From Acts 21-23
Paul is before the Jews and gives his defense by way of his personal testimony. A short story in which he describes how Jesus has changed his life. Testimonies are a great way to share about Jesus.
This post is part of my bible in a year series.
Passage and Comments
When Paul gets to Jerusalem he is arrested because the Jews believed he was forbidding their people from circumcising their children and encouraging them to give up observing the law of Moses. Paul did no such thing. He gave these instructions to Gentiles, not to the Jews.
Our passage picks up in a law court scene, where Paul is before his Jewish accusers and the Roman tribune.
37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he [the tribune] said, “Do you know Greek?
38 Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?”
39 Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” (Acts 21.37-39)
‘The Egyptian’, ‘A Jew from Tarsis’. The tribune’s question suggests he does not know much about Paul or his ministry. He seems to be mistaking Paul with someone else. Paul denies he is the Egyptian and boldly asks to speak before the crowd.
What follows is Paul’s personal testimony of how he came to know Jesus.
40 And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:
22 “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”
2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said:
3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day.
4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, 5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished. (Acts 21.40-22.5)
‘Hebrew language’. Paul is multilingual and surprises the Jews switching from Greek to Hebrew. Clearly they also do not know much about Paul either.
‘Feet of Gamaliel’, ‘Law’, ‘Zeal’. Having studied under a notable Jewish Rabbi, Paul has some serious credentials as a Jew (cf. Phil 3). This possibly makes him one of the most educated Jews in the room.
‘This Way’. Paul refers to the first name given to Christianity. Perhaps the ‘Way of Jesus’ or the ‘Way of Salvation’ (Acts 16.17).
‘Prison’, ‘Letters’. Paul describes his early relationship to Jesus and his movement. His early reactions show he was probably not too dissimilar to they way they are now and possibly intended to build some common ground.
Paul needed something radical to change his mind about Jesus.
6 “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me.
7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
8 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’
9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me.
10 And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ 11 And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.
12 “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. (Acts 22.6-13)
‘I am Jesus of Nazareth’. This is the moment of change for Paul. He had a personal encounter with the risen Christ. Paul was converted.
Real conversions to Christ happen when people meet him.
‘What shall I do?’ Paul’s new relationship demands a response. He immediately asks what shall he do. Paul’s early zeal for the law and Judaism, turned into zeal for Jesus, sharing the gospel. Paul was commissioned.
14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ (Acts 22.14-16)
‘Appointed’. Paul has been appointed to;
- Know God’s will,
- See the Righteous One (Jesus) and hear a voice from his mouth
- Be a witness for Jesus for what he has seen and heard
In addition to seeing Jesus personally, Jesus revealed to him the gospel. Visions of the story of Jesus. Paul is baptised. People who have been reading Acts will notice new believers are always baptised. Baptism is linked to the washing away of his sins. Now Paul ‘calls on his name’ (cf. Rom 10.13) which suggests some kind of public proclamation of Jesus.
17 “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ 21 And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”
22 Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” (Acts 22.17-22)
‘Gentiles’. Paul touches upon a sensitive subject with the nationalistic Jews. His association with the Gentiles. Rejecting all he said and focussing on this one point the Jews condemn Paul to death.
About Mission
Paul gives his testimony here. It doesn’t end up so well. But, not all testimonies end this way.
Giving a testimony can be a powerful tool for evangelism. Sharing our own stories about how we came to know Jesus puts us in a position where we can share the gospel with them.
Testimonies should be stories, stories about how Jesus has impacted our lives and experience. They can help people see how God can change peoples lives and what it would look like for them if they became a Christian as well.
Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2014-18. All Rights
