81 Bible Verses about Actions Speak Louder Than Words

1 John 3:18 ESV / 348 helpful votes

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

James 1:22 ESV / 224 helpful votes

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

James 2:17 ESV / 197 helpful votes

So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

James 3:13 ESV / 164 helpful votes

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

Matthew 5:16 ESV / 161 helpful votes

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Titus 1:16 ESV / 130 helpful votes

They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

Matthew 21:28-32 ESV / 95 helpful votes

“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.

1 Peter 2:21 ESV / 75 helpful votes

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

James 2:14-18 ESV / 66 helpful votes

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Hebrews 11:1-40 ESV / 56 helpful votes

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. ...

Luke 6:46 ESV / 56 helpful votes

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?

John 3:16 ESV / 50 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

James 1:22-25 ESV / 49 helpful votes

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

James 2:26 ESV / 47 helpful votes

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Matthew 12:33-35 ESV / 45 helpful votes

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.

1 John 3:17-18 ESV / 43 helpful votes

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

Colossians 3:17 ESV / 38 helpful votes

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV / 38 helpful votes

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

John 13:34-35 ESV / 32 helpful votes

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Ephesians 5:26 ESV / 31 helpful votes

That he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

1 Corinthians 4:16 ESV / 31 helpful votes

I urge you, then, be imitators of me.

Matthew 7:21-23 ESV / 31 helpful votes

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Matthew 12:36-37 ESV / 30 helpful votes

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Matthew 5:37 ESV / 30 helpful votes

Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

Acts 17:10-11 ESV / 29 helpful votes

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV / 28 helpful votes

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Ezra 10:4 ESV / 28 helpful votes

Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it.”

Psalm 119:105 ESV / 25 helpful votes

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 24 helpful votes

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Romans 12:1-2 ESV / 23 helpful votes

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

James 2:2 ESV / 21 helpful votes

For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,

Colossians 3:1 ESV / 21 helpful votes

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

James 2:18 ESV / 19 helpful votes

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Romans 12:2 ESV / 19 helpful votes

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Revelation 1:1-20 ESV / 18 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood ...

Proverbs 10:19 ESV / 18 helpful votes

When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

1 John 2:1 ESV / 17 helpful votes

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV / 17 helpful votes

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV / 16 helpful votes

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV / 16 helpful votes

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

John 13:17 ESV / 15 helpful votes

If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Matthew 21:1-46 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” ...

Matthew 8:4 ESV / 15 helpful votes

And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”

Matthew 7:16 ESV / 15 helpful votes

You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

Matthew 12:1-50 ESV / 14 helpful votes

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? ...

Proverbs 15:4 ESV / 14 helpful votes

A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Titus 1:15-16 ESV / 13 helpful votes

To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

Matthew 24:35 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Ezekiel 33:31 ESV / 13 helpful votes

And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.

1 John 3:2 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

James 3:1-12 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! ...

Romans 4:5 ESV / 12 helpful votes

And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

Matthew 7:20 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

Proverbs 16:24 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

Galatians 6:1-2 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:1-16 ESV / 11 helpful votes

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. ...

Mark 2:14 ESV / 11 helpful votes

And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

Matthew 12:1 ESV / 11 helpful votes

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.

Matthew 10:27 ESV / 11 helpful votes

What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.

Isaiah 55:11 ESV / 11 helpful votes

So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

1 Chronicles 16:11 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Luke 6:43-45 ESV / 10 helpful votes

“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 9 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

1 John 1:9 ESV / 9 helpful votes

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

James 3:1-18 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! ...

James 1:21 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

James 1:19 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

2 Corinthians 8:10-11 ESV / 9 helpful votes

And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.

1 John 4:7-8 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Ephesians 4:15 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

Matthew 21:30 ESV / 7 helpful votes

And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go.

James 2:16 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?

1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV / 6 helpful votes

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—

Romans 12:9 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

Proverbs 14:23 ESV / 6 helpful votes

In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.

Philippians 2:14-16 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

Mark 11:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons.

Matthew 10:2 ESV / 5 helpful votes

The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

2 Corinthians 13:1-14 ESV / 4 helpful votes

This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them— since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God. Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! ...

John 3:16-17 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Genesis 50:15 ESV / 3 helpful votes

When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.”

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