Then & Now: The Power of Testimony

Introduction

If you have your Bible, turn with me to Acts chapter 21.

And as you are turning finding verse 37 let’s think on the impact and power of testimony.

One of the most powerful forces on the face of this earth is the testimony of others.

The sharing of experience sells products.

We flock to the web-based review sections on Amazon and other retail giants to see whether or not the latest thing to catch our eye has delivered on its functional promises and lived up to the expectations of others.

Likewise, written and word of mouth referrals by satisfied customers bring new customers to businesses and services.

Testimony shapes public perception of words, actions, and events

From preferences...

to political speeches, like we just survived...

to courtroom procedures and sentences...

to world events.

Testimony has the power to sway and dissuade.

But the most powerful testimony that can ever be given has the power to affect the eternal, spiritual state of souls.

It is the only form of testimony that has the power to change lives and not simply outcomes or perceptions.

And it all points back to Christ,

not products, services, nor preference.

This is the magnitude of power we are wielding when we share about our Savior.

We see that Paul is offering the textbook definition of a testimony as he gives a public recounting of his conversion and experience with Christ.

Before we get ahead of ourselves though, let’s remind ourselves of what brought Paul to this point.

I’ve always likened these recaps to the first few minutes of your favorite show before the story is moved along,

with the radio announcer voice and choice clips of dialog and action that set the stage for what’s to come.

So, “Last time, in Acts...”

Recap

Paul has returned to Jerusalem against the better judgment of EVERYONE who loves him.

He sacrificed the ease of simply waltzing in and doing ministry to make sure that there were no walls between him and fellow believers.

He set himself back for unity’s sake because he knew that there was enough opposition coming from those outside of the church.

And he was absolutely right about that opposition.

The moment he stepped foot in the temple, unbelieving Jews seized him, dragged him out, and shut the doors before beginning to look for ways to kill him on the spot.

Roman soldiers intervened in the nick of time, binding him with chains and carrying him to the safety of their barracks.

This should bring us adequately up to speed.

And as we examine Paul’s testimony we will see four things.

Teaching Points

The power of testimony begins with your tone.

The power of testimony is furthered by an accurate representation of who you were.

The power of testimony gives prominence to Christ.

The power of testimony is communicated by change.

The power of testimony demands a response.

With these points in mind let us turn to the Scriptures.

Please stand, if you are able, in honor of God’s Word.

Scripture Passage

Acts 21:37–22:29 ESV

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? 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?” 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.” 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: “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said: “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. “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 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.’ 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. “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 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. 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; for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 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.’ And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ” 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.” And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 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. 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?” 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.” So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” 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.

Pray

Exposition

Intelligible & Respectful Address

As we walk through our passage, one of the first things we see is that Paul begins each of his interactions by speaking understandably and respectfully

As he is being hurried away from the murderous crowd, he addresses the Roman tribune in Greek.

This takes the man by surprise and starts to lay the groundwork for Paul’s proper identity to be formed in the mind of this magistrate.

He has mistaken Paul for a Jewish terrorist from Egypt who was at large during this time.

History tells us that this had terrorist led 4,000 assassins, also known as “dagger-men”, in an attempt to overthrow Rome’s control of Jerusalem.

While this resistance was batted aside, the leading rogue escaped.

The tribune thought he had not only kept the peace per his position, but also snagged a prized enemy of Rome.

Paul is able to set the record straight on his identity by simply talking with the man.

His respectful demeanor disarmed the tribune.

In fact, he was so disarmed that he allowed Paul to address the crowd.

The respect from Paul is unmistakable as he did not speak to the people until permitted.

He continues in humbling himself in how he then turns his attention to the crowd.

He doesn’t glare.

He doesn’t shout.

He doesn’t wave his arms.

He gestures with his hand.

His presence must have had a certain air of command because a great hush fell over the angry mob.

Paul then switches to Aramaic, the Hebrew language of the day, to address them.

Again, relying on intelligibility to communicate effectively.

This could easily be his opportunity for self-defense meted out in heated words.

But Paul doubles down on respect.

He is not going to allow himself to be provoked to the point that he brings shame upon the name of his Savior.

He addresses this lynch mob as “brothers and fathers”.

Which pulled the remainder of fuel from the fire for the moment.

Personal Testimony

Next, Paul begins his testimony on common ground.

He is a Jew.

He is one of their own!

He tells them where he is from, his heritage, his education, his drive, his goals.

While he was born in Tarsus, a place where some Jews had been dispersed after exile in Babylon, He was raised in Jerusalem, the most highly esteemed city in Jewish opinion.

He studied with one of the most influential religious minds of the generation.

Using the name of Gamaliel would be the modern-day flex equivalent of putting Elon Musk as a reference on your resume or dropping his name as a personal friend in an interview to any tech or business minded job application.

All of this would have screamed to these Jewish brothers, “I WAS JUST LIKE YOU!”

As they are accusing Paul of desecrating the temple and teaching others to do so, he is saying, “I understand the strict nature of the Law. I’ve been steeped in it!”

“This isn’t my first rodeo!”

In fact, Paul has stood in the exact place that every one of these angry men is standing now.

The religious incredulity has coursed through his veins and set his head on fire!

The man he was then sought out Christians with gusto and he wanted to make them pay.

Enter Jesus.

In the midst of his story, Paul masterfully turns the attention away from himself and onto his Savior.

He recounts that road to Damascus, found in chapter 9 of Acts, in vivid detail.

Once again, Paul knows exactly what he’s doing with his words.

When he references a “great light from heaven”, he is using a phrase that this crowd understands to be linked with divine, covenantal occurrences.

It would harken them back to God’s covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15 as the smoking pot and flaming torch passed through the covenant binding sacrifices.

It would bring to memory the majesty of the non-consuming flame where the Great I Am, Himself spoke to Moses in Exodus 3.

It would force them to recall the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai in Deuteronomy 5.

After the Law was given...

Deuteronomy 5:22–24 ESV

“These words the Lord spoke to all your assembly at the mountain out of the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice; and he added no more. And he wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me. And as soon as you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes, and your elders. And you said, ‘Behold, the Lord our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire. This day we have seen God speak with man, and man still live.

In the seemingly simple description of Christ appearing in a “great light”, Paul equates Jesus with God.

He is the Light of the World.

Paul is calling for the Jewish rejection of Christ as the Messiah to end.

He goes on to share how he was blinded,

how Ananias came to him out of obedience to the Lord,

how his sight was restored,

and how he was appointed as a witness to Christ’s Lordship.

The instructions that Ananias gave Paul ring out to all of Paul’s listeners.

“Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.”

The entire Gospel is here including the very important step of asking those hearing to do something with this freshly proclaimed truth.

The final leg of Paul’s testimony describes who he is in light of knowing Christ.

He is a God-fearing, temple-honoring Jew who has come face to face with the Savior of the world and was changed.

The Lord appeared to Him in a vision and personally sent Him to the nations.

It’s as if the Lord said, “Yes, your hometown will reject you just like it did my Son. They will remember your zeal and not understand this change that has come over you. But I have a job for you. Go!”

This was the launch of Paul’s missionary journeys.

Paul shares this experience he had in the temple to prove that he is in complete understanding on standard operating procedures and expectations whilst inside.

Paul is in this mess because of a wrong assumption that he desecrated the temple by bringing a Gentile into the courts where only Jews were allowed.

Up until this point the audience has been listening intently.

But, at the mention of Gentile nations becoming a part of God’s people, this shifts dramatically.

Response to Paul’s Testimony

The mob loses their minds.

It is a ruckus. A hullabaloo. Pure pandemonium.

Men are crying out for his death.

Coats are being cast aside in preparation for a proper stoning.

Dust is being flung in the air in a scene that reads like a bad visit to the chimpanzee exhibit at the zoo.

All the while, Paul is trying to continue speaking.

The tribune is at his wit’s end.

He has understood nothing since Paul started addressing the crowd, switching back to speaking in Aramaic.

All he sees is the response that has been elicited by his words and he’s ready to bring down the hammer to find out what on earth is going on!

As Paul is about to be questioned under the duress of a whipping that few survived, he maintained his calm and respectful demeanor and inquired if it was legal for a Roman citizen to receive such treatment without a fair trail.

This put the Romans on their heels as they realized that Paul held dual citizenship.

Indeed, as a citizen of Rome by birth, Paul held a higher status than even the tribune himself.

Justice, and a cool head, were provided by God in order that Paul’s work with the Gentiles might continue.

Albeit under very different circumstances.

Application

So what?

How does Paul’s testimony apply to us?

What can we learn and implement from his interactions?

Well, first...

The power of testimony begins in your tone.

While not apart of his verbal account, his level head and respectful tone should absolutely be considered part of Paul’s testimony.

Within his testimony, Paul offered a defense for himself but also a defense for the Gospel.

When sharing our faith and defending the Gospel to unbelievers, we must begin from a place of respectful communication.

There is enough offense to be found in the Gospel message that calls sinners to forsake their deepest loves and shift their allegiance to Christ.

We see Isaiah’s prophecy fulfilled specifically in this passage!

Isaiah 8:14–15 ESV

And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.”

Our job, our responsibility, our divine command is to place Christ in the path of the lost and let them run into Him.

We don’t soften Him.

We don’t guide them around Him.

We don’t explain the Gospel in a way that has fewer jagged edges than what God has done.

However, because our desire is to see the Kingdom of God built, we don’t need to add offense through our actions, words, and tone to a message that is already set to convict the hearts of those who march to the beat of the world’s drum.

The power of testimony is furthered by an accurate representation of who you were.

Paul doesn’t not hold back on his description of himself.

While his audience might see merit and honor in his life before Christ, Paul is identifying with them to show the folly of their position.

He is a Jew.

He was well educated.

He was zealous.

He was a persecutor.

He was a murder.

When we testify to the Lord’s work in our lives, it serves no one to tone down the depiction of our sinfully lost lives before Christ.

We do not have to get into gross details, but we must own that we were living in the darkness of sin and could do nothing about it.

Some, like myself, may have been saved at an early age and feel that their testimony is “boring”

“Well, God didn’t save me from meth.”

“God didn’t save me from promiscuity.”

“God didn’t save me from alcoholism.”

“God didn’t save me from {fill in the blank}.”

This is when our focus has to be on what He has saved us from!

All of us, our hearts were dead!

All of us, we were slaves to sin!

All of us, we were without a hope in the world!

Enter… Jesus!

After Paul describes his life before conversion, he ceases to talk about himself, and shifts to his Savior.

The power of testimony gives prominence to Christ.

How did you come to Christ?

How did He work in your life to draw your heart to Himself?

What did He do, what did He accomplish to purchase your salvation?

At the end of the day, while you have been given a testimony to steward, you are not the main character.

You are a conduit.

You are a messenger.

You are an ambassador for the King of kings and Lord of lords.

John Stott once said,

Testimony is not a synonym for autobiography! When we are truly witnessing, we are not talking about ourselves but about Christ.

John Stott

Christ is supreme in your story.

Your testimony does not amount to a hill of beans without Him!

He took on humanity without sacrificing His divinity.

He lived a sinless life because you never could.

He conquered sin by laying down His life and bore the perfectly just wrath of God in your stead because you were the fairly intended recipient.

He conquered death by rising from the grave 3 days later.

He ascended into heaven, never dying a second death.

And He sits at the right hand of the Father.

All of this so that He might be glorified through the salvation of sinners from eternal death and punishment.

This is grace!

This is mercy!

This is love!

And all of this cannot be comprehended, accepted, and responded to without discernable change in our lives.

The power of testimony is communicated by discernable change.

Christ accomplished redemption.

So what?

The power of testimony lies in the then and now statements.

Paul studied the Law.

Now he teaches how it has been fulfilled.

Paul was a zealous persecutor of the church.

Now he’s Christ’s witness to the Gentiles.

Paul stood by in support while a man was martyred for his faith.

Now Paul is potentially standing in that man’s shoes.

If you have placed your faith in Christ, He has radically changed you.

2 Corinthians 5:16–17 ESV

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Christ is no longer a stumbling block.

He is your Savior and your Lord and you strive to live a life of obedience because He has changed you.

Your patterns, your routines, your thoughts, your speech, your temperament, all of these things are discernibly different because you are His.

You are a new creation and drawing attention to this change is a vital part of your testimony.

Finally...

The power of testimony demands a response.

Paul respectfully presented the reality of his need for a Savior, who that Savior was, and how his life had been changed by Christ’s redemption.

In chapter 22 verse 16, Paul shows his listeners the correct response to this atoning work.

“Rise and be baptized.”

“Wash away your sins.”

“Call on His name.”

Sharing your testimony is left incomplete if the you don’t follow it up with the question, “What are you going to do with this?”

We can’t leave the lost wondering, “What now? What should I do with this information?”

The truth of the Gospel demands a response.

Now that response can be rejection, like we see in our passage today.

Your testimony might not be met by people throwing off their coats or flinging dust into the air, but it could be met with anger and insults.

However, it could just as well be received with grace and the Holy Spirit working in the heart of the hearer to add another soul into God’s kingdom.

Paul was not afraid to accept the trouble that would likely come along with this testimony.

He readily embraced the heated glares because he knew that he had the truth.

And if his testimony could convince others to join him in spiritual life, the reviling was worth it.

He loved his “brothers and fathers” so much that it saddened him to see them continue in their spiritual blindness.

If he could stand for his Savior, nothing else mattered.

We are called to the exact same place, church.

But, sometimes we are hesitant.

James Alexander describes our aversion to offer testimony to God’s work in our lives this way...

There is a low cowardly disposition in certain Christians, to seek the world’s approval, and almost ask the world’s pardon for their faith. Are they asked to some questionable activity? They stammer out their apology for being Christians. Are they laughed at for not loving this world enough? They plead religious habits or church rules, or their friends’ opinions, instead of simply glorying in their birthright in the world to come. That which they should wear as a crown and should hold forth as an irresistible attraction for unbelievers to come over to their side, they sometimes hide in a corner, and blush when people think they have it.

James Alexander

At the end of the day, are you more concerned with man’s approval or with God’s?

Do you shrink back from righteousness because you might be labeled a bigot?

Or do you shrink back from the heinous display of sin that surrounds us in this world daily?

We cannot compromise.

We cannot apologize.

We cannot concede the ground of biblical truth when there are souls around us that are dead in their trespasses against a holy God.

Let’s pray...

Pray

Conclusion

As our musicians return to the platform to lead us in song, I encourage you to reflect on your testimony.

Think of who you could share it with.

Be ready to leave here today and proclaim Christ at every opportunity.

If you have sat through this entire sermon and are, even now, thinking, “I’m not sure I have a testimony.”

Or, “I know that Christ is not my Savior and Lord.”

Then today let Paul’s instructions ring in your mind.

Respond to the truth of the Gospel by placing your hope and your faith in Christ.

Pastor Michael and I, along with our deacons are ready and willing to talk to you.

Don’t leave today without talking to someone about this.

Let’s stand and sing of our story and song that brings praise and glory to Christ!