Tag: Acts 22:20
The power of a testimony!
Scripture reading for November 13: Acts 21-23
Have you had a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ? How did it impact your life? The Word of God tells us that we overcome the accuser, Satan, by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony! (Revelation 12:11) Our testimony helps us and God uses it to reach others. Many people have been won to the Lord through the power of a testimony!
Paul had gone to Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost and had taken Trophimus the Ephesian with him. He went through the temple purification rites for seven days and went to the temple to verify that the appropriate offerings had been made. There Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul and Trophimus and began to stir up a riot. They aroused the city and men came running and seized Paul and drug him out of the temple, and began to beat him, intending to kill him!
The Roman guards heard the commotion and stopped the beating, putting Paul in chains. The commotion of the crowd was so great that they had to literally carry Paul back to the barracks. The crowd was shouting, “Away with him!” (Acts 21:33-36) Paul asked the commander of the guard permission to speak to the crowd. He gave Paul permission to address the crowd.
Paul simply shared his testimony of his own encounter with Jesus Christ. These were his people and quite likely some of the same people who had earlier demanded the death of Jesus Christ. Many were likely their descendants for this was over twenty years later! In sharing his testimony, Paul told this hostile crowd about his own anger against Christ and His followers. (Acts 22:3-5) He told them how he was struck blind and Jesus spoke to him, giving him instructions. He told them of his healing and call to go to the Gentiles. At this point, the crowd turned on him again and demanded his death!
What can we learn from Paul sharing his testimony? We remember that Paul, himself, was touched by Stephen’s testimony on the day he was martyred! (Acts 22:20) We learn how our testimony helps others to relate to us and us to them. It offers us a way to share our personal encounter with Jesus Christ. The results are always up to the Holy Spirit and often they may not appear positive at first! Try sharing your testimony with someone today as the Holy Spirit directs! You will be blessed and obey Jesus!