Some people incorrectly believe that only pastors and Christian Workers are called to testify about the Lord Jesus and His offer of the Gospel to all who will receive it. The reason I say this is an incorrect belief is because all believers are mandated to take the Gospel message to everyone, wherever they are, praying that many will be stirred to realize their sinful state before a Holy God, and receive the Gospel through faith and repentance. Many people are not saved through going to Church or hearing an evangelistic message. Many are converted to Jesus through the testimony about Jesus from the lips of friends, family, neighbors and even through a once in a life time meeting with a stranger. On the other hand, someone might hear the Gospel in a Church Service and that message lingers in the subconscious for years … like some seeds in the ground … only to germinate in the soul at some unexpected time in the future.
We are dealing with Paul and his testimony to the mob who wanted him dead and removed from the face of the earth because according to them, he was spreading opposition doctrine and trying to bring disrepute upon the Jewish Faith and Law by “stealing” away followers to Christianity. The mob arrested him and were beating him. The noise grew to fever pitch causing the commander of the nearby Roman Garrison to hear and take a detachment of soldiers with him to calm the situation. Thinking Paul was guilty of some crime he arrested him and needed to carry him away due to the fury of the crowd.
Just before entering the barracks at the top of the second flight of stairs next to the temple court, Paul requested permission to speak to those wanting his death. Once obtaining permission he first explained that before his salvation he was identical to them, perhaps even more fanatical. Then he went onto explain how he met the Risen, Reigning Lord Jesus Christ on the Damascus Road and how his life was radically transformed through falling into physical blindness, yet being given back his sight after Ananias healed him. We have been through all this in chapter nine yet here Paul is defending himself and the Gospel. It is not only wise, but prudent that all believers learn to share the gospel because you may be the only contact between some person and Jesus. Once away from you, that person might never have another opportunity of hearing the Gospel again.
1) Ananias’ instruction to Paul.
Ac 22:15 You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.
The word “witness” means to testify to what one has seen and heard … and in this case the witnessing is for God. Ananias tells Paul that he must be a witness for God, to mankind of the things he has seen and heard. What did he see and hear? The Risen, Reigning Jesus! He saw the Lord (and it blinded him) and he heard the Lord’s voice. Now he needed to testify that Jesus who was crucified is alive … risen from the dead and reigning as Lord and King. He need to tell that the promised Messiah the prophets spoke of had come and fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecies. Look at a snap shot of what Paul realized when seeing and hearing Jesus on that Damascus Road.
(1)
Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
(2)
Isa 53:4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
(3)
Isa 53:8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, 10 Yet it was the LORD’S will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
(4)
Isa 55:10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
See the fulfilment … (5)
Mt 1:20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.”
(6)
Jn 19:1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3 and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they struck him in the face.
(7)
Jn 19:16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18 Here they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.
(8)
Jn 19:30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
(9)
Jn 20:19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
(10)
Jn 20:21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
This might be a lot of Scripture but the point I want to enforce is that Paul, who knew the Old Testament (Law, Prophets and Writings) so well … (remember Gamaliel was his teacher) … yet he did not believe Messiah had come in Jesus Christ … yet now, once meeting Him personally and hearing His Words of address, he believed everything that had been prophesied about Messiah to be true and realized in Jesus. In reading through those ten stages above, would it be too difficult for you to share the Gospel with someone?
2) Once Paul believed what Ananias had to say, he was encouraged to be baptized. Remember the Church was in its infancy and baptism was (and still is) a sign of changing spiritual allegiance to Jesus as Messiah, Lord and King. As he did this, he called upon the name of the Lord for forgiveness and salvation … calling on his name … and in so doing his sins were washed away.
Ac 22:16 “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.”
It is not the baptism that cleanses of sin! It is calling on the name of Jesus for forgiveness and salvation that sin is washed away.
Our Father, thank You for the simplicity of the Gospel Message and thank You for granting us Your Spirit to open our spiritual vision to see, behold and receive Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. Amen.