18 Bible Verses about Converts To Christianity

While Jesus was in Jerusalem, during the Passover Festival, many came to trust in him, when they saw the signs of his mission that he was giving.

And many learned to believe in Jesus there.

Yet for all this, even among the leading men there were many who came to believe in Jesus; but, on account of the Pharisees, they did not acknowledge it, for fear that they should be expelled from their Synagogues; For they valued honor from men more than honor from God.

Even Simon believed, and after his baptism attached himself to Philip, and was in his turn mystified at seeing signs and great miracles constantly occurring. When the Apostles at Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had welcomed God's Message, they sent Peter and John to them; And they, on their arrival, prayed that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit.read more.
(As yet the Spirit had not descended upon any of them; they had only been baptized into the Faith of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw that it was through the placing of the Apostles' hands on them that the Spirit was given, he brought them a sum of money and said: "Give me also this power of yours, so that, if I place my hands upon any one, he may receive the Holy Spirit." "A curse upon you and upon your money," Peter exclaimed, "for thinking that God's free gift can be bought with gold! You have no share or part in our Message, for your 'heart is not right with God.' Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, that, if possible, you may be forgiven for such a thought; For I see that you have fallen into the 'bitterness of envy' and the 'fetters of sin.'" "Pray to the Lord for me, all of you," Simon answered, "so that none of the things you have spoken of may befall me."

There was then in Caesarea a man named Cornelius, a Captain in the regiment known as the 'Italian Regiment,' A religious man and one who reverenced God, with all his household. He was liberal in his charities to the people, and prayed to God constantly. One afternoon, about three o'clock, he distinctly saw in a vision an angel from God come to him, and call him by name.read more.
Cornelius fixed his eyes on him and, in great alarm, said: "What is it, Lord?" "Your prayers and your charities," the angel answered, "have been an acceptable offering to God. And now, send messengers to Jaffa and fetch a man called Simon, who is also known as Peter. He is lodging with a tanner named Simon, who has a house near the sea." When the angel, who had spoken to him, had gone, Cornelius called two menservants and a religious soldier, who was one of his constant attendants, And, after telling them the whole story, sent them to Jaffa. On the next day, while these men were on their way, just as they were nearing the town, Peter went up on the housetop about mid-day to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat; but while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance, And saw that the heavens were open, and that something like a great sail was descending, let down by its four corners towards the earth. In it were all kinds of quadrupeds, reptiles, and birds. Then he was aware of a voice which said-- "Stand up, Peter, kill something, and eat." "No, Lord, I cannot," answered Peter, "for I have never eaten anything 'defiled' and 'unclean'." Again he was aware of a voice which said-- "What God has pronounced 'clean', do not regard as 'defiled'." This happened three times, and then suddenly it was all taken up into the heavens. While Peter was still perplexed as to the meaning of the vision that he had seen, the men sent by Cornelius, having enquired the way to Simon's house, came up to the gate, And called out and asked if the Simon, who was also known as Peter, was lodging there. Peter was still pondering over the vision, when the Spirit said to him: "There are two men looking for you at this moment. Go down at once and do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them." Peter went down to the men and said: "I am the man for whom you are looking. What is your reason for coming?" The men replied: "Our captain, Cornelius, a pious man who reverences God and is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, has been instructed by a holy angel to send for you to his house, and to listen to what you have to say." Upon this Peter invited them in and entertained them. The next day he lost no time in setting out with them, accompanied by some of the Brethren from Jaffa; And the day following he entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them, and had invited his relations and intimate friends to meet them. So, when Peter entered the city, Cornelius met him, and, throwing himself at Peter's feet, bowed to the ground. Peter, however, lifted him up, saying as he did so: "Stand up, I am only a man like yourself." Talking with him as he went, Peter entered the house, where he found a large gathering of people, to whom he said: "You are doubtless aware that it is forbidden for a Jew to be intimate with a foreigner, or even to enter his house; and yet God has shown me that I ought not to call any man 'defiled' or 'unclean.' That was why I came, when I was sent for, without raising any objection. And now I ask your reason for sending for me." "Just three days ago this very hour," Cornelius said, "I was in my house, saying the Afternoon Prayers, when a man in dazzling clothing suddenly stood before me. 'Cornelius,' he said, 'your prayer has been heard, and your charities have been accepted, by God. Therefore send to Jaffa, and invite the Simon, who is also known as Peter, to come here. He is lodging in the house of Simon the tanner, near the sea.' Accordingly I sent to you at once, and you have been so good as to come. And now we are all here in the presence of God, to listen to all that you have been instructed by the Lord to say."

In my judgment, therefore, we should not add to the difficulties of those Gentiles who are turning to God,

Some time after this, Paul said to Barnabas: "Let us go back and visit the Brethren in every town in which we have told the Lord's Message, and see how they are prospering."

Some of the people were convinced, and threw in their lot with Paul and Silas, as did also a large body of Greeks who were accustomed to join in the Jewish services, and a great number of women belonging to the leading families.

There were, however, some men who joined him, and became believers in Christ. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the Court of Areopagus, a woman named Damaris, and several others.

Give my greeting, also, to the Church that meets at their house, as well as to my dear friend Epaenetus, one of the first in Roman Asia to believe in Christ;

I always thank God about you for the blessing bestowed upon you in Christ Jesus. For through union with him you were enriched in every way-in your power to preach, and in your knowledge of the Truth; And so became yourselves a confirmation of my testimony to the Christ.

Look at the facts of your Call, Brothers. There are not many among you who are wise, as men reckon wisdom, not many who are influential, not many who are high-born; But God chose what the world counts foolish to put its wise men to shame, and God chose what the world counts weak to put its strong things to shame, And God chose what the world counts poor and insignificant-- things that to it are unreal-to bring its 'realities' to nothing,read more.
So that in his presence no human being should boast. But you, by your union with Christ Jesus, belong to God; and Christ, by God's will, became not only our Wisdom, but also our Righteousness, Holiness, and Deliverance, So that-in the words of Scripture-'Let him who boasts make his boast of the Lord!'

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or are we like some who need letters of commendation to you, or from you? You yourselves are our letter--a letter written on our hearts, and one which everybody can read and understand. All can see that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, a letter written, not with ink, but with the Spirit of the Living God, not on 'tablets of stone,' but on 'tablets of human hearts.'

Even if I boast extravagantly about our authority--which the Lord gave us for building up your faith and not for overthrowing it--still I have no reason to be ashamed.

Put yourselves to the proof, to see whether you are holding to the Faith. Test yourselves. Surely you recognize this fact about yourselves--that Jesus Christ is in you! Unless indeed you cannot stand the test! But I hope that you will recognize that we can stand the test. We pray God that you may do nothing wrong, not that we may be seen to stand the test, but that you may do what is right, even though we may seem not to stand the test.read more.
We have no power at all against the Truth, but we have power in the service of the Truth. We are glad when we are weak, if you are strong. And what we pray for is that you may become perfect. This is my reason for writing as I am now doing, while I am away from you, so that, when I am with you, I may not act harshly in the exercise of the authority which the Lord gave me--and gave me for building up and not for pulling down.

I want you to know in how great a struggle I am engaged for you and for Christ's People at Laodicea, and for all who have not yet seen me;

Run the great race of the Faith, and win the Immortal Life. It was for this that you received the Call, and, in the presence of many witnesses, made the great profession of Faith.

Call to mind those early days in which, after you had received the Light, you patiently underwent a long and painful conflict. Sometimes, in consequence of the taunts and injuries heaped upon you, you became a public spectacle; and sometimes you suffered through having shown yourselves to be the friends of men who were in the very position in which you had been.