To know Jesus is to have a story of how you came to know Jesus. This story is often referred to as your “testimony.” In fact, if you are saved you have a testimony or a story. Your personal story matters; the personal details of how you came to Christ matter. The change Christ makes in your life matters. Again, your personal story matters. As the summer kicks off, I want us to focus on telling our personal story in order to tell His story. Over the next few weeks, I want everyone to be able to tell their story with greater confidence. Again, your testimony is your story of how you became a Christian.
Luke, the author of Acts, describes three long missionary trips for Paul and then he describes five trials for Paul beginning in Acts 22. But the first of these is our story today where he is before a Jewish rioting crowd at the north-west corner of the temple area. These five trials include speeches from Paul. In all, these stories occupy around 200 verses or six chapters in your Bibles. Watch how Paul shares his story. Notice how he is able to use his story to tell the story of Jesus. My prayer is that you and I will use our story to tell His story.
Background to Today’s Story
This incident begins way back in the middle of chapter 21. Paul has come back to Jerusalem, and he’s well-known for teaching that the Mosaic law, the ceremonial laws, the dietary laws, and the sacrifices in the temple, doesn’t really make you clean before God. It was also well known that he was saying Gentiles could come in and believe in the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and not have to adopt any of those things. Of course, word about that had gotten back to Jerusalem. So when Paul comes to the temple some people recognized him, and there was a riot.
Today’s Scripture
“‘Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.’ And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said: ‘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. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, 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 22:1–5)
“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.’ And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this. But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, ‘Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?’ When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.’ So the tribune came and said to him, ‘Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?’ And he said, ‘Yes.’ The tribune answered, ‘I bought this citizenship for a large sum.’ Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.’ So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him’” (Acts 22:22-29).
I want you’re to see Paul’s Story, My (Your) Story, and Jesus’ Story. Watch how Paul models using his personal story to tell Jesus’ story.
1. Paul’s Story
The violence reaches a peak when a Roman commander, who was in charge of the order of the city, found out about it, he and his soldiers rushed into the middle of the crowd. They grabbed Paul for his safety; it was a violent and dangerous situation. In fact, when you arrive at Acts 21:35, it says, “And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, for the mob of the people followed, crying out, ‘Away with him’” (Acts 21:35–36)! In an attempt to calm down the unruly mob, Paul tells his story, his testimony. All through this section of Acts, Paul is confronting one hostile audience after another. You can see this from his opening words, “hear the defense” in verse 1. He endures one life-threatening situation after another. All through this section, the personal details of Paul’s story begin to emerge.
Back in Acts 21:37, Paul speaks to the tribune, the Roman commander. The English translation obscures this but Paul speaks to the tribune in formal, courteous Greek, showing that Paul was a person of a particular social class and level of education. He speaks to the commander in formal Greek, and the Roman commander says, “Wait a minute. I thought you were a foreign rabble-rouser. Who are you?” God uses even the smallest details of Paul’s life from his education, his social status, and even his place of birth.
1.1. Paul’s Former Life
Paul speaks to people just like him, raised just like him – these were his people. He says these important words “I am a Jew” in verse three. “And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet” (Acts 22:2). A moment ago, he spoke polite Greek to the Tribune but not he switches his language. Now, he speaks their dialect of Aramaic and quickly won them over by surprising them with his ability to speak their native language. He drops an important name when he says Gamaliel in verse three because Gamaliel’s name was really well-known and could open the right doors for you in and around Jerusalem at this time. Gamaliel was a Pharisee who respected by all the people (Acts 5:34). He says in effect, “I believed just like you. I was you at one time” – “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” (Acts 22:3). In verse four, Paul tells them more from his recent efforts to stop Christianity: “I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women…” (Acts 22:4).
1.2. Paul’s Transformation
But everything changed when a dead Man talked to him (verse 6). Imagine the following scrolling across your screen: Osama bin Laden is now an American citizen; he assumes leadership of the Reelect George Bush for President. Or, Nancy Pelosi says she will become the new campaign chairperson for Donald Trump’s reelection bid for president. The transformation in Paul’s life was radical.
1.2.1 The Resurrection
Paul’s changed is told first in Acts 9 as he was on his way to Damascus, present day Syria: “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me” (Acts 22:6-9).
If you were to interview Paul later on that day and you were to ask him, “What surprised you most by today’s events as you approached the city?” I don’t think Paul was nearly as shocked by the light, the voice, or even the blindness. Yes, it was a bright light that even outshone the noonday sun. Yes, hearing a voice from heaven would have made your knees shake. But the one thing Saul never considered was Jesus was still alive. Up until this moment, Saul thought Jesus was dead. The resurrection was the game-changer. Like a police detective taking his suspect into an interrogation room, Paul hears, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me” (Acts 9:4b)? As soon as this heavenly light confronts Paul, he asks, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:5). While Paul’s companions so no one, Paul knew Who he had seen. The minute Paul understood he was raised from the dead, he lost control of his life.
1.2.2 Paul’s Great Commission
“When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 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.’ And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles’” (Acts 22:17-21).
Paul rounds off his story by sharing how God told him that he would undergo such riots and suffering as he was enduring that day. Notice the last word he says before they stop him – it’s the word “Gentiles” in verse twenty-one. Put a bookmark here for we’ll come back to this word The commander steps in to save Paul’s life at this point.
2. My Story
Anyone who encounters Jesus has three elements to his/her story: 1) Life before Jesus; 2) How I Encountered Jesus; 3) How My Life has Changed because of Jesus.
2.1. Everyone Must Encounter Jesus
Every genuine believe has a story of how they came to Christ. Your story is personal and it’s not someone else’s story. And your story is really important for at least two reasons: 1) It’s how Christ saved you and 2) your story is a powerful ramp for others to embrace Christ. All of us must have our encounter with Jesus. All of us must walk down the street called Straight. Conversion isn’t just for bad people or religious people; it’s for all people.
2.2. Not Every Encounter with Jesus is the Same
There’s great danger when you question your conversion because it doesn’t meet the style of someone else’s. Some of us see all this and say to ourselves, “I’ve never had anything close to this.” Even inside the Bible, actual conversion accounts are so diverse. There are so many different experiences. Some conversions are very sudden. Yes, some people’s conversions are dramatic while others are quiet. Lydia, a lady whose story is in Acts 16, is converted through a Bible study. No miracles, no visions, no heavenly lights, just a Bible study. There’s danger where one style of conversion becomes the standard for everybody else. No one’s story is exactly the same.
Jesus healed dozens of people, many of blindness, often in slightly different ways. Some he simply touched and they were healed. For one man, Jesus made mud, rubbed it in the man’s eyes, and told him to wash in a nearby pool. When the man did as Jesus said, he was healed of his blindness and could see. “He answered, ‘Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see’” (John 9:25).
I have thought there’s nothing special about my story. Maybe you have thought, “There’s nothing real special about my testimony. I grew up in a Christian home. My parents had us in church all the time. I prayed to receive Jesus when I was 10 years old. I never did drugs. I never drank. I didn’t have pre-marital sex. You see .. I have a rather boring testimony. Who wants to hear a testimony like mine?” I have often found that those who feel like they have nothing to share is really Satan trying to keep you silent. “Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul” (Psalm 66:16). Every time we baptize in our church, we ask people to say, “I am not ashamed” which is shorthand for Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).
2.3. Tips to Telling Your Story
It’s very important that Christians are able to articulate to other people how and why they became believers. We all should have a prepared testimony, and we should be willing to share it at the drop of a hat. Sharing your salvation story builds a relationship bridge of understanding that Jesus can walk across into the heart of a lost person. Sharing your story often holds the hearer’s interest longer than if you were quoting the words of great theologians. People will listen to you because instead of being a professional salesman, you are a satisfied customer.
2.3.1 Write Your Story Down
You need to gain confidence in telling your story. But you also need to understand the best strategy of how to tell your story. Now how the Bible says Paul gestured to them and everybody got silent in Acts 21:40. You wonder, “Why is this important?” Paul used an orator’s gesture. An orator’s gesture in that time and culture was very recognizable. It meant, “I am a public speaker. I know how to do this, and I’m ready to say something.”
Write your story down. Know your audience and your story if you want to be effective. Study and strategize in order to tell your story effectively.
2.3.2 Be Brief
Be selective. You cannot include everything and people don’t want to hear it all. In some instances you may have five minutes to tell your story, though in most cases you will only have one or two minutes. For that reason, it’s worth thinking through several different-length messages: the one-minute version, the two-minute version, and the three-minute version where you are able to sit down over coffee together.
2.3.3 Eliminate Religious Jargon
I walked the aisle and asked Jesus into my heart isn’t helpful to people who do not understand such terms.
2.3.4 Remember to Tell Jesus’ Story
Anyone who encounters Jesus has three elements to his/her story: 1) Life before Jesus; 2) How I Encountered Jesus; 3) How My Life has Changed because of Jesus. Remember your story doesn’t save. Jesus’ story saves. I have seen so many people do this over the past 5-10 years. They have a recovery testimony of the Lord moved them away from drugs or alcohol abuse. They become so wrapped up in telling their story, they forget Jesus’ story.
“Never substitute your testimony for the gospel. Always use your story to illustrate the power of the gospel!” Greg Laurie An account of a changed life is wonderful and inspiring thing, but it’s the gospel of Jesus Christ that explains what it’s all about and how it happened. And it’s the gospel that turns sharing a testimony into evangelism.
2.3.5 Practice Your Story
After sharing your story, ask “Has anything like this happened to you?”
1. Paul’s Story
2. My Story
3. Jesus’ Story
“And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 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. 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; for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name’’ (Acts 22:12-16). Again, your story doesn’t save; Jesus’ story saves.
Now, most people will listen to your story but watch the reaction when you move from your story to the story of the cross of Jesus. What made the crowd so mad after listening for so long? They go in a rage when they hear him say, “Gentiles,” in verse twenty-one. Paul has done everything possible to cross the bridge to his Jewish audience – he spoke their language and he emphasized his Jewishness all through the speech. He hasn’t even said the word “Jesus” even once. After doing all this, they become unruly at the word “Gentiles” – why? Remember, he’s well-known for teaching that the Mosaic law, the ceremonial laws, the dietary laws, and the sacrifices in the temple, doesn’t really make you clean before God. They hated how the cross was designed to save people of every background by faith in Jesus Christ. They hated God’s grace.
Christianity is the most culturally and racially diverse religion, by far. Every other major faith has 80 percent or more of its adherents on one or two continents. Roughly speaking, about 20 percent of Christians are in Africa. About 20 percent are in South America. A little less than 20 percent are in Asia. A little more than 20 percent are in Europe. A little less than 20 percent are in North America. There is no other religion that comes even close. Today, I invite you to embrace Jesus Christ by faith.
CONCLUSION / INVITATION
Point to Jesus, the Cross... Do you have a story to tell? Have you encountered Jesus? Do you know how to tell your story? Do you need the courage to tell your story?
