Tell Me the Story of Jesus

1. Things are not always as they seem (21:37-40)

The commander of the Roman cohort was about to bring Paul safely into the barracks

Paul spoke to him in Greek, which got the attention of the commander

The commander had assumed Paul was someone else; some Egyptian troublemaker

Paul gave a brief explanation of his background; he asked to address the crowd

The commander granted him permission; Paul motioned for the people to quiet down

Paul began to share his testimony [defense], speaking in Jewish Aramaic [Hebrew dialect]

2. Tell of who you used to be (22:1-5)

Paul addresses the crowd with the utmost respect; brothers and fathers

The crowd got even more quiet when they heard Paul speaking in Aramaic; their native tongue

Acts: An Introduction and Commentary c. Paul’s Defence before the Crowd (21:37–22:29)

For Paul to address the people in their own tongue was an effective way of commanding their attention—and perhaps even some degree of sympathy. The detail underlines Paul’s claim to be in every sense a Jew (Phil. 3:5).

Paul gave some history of who he was

he is a jew born in Tarsus of Cilicia

he was brought up in Jerusalem

he was educated under Gamaliel, the leading Rabbi and disciple of Hillel

he was instructed according to the law of OUR fathers

he was zealous for God just the same as the crowd to whom he was speaking

he persecuted “the Way” to the death; he put both men and women into prison

the high priest and Council of elders can testify to Paul’s treatment of “the Way”

he received letters from them to go to Damascus and bring prisoners back to be punished

3. Tell of your encounter with Jesus (6-16)

Paul was headed to Damascus in the middle of the day when he was blinded by a heavenly light

Paul heard a voice from heaven ask, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

Jesus identified himself to Paul as the one “whom you are persecuting”

Those traveling with Paul also saw the light but could not understand the voice from heaven

Jesus told Paul to get up, go into Damascus, and await his “marching orders”

Paul couldn’t see so he was led by the hand into the city

A devout Jew with a good reputation among the people, Ananias, was sent by God to Paul

he declared that God had restored Paul’s sight

he gave Paul his commission directly from “the God of our fathers”

Acts: An Introduction and Commentary c. Paul’s Defence before the Crowd (21:37–22:29)

The wording stresses that it was the God of our fathers who was calling Paul, thereby emphasizing to the audience the continuity between the Old Testament revelation and the new revelation of God through Jesus.

It has been granted to Paul to know God’s will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear his voice

he will be a witness for Christ to all men of all he has seen and heard

Paul was baptized and cleansed from his sins by calling on the name of Jesus

4. Tell of your life since meeting Jesus (17-21)

After leaving Damascus and returning to Jerusalem, Paul fell into a trance while praying in the temple

Jesus was telling him to get out of Jerusalem quickly because the people would not listen to him

Paul tried to reason with Jesus about why the people should listen

The people should understand that Paul used to imprison and beat believers

They should understand that Paul gave his approval to the murder of Stephen

Jesus told Paul He was sending him far away to the Gentiles; to the nations

The Acts of the Apostles 4. Paul’s Subsequent Vision in the Temple (22:17–21)

So the overriding message which Paul conveys to his audience is the sovereign will of God to bring salvation to the nations. God’s purpose cannot be denied or ignored, no matter what the implications for the existing structures of religion, culture, and society, or for the individuals who proclaim God’s will.