15 Bible Verses about Convincing

But though he had done so many miracles in their presence, yet they did not believe on him: so that the passage of Esaias the prophet was fulfilled, where he says, "Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? therefore they could not believe, according to what Esaias said in another place, "he hath blinded their eyes,read more.
and hardned their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them."

therefore speak I to them in parables: because they over-look what they see: and are inattentive to what they hear, neither will they comprehend. and in them is fulfilled that prophecy of Esaias, "by hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand: and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive. for the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."

And when he was in private, the twelve, and some of his disciples asked him the meaning of the parable. he answered, you are admitted into the secret of the gospel-dispensation: but to unbelievers every thing is couch'd in parables; because, tho' they see, they will not perceive, and tho' they hear they will not understand: as if they were afraid of parting with their vices, in order to be pardoned.

he answered, the secret circumstances of the divine dispensation may be clearly revealed to you, but to others only in parables, so that they don't observe what they see, nor comprehend what they hear.

Then some that belong'd to Jerusalem, said, is not this he whom they seek to kill? yet there he is talking publickly without any opposition: are not the rulers convinc'd that he is the Messiah? however, we know from what quarter this man comes: but when Christ comes it will be unknown whence he came.read more.
Jesus then pursuing his discourse in the temple, rais'd his voice, and said, you know both who I am, and whence I am: however, I am not come of my self, but he that sent me is worthy of belief, him you are unacquainted with. but I know him, for I am from him, and he hath sent me. then they design'd to seize him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. besides many of the people believed on him, and said, when Christ comes, will he do more miracles than this man hath done? (the Pharisees being inform'd what the people rumour'd concerning him, they and the chief priests sent their officers to seize him.) then said Jesus, I shall be with you but for a little time, and then I shall go to him that sent me. ye shall seek me, but shall not find me: and where I shall go, thither ye cannot come. upon which the Jews said among themselves, whither will he go, that we cannot find him? will he go to the dispersed Jews among the Greeks, and instruct the Greeks? what does he mean by saying, "ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I go, thither ye cannot come?" In the last day, the most solemn day of the feast, Jesus being there, raised his voice, and said, if any man thirst, let him come to me, and drink. he that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water. (but this he meant of the spirit, which they that believed on him, should receive: for the spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.) many of the people therefore, who heard this discourse, said, this man is certainly a prophet. some said, this is the Messias. but said others, shall the Messias come out of Galilee? hath not the scripture said, that the Messiah is to rise out of the family of David, and out of Bethlehem, the village where David was born? so that the people were divided in their opinions about him.

Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, arise, and go toward the south, by the way that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza, in the desart. accordingly he departed: and met a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, and was her high-treasurer: he had been at Jerusalem, to perform the duties of a proselyte, but was now upon his return, and sat in his chariot, reading the prophet Esaias.read more.
then the spirit said unto Philip, go near, and advance to his chariot. Philip ran to him, and hearing him read the prophet Esaias, said, do you understand what you read? how can I, answer'd he, without some expositor? and he desired Philip to mount, and sit with him. the passage of the scripture which he read, was this, "he was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb before his shearer, was dumb, so opened he not his mouth: in his humiliation he was judged, he was taken off: and who shall describe the men of his time? for the land has taken away his life." and the eunuch answered Philip, and said, pray, of whom does the prophet say this? of himself, or of some other? then Philip enter'd upon the subject, and show'd how the whole passage was applicable to Jesus. as they pursued their journey, they came to a place of water: and the eunuch said, see, here is water; what should hinder my being baptized? [and Philip said, if you believe with all your heart, you may. and he answered, I do believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God.] so he order'd the charioteer to stop: and they went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

for I am fully persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, neither the high, nor the low, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God by Christ Jesus our Lord.

to this I am urg'd by the love I bear to Christ, persuaded as I am, that if one died for all, then were all in a dying state: and that he died for all, that they who are in a state of life should not live at their own discretion, but to the service of him who died for them, and rose again.

yet I am not ashamed, for I know in whom I have confided, and I am persuaded he is able to keep what I have committed to him against that day.

and try'd to gain upon the Jews and the Greek proselytes:

Paul, as was his custom, us'd to go there, and for three sabbath-days discours'd to the Jews from the scriptures, explaining them, and setting it to view, that the Messiah was to suffer and rise again from the dead: and that Jesus, whom he denounc'd to them, was that very Messiah. Some of them believed, and join'd themselves to Paul and Silas, besides a great number of Greek proselytes, and several women of distinction.

At length Paul went to the synagogue, where he spoke with great freedom, and for three months he conferr'd with them to persuade them of the truth of the evangelical kingdom.

but Agrippa reply'd to Paul, you almost persuade me I shall be a christian! I pray God, said Paul, that not only you, but all that now hear me, were both almost and altogether such as I am, the circumstance of my bonds excepted.

Having therefore set him a day, they came in great numbers to his lodgings; where he explain'd and confirm'd the reality of the gospel-dispensation, from morning to night, enforcing what the writings of Moses and the prophets had affirm'd concerning Jesus. some believed what he had said, but others did not believe:

Shall I then, who know this terrible judgment of the Lord, endeavour to appease men? as for God, I am approved by him, and I trust also you are convinced of my being so approved.