-
Psalms 66:16
Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me.
-
Daniel 4:37
“ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble the proud.”
-
John 4:29
“ Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?”
-
Acts 26:4-29
“ As the Jewish leaders are well aware, I was given a thorough Jewish training from my earliest childhood among my own people and in Jerusalem.If they would admit it, they know that I have been a member of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of our religion.Now I am on trial because of my hope in the fulfillment of God’s promise made to our ancestors.In fact, that is why the twelve tribes of Israel zealously worship God night and day, and they share the same hope I have. Yet, Your Majesty, they accuse me for having this hope!Why does it seem incredible to any of you that God can raise the dead?“ I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene.Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem. Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many believers there to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death.Many times I had them punished in the synagogues to get them to curse Jesus. I was so violently opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities.“ One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests.About noon, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions.We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,‘ Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will.’“‘ Who are you, lord?’ I asked.“ And the Lord replied,‘ I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting.Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. Tell people that you have seen me, and tell them what I will show you in the future.And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentilesto open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’“ And so, King Agrippa, I obeyed that vision from heaven.I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must repent of their sins and turn to God— and prove they have changed by the good things they do.Some Jews arrested me in the Temple for preaching this, and they tried to kill me.But God has protected me right up to this present time so I can testify to everyone, from the least to the greatest. I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen—that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, and in this way announce God’s light to Jews and Gentiles alike.”Suddenly, Festus shouted,“ Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!”But Paul replied,“ I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. What I am saying is the sober truth.And King Agrippa knows about these things. I speak boldly, for I am sure these events are all familiar to him, for they were not done in a corner!King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do—”Agrippa interrupted him.“ Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?”Paul replied,“ Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.”
-
Daniel 6:25-27
Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world:“ Peace and prosperity to you!“ I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end.He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”
-
Isaiah 38:9-20
When King Hezekiah was well again, he wrote this poem:I said,“ In the prime of my life, must I now enter the place of the dead? Am I to be robbed of the rest of my years?”I said,“ Never again will I see the Lord God while still in the land of the living. Never again will I see my friends or be with those who live in this world.My life has been blown away like a shepherd’s tent in a storm. It has been cut short, as when a weaver cuts cloth from a loom. Suddenly, my life was over.I waited patiently all night, but I was torn apart as though by lions. Suddenly, my life was over.Delirious, I chattered like a swallow or a crane, and then I moaned like a mourning dove. My eyes grew tired of looking to heaven for help. I am in trouble, Lord. Help me!”But what could I say? For he himself sent this sickness. Now I will walk humbly throughout my years because of this anguish I have felt.Lord, your discipline is good, for it leads to life and health. You restore my health and allow me to live!Yes, this anguish was good for me, for you have rescued me from death and forgiven all my sins.For the dead cannot praise you; they cannot raise their voices in praise. Those who go down to the grave can no longer hope in your faithfulness.Only the living can praise you as I do today. Each generation tells of your faithfulness to the next.Think of it— the Lord is ready to heal me! I will sing his praises with instruments every day of my life in the Temple of the Lord.
-
Daniel 4:1-3
King Nebuchadnezzar sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world:“ Peace and prosperity to you!“ I want you all to know about the miraculous signs and wonders the Most High God has performed for me.How great are his signs, how powerful his wonders! His kingdom will last forever, his rule through all generations.
-
Acts 22:1-21
“ Brothers and esteemed fathers,” Paul said,“ listen to me as I offer my defense.”When they heard him speaking in their own language, the silence was even greater.Then Paul said,“ I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today.And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison.The high priest and the whole council of elders can testify that this is so. For I received letters from them to our Jewish brothers in Damascus, authorizing me to bring the followers of the Way from there to Jerusalem, in chains, to be punished.“ As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me.I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me,‘ Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’“‘ Who are you, lord?’ I asked.“ And the voice replied,‘ I am Jesus the Nazarene, the one you are persecuting.’The people with me saw the light but didn’t understand the voice speaking to me.“ I asked,‘ What should I do, Lord?’“ And the Lord told me,‘ Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything you are to do.’“ I was blinded by the intense light and had to be led by the hand to Damascus by my companions.A man named Ananias lived there. He was a godly man, deeply devoted to the law, and well regarded by all the Jews of Damascus.He came and stood beside me and said,‘ Brother Saul, regain your sight.’ And that very moment I could see him!“ Then he told me,‘ The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak.For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard.What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.’“ After I returned to Jerusalem, I was praying in the Temple and fell into a trance.I saw a vision of Jesus saying to me,‘ Hurry! Leave Jerusalem, for the people here won’t accept your testimony about me.’“‘ But Lord,’ I argued,‘ they certainly know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you.And I was in complete agreement when your witness Stephen was killed. I stood by and kept the coats they took off when they stoned him.’“ But the Lord said to me,‘ Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!’”
-
Jonah 2:1-10
Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish.He said,“ I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me!You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea. The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves.Then I said,‘ O Lord, you have driven me from your presence. Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.’“ I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me. Seaweed wrapped itself around my head.I sank down to the very roots of the mountains. I was imprisoned in the earth, whose gates lock shut forever. But you, O Lord my God, snatched me from the jaws of death!As my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple.Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies.But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.”Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.