Acts 22:1-21

I. The Foundation: Ground Your Witness (vv. 1-5)

How Paul establishes credibility with his audience A. Bridge the cultural divide

Speaking Aramaic: Honoring their language and heritage (v. 2)

Relational address: "Brothers and fathers" – affirming kinship and respect (v. 1)→ Why this matters: Effective witness begins with humility, not confrontation.

B. Validate your spiritual pedigree

Heritage: "Jew, born in Tarsus, brought up in Jerusalem" (v. 3a)

Training: "Educated at the feet of Gamaliel" – highest rabbinical authority (v. 3b)

Zeal: "Zealous for God" – aligning with their deepest passion (v. 3c)→ Key insight: Authentic faith fulfills, doesn’t negate, godly heritage.

C. Expose your former blindness

Past persecution: "I put believers in prison" (v. 4)

Institutional endorsement: "High priest and council can testify" (v. 5)→ Climactic thrust: "If God could transform ME – the chief persecutor – what might He do in YOU?"

II. The Encounter: Surrender to Christ’s Sovereign Revelation (vv. 6-16)

The Damascus Road transformation A. Divine interruption shatters human control

Sudden theophany: "Light from heaven at noon" – God’s glory disrupts (v. 6)

Personal confrontation: "Why persecute ME?" – Christ identifies with His Church (v. 7)

Life-altering revelation: "I am Jesus of Nazareth" – the Crucified is Lord (v. 8)

B. Essential responses to encountering Christ

Humble inquiry: "What should I do, Lord?" (v. 10)

Obedient submission: Led blind to Damascus (v. 11)

Community validation: Ananias – a devout Jew confirms God’s call (v. 12)

C. God’s threefold purpose for every believer (v. 14-15)

"Know His will" → Divine guidance

"See the Righteous One" → Christ-centered vision

"Be a witness to all people" → Global mission mandate

D. The non-negotiable response (v. 16)

"Get up, be baptized, wash away sins" – public identification with Christ

"Calling on His name" – faith in Jesus’ lordship for salvation

III. The Mission: Embrace God’s Uncomfortable Assignment (vv. 17-21)

The temple vision that redirects everything A. When obedience clashes with expectation

Paul’s desire: Witness in Jerusalem (praying in the temple, v. 17)

God’s warning: "They won’t accept your testimony" (v. 18)

B. Human logic vs. divine strategy (vv. 19-20)

Paul’s argument: "My past makes me credible to Jews!"

Emotional appeal: Invoking Stephen’s martyrdom – his deepest regret

C. The unavoidable commission (v. 21)

God’s command: "GO!" – overruling human objections

The shocking assignment: "Far away to the Gentiles"

Geographically distant: Beyond Jewish homelands

Culturally offensive: Crossing purity boundaries

Theologically revolutionary: Grace for the undeserving

Conclusion: The Ripple Effects of Divine Interruption

Your past qualifies you: Paul’s credentials became his platform (vv. 3-5) → God redeems your story

Your encounter defines you: "What should I do, Lord?" (v. 10) → Daily surrender to Christ’s lordship

Your obedience sends you: "I will send you far away" (v. 21) → Mission requires leaving comfort zones

Application Challenge:

Where is God calling you to "go" relationally, geographically, or culturally?

What "logical arguments" (vv. 19-20) are you making to avoid His commission?

How can you leverage your unique story (credentials, failures, transformation) for witness?