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Psalm 66:16
Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. (niv)
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Daniel 4:37
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. (niv)
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Johannes 4:29
“ Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” (niv)
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Apostelgeschichte 26:4-29
“ The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem.They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee.And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today.This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me.Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?“ I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.“ On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions.We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,‘ Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’“ Then I asked,‘ Who are you, Lord?’“‘ I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.‘ Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to themto open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’“ So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me.But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen—that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense.“ You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted.“ Your great learning is driving you insane.”“ I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied.“ What I am saying is true and reasonable.The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”Then Agrippa said to Paul,“ Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”Paul replied,“ Short time or long— I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” (niv)
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Daniel 6:25-27
Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:“ May you prosper greatly!“ I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.“ For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” (niv)
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Jesaja 38:9-20
A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery:I said,“ In the prime of my life must I go through the gates of death and be robbed of the rest of my years?”I said,“ I will not again see the Lord himself in the land of the living; no longer will I look on my fellow man, or be with those who now dwell in this world.Like a shepherd’s tent my house has been pulled down and taken from me. Like a weaver I have rolled up my life, and he has cut me off from the loom; day and night you made an end of me.I waited patiently till dawn, but like a lion he broke all my bones; day and night you made an end of me.I cried like a swift or thrush, I moaned like a mourning dove. My eyes grew weak as I looked to the heavens. I am being threatened; Lord, come to my aid!”But what can I say? He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this. I will walk humbly all my years because of this anguish of my soul.Lord, by such things people live; and my spirit finds life in them too. You restored me to health and let me live.Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back.For the grave cannot praise you, death cannot sing your praise; those who go down to the pit cannot hope for your faithfulness.The living, the living— they praise you, as I am doing today; parents tell their children about your faithfulness.The Lord will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the Lord. (niv)
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Daniel 4:1-3
King Nebuchadnezzar, To the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth: May you prosper greatly!It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation. (niv)
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Apostelgeschichte 22:1-21
“ Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.”When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet. Then Paul said:“ I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison,as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.“ About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me,‘ Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’“‘ Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.“‘ I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied.My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.“‘ What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked.“‘ Get up,’ the Lord said,‘ and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.“ A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there.He stood beside me and said,‘ Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I was able to see him.“ Then he said:‘ The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth.You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard.And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’“ When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a tranceand saw the Lord speaking to me.‘ Quick!’ he said.‘ Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.’“‘ Lord,’ I replied,‘ these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you.And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’“ Then the Lord said to me,‘ Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” (niv)
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Jona 2:1-10
From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God.He said:“ In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry.You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me.I said,‘ I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head.To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit.“ When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple.“ Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them.But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say,‘ Salvation comes from the Lord.’”And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. (niv)
