Page 260 - Bible Writers Theology Original

244 ♦ Bible Writers' Theology Chapter Eight
apostle. He was converted by the miraculous appearance of the risen
Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-22).
The miracle of Peter's trance and the angel that visited Cornelius' house opened the door for the evangelization of the Gentiles (Acts 10:1-48).
The miracle of the earthquake, which shook the prison where Paul andSilaswereinchains,convictedthejailorandhishousehold (Acts 16:19-40).
God wrought special miracles through Paul at Ephesus (Acts 19:1-20): "from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them" (Acts 19:11,12). That was enough to dethrone the worship of
Diana and attract the heathen mind to Jesus.
Another Ephesus miracle with far-reaching results was that of seven vagabond Jews who professed to have the divine power to expel demons. When,inonecasetheywereovercomebytheevilspirit,and "fled out of that house naked and wounded...this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, andthenameoftheLordJesuswasmagnified"(Acts19:13-17). From Paul's epistle to the Ephesians we learn how quickly the saints passed from idolatry to deep spiritual understanding.
Either Directly or Through His Messenger, God's Rebuke Leads to Repentance
And the LORD sent Nathan unto David...." (II Samuel 12:1-25).
Nathan applied his parable to David, who confessed his sin.
Christ's message to the churches in the book of Revelation includes divine reproofs and direct commands of repentance (Revelation 2:5,16,21; 3:19). ^
The Written Word of God Awakens Unto Repentance
"Take with you words, and turn to the LORD..." (Hosea 14:2).
When the book of the Law was found in the house of the Lord, King Josiah "heard the words of the book...rent his clothes and said, ...enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us" (11 Kings 22:8,11,13).
Scripture says, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word...Thy word have 1 hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee" (Psalm 119:9-11).