Faith comes from comprehending what God has said (Rom. 10:17). It is not only comprehending but also acting on what God said. I know, for example, Felix trembled, evidence of believing what he heard (Acts 24:25). He did not act on what he believed and, hence, he did not come to saving faith. Agrippa believed but he, likewise, chose to not do what he believed in his heart to be right. Faith then is comprehending and acting on what God has said. Noah believed God and he believed God to the point that he built an ark to save him and his family (Heb. 11:7).
Since we know that faith comes from the Word of God, it should be understood that knowledge would come before belief. Those in Berea searched the scriptures daily to see if what they had been taught was correct (Acts 17:11). What is implied in this statement? First of all they KNEW what source to go to in order to determine if what they had been taught was correct. Second of all they trusted that source of the Old Testament scriptures. They then had previous connection to God through the Old Testament. That connection means knowledge.
The religious world often strives to build doctrines around the idea that one calls on the Lord, they can be saved. Acts 2:21 and Rom. 10:13 both indicate the need for calling on the name of the Lord. What the religious world fails to do is to continue reading. In the case in Acts 2, people wanted to know what they needed to do (Acts 2:37). They were told to repent and be baptized (verse 38). Why would one separate calling on the name of the Lord (verse 21) from acting on what they had learned (verse 38). The reason is to fail to understand that knowledge comes before belief.
Continuing then in Romans 13, we move to verse 14. At the heart of this reasoning God asks the question through Paul, how can you call on someone you do not KNOW. Verse 14 begins with calling and ends with explaining you cannot call on someone that you do not know. Those in Acts 2 had it explained to them that Jesus, who was crucified was the Son of God. When they HEARD this they were cut in their hearts. The knowledge of who Jesus is, caused them to want to be right with God and they said, what shall we do. Repenting and being baptized is in effect calling on the name of the Lord.
Paul in the city of Damascus had spent three days fasting and praying and had not removed one single sin from his life. I know then he was not saved on the road to Damascus. When Ananias came to him, he told Paul to arise, be baptized and wash away his sins. He concluded by saying, calling on the name of the Lord. Paul then had the words that he understood and was given the means, by those words, to submit to Christ. He submitted to Christ by being baptized to wash away his sins. He too as those in Acts 2, called on the name of the Lord.
Here is why we approach the subject in this way. There are individuals today who desire a spiritual connection to God. The Bible does not use the term of having a relationship with God rather it speaks about us being accepted by God. We are accepted by God if we fear Him and work righteousness (Acts 10:35). People claim they desire to be close to God. How close do you want to get? By promises God has made, Christians can be made partakers of the Divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). You would not be aware of what those promises are without knowledge of God from the scriptures. Individuals who desire to be close to God and spend little if any time studying the Word of God are amazed that they just do not get it.
One cannot believe in God until they accept the fact that God is (Heb. 11:6). The physical world sends a message that God exist (Psa. 19:1-3; Rom. 1:20). Saving faith always requires a command to be given in order for faith to do what God designed it to do. How did the walls of Jericho fall? They fell by faith (Heb. 11:30). What came before that? Israel walking around Jericho seven straight days without uttering a sound. Seventh day, they shouted and the walls fell. Faith cannot be saving faith without a command from God. Knowledge first, then belief.