A Study of the Book of Acts
Sermon # 37
“The Value of Your Testimony”
Acts 22:1-15
We never know when we will be required to speak up for the Lord. Paul had been worshipping in the temple, when he was falsely accused of bringing a Gentile inside the temple (21:27-29). A riot followed (21:30-31). The captain of the Roman guard broke up the riot, and bound Paul with chains (21: 34). Paul asked the captain for an opportunity to speak up (21: 39-40). Paul then gave his personal testimony (22:1-15).
Like Paul the best thing that we have to offer our world is not learned arguments but a personal testimony of what God has done for us. Revival will come to America not by powerful preachers with eloquent arguments, but when church members start telling the story of what Jesus means to them.
Look at the example of advertising on Television, we do not have Ph.D’s explaining the value of the products. You have housewives and children and the guy next door talking about Aim toothpaste, Honda cars, and Hungry Jack biscuits. And what do they say? “It works for me.” We run out and buy the product because we can identify with them. They are ordinary people just like us. This is a powerful reminder of what we should be doing with our witness for the Lord. Someone put it this way, “A Christian should talk to the Lord about his neighbors and then talk to his neighbors about the Lord.”
The story of Paul’s conversion must be important for it is found several times in the New Testament – three times in the book of Acts alone. It is found in the ninth chapter when Luke tells the story from the historical perspective. It is told again here in Acts 22 where Paul defends himself before a Jewish audience. And it is told again in Acts 26 where he defends himself before the Gentile Roman governors, Festus and Felix.
We also find reference to his conversion twice more in Paul’s letters, once in Philippines 3 and again in 1 Timothy 1.
I want us to look this evening at what we can learn about being an effective testimony for Christ.
1. HE ESTABLISHED COMMON GROUND WITH HIS LISTENERS.
Paul began by finding common ground with those with whom he wants to share his testimony. He says in verse one,
“Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you. (2) (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,).”
Paul begins by telling them that he was once just like them. He addresses them as brothers and he speaks to them in their native language.
2. PAUL DID NOT GLORIFY HIS PAST LIFE OF SIN.
Sometimes when you hear a testimony today you do not know if they are testifying to the glory of God or glorying in their past sinfulness. Paul said in verse three, “I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. (4) And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. (5) As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.”
And continuing in verse nineteen he says, “And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: (20) And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.”
Paul tells of his past but he does not glory in it.
3. PAUL DOES NOT PROMISE A LIFE OF EASE TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE
“ It’s Sunday AM and you’re "channel grazing" through the TV channels. Your attention is drawn to a popular "Christian Talk Show." The Host (immaculately dressed, hair perfect) is all smiles--"Today is a special day for the Christian Health & Wealth Show! We’re going to have a very special guest! He has done more for the cause of Christ than any other man! Ladies and gentlemen, would you please welcome ... Saint Paul the Apostle!"
The audience is stunned. There is silence except for a few isolated PTLs & Hallelujahs -- slowly the audience musters a dazed applause. The camera focuses in on a rather small man, dressed in a ragged tunic. Face is sunburnt & wrinkled. Looks like someone who’s spent a lot of time out-of-doors. All eyes follow him as he slowly walks across the set.
1) HOST: "It’s a real thrill to have you on the show, Paul; or should I call you Saint or Apostle? Which do you prefer?"
2) PAUL: "Just Paul would be fine."
3) HOST: "Very well, Paul. We’re all eager to hear what you, a great servant of the Lord, might have to say to us! Tell us about the wonderful things that happened to you when you invited the Lord Jesus into your life!"
4) PAUL: "Well, let’s see. First I was struck blind. I got over that but then somebody tried to kill me and I had to escape in a basket. Then they stoned me, threw me in jail, beat me with rods ..."
5) HOST: "Uh, Paul, heh, heh, I think you misunderstood. Tell us, what has the Lord done for you?"
6) PAUL: "That’s what I was doing! Then the Romans arrested me, I was shipwrecked--a night and a day I spent in the deep ..."
7) HOST: "Uh, excuse us folks. It’s time for our first commercial break."[Roddy Chestnut. “What Has God Done for You.” Acts 26:15-19 Sermon Central (Sermon ID = 9656 & Contributor ID =380)]
Paul tells his listeners that being saved changed his life, but he does not tell them that it was that things have always been great since he was saved. He did not say, “I just wanted to tell you how the Lord has blessed me materially. My tent making business has never been better.” He does tell them;
4. IT IS THE POWER OF CHRIST THAT MAKES US DIFFERENT.
Every conversion story is as dramatic as that of Paul, but every testimony is a “before and after” account of the transformation of a human life by Jesus Christ. Paul described the man that he was and the man that Christ had enabled to him to be. Paul was not saying how good he was, or what he had done, but how good Jesus was and what he had done. All though his witness he clarified that it was Jesus who had changed him. In verse six he says, “And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. (7) And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (8)
And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. (9) And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. (10) And I said, What shall I do, LORD? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do”
“A missionary who was speaking to a group of Hindu women was surprised to see one of them get up and walk away. Soon she returned and listed more intently than before. ‘Why did you leave in the middle of my message?” asked the missionary. ‘I was so interested in the wonderful things you were saying that I went to ask your servant if you live like you teach. He said you do. So I came back to hear more about Jesus,’ said the woman.” [Spiros Zodhiates. Illustrations of Bible Truth. (Chattanooga: AMG Publishers, 1995). # 895]
Paul life displayed the changes that had been made in his life and so should ours.
5. PAUL PRESENTED HIS CONVERSION AS A FACT NOT AS A FEELING
Paul’s story was based on verifiable facts. Things that others could attest to, not just how he felt.
(11) And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. (12) And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, (13) Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. (14) And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. (15) For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
Conclusion
We too should be willing and able to tell our stories.
When Jesus healed the man in Luke chapter eight he commanded him, ( 8:39) “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.”
Peter warns believers in his (1 Peter 3:15) “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;”
