Paul’s Defense

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Acts 22: 1-21

 

John 4:28-29

The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, ²⁹ “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”

(NKJV)

 

Paul is now ready to meet the mob in Jerusalem, the mob that is seeking to kill him. He does not attempt to reason with them but instead shares his testimony about how his life was transformed from one persecuting Christians to one now under arrest for his faith in Christ. Our testimony of what Jesus has done in our lives is a powerful message for leading others to a relationship with Jesus.

 

Paul addresses the mob and when they hear him speaking to them in Hebrew, they keep even more silent (Acts 22:1-2). Paul then tells them that he is indeed a Jew born in Tarsus and brought up in Jerusalem under the teaching of Gamaliel, a man who was zealous for God and strictly taught the Law (Acts 22:3). Paul was formerly one who persecuted those believing in Jesus to the death, binding and delivering both men and women into prison for their faith in Jesus (Acts 22:4). He continues by telling them that the high priest, and all the council of elders can bear witness to this for he received letters from them to go to Damascus and bring Christians to Jerusalem for punishment (Acts 22:5).

 

Something happened to Paul on his way to Damascus. He saw a great light from heaven shining around him at noon, causing him to hear a voice from heaven, asking him why he was persecuting Him (Acts 22:6-7). Paul responded to the Lord by asking who He was, and was told it was Jesus of Nazareth, the one he was persecuting (Acts 22:8). Those with Paul saw the light but did not hear the voice speaking to him (Acts 22:9).

 

Paul then asked the Lord what he must do and is told to get up and go to Damascus, and he will be told what the Lord has appointed for him to do (Acts 22:10). Since Paul had been blinded by the glory of the light surrounding him, those with him had to lead him by the hand to Damascus (Acts 22:11). In Damascus, Paul met Ananias, a devout man according to the law and one with a good testimony with the Jews in Damascus, who prayed with Paul to receive his sight and Paul could see (Acts 22:12-13). Ananias tells Paul he has been chosen to know His will and see and hear the Just One, because Paul will be the Lord’s witness to all men regarding what he has seen and heard (Acts 22:14-15). Ananias then asks Paul why he hesitates and to be baptized to wash away his sins and to call upon the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16).

 

Upon returning to Jerusalem, Paul was in the temple praying and, in a trance, when he saw the Lord telling him to leave Jerusalem because his testimony would not be accepted there (Acts 22:17-18). Paul reminds the Lord of how he once went into every synagogue, imprisoning and beating those who believed in Him, even consenting to the death of Stephen (Acts 22:19-20). The Lord again tells Paul to leave Jerusalem and go to the Gentiles (Acts 22:21).

 

Paul courageously addresses a mob in Jerusalem who want to kill him, sharing the testimony of how Jesus has transformed his life. There has been an extreme transformation in the life of Paul, from one persecuting, arresting, and even killing Christians to one who now believes and is under arrest for his belief. In this passage, Paul shares how this transformation occurred in his life. The key to this transformation is his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus recorded in Acts 9:1-9. The courage of Paul sharing this testimony with a mob seeking to kill him is an example to us all who face hard persecution in our lives or may encounter it in the future. His courage is like that of Joshua, who would face dangerous enemies when leading the nation of Israel into the promised land (Joshua 1:9).

 

As one raised in the Church, I do not have a colorful testimony of one who was against God and committing atrocious sins, but I do have a testimony of conversion that some relate to. I am reminded of the first evangelist in the Bible, the Samaritan woman who had a face-to-face encounter with Jesus that transformed her life (John 4:1-42). However, unlike Paul, this woman was no great theologian, but she had an encounter with Jesus that changed her life. Like Paul, she was courageous and not afraid to let others know of her encounter. Disciples of Christ today must have the courage to share how Jesus has transformed their lives for revival to come.

 

Romans 10:9-10 says that anyone who confesses with their mouth and believes in their heart that Jesus died, was buried in the grave, and resurrected from the grave will be saved. If you believe this in your heart but have never confessed it with your mouth, I invite you to do so by praying with me.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23). I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9). I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I now encourage you to let someone know of your decision. I also urge you to find a church of truth that teaches from the Bible and is empowered by the Holy Spirit, so you can grow in your faith. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post.