26 Bible Verses about Convincing

And Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the Prophets unto mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people and said, "Why halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be very God, follow him: or if Baal be he, follow him." And the people answered him not one word. Then said Elijah unto the people, "I only remain of the LORD's Prophets, and Baal's Prophets are four hundredth and fifty.read more.
Let two oxen be given us, and let them choose the one and cut him in pieces and lay him on wood, and put no fire under. And I will dress the other and put him on wood, and will put no fire under. And call ye on the name of your God, and I will call on the name of the LORD. And then the God that answereth by fire, he is the very God." And all the people said, "It is well spoken." Then said Elijah unto the Prophets of Baal, "Choose you an ox and dress him first - for ye are many - and call on the name of your God, but put no fire under." And they took the ox that was given them and dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning to noon saying, "O Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice nor answer. And they leapt about the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, and said, "Call loud, for he is a god: but he is talking, or occupied, or in the way, or haply he sleepeth, that he may awake!" And they cried loud and cut themselves, as their manner was, with knives and lances, till the blood flowed on them. And when midday was passed, they prophesied until it was time to offer. But there was neither voice nor answer nor any that regarded them. Then Elijah said to all the folk, "Come to me." And all the people came to him. And he mended the altar of the LORD that was broken. And he took twelve stones according to the number of the twelve tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came saying, "Israel shall be thy name." And with the stones he made an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a gutter round about the altar, able to receive two pecks of corn. And he put the wood in order, and hewed the ox in pieces, and put him on the wood, and said, "Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the sacrifice and on the wood." And he said, "Do so again." And they did so again. Then he said, "Do it the third time." And they did so the third time. And the water ran round about the altar, and the gutter was full of water also. And when offering time was come, Elijah the prophet went to and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and of Israel, let it be known this day, that thou art the God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I do all these things at thy commandment. Hear me, O LORD; hear me, that this people may know, that thou LORD, art the God, and that thou hast turned their hearts backward." And there fell fire from the LORD and consumed the sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the gutter. And when all the people saw that, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God, the LORD, he is God."

Then came the word of the LORD unto Jonah again, saying, "Up, and get thee to Nineveh that great city, and preach unto them the preaching which I bade thee." And he arose and went to Nineveh at the LORD's commandment. Nineveh was a great city unto God, containing three days journey.read more.
And Jonah went to and entered into the city even a day's journey, and cried, saying, "There shall not pass forty days but Nineveh shall be overthrown." And the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed fasting, and arrayed themselves in sackcloth, as well the great as the small of them. And the tidings came unto the king of Nineveh, which arose out of his seat, and did his apparel off and put on sackcloth, and sat him down in ashes. And it was cried and commanded in Nineveh by the authority of the king and of his lords, saying, "See that neither man or beast, ox or sheep taste ought at all, and that they neither feed or drink water." And they put on sackcloth both man and beast, and cried unto God mightily, and turned every man from his wicked way, and from doing wrong in which they were accustomed, saying, "Who can tell whether God will turn and repent, and cease from his fierce wrath, that we perish not?"

But unto whom shall I speak, whom shall I warn, that he may take heed? Their ears are so uncircumcised, that they may not hear. Behold, they take the word of God but for a scorn, and have no lust thereto.

And when he was come to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth in Gilead to battle, or shall we be still?" And he said unto him, "Go and prosper, the LORD deliver it unto the hands of the king." And the king said unto him, "How often shall I adjure thee, that thou tell me nothing but truth, in the name of the LORD?" Then he said, "I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have no shepherds. And the LORD said, 'Those have no master; let them return, every man to his house in peace.'"read more.
Then said the king of Israel to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell thee, that he would prophesy no good unto me, but evil?" And Micaiah said, "Hear therefore the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sit on his seat and all his company of heaven standing about him, on his righthand and on his left. And the LORD said, 'Who shall deceive Ahab that he may go and be slain at Ramoth in Gilead?' And one said on this manner and another on that. Then came forth a spirit and stood before the LORD and said, 'I will deceive him.' And the LORD said, 'Wherewith?' And he said, 'I will go out and be a false spirit in the mouths of all Prophets.' And the LORD said, 'Thou shalt deceive him and also prevail, go forth and do even so.' Now therefore behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy Prophets: when in very deed the LORD hath spoken evil toward thee." Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, "How is the spirit of the LORD gone from me, to speak in thee?" And Micaiah said, "Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go from chamber to chamber to hide thee." And the king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah and carry him back again into Amon the governor of the city, and unto Joab the king's son, and say, 'Thus sayeth the king. Put ye this fellow in the prison house and feed him with bread and water straightly, until I return in peace.'" Then Micaiah said, "If thou come safe again, the LORD hath not spoken in me." And he said moreover, "Hearken to the people every one of you."

And when he was come to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth in Gilead to fight, or shall I be in rest?" And he answered, "Go ye and prosper, for God shall deliver it into your hands." But the king said to him, "How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but truth to me, in the name of the LORD?" Then he said, "I see all Israel scattered in the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, 'These have no master, let them return every man to his house in peace.'"read more.
Then said the king of Israel to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell thee, that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?" And Micaiah answered, "Therefore hear ye the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sit upon his seat, and all the company of heaven standing on his righthand and on his left. And the LORD said, 'Who shall deceive Ahab king of Israel, that he may go and be overthrown at Ramoth in Gilead?' And while one said thus and another that, there came out a spirit and stood before the LORD and said, 'I will deceive him.' And the LORD said to him, 'How?' And he said, 'I will go out and will be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.' And the LORD said, 'Thou shalt deceive him and shalt prevail, go out and do even so.' And now behold the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these thy prophets, and yet the LORD hath spoken evil against thee." And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah, went to and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, "By what way went the spirit of the LORD from me, to speak in thee?" And Micaiah said, "Thou shalt see the day when thou shalt run from chamber to chamber, for to hide thyself." Then said the king of Israel, take ye Micaiah and deliver him to Amon the governor of city, and to Joash the king's son, and say, "Thus sayeth the king: 'Put this fellow in prison, and feed him with bread and water of tribulation, until I come again in peace.'" And Micaiah said, "If thou come again in peace, then hath not the LORD spoken in me." And Micaiah said moreover, "Hearken to, ye people, every one of you."

Yea, I have sent my servants, all the prophets, unto you. I rose up early, and sent you word, saying: O turn you, every man from his wicked way: amend your lives, and go not after strange gods, to worship them: that ye may continue in the land, which I have given unto you and your fathers. But ye would neither hear me, nor follow me.

Yea, I will send thee unto a people that have rough visages and stiff stomachs: unto whom thou shalt say on this manner, 'This the LORD God himself hath spoken,' that whether they be obedient or no - for it is a froward household - they may know yet that there hath been a Prophet among them.

Upon this sent Amaziah the priest to Bethel unto Jeroboam the king of Israel, saying, "Amos maketh the house of Israel to rebel against thee; the land cannot away with his words. For Amos sayeth, 'Jeroboam shall die with the sword, and Israel shall be led away, captive out of their own land.'" And Amaziah said unto Amos, "Get thee hence, thou that canst see so well, and flee into the land of Judah. Get thee there thy living, and prophesy there:read more.
and prophesy no more at Bethel, for it is the king's chapel, and the king's court.

And though he had done so many miracles before them, yet believed not they on him, that the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, that he spake, "Lord who shall believe our saying? And to whom is the arm of the Lord opened?" Therefore could they not believe, because that Isaiah saith again,read more.
"He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their hearts: that they should not see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and should be converted and I should heal them."

Who believeth our sayings? And the arm of the LORD, to whom is it opened?

Harden the heart of this people, stop their ears, and shut their eyes, that they see not with their eyes, hear not with their ears, and understand not with their heart, and convert and be healed."

Therefore speak I to them in similitudes: For though they see, they see not; and hearing, they hear not, neither understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which prophecy saith, 'With the ears ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and with the eyes ye shall see, and shall not perceive." For this people's hearts are waxed gross. And their ears were dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their hearts, and should turn, that I might heal them.

And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked him of the similitude. And he said unto them, "To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: But unto them that are without, shall all things be done in similitudes: that when they see, they shall see, and not discern: and when they hear they shall hear, and not understand: lest at any time they should turn, and their sins should be forgiven them."

And he said, "Unto you is it given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God: but to others in similitudes, that when they see, they should not see, and when they hear they should not understand.

And so he said, "Go, and tell this people: 'Ye shall hear indeed, but ye shall not understand; ye shall plainly see, and not perceive. Harden the heart of this people, stop their ears, and shut their eyes, that they see not with their eyes, hear not with their ears, and understand not with their heart, and convert and be healed."

Then said some of them of Jerusalem, "Is not this he whom they go about to kill? Behold, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing to him. Do the rulers know, indeed, that this is very Christ? Howbeit, we know this man whence he is, but when Christ cometh, no man shall know whence he is."read more.
Then cried Jesus in the temple, as he taught, saying, "And me ye know, and whence I am ye know: and yet I am not come of myself. But he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. I know him: For I am of him, and he hath sent me." Then sought they to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his time was not yet come. Many of the people believed on him, and said, "When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than this man hath done?" The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things about him: Wherefore the Pharisees and high priests sent ministers forth to take him. Then said Jesus unto them, "Yet am I a little while with you, and then go I unto him that sent me. Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: And where I am, thither can ye not come." Then said the Jews between themselves, "Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? Will he go among the gentiles, which are scattered all abroad, and teach the gentiles? What manner of saying is this that he said, 'Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: And where I am, thither can ye not come?'" In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as sayeth the scripture, 'Out of his belly shall flow rivers of water of life.'" This spake he of the spirit, which they that believed on him should receive. For the holy ghost was not yet there, because that Jesus was not yet glorified. Many of the people, when they heard this saying said, "Of a truth, this is a Prophet." Others said, "This is Christ." Some said, "Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Saith not the scripture that Christ shall come of the seed of David: and out of the town of Bethlehem where David was?" So was there dissension among the people about him.

Then the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, "Arise and go towards midday unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is in the desert." And he arose and went on, and behold, a man of Ethiopia which was a chamberlain and of great authority with Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, and had the rule of all her treasure, came to Jerusalem for to pray. And as he returned home again, sitting in his chariot, he read Isaiah the prophet.read more.
Then the spirit said unto Philip, "Go near, and join thyself to yonder chariot." And Philip ran to him, and heard him read Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Understandest thou what thou readest?" And he said, "How can I, except I had a guide?" And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The tenor of the scripture which he read was this, "He was led as a sheep to be slain: And like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth. Because of his humbleness, he was not esteemed. Who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth." The chamberlain answered Philip, and said, "I pray thee of whom speaketh the prophet this? Of himself? Or of some other man?" And Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water, and the chamberlain said, "See: here is water, what shall let me to be baptised?" Philip said unto him, "If thou believe with all thine heart, thou mayest." He answered, and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God." And he commanded the chariot to stand still. And they went down both into the water: both Philip and also the chamberlain. And he baptised him.

Yea and I am sure that neither death, neither life, neither angels; nor rule, neither power, neither things present, neither things to come, neither height, neither lowth, neither any other creature shall be able to depart us from the love of God, showed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, if one be dead for all, that then are all dead: and that he died for all, because that they which live, should not henceforth live unto themselves: but unto him which died for them and rose again.

for the which cause I also suffer these things. Nevertheless, I am not ashamed. For I know whom I have believed, and am sure that he is able keep that which I have committed to his keeping against that day.

And he preached in the synagogue every Sabbath day; And exhorted the Jews and the gentiles.

And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them: and three Sabbath days declared out of the scripture unto them, opening and alleging that Christ must needs have suffered and risen again from death. And that this Jesus was Christ, whom, said he, "I preach to you." And some of them believed and came and companied with Paul and Silas. Also of the honorable Greeks, a great multitude; and of the chief women, not a few.

And he went into the synagogue, and behaved himself boldly for the space of three months: disputing, and giving them exhortations of the kingdom of God.

Agrippa said unto Paul, "Somewhat thou bringest me in mind for to become Christian." And Paul said, "I would to God that not only thou: but also all that hear me today, were not somewhat only, but altogether such as I am; except these bonds. I might persuade not thee only, but all them that hear me this day, to be such as I am, these bonds except."

And when they had appointed him a day, there came many unto him into his lodging: to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God; and preached unto them of Jesus: both out of the law of Moses, and also out of the prophets, even from morning to night. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

Seeing, then, that we know how the Lord is to be feared, we fare fair with men. For we are known well enough unto God. I trust also that we are known in your consciences.