FOUR COMPONENTS IN GIVING YOUR TESTIMONY
1. Your
Before Christ– 22:1-5
Acts 22:1–5 (CSB)
1 “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.” 2 When they heard that he was addressing them in Aramaic, they became even quieter. 3 He continued, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strictness of our ancestral law. I was zealous for God, just as all of you are today. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, arresting and putting both men and women in jail, 5 as both the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. After I received letters from them to the brothers, I traveled to Damascus to arrest those who were there and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished.
A. Paul built a
B. Paul built a
2. Your
Because of Christ – 22:6-16
Acts 22:6–16 (CSB)
6 “As I was traveling and approaching Damascus, about noon an intense light from heaven suddenly flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 “I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, the one you are persecuting.’ 9 Now those who were with me saw the light, but they did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10 “I said, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ “The Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything that you have been assigned to do.’ 11 “Since I couldn’t see because of the brightness of the light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and went into Damascus. 12 Someone named Ananias, a devout man according to the law, who had a good reputation with all the Jews living there, 13 came and stood by me and said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight.’ And in that very hour I looked up and saw him. 14 And he said, ‘The God of our ancestors has appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the words from his mouth, 15 since you will be a witness for him to all people of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now, why are you delaying? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’
A. Paul explained his
B. Paul explained the
C. Paul explained his
1) Paul’s sins were not washed away by baptism but by calling on the name of the Lord (Romans 10:13).
2) Baptism is an act of obedience that symbolizes the baptism that takes place in the heart.
D. Application: Have you had a genuine, life-changing encounter with Jesus? Can you explain to someone who Jesus is and how to be saved?
3. Your
Based on Christ – 22:17-21
Acts 22:17–21 (CSB)
17 “After I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw him telling me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 “But I said, ‘Lord, they know that in synagogue after synagogue I had those who believed in you imprisoned and beaten. 20 And when the blood of your witness Stephen was being shed, I stood there giving approval and guarding the clothes of those who killed him.’ 21 “He said to me, ‘Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”
A. Jesus revealed
B. Jesus revealed
1) Appointed by Christ Himself (22:14, 26:16)
2) Trained in the Scriptures (22:3)
3) The Rejection of the Gospel by the Jews (22:18)
4) His Conversion/Testimony (Acts 26:17)
5) Both Jewish and a Roman Citizen (22:27-28)
C. Application: Who has God given you a
4. The
Brought by Christ – 22:22-29
Acts 22:22–29 (CSB)
22 They listened to him up to this point. Then they raised their voices, shouting, “Wipe this man off the face of the earth! He should not be allowed to live!” 23 As they were yelling and flinging aside their garments and throwing dust into the air, 24 the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, directing that he be interrogated with the scourge to discover the reason they were shouting against him like this. 25 As they stretched him out for the lash, Paul said to the centurion standing by, “Is it legal for you to scourge a man who is a Roman citizen and is uncondemned?” 26 When the centurion heard this, he went and reported to the commander, saying, “What are you going to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.” 27 The commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes,” he said. 28 The commander replied, “I bought this citizenship for a large amount of money.” “But I was born a citizen,” Paul said. 29 So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately. The commander too was alarmed when he realized Paul was a Roman citizen and he had bound him.
A. Not all conviction leads to salvation. (2 Corinthians 7:10-11)
B. The Jews stumbled over the stumbling stone. (Romans 9:30-33)
Romans 9:30–33 (CSB)
30 What should we say then? Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained righteousness—namely the righteousness that comes from faith. 31 But Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not achieved the righteousness of the law. 32 Why is that? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. 33 As it is written, Look, I am putting a stone in Zion to stumble over and a rock to trip over, and the one who believes on him will not be put to shame.
C. Application: Be faithful and leave the results to the Lord. Homework: Write out
How do we receive Jesus Christ in our lives?
Step One – Recognize our need – we are all sinners.
Step Two – Be willing to turn from your sins.
Step Three – Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose again.
Step Four – Invite Jesus to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit and receive Him as Lord and Savior.
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Your Name, amen.
Discussion Questions
How are you different from before you became a Christian?
Read Acts 22:1-5. What is the difference between building a cultural bridge and a spiritual bridge?
Read Acts 22:6-16. Why is it important to experience an encounter with Christ?
Can you explain the Gospel? (See 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 for the essential facts)
Read Acts 22:17-21. Why was Paul the best choice to reach the Gentiles?
Read Acts 22:22-29. Why did the Jews struggle with accepting Christ? (See Romans 9:30-33) How are many like this today?
Write out your testimony, and get an accountability partner to practice, you won’t regret it.