Your Testimony Is Powerful Series

There are three main parts to an effective testimony which are modeled by Paul in this chapter. We could sum them up with three words:

• Before – share what your life was like before you became a follower of Christ.

• How – talk about how Christ saved you.

• After – speak about what changes Christ has made in your life.

Every Christ follower has a story of grace to tell. The details are different, but we’re all saved by God’s grace and our testimonies are a direct reflection of the indisputable, life-changing power of the gospel.

In verse 1, Paul begins with gentleness and respect, inviting his listeners to lean forward: “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” The word “brother” means “from the same womb” and “father” has the idea of model or mentor. Remember they had just beaten him and yanked him out of the temple.

Paul was experiencing the promise made by Jesus in Matthew 10:19-20: “When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

By choosing to speak their heart language in verse 2, he engages them emotionally and takes them off-guard: “And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet.” We could apply Paul’s approach this way – be kind and look for ways to connect to the heart.

1. Before. The best way to begin your testimony is talk about what your life was like before Christ saved you. Listen to how Paul did it in verses 3-5: “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.”

Paul identified himself with them by declaring he is a Jew. He was born in a world-class city but was educated right there in Jerusalem “at the feet of Gamaliel.” This phrase means he sat on the ground in humility to learn from the great Gamaliel, a well-known and highly respected rabbi. He was a doctor of the law and a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Supreme Court. Paul is “name-dropping” here, much like I do when I tell people Ray Pritchard is my mentor and taught me how to preach. Paul learned to be accurate in his understanding of the Torah and followed a strict interpretation of the Old Testament Scriptures, just like his listeners.

Next, he established how zealous he was, even persecuting members of the “Way to the death.” Paul used to be one with them in his opposition of Christianity. This resonated with them because it was their zeal that was causing them to want to kill Paul. Paul even received warrants from the officials to travel 150 miles away to Damascus to hunt down, arrest, and punish followers of Jesus. He tormented both men and women, even tearing mothers away from their children. Paul’s life before Christ included the murder of Christians.