The Power of Personal Testimony
Acts: To the Ends of the Earth • Sermon • Submitted
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· 26 viewsPaul's use of his personal story is a powerful message of the gospel
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Paul accused of teaching against the law and profaning the Temple (21:28).
People beat and sought to kill Paul, but the tribune arrested him and was bringing him to the barracks.
v. 37-40 – Prelude to his defense
Paul establishes that he’s not a terrorist, asks to speak to the people
1st of 6 defenses Paul makes in Acts
Acts A. Paul the Pharisee (vv. 1–5)
There are 97 verses of defense speech, which represents 39 percent of the prison-defense section. This compares to 47 verses of Pauline missionary speech, which is 21 percent of the missionary section. There are 239 prison verses and 226 missionary verses. This shows that Paul as defender of the faith is as important, if not more important, than Paul as preacher of the faith. This fits with the goal of Luke. Part of the reassurance that Theophilus needs is seen in the reassurance Paul gives about the roots of the faith. The Way is rooted in God’s promise and is moved by God’s direction. Paul’s defense speeches are not only his defense, but that of the Way, since he represents the natural extension of what the promise calls for, taking the message to all men (Luke 24:47) (Bock, 151).
1. Before Meeting Jesus – Religious Fervor
Born in Tarsus - a Hellenistic Jew and a Roman citizen
Brought up in Jerusalem - early life
Educated at the feet of Gamaliel, according to the strict manner of the law
birth - rearing - training
Zealous for God - by the way, the One True God
Paul’s confidence in the flesh - Phil. 3:2-6
Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
Paul was a Pharisee’s Pharisee
Remember Gamaliel? Acts 5:33-39
When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice,
Gamaliel wisely urged caution, but Saul/Paul was a young hothead
Paul, the Persecutor of the Church, Acts 22:4-5
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.
This activity weighed on Paul; he never forgot it.
Paul remembered his former ways, even after his conversion. 1 Cor. 15:8-9
Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
Paul understood he was forgiven; but he never forgot the depths of sin for which he was forgiven.
2. Meeting Jesus – a Transformational Encounter
“Who are you, Lord?” “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” v. 6-11
Not, I am Jesus, who will help you reach your full potential, who will help you live your best life now.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”
His first encounter with Jesus is over the matter of his sin.
Paul knew of God’s deliverance of his people from bondage in Egypt. He knew the steadfast love (HESED) of God, that his mercies are new every morning. He knew of God’s faithfulness to his promises.
What he didn’t know is that what he was doing was sinning against a Holy God.
Like most Pharisees, he missed Jesus.
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
Who are you, God? is the central question in a divine encounter
I am the God whose glory you have not honored
I am the God whose holiness you have not revered
I am the God whose truth you have not sought
I am the God whose commandments you have not obeyed
I am the God whose wrath you have not feared
I am the God whose grace you have not cherished
I am the God whom you have not loved with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength
(adapted from John Piper)
To encounter God and Jesus Christ is to answer the problem of sin!
The good news is that the gospel has done that!
Out of his love and mercy - Life, death, resurrection of Jesus for our sins
The meeting with Ananias, Paul’s response, v. 12-16
And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’
“This is not a story of getting on some sort of journey with God; it is an account of a sinner saved through the name of Jesus.” -Vickers, Brian J. Acts in the ESV Expository Commentary, Vol. IX, p. 541.
Baptism - the outward sign of an inward reality, an public identification with Christ
Paul is not about to replace one ritual (circumcision) as a means of being saved with another (baptism). Salvation is by grace, through faith.
“Wash away your sins, [BY] calling on his name.”
To call on his name
To stop trusting in your own goodness
To believe, trust in, rely on Jesus alone
To cry out to Jesus - “nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling”
To submit to his Lordship, recognizing that he is due our faith and trust
This was Paul’s response - Phil. 3:8-11
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
3. After Meeting Jesus – a Global Mission
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.
Paul’s life after meeting Christ was a missional life
He would suffer Acts 9:16 “For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
He would know his will - Eph. 3:6 “This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” (The mystery made known to Paul)
This global mission is not new; it extends back to the very beginning of God’s redemptive plan in Genesis 12
That in Abraham all the families of the earth would be blessed
That in heaven there would be an innumerable throng from every tribe, nation, and tongue
It was always God’s plan to redeem the world
Acts 22:21 “And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”
Your story -
You have a “before Jesus” - a life of sin, marked by selfishness and self-righteousness
You have an encounter with Jesus - he paid for and forgave your sins
You have a “now that you know Jesus” - a global mission and purpose
Acts by Kenneth O. Gangel
People may doubt your theology, but your own story of personal conversion is the heart of convincing testimony—especially when you back it up by godly living.
In an age when everyone’s personal story is their own personal truth...
The gospel defines your story; your story does not define the gospel.