The One Year Bible Club with Teaching
Commentary by Nick Boork
July 3
Acts 21:37-22:16
Commentary by Nick Boork
July 3
Acts 21:37-22:16
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July 3 ~ Acts 21:37 – 22:16
Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I speak to you?” He replied, “Can you speak Greek? 38 Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?” 39 But Paul said, “I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people.” 40 So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying,
22 “Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now.” 2 And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent. Then he said: 3 “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, 5 as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished. 6 “Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ 8 So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’
9 “And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. 10 So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.’ 11 And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus. 12 “Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, 13 came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him. 14 Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. 15 For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’
OKAY, HERE'S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
Paul uses the opportunity to communicate the Gospel before this mob of angry Jews and Roman soldiers. We can learn from the approach Paul uses. What does he do? He communicates his personal testimonial starting from a place everyone can understand and that is where he was from and how he was brought up as a young man trained in Judaism. He explains that he was totally committed to persecuting Christians full-time with letters authorizing him to arrest Christians and have them put in prison.
He communicates to them that the change in his life came when he had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ! All of us that are born again Christians also have a place that we can look back in our lives and say; this is when and how I received Jesus Christ into my life. You see, people can argue the Bible and doctrine all day long but what they cannot argue is your personal testimonial because you’re just sharing what happened to you personally. This is what Paul does. Most of us do not have the kind of encounter that Paul had when we get saved but the truth is we all have a spiritual encounter connecting with Jesus Christ and we can share that with anyone that will listen. I am such a believer in this type of witnessing that I created a website you can check out called www.inspirationaltestimonies.com
After Paul shares where he came from and how he encountered Jesus Christ he next communicates what the lord has done in his life. He tells how God sent Ananias to pray for him that his sight would be healed which happened and how the Holy Spirit used Ananias to confirm the call of God on his life to go in a new direction to proclaim the faith and become a witness of Jesus Christ! Wow! What a powerful personal testimonial. Our job is to lift up Jesus and trust the Holy Spirit to use our testimonies to lead people to faith and salvation.
WHAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE?
1) The apostle Paul is a great example of someone that thought he was right but was wrong about Jesus Christ. There are multitudes of people like him today.
2) If God could manifest himself to Paul and save him and call him to be his witness there’s hope for everybody!
3) Learn to share your personal testimonial and make it simple by sharing where you came from, how you encountered Christ as your Savior and what he’s done for you.
4) It’s not our job to get anyone saved. Only the Holy Spirit can bring revelation and conviction of sin that leads people to repentance and faith to be saved but we must do our part and share our personal testimonies. Never underestimate the power of sharing your personal testimony!
5) I don’t know any greater joy than to share Jesus Christ with others and see the Lord use my testimony to lead people to salvation!
Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I speak to you?” He replied, “Can you speak Greek? 38 Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?” 39 But Paul said, “I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people.” 40 So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying,
22 “Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now.” 2 And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent. Then he said: 3 “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, 5 as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished. 6 “Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ 8 So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’
9 “And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. 10 So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.’ 11 And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus. 12 “Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, 13 came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him. 14 Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. 15 For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’
OKAY, HERE'S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
Paul uses the opportunity to communicate the Gospel before this mob of angry Jews and Roman soldiers. We can learn from the approach Paul uses. What does he do? He communicates his personal testimonial starting from a place everyone can understand and that is where he was from and how he was brought up as a young man trained in Judaism. He explains that he was totally committed to persecuting Christians full-time with letters authorizing him to arrest Christians and have them put in prison.
He communicates to them that the change in his life came when he had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ! All of us that are born again Christians also have a place that we can look back in our lives and say; this is when and how I received Jesus Christ into my life. You see, people can argue the Bible and doctrine all day long but what they cannot argue is your personal testimonial because you’re just sharing what happened to you personally. This is what Paul does. Most of us do not have the kind of encounter that Paul had when we get saved but the truth is we all have a spiritual encounter connecting with Jesus Christ and we can share that with anyone that will listen. I am such a believer in this type of witnessing that I created a website you can check out called www.inspirationaltestimonies.com
After Paul shares where he came from and how he encountered Jesus Christ he next communicates what the lord has done in his life. He tells how God sent Ananias to pray for him that his sight would be healed which happened and how the Holy Spirit used Ananias to confirm the call of God on his life to go in a new direction to proclaim the faith and become a witness of Jesus Christ! Wow! What a powerful personal testimonial. Our job is to lift up Jesus and trust the Holy Spirit to use our testimonies to lead people to faith and salvation.
WHAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE?
1) The apostle Paul is a great example of someone that thought he was right but was wrong about Jesus Christ. There are multitudes of people like him today.
2) If God could manifest himself to Paul and save him and call him to be his witness there’s hope for everybody!
3) Learn to share your personal testimonial and make it simple by sharing where you came from, how you encountered Christ as your Savior and what he’s done for you.
4) It’s not our job to get anyone saved. Only the Holy Spirit can bring revelation and conviction of sin that leads people to repentance and faith to be saved but we must do our part and share our personal testimonies. Never underestimate the power of sharing your personal testimony!
5) I don’t know any greater joy than to share Jesus Christ with others and see the Lord use my testimony to lead people to salvation!
ORDINATION
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll