers. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were from prominent families. But God chose what the world considers foolish [i.e., people with little apparent ability], in order to shame the "wise people." And He chose what the world considers weak in order to shame what it considers strong. And He chose what the world considers insignificant and contemptible, and [even] what it considers "nothing," in order to nullify what appears to be something.read more.
This was all done so that no human being could boast in front of God. But God brought you into [fellowship with] Christ Jesus, who was made to be God's wisdom for us. Through Christ you have received a right relationship with God, [as well as] holiness and redemption [i.e., being bought back from Satan]. So, as it is written [Jer. 9:23f], "The person who [wants to] boast, let him boast about the Lord."
Are we beginning to commend ourselves again [i.e., by saying that we are not like other people]? Or, do we need letters of recommendation to you or from you, as others do? You people are our letters [of recommendation], written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You people show [i.e., by your conversions] that you are a letter from Christ, delivered by us [i.e., the result of our ministry], not written with ink but with the Holy Spirit of the living God; not on stone tablets [i.e., as in the case with Moses' ministry], but on tablets of the human heart. [See Jer. 31:33; Heb. 8:10].
For even if I should boast too much about the authority the Lord gave us for building you people up [spiritually], and not tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it.
Put yourselves to a test; see if you are [really] in the faith [i.e., see if you are genuine Christians]; examine yourselves! Or, do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in your hearts, unless [of course] you fail the test [i.e., unless you are counterfeit Christians]. But I hope that you people will realize that we [apostles] are not counterfeit. Now we pray to God that you people will not do anything wrong. That is not so that we will appear approved [by God], but so that you will do what is right, even though we may appear to be counterfeits.read more.
For we [apostles] have no power [to act] against the truth, but [only] for the truth. [Note: Paul here alludes to his gifts and ministry being intended only to promote what was right according to God's truth]. For we are glad when we are weak and you are powerful. And we are also praying for your complete restoration [i.e., to spiritual maturity]. This is the reason I am writing these things while away from you, so that I will not have to deal severely with you when I am there. For the Lord gave me authority to build people up [spiritually] and not to tear them down.
I want you to know how much I am struggling for you [Note: This probably refers to the great effort Paul was exerting in prayer, preaching, etc.], and for those at Laodicia [Note: This was a town ten miles west of Colosse], and for all those who have never met me in person.
Fight the good battle of the faith; take hold of never ending life, to which you were called [i.e., by the Gospel. See II Thess. 2:14], [when] you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. [Note: This "confession" probably refers to a person's acknowledgment of Jesus as Lord and Christ prior to his immersion. See Acts 2:36; Rom. 10:9-10].
But remember the earlier days when, after you were enlightened [to the truth], you endured a difficult struggle by having to suffer [much]. Sometimes you were subjected to public ridicule and abuse, and at other times you shared [vicariously] with those people who were treated that way.
