How To Share My Faith

Introduction:

I want to welcome you again this morning.

First, to those joining us online, we are so thankful for our online technology that allows you to be a part of our church family today.

I also want to welcome those who may be joining us for the first time today. I hope your time with us today is encouraging and helpful, and I look forward to meeting you.

I would also say if you are new to our church today, it would be helpful for you to know that we practice a form of preaching called “Expository Preaching”. What that means, is we believe the Bible is best taught by taking books of the Bible and then breaking them down from beginning to end, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. Our goal, to better understand not only what God’s Word says, but what it means in our lives today.

Over the past couple of years we’ve been doing that through the NT book of Acts. A book written by a First Century disciple named Luke who wrote it for a couple of reasons:

First, to give us a history of how the church started, who was there, and the circumstances that surrounded it.

Second, in a way, to give us a template on how to accomplish the mission that Jesus gave us to take the gospel to the entire world.

With that said, if you haven’t been with us I would encourage you to go online to http://www.mcf.life or to our Facebook page where you can watch previous messages leading up to today.

Today however we are picking back up at then end of Acts 21 as we rejoin the Apostle Paul once again in the Jewish capital city of Jerusalem.

You may recall that Paul’s visit to Jersualem was orchestrated by the Holy Spirit, and in many ways represents the end of Paul’s missionary work and the beginning of many hardships to come. Hardships that will eventually lead to his death.

And while that may sound negative, as we learned last week, it’s really not. Because while these final chapters of Acts represent some of Paul’s greatest hardships, they also represent some of his greatest opportunities to share the gospel.

Opportunities that will come as he stands before Roman governing officials.

Opportunities that will come as he is transported on a prison ship to Rome.

Opportunities that will allow him to come in contact with people he would have never come in contact with in order to share the gospel and lead people to Jesus.

And as we learned last week, what was true for Paul is true for all of us. Because the fact is, the more we are All in for Jesus, the more we can expect hardship and challenges to come.

And again, while that may sound negative and disheartening, it’s not. Because with greater hardship comes greater spiritual growth, greater opportunities to share the gospel, and greater reward not only in this life but the life to come. And for the person that’s All IN for Jesus, there is nothing negative about that.

Which brings us back to Acts 21 as Paul’s greater hardships begin. Hardships that will begin with false accusations, physical assault, an angry mob, calls for his death, and finally his arrest by a Roman garrison. Which now puts Paul in great danger.

But in the midst of this hardship, Paul sees an opportunity. An opportunity that he hopes will clear up the misunderstanding and confusion. An opportunity that he hopes will lead more people to Jesus.

You might ask, “What’s the opportunity?”

The opportunity is to share the gospel with this group of people that wants to kill him.

And when I say share the gospel, I’m talking about the opportunity to share your faith with someone and then lead them to faith in Jesus. Something we’ve all been called to do.

The question then is, “How do you do that?”

And I think that’s a great question, because the truth is, most Christians struggle with how to share their faith or what it looks like.

For example, for some, sharing the gospel might mean looking for an opportunity to invite somebody to church. The idea being, if I can get them to church, then Pastor Brad can explain what they need to know and do.

Or maybe for others, sharing the gospel would involve encouraging someone to listen to a message online. A message that you hope they will relate with and will get them thinking about their need for God in their life.

For others, it might involve posting a scripture or spiritual thought on Facebook. A scripture you hope might bring encouragement or cause someone to pause and evaluate their need for God.

And while all of those are great ways to possibly direct someone towards God, that’s not what we are really talking about when it comes to sharing the gospel.

So, what are we talking about?

What we’re talking about is one on one interaction. What we’re talking about is a conversation. What we’re talking about is you and I verbally sharing our faith.

But let’s just be honest. That’s a struggle for most Christians. Why’s it a struggle? Here are a couple of the top reasons:

Reason # 1- It’s a struggle because we’re worried sharing our faith might hurt our relationship with that person.

In other words, we’re concerned a Jesus conversation could create an awkwardness in our relationship.

Or, we’re concerned that coming out of the closet as a Christian might change the relationship when they realize we’re one of those Jesus freaks.

That being the case, better to keep it quiet and hope somebody else tells them about Jesus.

Reason #2 - It’s a struggle because we don’t know what to say, how to say it, or what scriptures to use.

In other words, we feel inadequate to tell somebody about Jesus, and the last thing we want to do is mess it up or say something stupid.

As a result, we don’t say anything. Better to just invite them to church and let Pastor Brad explain it.

Which brings us back to the question, “How do you share the gospel in confidence with someone in a way that won’t work against the relationship?

Great question.

As a result, that’s what we are going to focus on today as we come back to Acts 21. That being said, I have two goals as we continue with Paul today:

Goal #1 - To walk through our passage today and discover what sharing the gospel looked like for Paul. Because as Paul is arrested, he’s going to have an opportunity to share his faith, and he’s going to take advantage of it.

Goal #2 - In discovering how Paul shared the gospel, for you and I to better learn what sharing the gospel looks like for us in a way that will lead somebody to faith.

Because in a way, Paul’s approach to sharing the gospel represents a template. A template that involves four steps that I believe we can take and use in any situation to share our faith.

So, with that as our basis, lets pick up where we left off as Paul has just been arrested and is being taken into the Roman Barracks. Picking up in verse 37 Luke writes:

Acts 21:37–40 ESV

37 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? 38 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?” 39 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.” 40 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:

Obviously there’s a lot happening in this opening passage that we’re going to look at, but what I want to present you with first, is the first step that Paul takes in sharing his faith. And I would state it like this:

Step #1 - In order to share my faith, I have to take the initiative.

Notice again what Luke says Paul does as the soldiers lead him to the barracks. He writes:

“As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, ‘May I say something to you?’...” Acts 21:27a ESV

Luke says as Paul is about to be pulled into the barracks, he asks the lead Roman officer if he can have a word with him.

So, what does Paul want to ask him? Luke tells us in verse 39. Look at what he says:

“…I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” Acts 21:40b ESV

Luke says having just been arrested, Paul’s first thought isn’t, “How am I going to get out of this?” It’s not, “This is terrible! Why is this happening to me?”

No, in this midst of his hardship, his first thought is, “What an amazing opportunity to share my faith”. And so recognizing it as an opportunity to share his faith, he takes initiative by requesting permission to speak to the people.

Application: Here’s what this is saying to us. If we are serious about sharing our faith and leading people to Jesus, it starts with initiative. It starts as we see the opportunity to share and step into it.

Because the fact is, people who need Jesus aren’t typically going to walk up to you and say, “Hey, can you tell me about Jesus?”

I mean that would be nice, right, and it would make it much easier for you and I to share our faith. But 99% of the time, that’s not how it works.

I can tell you in my entire life I’ve only had one person actually do that to me.

But unfortunately, I think that’s what a lot of Christians expect or are waiting for. They’re waiting for people to come to them. In other words, they’re waiting for an invitation to share their faith. Why?

Probably because it doesn’t require a lot of effort.

And as a result, because we’re waiting for an invitation, we end up missing the opportunity to share our faith. And we miss it because what we fail to understand is that the opportunity is the invitation.

Let me explain it like this.

Let’s say you’ve been praying for a co-worker to come to faith in Jesus. And then one day as you’re working with them, they say something like, “My wife and I have really been struggling. We’re just not sure what to do to fix our marriage.” Or they say something like, “I’ve really been battling depression. It just feels like there’s no hope left in the world.”

That’s the invitation.

No, they didn’t directly ask you to tell them about Jesus. But in that moment they are looking for help. They are looking for answers. And now God has given you the opportunity to speak into their life.

An opportunity to tell them about a God who reconciles.

An opportunity to tell them about a God who can bring hope into any situation.

But for that to happen, it’s going to take some initiative. It’s going to take you stepping into the opportunity.

See how that works?

You might ask, “Ok, but how do I do that Pastor? In that moment how do I share my faith? What do I say?”

That leads us to the second step in sharing our faith. And I would state it like this:

Step #2 - In order to share my faith, I have to speak in a language people will understand and positively respond too.

What I want you to notice is as Paul addresses the Roman solider and the crowd, he does so in a way that both can relate with and both will respond to positively.

Let me show you what I’m talking about. Let’s start with Paul’s address to the Roman soldier. Look again at what Luke tells us:

Acts 21:37 ESV

37 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?

Let’s stop right there for a second, because this exchange between Paul the Roman solider is significant.

What I want you to notice is how the Roman solider responds when Paul asks if he can have a word with him. His response is, “Do you know Greek?”

Kind of a strange response to Paul’s question, right? So, a great question would be, “Why does the Roman soldier respond back with this question?”

Well first, what we need to understand is that his response is one of surprise.

In other words, Paul’s request catches him off guard. Why does it catch him off guard? Well apparently because he speaks Greek. And we know that based on the way the soldier responds. Because his response would have sounded something like this, “You speak Greek?”

It’s like when you see somebody that you thought was a pretty good person and had some sense about them wearing a Chiefs shirt and you’re like, “You’re a Chiefs fan?”

Kind of blows your mind. That’s what’s going on here.

So, why is this Roman guard caught off guard by Paul’s ability to speak Greek?

Well, it’s not because Paul can speak Greek because a lot of people could speak Greek. In fact Greek was the common and universal language in the first century. So he’s not surprised Paul can speak Greek.

So, what’s he surprised by? Based on the context and the soldiers response, what he’s surprised by is the quality of Greek that Paul speaks.

In other words, Paul is speaking as if he is a Greek with little to no foreign accent. Which in the Greek world was a big deal because Greeks were proud of their own culture.

Think of it like this. When you meet somebody who speaks broken English, what does that tell you?

It tells you they probably aren’t a native of the United States and they more than likely have a limited grasp on the English language.

Isn’t it also true that even within the United States it’s easy to tell if somebody is from a different region of the country based on their dialect?

For example, it’s easy to tell if somebody is from the south or from the NE or the midwest based on their english dialect.

For instance, if you talk to Kelly Wilkens long enough, you’ll pick up on her New York accent.

It’s the same thing in Paul’s case. Because when Paul asks this question, his Greek dialect sends a clear message to this Roman soldier that Paul is either a true Greek or somebody that is highly educated. Which is what causes the soldier to ask Paul this question:

Acts 21:38 ESV

38 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?”

Interesting question, right? So why ask Paul this question. Two reasons:

Apparently as the crowd makes accusations, this is one of the accusations. That Paul is this Egyptian who apparently had caused problems in the past and was a wanted man.

The second reasons he asks Paul this question is because Paul’s Greek dialect and this accusation don’t go together. Because if Paul was this Egyptian, he certainly wouldn’t be able to speak this way. Because Greeks viewed Egyptians as uneducated and backwards.

And so recognizing Paul couldn’t be this Egyptian, he asks for verification from Paul on who he really is.

So, what does Paul tell him? Let’s find out. Paul tells him:

“I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city...” Acts 21:39a

Luke says in response to the Roman soldiers question, Paul tells him what his nationality is and where he was born.

So he says, “No, I’m not a Greek, I’m a Jew. But I was born in Tarsus in Cilicia, which as you know is a respected city”.

In other words, Paul tells this soldier he’s not a Greek, but he was born in highly respected Greek city, which would explain how Paul was so well versed in the native Greek tongue.

All that to say, by speaking to the soldier in this way he gained automatic favor with this soldier, which is why when Paul asked, “I beg you, permit me to speak to the people”, the Roman soldier gave him permission. And we know this because Luke goes on to write:

“And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people.” Acts 21:40a ESV

This now leads us to the way Paul addressed the crowd. Because after speaking to the Roman soldier in Greek, look at what Luke says Paul did next:

“And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language...” Acts 21:40b ESV

Apparently when Paul put up his hand to speak, the crowd surprisingly got quiet. And it’s at that point that Luke says Paul addressed them in the Hebrew language.

So, a great question would be, “How did this 180 take place? How did this crowd who was screaming out of control all of a sudden come to a sudden silence?”

The answer is language. Because as Paul spoke to them in the Hebrew language, it caught them off guard? Why? Because all of a sudden he’s speaking their dialect and language.

Which means, he’s not this Egyptian or some foreign apostate. But in fact he is a Jew who speaks their language. He’s one of them.

And as a result, the crowd becomes silent? And now Paul has their attention.

Application - Here’s what this is saying to you and I. If we want to share our faith, along with initiative, we have to speak to people in a language people can understand.

Now, you might be thinking, “Ok pastor, so what does that mean? Because last I knew, most people in Marysville and Marshall County speak English.”

You’re right. They do. But that’s not what I’m talking about when I say language. What I’m talking about is our tone, our demeanor, and our use of words.

Let me give you a couple of examples of what I’m talking about. Let’s start with our use of words.

Because for some Christians who try and share their faith, one of the mistakes they make is they tend to speak to people in Christianese.

You might ask, “What is Christianese?”

Christianese is the jargon used within Christianity for religious terminology. And most Christians are well versed in it.

As an example, check out this video:

Video - Shoot Christians Say

Everybody clear now on what I mean by “Christianese”.

Basically, it’s insider language that we all understand, but the outsider doesn’t. Language we try and use to lead somebody to Jesus.

And guess what, it doesn’t work. In fact, all it does is confuse them more and cause them to think, “Yeah, he’s a nut job”. And that doesn’t open a door for conversation, it closes it.

Another mistake Christians make is in their tone and demeanor when interacting with a non-Christian.

In fact, over the years I’ve been around a lot of Christians who are noticeably uncomfortable around non-Christians. And you can see it in their expressions, body language, and comments.

I used to be this way.

Years ago, if you were to cuss like a sailor around me, you would have been able to tell right away by my body language and the look on my face that it made me uncomfortable.

Or, if you would have told me how you went out and partied the weekend before and got hammered, by the look on my face you would have known I thought you were an idiot.

To be honest, it was something I really had to work on because I knew if I wanted to reach unchurched people, I wasn’t going to be able to do it with a judgmental attitude written all over my face.

In fact, what I realized, is to have that kind of attitude wasn’t Biblical and it wasn’t Christ like. Which caused me to realize, if I’m going to lead people to Jesus, then I have to meet them where they are at and not be surprised, offended, or upset that a lost person acts like a lost person.

And I can tell you right now, that change in perspective has helped me reach people.

For example, I’ll never forget when we first moved to Marysville, we had a neighbor, who wasn’t a Christian at the time, come over and welcome us to the neighborhood.

And as we talked, not knowing I was a pastor, he told me all kinds of stuff you wouldn’t typically tell a pastor. And then the inevitable question came. He asked me, “So, what do you do?”

And that’s when I said, “Well, I’m the new pastor at Marysville Christian Fellowship”.

You should have seen the look on his face.

And then he said something that surprised me. He said, “You’re a pastor?? Now way! I would have never thought that. Would you like to go get a beer sometime?”

At which point I was thinking, “What did I say that would make this guy think I drink beer?”

And then I realized what had happened. Because of the way I had acted, talked, portrayed myself, and probably even the way I was dressed, this man felt comfortable with me, even when he found out I was a pastor. Comfortable enough to invite me to go get a beer with him.

Now, you might be wondering, “Ok pastor, what were you wearing and how did you talk? What made this guy think you were willing to go have a beer with him?”

Well, I was dressed in jeans, a t-shirt, and when I talked I talked like a normal person. I didn’t use any Christianese.

My point is this. If you want to reach somebody for Jesus, you have to speak in a language they can understand and relate with. A language that communicates, “I don’t think I’m better than you.” A language that communicates, I’m somebody you can relate with.

And when you’re able to do that, it will open a door that will allow you to speak into their life in a way they are now willing to listen.

And please hear me, I’m not saying you need to start dropping “f” bombs and acting like an idiot to reach people.

What I’m saying is the more you can be a real person, and take them where they are at, the more you’re going to be invited in and the more they are going to listen.

We see this with Paul. Because look at what Luke says happens next as Paul begins to speak:

Acts 22:1–2 ESV

1 “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” 2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said:

Luke says as Paul speaks in a way they can understand, a way they can identify with, a way that portrays Paul as somebody like them, they get even more quiet. And now, Paul has their full attention.

This leads us to the third step in this process:

Step #3 - In order to share my faith, I have to speak to be willing to share my testimony.

Notice I used a Christianese word. The word Testimony.

So, just to make sure we all know what I’m talking about, let’s define what I mean by testimony.

When I say, “Share your testimony”, what I’m talking about is the story of how you came to faith. The story that details the transformational work of Jesus in your life. A story that includes details about your old life, your new life, and your future hope.

So, what does that look like? Let’s find out as Paul shares his testimony. Because after speaking their language and getting their attention, Paul goes on to say this:

And he said:

Acts 22:3 ESV

3 “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.

Let’s stop here for a second, because as Paul begins his testimony, he starts with his past.

And in doing so he starts by telling them his nationality, birthplace, where he was raised, level of education, and his religious upbringing.

So, why does he do this?

He does it to further identify with this group of people. Because in essence what he’s saying is, “ I don’t only speak your language, but I’m one of you”. I’m a Jew, I was brought up here, I went to school here, and I went to the same church you did”.

Can I tell you right now, that has power. And what it does is it further opens the door for Paul to speak to them, because clearly, he’s a local.

That’s how it works in all towns, right. For example, if you were born in Marshall county, raised here, went to school here, and went to church at St. Gregory, you’re as local as they come. And there are some advantages to that when it comes to local interaction and influence.

To be honest, this was an advantage I had in getting elected as the pastor at MCF. Why? Because I wasn’t some guy from the big city. I wasn’t somebody unfamiliar with small town rural life. I was Brad Wicks, the son of a farmer, born and raised in Colby Kansas. was raised with the same work ethic, morals, values, and ethics that many of you hold. Which automatically makes me relatable with many of you.

Same with Paul. By identifying himself as a Jew and a local, he further has their ear.

But Paul’s not just any Jew or local. Because Paul says he was educated at the feet of Gamaliel. So, who is Gamaliel?

Gamaliel was one of the most highly respected Pharisees and teachers of the law in that generation. And this would have resonated with the zealous Jews trying to kill Paul, because Gamaliel wasn’t just a famous teacher, he was a teacher of the law according to the strictest manner. And Paul was trained by him. Which is why Paul says of himself, “…being zealous for God as all of you are this day.”

Paul says, “Listen, I was instructed by the grand master of Judaism, which means at one time, I was just as zealous for the law as you are, and maybe even a little bit more.”

How much more? That’s what Paul goes on to share, because now that he’s established his identity with this group, he goes on to tell them just how zealous he was in the past. Picking up in verse 4 he says:

Acts 22:4–5 ESV

4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, 5 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.

Paul says, “Listen, I was so zealous for the law, that when Christianity started to grow, I was the one who initially tried to squash it. I’m the one who persecuted, imprisoned, and executed the first Christians. I’m the one who got permission from the High Priest so that I could go down to Damascus, search out Christians, and take them out. Maybe you heard of me. Because while you know me as Paul, my name used to be Saul of Tarsus. And if you don’t believe me, go ask the Chief Priest and the council of elders, because they know who I am and what I did.”

You see what Paul is doing? As he shares who he was and what he did in the past he is further identifying with this group. He’s further showing them that he wasn’t much different than them. In fact, he was even more intense.

This now moves Paul to the second part of his testimony as he shares the change that took place in him and how it happened. Picking up in verse 6 he goes on to say:

Acts 22:6–16 ESV

6 “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ 9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10 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.’ 11 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. 12 “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 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. 14 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; 15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

Paul now gives them the details of his conversion to faith in Jesus. A supernatural event where Jesus himself appeared to Paul. An event that left him blind and broken. An event that led him to a disciple named Ananias. An event that led to Paul’s ministry calling and the new life God had called him too. Because look at what Paul goes on to say:

Acts 22:17–21 ESV

17 “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20 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.’ 21 And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”

Paul now shares the specifics of his calling. How despite his past. Despite his persecution of the first Christians. Despite the Christians he killed. Despite all that, God called him to go and preach the gospel to the Gentiles.

And for Paul this was a big deal, because after all he had done in his past to oppose Jesus, he felt he was least worthy to share about Him. Paul puts it like this in 1 Corinthians 15:

1 Corinthians 15:9–11 ESV

9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

This is Pauls testimony. This is his story of how he came to faith in Jesus. A powerful story how how God took a man who was trying to kill people for Jesus and turned him into a man that was leading people to Jesus.

And I’m telling you right now, your testimony is just as powerful as Paul’s was. Because just like Paul, you have a past. A past full of mistakes. A past full of blunders. A past that you’re more than likely not proud of.

But then you met Jesus, and it changed everything. In that moment you became a different person. In that moment a new you was born and an old you died. In that moment God did a work in you that transformed your life.

And now you have a new direction. A new hope. A new way of living that God has called you too.

And here’s the great thing about that testimony. Nobody can tell you it’s not true. Nobody can say it didn’t happen. Why? Because your new life is the evidence of what Jesus has done.

And if people don’t believe you, all you have to do is point them back to people who knew the old you. In that moment you can say, “Well you should go talk to so and so, because they’ll tell you what I as like. In fact, ask my wife, ask my family, they’ll be the first to tell you that the old me is dead and a new has been born.”

You see, nobody can deny what Jesus has done in your life. Nobody can discount your testimony.

And the fact is, if you’re a Christian, you have one. You have a story to tell. A story that could lead somebody to faith. A story that can testify to who Jesus is and what He can do when a person puts their faith in him.

The fact is, you are living proof of His resurrection power.

Paul understands this. So, in the midst of a crowd of people who are bent on killing him, he shares his testimony.

So, did it work? Did Paul’s testimony lead thousands to faith. Not initially. Because following his testimony look at what Luke says happened next:

Acts 22:22–24 ESV

22 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.” 23 And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 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.

Luke says as Paul shared his testimony they listened up to a point, but then Paul said something that got them all upset again. So, what did he say that upset them again?

It was when Paul mentioned he was called to reach the Gentiles. And for these zealous Jewish Christians, that was something they were just unwilling to accept.

Which then led to the crowd once again calling for Paul’s death, when then led the Romans to pull Paul in the Barracks where they will question him through flogging in order to determine why the people are so upset with him.

In other words, they’re going to beat it out of Paul.

Now you might be thinking, “Well that’s horrible pastor. Maybe I shouldn’t share my testimony.”

Here’s what we need to understand. Just because you share your testimony doesn’t mean people are going to listen, take it to heart, or accept it. And it’s not your job to try and force them to. Your job is to simply share your faith and then leave the rest to God, trusting the God will take the seeds you planted and eventually produce a harvest.

And I have to believe that as Paul shared his testimony, that it struck a cord with some in that crowd. And that their were some who came to faith in Jesus.

In fact, I think we are going to see that in the chapters to come. Because Paul does have allies in Jerusalem. And he does have people who are going to come to his defense. And in addition to that, Paul has a plan that is going to allow him to share his testimony even further as they drag him in to be beat. We’ll find out more about that next week because I think you’re going to be surprised at what Paul does next in order to avoid being beat while at the same time share his faith.

But for now, as we close, I’d like to end by challenging you to consider what sharing your faith looks like for you. And to do that, I’d like to close with three questions that I think will help each of us take a step forward in our ability to share our faith.

Question #1 - Are you willing to see an opportunity as an invitation?

What I mean by that is, if you’re a Christian, instead of waiting for an invitation to share your faith, are you willing to start stepping into the opportunities that are all around you.

Because the truth is, everyday, there are opportunities to share your faith. In fact, you’re surrounded by them. Opportunities that come every-time somebody cries for help. Every-time somebody expresses a challenge they are facing. Every-time somebody admits they need help. In that moment you have an opportunity to bring hope. To bring encouragement. To share how God has worked in your circumstances and challenges.

But for that to happen, you have to start seeing the opportunities as an invitation.

Question #2 - What’s your testimony consist of?

In other words, what’s your story. I ask you that because I’m not sure very many Christians understand the power of their testimony. That their own conversion represents a living testimony, an ongoing story, of the love, mercy, and grace of God.

That being said, I’d like to challenge you to consider what your story is. To maybe even sit down and write it down. To recount who you were before you met Jesus. To recall the circumstances and the moment you met Jesus. To remember how He changed your life. How in that moment the old you died and the new was born.

But don’t stop there. To also consider what He’s currently doing. How He continues to lead and guide you.

And then once you’ve written it down, to begin to share it with others. That as the opportunities come, you would be willing to share your story.

Because I can promise you this. When you share your story with others, it will have an impact. And yes, the reaction could be positive or negative. But regardless, seeds will be planted. And what God has done in your life will begin to take root in others.

Question #3 - If you don’t have a testimony, do you want one?

In other words, if you don’t have a relationship with Jesus. If you’ve never experienced His love and forgivness, would you like to have one.

Because the truth is, God wants to give you one. He wants to do a work in you. He wants to take the current you, and turn it into the old you. And in the process create a new you.

Because that’s how a testimony is created. It’s created as you open your heart to God and allow His presence in your life. A presence that comes as you put your faith in Jesus.

And the good news is, if you want that, God offers it to you today. In fact, today could be the starting point of your testimony. The moment you met Jesus. The moment everything changed. The moment where this verse comes to life in you.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

The new can start for you today. Today can be ground zero for your testimony. And all you have to do is put your faith in Jesus.

Let’s Pray

Paul’s use of “Brothers and Fathers” would be an address that covers the gambit of those present.

By addressing them in their native language, it surprises them and creates a hush. He now has their attention. Could Paul be one of them? In their minds he could be until Paul mentions the Gentiles.

When Paul addresses the crowd, it is not a planned speech, but a Spirit led speech. This goes along with what Jesus said would happen when defense would be necessary. Luke 12:12; 21:15.

Paul’s address begins by highlighting his Jewish training in the law. This identifies him with the audience. This would be like saying, “It too was a Catholic, Lutheran, non believer, etc… In doing this Paul identifies with their zeal and even highlights that he was the most extreme version of what they are.

Paul also emphasizes he was raised and trained in Jerusalem. In doing so Paul is emphasizing his orthodox background, which will appeal to his audience.

Paul also mentions he was instructed by Gamaliel, a highly respected Pharisee and teacher of the law of that time. This claim again would draw the crowd in.

By stating he was zealous for God, Paul is emphasizing the level he was willing to go in order to protect Judaism. To the point of murder, just like this crowd was. Again, an identifying factor.