Thematic Bible: Converts
Thematic Bible
Converts » Good ground,
As for him who is sown 'on good soil,' that is the man who hears the word and understands it; he bears fruit, producing now a hundredfold, now sixty, and now thirtyfold."
Verse Concepts
As a large crowd was gathering and as people were resorting to him from town after town, he addressed them in a parable. "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the road and was trampled down, and the wild birds ate it up; some other seed dropped on the rock, but it withered away when it sprang up because it had no moisture; read more.
some other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up along with it and choked it; some other seed fell on sound soil, and springing up bore a crop, a hundredfold." When he said this he called out, "He who has an ear, let him listen to this." The disciples questioned him about the meaning of the parable; so he said, "It is granted you to understand the open secrets of the Reign of God, but the others get it in parables, so that for all their seeing they may not see, and for all their hearing they may not understand. This is what the parable means. The seed is the word of God. Those 'on the road' are people who hear; but then the devil comes and carries off the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved. Those 'on the rock' are people who on hearing the word welcome it with enthusiasm, but they have no root; they believe for a while and fall away in the hour of trial. As for the seed that fell among thorns, that means people who hear but who go and get choked with worries and money and the pleasures of life, so that they never ripen. As for the seed in the good soil, that means those who hear and hold fast the word in a good and sound heart and so bear fruit stedfastly.
some other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up along with it and choked it; some other seed fell on sound soil, and springing up bore a crop, a hundredfold." When he said this he called out, "He who has an ear, let him listen to this." The disciples questioned him about the meaning of the parable; so he said, "It is granted you to understand the open secrets of the Reign of God, but the others get it in parables, so that for all their seeing they may not see, and for all their hearing they may not understand. This is what the parable means. The seed is the word of God. Those 'on the road' are people who hear; but then the devil comes and carries off the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved. Those 'on the rock' are people who on hearing the word welcome it with enthusiasm, but they have no root; they believe for a while and fall away in the hour of trial. As for the seed that fell among thorns, that means people who hear but who go and get choked with worries and money and the pleasures of life, so that they never ripen. As for the seed in the good soil, that means those who hear and hold fast the word in a good and sound heart and so bear fruit stedfastly.
Some other seeds fell on good soil and bore a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirtyfold.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Instances of » Sergius paulus
Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had happened; he was astounded at the doctrine of the Lord.
Verse Concepts
he belonged to the suite of the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man who called for Barnabas and Saul and demanded to hear the word of God.
Verse Concepts
I was travelling to Damascus on this business, with authority and a commission from the high priests, when at mid-day on the road, O king, I saw a light from heaven, more dazzling than the sun, flash round me and my fellow-travellers. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? You hurt yourself by kicking at the goad.' read more.
'Who are you?' I asked. And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus, and you are persecuting me. Now get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you in order to appoint you to my service as a witness to what you have seen and to the visions you shall have of me. I will rescue you from the People and also from the Gentiles ??to whom I send you, that their eyes may be opened and that they may turn from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, to get remission of their sins and an inheritance among those who are consecrated by faith in me.' Upon this, O king Agrippa, I did not disobey the heavenly vision; I announced to those at Damascus and at Jerusalem in the first instance, then all over the land of Judaea, and also to the Gentiles, that they were to repent and turn to God by acting up to their repentance. This is why the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to assassinate me. To this day I have had the help of God in standing, as I now do, to testify alike to low and high, never uttering a single syllable beyond what the prophets and Moses predicted was to take place. that the Christ is capable of suffering, and that he should be the first to rise from the dead and bring the message of light to the People and to the Gentiles?"
'Who are you?' I asked. And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus, and you are persecuting me. Now get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you in order to appoint you to my service as a witness to what you have seen and to the visions you shall have of me. I will rescue you from the People and also from the Gentiles ??to whom I send you, that their eyes may be opened and that they may turn from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, to get remission of their sins and an inheritance among those who are consecrated by faith in me.' Upon this, O king Agrippa, I did not disobey the heavenly vision; I announced to those at Damascus and at Jerusalem in the first instance, then all over the land of Judaea, and also to the Gentiles, that they were to repent and turn to God by acting up to their repentance. This is why the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to assassinate me. To this day I have had the help of God in standing, as I now do, to testify alike to low and high, never uttering a single syllable beyond what the prophets and Moses predicted was to take place. that the Christ is capable of suffering, and that he should be the first to rise from the dead and bring the message of light to the People and to the Gentiles?"
Converts » Zealous » The blind men
But they went out and spread the news of him all over that country.
Verse Concepts
Whereupon the neighbours and those to whom he had been a familiar sight as a beggar, said, "Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?" Some said, "It is"; others said, "No, but it is like him." He said, "I am the man." So they asked him, "How were your eyes opened?" read more.
He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some clay and smeared my eyes with it and told me, 'Go and wash them in Siloam'; so I went and washed them, and I got my sight." "Where is he?" they asked; he answered, "I do not know." They brought him before the Pharisees, this man who had once been blind. Now it was on the sabbath day that Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes. So the Pharisees asked him again how he had regained his sight, and he told them, "He smeared some clay on my eyes, and I washed them, and now I can see." Then said some of the Pharisees, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the sabbath"; others said, "How can a sinner perform such Signs?" They were divided on this. So they asked the blind man once more, "What have you to say about him, for opening your eyes?" The man replied, "I say he is a prophet." Now the Jews would not believe he had been born blind and had regained his sight, till they summoned the parents of the man who had regained his sight and asked them, "Is this your son, the son you declare was born blind? How is it that he can see now?" His parents answered, "This is our son, and he was born blind; we know that. But how he can see to-day, we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask himself; he is of age, he can speak for himself." (His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed him to be Christ should be excommunicated. That was why the man's parents said, "He is of age, ask himself.") So the man born blind was summoned a second time, and told, "Now give God the praise; this man, we know quite well, is only a sinner." To which he replied, "I do not know whether he is a sinner; one thing I do know, that once I was blind and now I can see." "What did he do to you?" they repeated; "How did he open your eyes?" He retorted, "I have told you that already, and you would not listen to me. Why do you want to hear it over again? Do you want to be disciples of his?" Then they stormed at him: "You are his disciple, we are disciples of Moses! We know God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this fellow comes from." The man replied to them, "Well, this is astonishing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he has opened my eyes! God, we know, does not listen to sinners; he listens to anyone who is devout and who obeys his will. It is unheard of, since the world began, that anyone should open a blind man's eyes. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They retorted, "And so you would teach us ??you, born in utter depravity!" Then they expelled him. Jesus heard that they had expelled him, and on meeting him he said, "You believe in the Son of man?" "Who is that, sir?" said the man, "tell me, that I may believe in him." "You have seen him," Jesus said, "he is talking to you." He said, "I do believe, Lord" ??and he worshipped him.
He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some clay and smeared my eyes with it and told me, 'Go and wash them in Siloam'; so I went and washed them, and I got my sight." "Where is he?" they asked; he answered, "I do not know." They brought him before the Pharisees, this man who had once been blind. Now it was on the sabbath day that Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes. So the Pharisees asked him again how he had regained his sight, and he told them, "He smeared some clay on my eyes, and I washed them, and now I can see." Then said some of the Pharisees, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the sabbath"; others said, "How can a sinner perform such Signs?" They were divided on this. So they asked the blind man once more, "What have you to say about him, for opening your eyes?" The man replied, "I say he is a prophet." Now the Jews would not believe he had been born blind and had regained his sight, till they summoned the parents of the man who had regained his sight and asked them, "Is this your son, the son you declare was born blind? How is it that he can see now?" His parents answered, "This is our son, and he was born blind; we know that. But how he can see to-day, we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask himself; he is of age, he can speak for himself." (His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed him to be Christ should be excommunicated. That was why the man's parents said, "He is of age, ask himself.") So the man born blind was summoned a second time, and told, "Now give God the praise; this man, we know quite well, is only a sinner." To which he replied, "I do not know whether he is a sinner; one thing I do know, that once I was blind and now I can see." "What did he do to you?" they repeated; "How did he open your eyes?" He retorted, "I have told you that already, and you would not listen to me. Why do you want to hear it over again? Do you want to be disciples of his?" Then they stormed at him: "You are his disciple, we are disciples of Moses! We know God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this fellow comes from." The man replied to them, "Well, this is astonishing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he has opened my eyes! God, we know, does not listen to sinners; he listens to anyone who is devout and who obeys his will. It is unheard of, since the world began, that anyone should open a blind man's eyes. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They retorted, "And so you would teach us ??you, born in utter depravity!" Then they expelled him. Jesus heard that they had expelled him, and on meeting him he said, "You believe in the Son of man?" "Who is that, sir?" said the man, "tell me, that I may believe in him." "You have seen him," Jesus said, "he is talking to you." He said, "I do believe, Lord" ??and he worshipped him.
Converts » Instances of » The mariners with jonah
Converts » Stony ground,
Some other seeds fell on stony soil where they had not much earth, and shot up at once because they had no depth of soil;
Verse Concepts
As for him who is sown 'on stony soil,' that is the man who hears the word and accepts it at once with enthusiasm; he has no root in himself, he does not last, but when the word brings trouble or persecution he is at once repelled.
Converts » Instances of » The thief on the cross
One of the criminals who had been hung also abused him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us as well." But the other checked him, saying, "Have you no fear even of God? You are suffering the same punishment as he. And we suffer justly; we are getting what we deserve for our deeds. But he has done no harm." read more.
And he added, "Jesus, do not forget me when you come to reign." "I tell you truly," said Jesus, "you will be in paradise with me this very day."
And he added, "Jesus, do not forget me when you come to reign." "I tell you truly," said Jesus, "you will be in paradise with me this very day."
Converts » Instances of » Jailer
When the jailer started from his sleep and saw the prison-doors open, he drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, supposing the prisoners had made their escape; but Paul shouted aloud, "Do not harm yourself, we are all here!" So calling for lights he rushed in, fell in terror before Paul and Silas, read more.
and brought them out (after securing the other prisoners). "Sirs," he said, "what must I do to be saved?" "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ," they said, "and then you will be saved, you and your household as well." And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all in his house. Then he took them at that very hour of the night and washed their wounds and got baptized instantly, he and all his family. He took them up to his house and put food before them, overjoyed like all his household at having believed in God.
and brought them out (after securing the other prisoners). "Sirs," he said, "what must I do to be saved?" "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ," they said, "and then you will be saved, you and your household as well." And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all in his house. Then he took them at that very hour of the night and washed their wounds and got baptized instantly, he and all his family. He took them up to his house and put food before them, overjoyed like all his household at having believed in God.
Converts » Instances of » The samaritans
Then the woman left her water-pot, and going off to the town told the people, "Come here, look at a man who has told me everything I ever did! Can he be the Christ?" They set out from the town on their way to him. read more.
Meanwhile the disciples pressed him, saying, "Rabbi, eat something." But he said to them, "I have food, of which you know nothing." So the disciples asked each other, "Can anyone have brought him something to eat?" Jesus said, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work. You have a saying, have you not, 'Four months yet, then harvest'? Look round, I tell you; see, the fields are white for harvesting! The reaper is already getting his wages and harvesting for eternal life, so that the sower shares the reaper's joy. That proverb, 'One sows and another reaps,' holds true here: I sent you to reap a crop for which you did not toil; other men have toiled, and you reap the profit of their toil." Now many Samaritans belonging to that town believed in him on account of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." So when the Samaritans arrived, they pressed him to stay with them; he did stay there two days, and far more of them believed on account of what he said himself. As they told the woman, "We no longer believe on account of what you said; we have heard for ourselves, we know that he is really the Saviour of the world."
Meanwhile the disciples pressed him, saying, "Rabbi, eat something." But he said to them, "I have food, of which you know nothing." So the disciples asked each other, "Can anyone have brought him something to eat?" Jesus said, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work. You have a saying, have you not, 'Four months yet, then harvest'? Look round, I tell you; see, the fields are white for harvesting! The reaper is already getting his wages and harvesting for eternal life, so that the sower shares the reaper's joy. That proverb, 'One sows and another reaps,' holds true here: I sent you to reap a crop for which you did not toil; other men have toiled, and you reap the profit of their toil." Now many Samaritans belonging to that town believed in him on account of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." So when the Samaritans arrived, they pressed him to stay with them; he did stay there two days, and far more of them believed on account of what he said himself. As they told the woman, "We no longer believe on account of what you said; we have heard for ourselves, we know that he is really the Saviour of the world."
Converts » Instances of » Lydia
Among the listeners there was a woman called Lydia, a dealer in purple who belonged to the town of Thyatira. She reverenced God, and the Lord opened her heart to attend to what Paul said. When she was baptized, along with her household, she begged us, saying, "If you are convinced I am a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house." She compelled us to come.
Converts » Zealous » The woman of samaria
Then the woman left her water-pot, and going off to the town told the people, "Come here, look at a man who has told me everything I ever did! Can he be the Christ?"
Converts » Zealous » Andrew
One of the two men who heard what John said and went after Jesus was Andrew, the brother of Peter. In the morning he met his brother Simon and told him, "We have found the messiah" (which may be translated, 'Christ').
Converts » Zealous » Philip
Next day Jesus determined to leave for Galilee; there he met Philip and told him, "Follow me." Now Philip belonged to Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Peter; he met Nathanael and told him, "We have found him whom Moses wrote about in the Law, and also the prophets ??it is Jesus, the son of Joseph, who comes from Nazaret."
Converts » Instances of » The eunuch
Then Philip opened his lips, and starting from this scripture preached the gospel of Jesus to him. As they travelled on, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Here is water! What is to prevent me being baptized?" -- read more.
So he ordered the chariot to stop. Both of them stepped into the water, and Philip baptized the eunuch.
So he ordered the chariot to stop. Both of them stepped into the water, and Philip baptized the eunuch.
Converts » Instances of » Gadarenes
The people came out to see what had occurred and when they reached Jesus they discovered the man whom the daemons had left, seated at the feet of Jesus, clothed and sane. That frightened them. They got a report from those who had seen how the lunatic was cured, and then all the inhabitants of the surrounding country of the Gergesenes asked him to leave them, they were so seized with terror. He embarked in the boat and went back. read more.
The man whom the daemons had left begged that he might accompany him. Jesus, however, sent him away, saying, "Go home and describe all that God has done for you." So he went off to proclaim through the whole town all that Jesus had done for him.
The man whom the daemons had left begged that he might accompany him. Jesus, however, sent him away, saying, "Go home and describe all that God has done for you." So he went off to proclaim through the whole town all that Jesus had done for him.
Converts » Instances of » Greeks
Some were persuaded and threw in their lot with Paul and Silas, including a host of devout Greeks and a large number of the leading women.
Verse Concepts
Many of them believed, together with a large number of prominent Greeks, both women and men.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Zealous » Nebuchadnezzar
Converts » Wayside,
When anyone hears the word of the Realm and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart; that is the man who is sown 'on the road.'
Verse Concepts
and as he sowed some seeds fell on the road and the birds came and ate them up.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Choked,
As for him who is sown 'among thorns,' that is the man who listens to the word, but the worry of the world and the delight of being rich choke the word; so it proves unfruitful.
Verse Concepts
Some other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Instances of » Saul of tarsus
As he neared Damascus in the course of his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed round him; he dropped to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" "Who are you?" he asked. "I am Jesus," he said, "and you persecute me. read more.
Get up and go into the city. There you will be told what you have to do." His fellow-travellers stood speechless, for they heard the voice but they could not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but though his eyes were open he could see nothing; so they took his hand and led him to Damascus. For three days he remained sightless, he neither ate nor drank. Now there was a disciple called Ananias in Damascus. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." He said, "I am here, Lord." And the Lord said to him, "Go away to the street called 'The Straight Street,' and ask at the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus called Saul. He is praying at this very moment, and he has seen a man called Ananias enter and lay his hands upon him to bring back his sight." "But, Lord," Ananias answered, "many people have told me about all the mischief this man has done to thy saints at Jerusalem! And in this city too he has authority from the high priests to put anyone in chains who invokes thy Name!" But the Lord said to him, "Go; I have chosen him to be the means of bringing my Name before the Gentiles and their kings as well as before the sons of Israel. I will show him all he has to suffer for the sake of my Name." So Ananias went off and entered the house, laying his hands on him with these words, "Saul, my brother, I have been sent by the Lord, by Jesus who appeared to you on the road, to let you regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit." In a moment something like scales fell from his eyes, he regained his sight, got up and was baptized.
Get up and go into the city. There you will be told what you have to do." His fellow-travellers stood speechless, for they heard the voice but they could not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but though his eyes were open he could see nothing; so they took his hand and led him to Damascus. For three days he remained sightless, he neither ate nor drank. Now there was a disciple called Ananias in Damascus. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." He said, "I am here, Lord." And the Lord said to him, "Go away to the street called 'The Straight Street,' and ask at the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus called Saul. He is praying at this very moment, and he has seen a man called Ananias enter and lay his hands upon him to bring back his sight." "But, Lord," Ananias answered, "many people have told me about all the mischief this man has done to thy saints at Jerusalem! And in this city too he has authority from the high priests to put anyone in chains who invokes thy Name!" But the Lord said to him, "Go; I have chosen him to be the means of bringing my Name before the Gentiles and their kings as well as before the sons of Israel. I will show him all he has to suffer for the sake of my Name." So Ananias went off and entered the house, laying his hands on him with these words, "Saul, my brother, I have been sent by the Lord, by Jesus who appeared to you on the road, to let you regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit." In a moment something like scales fell from his eyes, he regained his sight, got up and was baptized.
Converts » Instances of » Jews and greeks at antioch
After the synagogue broke up, a number of the Jews and the devout proselytes followed them; Paul and Barnabas talked to them and encouraged them to hold by the grace of God.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Instances of » At pentecost, about three-thousand people
So those who accepted what he said were baptized; about three thousand souls were brought in, that day.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Instances of » Ruth
Converts » Zealous » The man possessed by demons
"Go home and describe all that God has done for you." So he went off to proclaim through the whole town all that Jesus had done for him.
Verse Concepts
Converts » Zealous » The deaf man
Jesus forbade them to tell anyone about it, but the more he forbade them the more eagerly they made it public;
Verse Concepts
Converts » Instances of » Post-pentecostal
(A number of those who heard them speak believed, bringing up their numbers to [about] five thousand.)
Verse Concepts
Converts » Instances of » Cornelius
Converts » Instances of » Ninevites
Converts » Instances of » Nebuchadnezzar
Seals » Illustrative of » Converts
To other people I may be no apostle, but to you I am, for you are the seal set upon my apostleship in the Lord.
Verse Concepts