SCRIPTURE: ACTS 22
Bible Verses:
“About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’ ‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked: “ ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.” (Acts 22:7-9)
“You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard” (Acts 22:15)
“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ” (Acts 22:21)
Paul spoke to the crowd in Aramaic. He stated his identification, his birth, training and early ministry as a rabbi. He was strictly orthodox. But when he was on his way to Damascus, a bright light from heaven flashed down. He fell down and heard a voice from Jesus asking him why he was persecuting him. When he got up he was blind and his companion took him to Ananias, a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews. When he received his sight, Ananis said to him: “You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard” (v. 15) He urged him to get up, be baptized, and call on His name. Ananias declared that Paul had a special commision from God to be Christ’s witness to the Gentiles.
PAUL THE ROMAN CITIZEN (v.s 22-29)
The crowd were against Paul and the commander ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks. When he ordered him to be flogged, Paul asserted his Roman citizenship. Those who wanted to question him withdrew immediately.
BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN (v. 30)
The commander ordered the chief priest and all the Sanhedrin to assemble and brought Paul to find out why Paul was being accused by the Jews.
THOUGHT:
When Paul spoke to the crowd, he used Aramaic language and establish common ground with his audience before entering into a full defense of Christianity. When we witness for Christ, it is better to identify ourselves with the audience to build a common bond so that they would listen to us.