Tag: Acts 22
“Who are You, Lord?”
Scripture reading for June 4: Acts 22
“”As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, Whom you are persecuting.’ Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the One Who was speaking to me. 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.” Acts 22:6-10
Have you ever noticed how many questions there are in Scriptures? By one estimate, there are 183 questions in the Gospels alone. This is because God wants us to think and evaluate the answers so that we might chose to change our minds willingly. In this testimony of Paul, he again recounts his earlier life as a devout Jew who persecuted Christ’s followers. He was on his way to Damascus with arrest warrants for believers there when Jesus revealed Himself to Paul, then called Saul. A light shone around him and a voice asked him a penetrating question. He was addressed by name, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
Paul (Saul) responded with another question: “Who are You, Lord?” Although Paul knew about Jesus Christ, he did not know Jesus Christ. Jesus wanted personal relationship. This conversation, although heard clearly by Paul, was not understood by those with him. As Paul processed this information, he must have come quickly to the conclusion that his world view of Jesus Christ was in error. His persecution of Christ’s followers was actually a persecution and rejection of Jesus! “What shall I do, Lord?” was the humble request of a heart changed! The result of this bright revelation of Jesus was blindness in Paul, needing to be led by the hand. He obediently followed to Damascus, awaiting instructions.
Have you ever been convinced something was true and found out that it definitely was not? Has a question ever caused you to think more deeply and reflect on your direction? What question would you have for Jesus if He appeared to you?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for desiring personal relationships with each of Your children. It is comforting to know that You ask us questions to help us find truth. Help me, as a teacher of Your Word to ask questions that probe the heart and draw people to Your Word and Jesus. Amen.
Assignment from Jesus!
Scripture reading for June 3rd: Acts 22
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Acts 22:6-11 “”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. “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. “‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.'”
Saul had been on a mission to hunt down and bring to justice those who followed Jesus Christ. He was on the road to Damascus when his journey was divinely interrupted by a flash of heavenly light that blinded him and got his attention. A voice spoke to him that revealed that it was Jesus of Nazareth! Jesus told Paul that his persecution of Christians was really persecution of Him! As Paul processed this, Paul asked Jesus what to do next. Jesus told him to go into Damascus and he would receive an assignment concerning what God wanted him to do. As he got up, his companions led him by the hand into Damascus.
Observations for over-comers: God knows how to get our attention and has assignments for each of His disciples. We must humbly ask the Lord what to do next and He will show us! “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness, for His names’s sake.” (Psalm 23:1-3)
Paul shares his testimony to the Jews!
Scripture reading for June 4th: Acts 22
Paul arrived in Jerusalem and shared the results of his ministry to the Gentiles. At the advice of the church leadership there, he began a purification ritual to prove his faithfulness to the laws of the temple so as not to give the Jews cause to harm him. However, Jews from Asia ( probably Ephesus) recognized him and seized Paul and dragged him from the temple and began beating him. (Acts 21:30-32) The Roman troop commander rescued Paul from the angry crowd of Jews and certain death. Religious people can be mean!
Paul asked the Roman commander if he could address the crowd and was granted permission. Paul again has opportunity to share his testimony of his personal encounter with Jesus. He told how he was zealous for God just like they were and persecuted the believers in Jesus, having them imprisoned and put to death. On his way to Damascus with letters to arrest believers, Paul encountered Jesus! “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.” (Acts 22:6-8)
Paul then told of his blindness and then visit by Ananias, a devout Jew who was also a believer who brought healing. He told how he was baptized and returned to Jerusalem. He was warned by Jesus to leave town and preach to the Gentiles. When Paul mentioned this, the crowd again turned on him, demanding his death! (Acts 22:22)
Paul seized every opportunity to tell people about Jesus! He was willing to die that others might hear. Oh that the church might live that way today!