Testifying to the Gospel

It is not only the Church’s responsibility, but every Christians’s responsibility, to testify about Christ to the lost.

INTRO: The Apostle Paul arrived in Jerusalem in the late spring of AD 58, to be there for the Feast of Pentecost. The trouble that the Holy Spirit said he would encounter in Jerusalem was not long in coming.

Within ten days of his arrival, Paul was attacked by a crowd and dragged from the Temple. Rescued from the mob by Roman soldiers, they intended on beating him until they learned he was a Roman citizen.

This was for Paul the beginning of a five year detainment in the protective custody of the Roman government.

Acts 20:22–24 (NKJV)

But now I must obey the Holy Spirit and go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what will happen to me there. 23 I know only that in every city the Holy Spirit tells me that troubles and even jail wait for me. 24 I don’t care about my own life. The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me—to tell people the Good News about God’s grace

PERSECUTED FOR TEACHING THE FAITH

Paul Dragged From the Temple

Paul and his traveling companions were received gladly by the Jerusalem. church, which was headed by James the brother of Jesus. Paul declared, that is testified to what all God had accomplished among the Gentiles by his ministry, and for this the Jerusalem leaders glorified God.

The church leaders informed Paul that all those converts were zealous of the law, they believed in salvation byu grace through faith in Jesus Christ. But also obeyed the Law of Moses.

RUMOR’s

a story or statement in general circulation without confirmation or certainty as to facts: a rumor of war. gossip; hearsay:

A rumor started that Paul had taught these new converts not to keep the Law of Moses.

Acts 21:21 NKJV

but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.

To prove this rumor untrue, the church leaders ask Paul to show himself obedient to the Law of Moses by accompany four men into the Temple to participate in a purification ritual.

Acts 21:26–30 NKJV

Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, entered the temple to announce the expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them. Now when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” (For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) And all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut.

The accusations were either complete falsehoods or half-truths. Paul was neither against the Jews or the law. Paul taught the law was fulfilled in Jesus, his crucifixion and resurrection.

Paul Rescued by Roman Soldiers

Acts 21:31–36 NKJV

Now as they were seeking to kill him, news came to the commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. He immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. Then the commander came near and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and he asked who he was and what he had done. And some among the multitude cried one thing and some another. So when he could not ascertain the truth because of the tumult, he commanded him to be taken into the barracks. When he reached the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob. For the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, “Away with him!”

Remember this very thing happened to Christ. TESTIFYING OF GOD BEFORE OTHERS

Paul asked the Captain of the guard to speak to the crowd. The very same crowd that was there to beat him to death. Remember how the mob raged against Christ, saying “Crucify Him! This also show the terrible extremes a crown can be urged in moments of great emotion. ALAS Jan 6.

Given permission, Paul spoke to them in Hebrew, a language they all understood, in a respectful way calling them, Men, brethren and fathers Paul understood why these fellow Jews were enraged against him, because he had been like them, before his conversion to faith in Jesus Christ.

These Jews, who persecuted Paul, felt compelled by their faith to do this, just as he had, persecuting Jewish believers in Jesus.

Paul gave his testimony, telling them he was :zealous toward God, as they were on that day.

Paul’s Life Changed Christ

Acts 22:5–13 (NKJV)

The high priest and the whole council of elders can tell you this is true. They gave me letters to the brothers in Damascus. So I was going there to arrest these people and bring them back to Jerusalem to be punished.

“About noon when I came near Damascus, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed all around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The voice said, ‘I am Jesus from Nazareth whom you are persecuting.’ 9 Those who were with me did not understand the voice, but they saw the light. 10 I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ The Lord answered, ‘Get up and go to Damascus. There you will be told about all the things I have planned for you to do.’ 11 I could not see, because the bright light had made me blind. So my companions led me into Damascus.

“There a man named Ananias came to me. He was a religious man; he obeyed the law of Moses, and all the Jews who lived there respected him. 13 He stood by me and said, ‘Brother Saul, see again!’ Immediately I was able to see him.

OPPOSITION TO PAUL’S TESTIMONY

Hellenistic Jews

Consisted of those who were scattered among the Gentiles, who spoke the Greek language, and who used the Greek translation of the Old Testament, called the Septuagint. These were called “Hellenists,” from a word meaning “Greek” or “Greek-speaking.” To “Hellenize” is to adopt Greek culture and ideas.

The soldiers brought Paul to the castle to interrogate him, that is torture him by beating with a whip. Five (5) different timed he was beaten, 39 lashes, Three (3) times beaten with the rod.

Acts 22:17–18 NKJV

“Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance and saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’

Once they heard him, to be a Roman citizen they freed him from his bonds but kelp him for a hearing in the morning with the Sanhedrin court.

LIVE TO GLORIFY GOD

Opposition to Paul’s testimony was, in fact, opposition to God, Christ and the Gospel. As believers in Christ, we should not be surprised when our witness of Christ is opposed with hostility.

Ephesians 6:12 NKJV

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.