Examples of conversion

Examples of conversion in the OT

Peoples who turned to God

Is 19:22 Egypt; Jon 3:5–10 Nineveh

Individuals who turned to God

2 Ki 5:15 Naaman; 2 Ch 33:12–13 Manasseh; Da 4:34–37 Nebuchadnezzar; Jon 1:16 sailors on board ship with Jonah

Examples of conversion in the NT

Examples of people in general

Jn 4:42 people of Sychar; Ac 2:41 3,000 people on the day of Pentecost; Ac 8:12 Samaritans; Ac 9:35 people of Lydda and Sharon; Ac 15:3 Gentile converts

Examples of individual converts

Lk 15:18 the prodigal son; Lk 19:8–9 Zacchaeus; Ac 8:35–38 the Ethiopian eunuch

Paul:

Acts 9:3–18 LEB

Now as he proceeded, it happened that when he approached Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” So he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting! But get up and enter into the city, and it will be told to you what you must do.” (Now the men who were traveling together with him stood speechless, because they heard the voice but saw no one.) So Saul got up from the ground, but although his eyes were open he could see nothing. And leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. And he was unable to see for three days, and he did not eat or drink. Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” And he said, “Behold, here I am, Lord!” And the Lord said to him, “Get up, go to the street called ‘Straight’ and in the house of Judas look for a man named Saul from Tarsus. For behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and placing hands on him so that he may regain his sight.” But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem, and here he has authority from the chief priests to tie up all who call upon your name!” But the Lord said to him, “Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias departed and entered into the house, and placing his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight and got up and was baptized,

Ac 10:44–48 Cornelius; Ac 13:12 the proconsul, Sergius Paulus; Ac 16:14–15 Lydia; Ac 16:29–34 the Philippian jailer

The prophetic vision of the future conversion of Israel and the nations

Israel’s turning back to God

Hosea 3:5 LEB

Afterward the children of Israel will return and seek Yahweh their God and David their king. They will come in fear to Yahweh and to his goodness at the end of days.

See also Je 50:4–5; Ho 11:10–11; Ro 11:26

The conversion of the nations

Jeremiah 16:19 LEB

O Yahweh, my strength, and my stronghold, and my refuge in the day of distress, to you the nations will come from the ends of the earth, and they will say, “Our ancestors have inherited only lies, vanity, and there is no profit in them.

See also Ps 22:27–28; Is 2:3; Zec 14:16