Acts 21:37-22:29 - Paul Addresses the Riot

Introduction

A Testimony

Everybody who is a believer in Christ has a testimony

We talked about them weeks ago when we studied evangelism

Our testimony is not the gospel - but it contains the gospel!

Today we are going to read the account of Paul sharing his testimony to others

Last Week

Last week we discussed the prophecies for telling the future persecution that Paul would experience in Jerusalem

THEN Paul arriving to Jerusalem finishing out a oath and then as he is doing so persecution begins to arise with a crowd who sought to kill him.

The roman authorities step in and save him by bringing him away.

TODAY

We step in and witness Paul’s desire to share Christ with the crowds that are persecuting him.

Body

Paul in the Barracks: (Acts 21:37-40)

Acts 21:37–40 ESV

37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? 38 Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” 39 Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” 40 And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:

Tribune: Commander of a cohort which could include up to 1000 men.

Tribune surprised that Paul was not a insurrectionist

Paul given permission to speak to the people

Paul’s Testimony: The Bearer of the New Covenant (Acts 22:1-21)

His Past (v.1-5)

Acts 22:1–5 ESV

1 “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” 2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said: 3 “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. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, 5 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 was one of them

Educated under a great teacher

Zealous to please God

He persecuted the Way

John 14:6 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Christ is the WAY to God (apart from him there is no WAY to God)

Paul was a bad bad man!

Paul had a past!

MAIN POINT: PAUL HAD A PAST - YOU HAVE A PAST

His Encounter with Jesus (v.6-11)

Acts 22:6–11 ESV

6 “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ 9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10 And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ 11 And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.

Paul was on his way to murder and persecute Christians until he had a real and divine encounter with Jesus.

Where were you when you had your encounter with Jesus? What depths of lostness were you in before he saved you? If you are a Christian, their was a time when you were lost.

If you do not know Christ right now you are lost - look upon Christ and be saved.

Notice that Christ saved the one you would never expect - he took the villain of the story and made him the Hero!

Immediate change in Paul (v.10)

Also notice that Paul immediately knew it was God - this had to be a supernatural thing.

Paul immediately sought to follow Christ his Lord

MAIN POINT: PAUL ENCOUNTERED JESUS AND EVERYTHING CHANGED

THE GOSPEL CURES ALL

His Mission Now (v.12-21)

Acts 22:12–21 ESV

12 “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. 14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ 17 “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ 21 And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”

After Paul received his call - He is given a mission

Sub points in the text:

“Wash away your sins” - Not literal symbolic - Paul’s sins were already washed when he was called.

Paul was chosen in God’s eternal decree to be the one that would bring the gospel to the gentiles

God called Paul to expand the kingdom of God!

WHEN GOD CALLS US TO SALVATION - HE CALLS US TO GO ON MISSION

Paul claims Roman Citizenship to stop from being beat (Acts 22:22-29)

Acts 22:22–29 ESV

22 Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” 23 And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this. 25 But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.” 27 So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” 28 The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” 29 So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.

This speech is shut down early by a people with hardened hearts!

There are times when people will have such hardened hearts that they completely reject the gospel!

Who will Paul get to preach to next? You will have to wait in see.

Application

GOD SAVES ANYONE NO MATTER HOW LOST

THE GOSPEL CURES ALL

GOD CALLS US TO MISSION