Book of Acts: Discipleship In Action Pt. 101 Being A Faithful Witness For Jesus Christ

Paul asked to speak to the Jews.

Acts 21:37-39  And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek? 38)  Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers? 39)  But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.

Paul asked to speak with Lysias before he was taken inside the Roman fortress and the captain asked Paul if he could speak Greek. Paul knew Greek so the captain asked Paul if he was a certain man from Egypt who created a civil disturbance. 

Jewish historian Josephus preserved a record of the actual insurrection that Lysias is referencing below.

"An Egyptian, whose name is not known, pretended to be a prophet, and told his followers that the walls of Jerusalem would fall down before them, if they would assist him in making an attack on the city. He had address enough to raise a rabble of 30,000 men, and with these advanced as far as the Mount of Olives; but Felix, the Roman governor, came suddenly upon him, with a large body of Roman troops, both infantry and cavalry: the mob was speedily dispersed, four hundred killed, two hundred taken prisoners, and the Egyptian himself, with some of his most faithful friends, escaped; of whom no account was ever afterwards heard."

Lysias described the revolt and said they were murderers. The Greek word translated "murderers" refers to a group of assassins known as the Sicarii who carried knives with sharp curved blades with which to stab their targets. 

Paul asserted his Jewish birth and that he was a freeborn Roman citizen. Since Lysias now knew that Paul was a Roman citizen who had been attacked by the mob, he allowed Paul to address the Jews. 

Paul made a personal appeal to the Jews.

Acts 21:40 , 22:1,2  And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,  22:1  Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.  2)  (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)

Paul stood above the mob on the steps leading into the Roman fortress. The apostle's body would bear the marks of having been beaten and he was in Roman chains, yet his spirit was calm and filled with love for the Jewish people. 

He gestured with his hands and the mob responded with silence as Paul made his defense to them in the Hebrew language. 

Paul acknowledged the Jews zeal toward God.

Acts 22:3  I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. 

Paul reminded them who he was, where he came from and that he was trained by the highly regarded Gamaliel. He emphasized that he was perfectly trained in the law of Moses, and that he shared the same zeal and passion for God that they did. 

He was honest about his old way of life.

Acts 22:4-5  And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.  5)  As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.

Paul gave a factual account of his evil actions before he was saved by Jesus Christ. He was relentless in disrupting the early church and persecuting any believers that he could find. He was ready to kill them and was one who gave orders for Stephen to be stoned. 

Evidently, the high priest was in this group of Jews because Paul said that he could testify that he gave letters authorizing Paul (then known as Saul) to travel to Damascus to arrest Christians. 

Sharing what Jesus Christ did to save him. 

Acts 22:6-11  And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.  7)  And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?  8)  And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. 9)  And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. 10)  And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. 11)  And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. 

Paul proceeded to tell the Jews of Jerusalem what happened to him as he drew near to Damascus. He told them about the bright light from heaven that blinded him and how he fell upon the ground, as all men do in the presence of Holy God. 

Paul told them what Jesus said to him and what his response was. He said that it was Jesus of Nazareth who spoke to him from glory. This would have made it clear exactly who Paul spoke about. He ended this section by telling them how he was blinded and was led by the hand into Damascus. 

New life in Christ begins.

Acts 22:12-16  And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, 13)  Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. 14)  And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. 15)  For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. 16)  And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Paul recounted how Ananias came and laid hands on him so that he received his sight. Ananias also informed Paul that his new mission in life would be know the will of God, hearing directly from Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and being His witness to all men.

Paul said why he wanted to witness to the Jews. 

Acts 22:17-21  And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; 18)  And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. 19)  And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: 20)  And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him. 21)  And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. 

Now, Paul  told the Jews that as he was in the Temple praying, He saw another vision of Jesus Christ telling him to flee quickly, because they would not listen to the gospel. 

This vision was given when Paul first visited the Holy City shortly after his conversion to Christ (Acts 9:26). Paul spoke with the Lord, hoping that the Jews would be persuaded by the man who used to be a Christian killer, now turned preacher of the gospel of Christ. 

Jesus told Paul to leave the city because He was going to send him with the gospel to Gentiles living in spiritual darkness. 

Sometimes the gospel will be rejected.

Acts 22:22  And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live. 

As soon as Paul spoke of the God choosing to include Gentiles in His plan of salvation, they erupted again, demanding that he be put to death.

The phrase "away with such a fellow" connects with the law. According to the law of Moses, anyone who attempted to seduce the people to any strange worship was to be stoned, Deuteronomy 13:15. The Jews  insinuated that the apostle was guilty of this crime, and that he should be stoned, or put to death.

Israel's rejection was foretold by Isaiah. 

Romans 10:19-21  But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. 20)  But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 21)  But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. 

Later, Paul wrote to Christians at Rome and he made it clear what happened with the nation Israel. First, the Jews refusal to hear the gospel as seen in Acts 22, was actually a fulfillment of of scripture written by the prophet Isaiah. 

God would indeed save the Gentiles, so despised by the Jews, and He would cause Israel to be jealous. God was found by Gentile nations who never sought for Him, because Israel alone had the inspired scriptures and the true ordinances of God.

Isaiah further prophesied that even though Jehovah patiently pleaded for Israel as a nation, to repent and turn to Him, they remained an obstinate, stubborn and rebellious people. 

Paul's love for Israel was on display. 

Romans 10:1-4  Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2)  For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3)  For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4)  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 

This text tells us why Paul was willing to try one more time to reach the Jews at Jerusalem. His heart greatly yearned for them to be saved and to know the same Lord Jesus Christ that he knew. 

Israel's spiritual issue was that they did have a zeal for God but it was not according to the gospel of Jesus Christ. They were self righteous instead of recognizing their own depravity and need of salvation. They established a man made list of rules, works that they must do in order to gain God's favor. 

What they did not understand was that God's favor to all mankind was manifested in the Words, Works and Person of Jesus Christ. 

In rejecting Jesus Christ, the Jews refused to submit to the righteousness of God. Only Jesus perfectly satisfied the law of God and as His perfect Lamb, He died in our place and paid the wages of sin for us. 

Therefore, Jesus Christ is the end of the law, because He satisfied it's righteous requirement's. Jesus is the end of the law to all who have repentant faith toward Him. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

There are several things we learn from this section of Acts.

First, we should always be willing to witness for God in all circumstances. Paul was ready to bear witness for Christ even though he knew it might cause him to face severe hardship.

Second, it should be a personal appeal. If at all possible,  we should make the effort to know someone and understand their situation before attempting to share the gospel.

Third, we must be honest about our old way of life before Christ. Paul did not try to hide what he did before Jesus saved him.

Fourth, we must accurately share what Jesus Christ did for us when He saved us. When we were unsaved we were like Paul, walking on our own road to our own Damascus to do evil things. 

Fifth, we must tell those we witness to about new life in Christ, how old things passed away and how Jesus made all things new. 

Sixth, like Paul we must share gospel truth in love. We must do so while trusting God for any results. We must do so even though many times, the gospel will be rejected or we may be mocked. 

I pray that the Spirit of God will allow us the great privilege of being a witness for Jesus, sowing the good seed of the Word of God into the lives of sinners. 

Our mighty God will help us because He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 

Bob