CONVERSION STORIES IN THE BOOK OF ACTS

Acts 2:38-41….. the very first believers were Jews; the start of the church at Pentecost

Acts 8:5-12…….Philip preaches in Samaria. People respond in faith by being baptized

Acts 8:26-40…...Philip teaches the Ethiopian eunuch who responds by being baptized

Acts 9:18……….the conversion of Saul to Paul

Acts 10:47-48….the “Gentile Pentecost”-God shows Peter the Gospel message is not for Jews alone

Acts 16:15……...the conversion of Lydia and her household

Acts 16:16-34….Paul and Silas’ jailer (and his household) respond in faith and are immediately baptized

Acts 18:8 ………Crispus, the synagogue ruler

Acts 19:3-5……..those that had not heard yet of Jesus are baptized

Acts 22:16……...Paul’s story revisited --his sins are washed away, calling on the name of the Lord in baptism

Baptism in the book of Acts and throughout the New Testament is always practiced by adults who have:

a.) heard the message of the gospel (of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ ),

b.) believed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and paid for their sins on the cross,

c.) turned away from their sins (repented) and

d.) turned to Christ in faith and then

e.) were fully immersed in water into Christ and into new life.

There are these five basic events, combined, that mark conversions in the New Testament:

1. Hear

2. Believe (faith)

3. Repent of our sins

4. & 5. Confess verbally faith in Jesus and Be baptized (fully immersed) in water for the forgiveness of our sins.

6. Remain faithful

It’s that simple.

In the Book of Acts, these five “ingredients” all take place in a very short time period, almost as a singular event.

This page last updated October 21, 2006