Thinking through your testimony

Paul’s Testimony

Acts 21:37-22:29

Paul’s testimony important. It’s repeated three times in Acts. Looking closely at Paul’s testimony will help us better craft how we can put together our own testimony as part of sharing the gospel with others.

FIVE PRINCIPLES for CRAFTING your TESTIMONY

1. Connects with your audience

Paul pointed out: I’m one of you. He identified and connected with them in a very powerful way.

Ephesians 2 shows us that no matter the crowd - we actually can identify with them.

[We all] were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Whoever you’re sharing with - you were once as they are now

Begin by identifying with our audience and speaking of your life before Christ

2. The Details of our Conversion

Paul’s conversion was a significant historical event - a major turning point for the church.

Paul was pursuing his own glory. Literally in the middle of his feet swift to shed blood when he was saved.

In an instant, he realized how wrong he had been and was dramatically converted. In that moment, he became a follower of Jesus Christ.

3. Your Commission is Connected to your Calling

When the Lord calls you in salvation,

You’re also commissioned to take that message to others.

Galatians 1:15-18 shows us that Paul’s commission to take the gospel to the Gentiles was there from the beginning.

4. You will Be Rejected

We don’t talk about this when we discuss evangelism, but we will often be rejected.

When the crowd heard of Paul’s mission to take the gospel to the Gentiles, they erupted in a frenzy of hatred, calling for Paul’s immediate death.

5. Attitude and Actions

Where it is absolutely relevant to what’s going on in our world today. Paul leaned into his rights as a citizen, telling us that we too can lean into the rights granted to us by our constitution.

Five Attitudes/Actions of Paul to Imitate

When faced with hostility,  difficulty, or persecution:

1. Accept the situation - remember God is in control

There’s no reason to be anxious or to panic

Just Stay calm - Carry on - Trust God

2. In Every Situation - See the Opportunity

If you’re looking for an opportunity to share the gospel, you’ll have that chance. 

3. Bless Your Persecutors

Paul never got upset or angry. He genuinely cared for those persecuting him. He reached out to the angry crowd, and stopped the centurion from an action that would have brought trouble to him.

4. Glorify God

When sharing his testimony, it wasn’t about what He had done - it was about what God did in and through Him. His heart’s desire was to magnify and lift up God, not himself. 

5. An Attitude Like Christ

Paul demonstrated sacrificial love constantly. Ultimately, this was a reflection of Jesus

1 Peter 2:23 – When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴ He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵ For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 

The attitudes and actions that Paul had were both a picture of Jesus and a result of trusting in Him. When you turn away from sinfulness and place your faith in Jesus, you become like Him and are commissioned to carry His message to the world.