Reading: Acts chapter 21 verse 40- chapter 22 verse 30.
SERMON OUTLINE:
• The starting point…a story to share (vs 1-16).
• The turning point…a word that’s offensive (vs 17):
• The finishing point…a right that is claimed (vs 24-30).
SERMON BODY:
Quotes: Arguing!
• “A day without an argument is like an egg without salt.” —Angela Carter
• “Say what you mean, but don’t say it mean.” —Andrea Wachter
• “Arguing with a fool proves there are two.” —Doris M. Smith
• “Arguing isn’t communication, it’s noise.” —Tony Gaskins
• “Behind every argument is someone’s ignorance.” —Louis D. Brandeis
• “During arguments if you’re losing, start correcting their grammar.” —Unknown
• “Argument is meant to reveal the truth, not to create it.” —Edward de Bono
• “My wife was too beautiful for words, but not for arguments.” —John Barrymore
• “Women get the last word in every argument. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.” —Unknown
• Albert Schweitzer was a theologian, organist, musicologist, writer,
• Humanitarian, philosopher, and physician, he said,
• “My life is my argument.”
• TRANSITION: I think the apostle Paul could easily quote Albert Schweitzer,
• Because his life backed up and illustrated his words!
On 3 separate occasions between Paul’s third missionary journey & his final trip to Rome:
• He stood before different audiences, often alone and presented Christ to them.
• Those audiences were mainly made up of unbelievers,
• Many of whom were hostile and rude.
Question: On each occasion, do you know the method Paul used?
Answer: His personal testimony.
• Each time he spoke he simply shared how his own life had been changed,
• By the risen, glorified living Lord Jesus Christ.
• Not once did he argue or debate with them.
• Not once did he preach a sermon.
• On those occasions he shared his own story of what Christ had done for him!
Question: Why did he share his testimony?
Answer:
• Because one of the most convincing,
• Unanswerable arguments on earth regarding Christianity is one’s personal story.
Ill:
• Like the blind man in John chapter 9.
• When he is interrogated and verbally bullied by the religious leaders,
• He stands tall and confident,
• He knew that they would never believe his words,
• But they had no answer for his changed life - - “I was blind but now I see!”
This morning we are going to divide this passage into three sections.
• We haven’t got time for a verse-by-verse study,
• So, we will look together at the three main features in the narrative.
(1). The starting point: a story to share (vs 1-16).
Ill:
• I found this videoclip the other day on Facebook.
• (A woman’s wig falls off when she nods off to sleep in Church)
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/shorts/zenEOZzB-zw
• TRANSITION: People may fall asleep during a sermon,
• (That is not permission to nod off, OK!)
• But very few if any fall asleep when someone is sharing their story/testimony,
• We all like to hear a personal story.
Note:
• At the end of last week’s study,
• The apostle Paul was rescued from a rioting crowd by Roman soldiers.
• As he escapes up a stairway that led into the military barracks:
• He stops and asks the Roman commander,
• If he can speak to the hostile crowd that is still calling out for his death.
• I love the way he grabs their attention and communicates with them.
• Quote: chapter 21 verse 40.
“After receiving the commander’s permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic.”
Ill:
• I was taught by my two mentors, Bob Telford and Ivor Cooper,
• Whenever you speak (preach or a testimony),
• You claim your ground!
• Make sure you are in control and comfortable,
• Make sure people can see you and can hear you!
• Remove any obstructions, move people if need be so you can get eye-contact!
• One of the expressions I will be remembered for,
• (By my helpers and those who attend our Youth events & Camps),
• “I like to see the white of your eyes!” – come closer or remove the sunglasses etc.
• TRANSITION: You can have the greatest testimony in the world,
• But if people can’t hear you or see you it is wasted!
• Always claim your ground!
• In a meeting get there early so you can liaise with those leading,
• Where you will be standing etc., what microphone you will be using etc.
• If you want effective communication, then always claim your ground!
Note: How the apostle Paul does this (Chapter 21 verse 40):
“After receiving the (Roman) commander’s permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic.”
• FIRST: He motioned to the people with his hand.
• He took control and got their attention and get them to be quiet.
• SECOND: He spoke to them in Aramaic.
• The apostle Paul was straight away identifying himself with his hearers.
• He used the language that they could understand i.e., the language of the Jews in Palestine:
• He also refers to them as, “brothers and fathers,”
• The first lesson in the art of communicating with to others.
• Is to build a bridge, to find common ground or to get your audience to warm to you.
• The simplest way to find common ground or to get your audience to warm to you.
• Is look at them, a quick glance around the room and SMILE at them.
• A genuine smile is better that worrying over a funny story of joke to start!
• THIRD: He then continues to win the crowd over by giving them his credentials.
• He will talk about his background, especially his religious Jewish background,
Quote: Chapter 22 verses 3-5.
“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. 4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5 as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.”
The story of the apostle Paul’s conversion is told several times in the New Testament.
• Three times in the book of Acts.
• And also, in some of the letter e.g., Philippians chapter 3.
• And each time he shares it he adapts it; he gives a different slant.
Ill:
• If Martin Fielder was giving his testimony…
• To a group of men, he might focus on the fact,
• He has done a physically demanding job. Landscape gardener,
• He might mention that he likes sport and was once a keen runner & squash player etc.
• If sharing with a more mature audience,
• He might focus on the fact he is a gardener, one or two things related to that,
• He might mention a little about his family of grandchildren.
• If sharing with a group of mature ladies,
• He might focus on the fact he is keen on Downton Abbey, and he likes knitting & crocheting!
• (Just joking he doesn’t do crocheting!)
• TRANSITION: The point being,
• You don’t make things up, but you tailor your testimony to suit your audience.
• Let’s briefly look at how the apostle Paul shares his story.
• Testimony #1: In Acts chapter 9.
• Here his story is recorded by Dr Luke and presented historically.
• The how, the where and the why!
• Testimony #2: In this chapter,
• We have a Hebrew version, spoken in Aramaic.
• And highlighting the things that would appeal to a Jewish audience.
• Testimony #3: In Acts chapter 26 Paul is before Roman governors Festus & Felix,
• There it has to have a Roman slant, because it is given to an audience of Gentiles.
• So, the Jewish religious aspects are not interesting or relevant to these Romans.
• Testimony #4: In Philippians chapter 3, we have the theological version,
• It is not majoring on the facts, but on the changes in Paul’s thinking.
• The difference that Christ makes.
• Testimony #5: Then there is a brief version in 1 Timothy chapter 1,
• Here we have the hortatory (hor-ta-tree) version (you what?)
• That means to exhort, to encourage, to build someone up.
• Timothy was being urged on by Paul to make a stand, to be a witness for the truth.
NOW TODAY WE ARE HERE IN ACTS CHAPTER 22:
• The apostle Paul was speaking to almost exclusively Jewish people,
• So, let me pointy out 7 ways the apostle Paul,
• Deliberately builds a bridge between himself and his hearers.
• He does this bridge-building by emphasizing his Jewish credentials.
• FIRST: He speaks their language (21:40).
• SECOND: He declares his culture & background “I am a Jew” (vs 1)
• THIRD: He names drops,
• He was a Rabbi, and his teacher was the highly respected Gamaliel (vs 3).
• e.g., like saying he went to Eaton or University of Oxford or University of Cambridge
• FOURTH: He informs the crowd of his energetic zeal to keep the Law (vs 3),
• e.g., He ‘Top Trumps’ them. He was as religious as any of them, in fact more so!
• FIFTH: How he was a persecutor of Christians (vs 4).
• Paul could say, “You lot only caused a disturbance, a possible riot.
• I put Christians in prison” (men, women and children – he was not fussy!)
• SIX: How he was a representative, authorized & approved by the Sanhedrin (vs 5).
• He had people in power, the leaders of the Jewish people,
• Who can bear witness to Paul’s credentials and actions!
• SEVEN: He uses wisdom,
• He doesn’t accuse the crowd of participating in a riot,
• Instead, he commended them for their zealousness.
• Quote:
• “A good communicator builds bridges between themselves and their hearers,
• a bad communicator builds walls”.
Note:
• The apostle Paul has laid a really good foundation between himself and his hearers,
• These seven points give him a much-needed credibility with his audience.
• These people are with the apostle Paul,
• And so, he is able to take them on to another level,
• Which will allow him to share the next part of his testimony, his experience of Jesus.
PAUL AND HIS CONVERSION (VS 6-23):
Ill:
• I showed you earlier a funny video clip of a woman’s wig falling off in Church.
• Here is another little clip of a boy struggling to stay awake.
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/1n2bYk9zpRk
• TRANSITION: When giving a public testimony,
• Don’t be boring! Don’t rabbit on and on.
• Be specific, plan out an outline of the key points.
Ill:
• When I go to Moldova for a mission.
• Before we preach a message, we are obliged to give a short 10min testimony.
• When you have 10mins with a translator you hone, you finetune your story.
• You don’t waffle and you make sure you include the important bits
• Just last Sunday afternoon in Hyde Park London,
• I went with a friend of mine for a tea-break, some refreshment.
• As we sat on one side of a picnic bench the couple opposite started talking to us.
• When they found out what we were doing at Speakers Corner,
• The lady asked us, “So how did you get into religion and all of this?”
• I shared my testimony/story as if I was in Moldova.
• By that I mean, you don’t waffle you look them in the eye, you smile,
• And you make sure you include the important bits of your story/testimony!
• TRANSITION: That is what the apostle Paul does here.
• We could easily title this chapter, “How to share a testimony!”
• Now let’s look at how the apostle shares his story!
FIRST: HE WAS BLINDED (VS 6):
“About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’
8“‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.
Paul starts his testimony by sharing the facts:
• The time of day “Noon”.
• His location “Near Damascus”.
• What happened (notice he moves from the natural events to the supernatural).
SECOND: HE WAS CONFRONTED (VS 8-11):
“‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied.
• This information is the crucial point in Paul’s presentation:
• For now, on the crowd has to come to terms with the fact that Jesus Christ is alive.
• They thought Jesus was an imposter,
• They thought he was dead and buried.
• They thought this Jesus was an exaggerated myth created by the Christians.
• But the apostle Paul is saying,
• “Not so! I encountered him, he is alive, and he has changed my life.”
• Note: When you share your story/testimony,
• Make sure you get to and emphasize Jesus in that story.
• e.g., We have all heard people,
• Spend far too much time talking about their sinful past before they met Christ.
• And then briefly talk about how they met Jesus.
• Now, don’t preach a sermon (that is what the preacher is there for),
• But let folks know the how and when and the why you have faith in the living Christ.
(C). ENCOURAGED (VS 12-13):
A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. 13He stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I was able to see him.
• Having been led by the hand to the city,
• The city Saul had planned to ride in and take any Christian by force!
• Instead like a child, he was led into the city,
• And there he waited there until the Lord brought Ananias to see him,
• Every new Christian needs an Ananias!
• No Christian is going to make it on their own,
• We all need to find a Christian friend and we all need to experience regular fellowship.
• No such thing in the New Testament as a lone Christian.
ill:
• Later on, at the Church B-B-Q if you separate one of the coals under the grill,
• I guarantee that, that single coal will go cold long before the coals that are together.
• Because the other coals will keep each other warm!
• TRANSITION:
• We all need to find a Christian friend and we all need to experience regular fellowship.
Notice:
• How Paul once again builds another piece of the bridge, from himself to his audience,
• By emphasizing the Jewish elements regarding Ananias (vs 12).
• Ananias is “A devout Jew who kept the law”.
• Ananias is “Highly respected” by the Jews of his community.
• Ananias has, “…kept the law.”
• This “devout Jew who kept the law” in verse 14,
• Attributed Saul/Paul’s experience of Jesus to, “The God of our fathers”.
Then in verse 14 another piece of the bridge is built:
• Paul uses the name “Righteous One”,
• Which was a title for the Messiah,
• So, Paul has linked the living Christ,
• With the Jewish title ‘Righteous one’ & The God of our fathers
(D). CHOSEN (VS 14):
“Then he said: ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth”.
• Every Christian is chosen:
• We call it the doctrine of election.
• You may have chosen to believe in Jesus,
• But long before that he had chosen you!
Ill:
I like the old country bumpkin who put it this way,
“God votes for you, the devil votes against you, and wherever you cast your vote, you are elected two-to-one!”
• TRANSITION: Don’t get all hung up over the doctrine of election,
• Just enjoy the truth of it!
(E). CALLED (VS 15):
5You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.
• The apostle Paul was chosen for a specific task,
• To take the message of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles non-Jews.
• Note: Every Christian is also called to be a witness.
• And every Christian also has a specific calling,
Quote: Ephesians chapter 2 verse 10:
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.
(F). BAPTIZED (VS 16):
And now what are you waiting for?
Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’
• Despite what some of you might think baptism is not my favorite subject:
• Favorite subject is “Come to Christ”.
• Second favorite is mission, both local & world.
• My third favorite is topic is grown closer to Jesus!
• And for that to happen it will involve a believer being baptized.
• Baptism, is a basic, expected step in the life of every Christian (it is not an optional extra)
• As night follows day,
• Baptism follows conversion.
• Want to know more, then pick up a booklet or talk to me afterwards.
(2). The turning point: a word that’s offensive (vs 17-24).
Ill:
• A husband read a newspaper article to his wife,
• It was about how women use 30,000 words a day to a man’s 15,000.
• The wife replied, “That’s because we have to repeat everything to men.”
• The husband turned to his wife and said, “Pardon?”
• TRANSITION: In verse 21 a word is used,
• That most of us would not think twice about,
• But it was a turning point in this situation.
Verses 21-22:
“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
22 The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!”
The apostle Paul used an offensive word:
• It was not a swear word,
• It was not a culturally unacceptable word or a politically uncorrected word.
• In fact, had he avoided that word he may well have been set free.
• And he could have enjoyed an easy few week.
• The apostle Paul used the word not out of ignorance, but quite deliberately.
• God had called him to reach the Gentiles with the gospel.
• “Gentiles means nations,” according to Smith’s Bible Dictionary.
• The term Gentile doesn’t really describe who someone is,
• But rather who they are not – a Jew.
Question: So why did the crowd get so upset?
Answer: Pride, Racism, Tradition!
• This Jewish mob was outraged at the thought that a Gentile,
• Could approach the one true God in the same way a Jew could.
• These Jews kept rules and regulations, holy days and feasts,
• Whereas the Gentiles were just Pagans,
• They had no religious history with the God of the Old Testament.
• So, they could not stand the idea that God might save Jews and Gentiles,
• In the same way.
• This implied that Jews and Gentiles were equal,
• It also implied that the Jews were no longer, ‘God’s chosen’ people.
Note:
• The apostle Paul made it clear that it wasn’t his idea to preach to the Gentiles.
• This was God’s plan, not his.
• Paul was simply obeying Jesus and his word to him.
(3). The finishing point: a right that is claimed (Vs 24-30).
Ill:
• In his early years, the well-known American landscape photographer Ansel Adams,
• Studied piano and showed some talent.
• On one occasion, as Adams played Chopin's F Major Nocturne,
• He recalled that,
"In some strange way my right had started off in F-sharp major while my left had behaved well in F-major. I could not bring them together. I went through the entire nocturne with the hands separated by a half-step."
• The next day a fellow guest gave Adams a no-nonsense review of his performance:
• “You never missed a wrong note!”
• TRANSITION:
• In this final section the apostle Paul hits all the right notes!
• Let me explain.
FIRST: HE CLAIMED HIS RIGHTS (VS 24-25.
The commander ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and questioned in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this.
• Let’s just pause there to say,
• The Roman commander was Greek speaking,
• And remember that in chapter 21 verse 40 the apostle Paul spoke in Aramaic.
• So, the Roman commander,
• Had not understood a word Paul had said because of the language barrier.
• In his mind, he thinks Paul is some sort of criminal who has caused the crowd to riot.
• So, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks, for questioning and a flogging!
• That sadly was the normal Roman way of extracting information from prisoners.
Quote: William Barclay explains:
“This was not a punishment,
It was simply the most effective way of extracting either the truth or a confession. The scourge was a leather whip studded at intervals with sharp pieces of bone and lead. Few men survived it in their right senses, and many died under it.”
Verse 25 is brilliant the apostle Paul stops the soldiers in their tracks with a few words.
“As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?””
• This is an ancient version of the expression, “Do you know who I am?”
• And Paul the Jew who was born in Tarsus,
• Let’s this Roman soldiers know that his citizenship was Roman.
• And it was illegal for a Roman citizen to be bound and beaten,
• The apostle Paul plays his trump card and completely change his situation.
Ill:
• In Roman law it was illegal for a Roman citizen to be flogged.
• If Paul complained about his treatment,
• At best it would cost him the commander his career, at worst it could cost him his life.
Note: Paul was actually one up on the commander (vs 28).
“Then the commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.”
“But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.”
• But Paul was born into citizenship, obviously his father had been given or acquired it.
• But the Roman commander had bribed someone to get his citizenship,
• Note his name Claudius Lysias,
• He had purchased citizenship when Emperor Claudius was raising funds.
Realizing the mistake:
• The Roman soldiers unbind the apostle Paul and immediately release him.
• And then the Roman commander had to cross his fingers and wait!
• He had to hope that the apostle Paul would keep quiet.
VERSE 30:
30The next day, since the commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them.
• The commander was determined to find out,
• Exactly what this man Paul was being accused of by the Jews.
• Failing to get an answer from the crowd.
• Not able to use torture to extract the truth.
• The Roman commander opts for a third way.
• Trial by the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish court.
And that’s where we pick up the story in two weeks’ time……
Final Application:
• As Christians it is wise and these days often necessary to claim our rights.
• We maybe mistreated for following Christ,
• But at times we need not be mistreated against our rights.
Ill:
• Christian Concern - https://christianconcern.com/
• Is a Christian organization
• Equipping many Christians and defending their rights,
• So, they can be an effective ambassador for Jesus Christ in today’s culture.
• Pray for them,
• Be informed about them.
• Maybe one day we may need to be advised or defended by them!
MP3 AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=6m74cqVtdCXMhaJq5FlQimmcZoeKysTM
YOUTUBE VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/LiHsfXhXUBo
