Gospel Proclamation Through Personal Testimony

PRAY & INTRO: Do you ever wonder if your own testimony is an effective tool for evangelism? Is telling the story of what Christ has done in you a valid and helpful way to communicate the gospel to others? Well, if the example of the Apostle Paul is any indication, then yes, absolutely. When we come to Acts 26, we now have a second time that Paul uses his own life as an example of what God must do in any individual’s life for them to be in right relationship to God.

Paul’s pattern in Acts 26 apply to us in at least 2 ways:

It is quite possible that we may be asked to give a defense of the gospel under duress. We have Peter’s words of comfort to God’s people in the context of that reality, which prove the point:

1 Peter 3:14–16 ESV

14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

We too may be asked under duress to give an answer for our obsession with Jesus of Nazareth.

2. Our own testimony of faith in Jesus, done properly, provides a natural framework to the gospel that others must come to believe as well.

The example that we have of Paul’s defense before Agrippa provides us with a healthy pattern for using our own testimony in gospel proclamation.

Acts 26:1–3 ESV

1 So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense: 2 “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

Opportunity for Evangelism: Paul’s Preparedness & Posture (vv. 1-3)

Clearly Paul is making a defense for the false accusations leveled against him by the Jewish leaders that have gotten him into this situation, now under Roman arrest and having already appealed to Caesar.

But Paul’s defense, Paul’s apologetic discourse here is like…

Two Parallel Tracks: Trial Apologetic and Gospel Apologetic

…running side by side in the same direction, to the same conclusion. It becomes clear that any defense of himself is a defense of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul uses his defense, his story, as an opportunity to proclaim the gospel… the good news of God through Jesus Christ.

Applying Paul’s pattern in the two ways we already described… First,

The Christian’s best defense is trusting God while telling the truth about the difference He makes.

Paul does not say the same thing every time he presents the gospel or offers a defense, which means he is truly leaning on the Spirit, as Christ instructed… that we need not worry (be in fear about) how we will answer (Lk 12:11-12). But that is not to say that Paul is unprepared. Paul is ready with the gospel, and he uses rhetorical training and skill to make his defense. (stretch out his hand, order of his speech, and so on)

Second,

A Christian testimony is a narration of the change that God has made in our own lives through Jesus Christ.

Personal testimony honors God and can be useful tool for effective evangelism, IF we follow Paul’s pattern laid out for us here.

Life before Jesus… How it happened that Jesus turned me around… And what a difference that has made in my relationship to God, how he has changed my life.

Finally, one more application from Paul’s introduction: We’ve said this before, but it bears repeating because it is evident here…

We should assume a posture of kindness and respect, knowing our listener.

Be respectful and kind. As far as it depends on you, give them every opportunity to respond appropriately… while still being laser-focused on the gospel truth.

We should take care to know our audience as best we can, because although the overall message of salvation is the same, the presentation is impacted by what the person knows and doesn’t know, believes and doesn’t believe.

Personal Testimony in Evangelism (vv. 4-23)

This is now the third time that we, the students of Acts, are going through the events of Paul’s conversion (Acts 9, 22, and here). So I’ll emphasize the outline as it relates to his defense and personal testimony in gospel proclamation (in evangelism - broadcasting the good news), and we’ll highlight some things that are unique to this retelling of the events.

Acts 26:4–11 ESV

4 “My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. 5 They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, 7 to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! 8 Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead? 9 “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

In essence, Paul summarizes here about his own past…

Paul: No one can deny that I’ve been as zealous for the faith of our fathers as anyone.

In his trial defense, this shows that those accusing him actually know this to be true. His pedigree for being a faithful Jew is undeniable.

In proclaiming the gospel through his testimony, … I was as faithfully religious as anyone can be… I was as good of a person as I possibly could be —> How good is good enough, how religious is religious enough?

Paul: It is precisely faith in God’s promise (to & through Israel) that should lead us to believe in the hope of resurrection.

***In his trial defense, Paul

As regards the gospel,

Paul: I was as opposed to this Jesus as anyone can be, thinking that such was pleasing to God.

Before I understood God’s will, I ferociously opposed Jesus by vigorously persecuting his followers.

To Testify Faithfully to Christ through Personal Testimony…

We must understand and tell the truth about our past.

Titus 3:3 (ESV) For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

Where I was headed (I walked in darkness… whether in wanton depravity or in religious self-effort)

Titus 3:4–5 (ESV) But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit…

Acts 26:12–23 ESV

12 “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ 19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

So I was a zealous persecutor of Jesus followers, until God himself put a stop to it. Jesus interrupted my wrong-headed religious effort.

Paul: I needed the light from God—Jesus—to intervene into the darkness in which I walked.

God changed me through Jesus (Then by his mercy and grace God opened my eyes)

Now I… (Faith in Jesus allows me to see and actually walk in right relationship to God)

Paul: He revealed to me that I was “kicking against the goads.” I proved to be an enemy of the God I was trying to please.

This is a way of describing resisting God, fighting against his will.

Paul: Jesus rescued me and gave me a new purpose.

Jesus made it clear that I was persecuting him, and that he had a new design for me. - Saving faith, and purpose to obey and serve him, are together, inseparably intertwined. Saving faith in Jesus is followed by obedience to Jesus.

Paul: I received specific instruction to spread the news of faith in Jesus among the Gentiles, and I obeyed.

To open their eyes, turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. And by that repentance and turning to faith in Jesus, they too can receive forgiveness of their sin debt and a place among those who are set apart to God through Jesus.

Paul: For this reason I was arrested and they seek to kill me, for obediently proclaiming to the Gentiles that Jesus is the hope of both Jew and Gentile to be right with God.

But I have had help from God to continue testifying to the truth: Jesus is the fulfillment of Scripture and fulfillment of our need. And what great news is this fulfillment from God!

Notice something that Paul makes clear in his testimony: Who is the hero?

To Testify Faithfully to Christ through Personal Testimony…

We must clearly proclaim the true hero of our story because we know he is the hero of history and that no other person can be saved unless Jesus alone is the hero of their story.

Something we learned and emphasized from Paul’s evangelism in Acts 13:26-41… as it relates to history and Scripture:

Rehearse the narrative of Scripture to give appropriate context for who God is and who we are and why Jesus came.

Be as specific and complete as we can about the person and work of Christ: his life, ministry, sacrifice, and resurrection. That includes explaining that what has happened since then is precisely because Jesus is who God says he is.

From beginning to end, the truth of God’s own word is our primary tool in evangelism. - Memorize it, summarize it, and quote it. (Consider having the person you are witnessing to read the words themselves.)

Acts 26:24–32 ESV

24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. 26 For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 28 And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” 29 And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.” 30 Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. 31 And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

The Court’s Reactions to Paul’s Appeals (vv. 24-32)

Festus: Paul, your learning has made you bonkers.

Paul: No, I couldn’t be more rational. Taking God at his own word leads to this conclusion: Jesus is risen from the grave, and he is the hope of both Jew and Gentile for right relationship to God.

Paul: King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets?

Agrippa: You think you can persuade me so quickly? (OR… You have nearly persuaded me in such a short time.)

Paul: Whatever the length of time, God knows my desire is that you and everyone listening would “become such as I am.”

Our explicit aim is that our hearers should respond in faith to Jesus.

(which means also that) 1. You invite them to respond to the gospel. (as this may be your only opportunity) But 2. Your desire isn’t to have only this one opportunity. (“Whether short or long”…) Whether it takes multiple opportunities over time or if we have only one shot, our goal must be to put a choice before our hearers, to accept or reject Christ.

Passage wraps up with this:

Paul is innocent but headed to Rome.

Together, Festus and Agrippa’s reaction is that Paul is innocent of the charges, but he shall go to Rome because he has appealed to Caesar. Paul, one would imagine, anticipates safe passage to Rome and more gospel opportunity there… (Ac 23:11)

Conclusion:

Christian Testimony: A call for others to respond to Jesus and “become such as I am”

If you have understood your condition and responded rightly to Jesus, then you too have a testimony to share that proclaims Jesus as the hero for all who will believe.

PRAY

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