Paul's Testimony

Intro: There are three accounts of Paul’s conversion, the historical account – – and two repetitions of his own conversion by Paul himself – & 26 – and these are noteworthy.

I) Occasion of the story

Defense against charge of blaspheming the temple (even the Romans respected the Jewish temple) –

Acts 21:27–31 ESV

When the seven days were almost completed, 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 is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.

Paul uses this occasion to employ his own conversion in proclaiming the gospel – ; – basically ignoring the charge of blasphemy against the temple

Some churches misuse this concept, to give “testimony” of their salvation experience before being accepted by a church, but that has nothing to do with the events we are studying, as he ignored what this meant for him

II) Paul’s conversion story

Describes his sins – ; – if we do not acknowledge our sins and the separation they cause from our God, we will never respond to the gospel –

Acts 22:4–5 ESV

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.

Acts 26:9–11 ESV

“I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 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. 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.

Isaiah 59:1–2 ESV

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Lord gives him instructions – 22:10, 14-21 – what he must do to deal with his sin – ;

John 6:26–29 ESV

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

Acts 16:30 ESV

Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

Paul obeyed those instructions – 26:19-20 – which is the essence of calling Jesus our Lord – ; ;

Matthew 7:21–23 ESV

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Luke 6:46 ESV

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?

Malachi 1:6 ESV

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’

III) How do we reach the lost?

Using our own conversion story (testimony) is a valid and proper method of illustrating the gospel to evangelize the world –

1 Peter 3:15 ESV

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,

It also makes the gospel personal to ourselves and those with whom we speak – ,

Acts 8:4 ESV

Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.

Acts 8:25 ESV

Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

Don’t be embarrassed to testify of your own conversion experience. This is not to prove to someone that you are saved, but to persuade others concerning the good news of Jesus. We can use the same principle in testifying to others what God has done in our lives, what blessings we have received in Christ, how God has provided for our needs, etc.