At some point in our lives, we will have to defend our faith in Jesus to our family, friends, or even strangers. It’s important to have clear thoughts about why we believe in Jesus and the reason behind our faith. Paul had to defend his faith before his Jewish men in Acts 22.
Most of them knew him as Saul. They knew his passion for Jewish customs and his zeal for their law. He was an intelligent student who studied under Gamaliel in the school established by Hillel (Gamaliel’s Grandfather).
When Saul became Paul and started following Christ, he had to press the refresh button on the things he had learned in the Old Testament based on his newfound faith in Jesus. His epistle to Romans, based on the theology of Righteousness by faith and forgiveness by grace, set the fundamentals of the New Testament. But the Jews started hating him for the same theology.
Though many pleaded and prophesied against returning to Jerusalem, Paul was firm in his decision after his third missionary journey. When he returned to the Jerusalem temple, Jews from Asia created an uproar, and the Roman commander had to arrest Paul to stop the commotion. Paul requested the commander permit him to present his defense and started talking in Aramaic, the most common language of the local people.
The defense of Paul to Jews
Paul gives his testimony as a defense. Paul was born in Tarsus, which is currently in the province of Mersin, Turkey. Tarsus is approximately 900 Km from Jerusalem. Paul says he was brought up in Jerusalem, as anyone who wants to be an excellent Pharisee had to be educated under a good teacher.
Education starts in the early teenage years. Paul’s teacher was one of the renowned scholars of his day, Gamaliel. Gamaliel held both Jewish and Hellenistic views, but his approach was more balanced and logical. His intervention saved the lives of Peter and John in Acts chapter 5.
Paul, though, studied under Gamaliel initially, holding an extreme view. He supported Stephen’s execution and took permission from the high priest and members of the council to punish Christians. Probably, he was standing before the members of the same council and making his defense.
Paul was passionate about what he believed. Everything was right about Paul, except his passion was placed on the wrong side. He was trained in rhetorical speech to persuade anyone.
It is an ancient art of Greek scholars who were able to speak both sides of the truth independently of what was the truth. Paul later used rhetorical skills to persuade official, common gentile men and present his defense before King Agrippa and the Roman proconsular.
Paul narrated what happened to him when he was on his way to Damascus. He saw a bright light and a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Paul knew what he was going through was not an ordinary experience. It was supernatural. Nobody could hear what he was hearing.
He asked his first question. “Who are you, Lord?” The answer was crystal clear. “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting”. Now, it would have been a thunderbolt for Paul. He firmly believed Jesus was dead. He thought Christians were mad, putting their belief in a dead man named Jesus. But he is hearing the voice of Jesus. The answer was given to his question, “Who are you, Lord?”. In other words, Jesus is Lord.
Paul’s next question portrays his intention of complete surrender. He asked the second question, “What shall I do, Lord?” He was asked to go to Damascus not to persecute and not to be as passionate as Saul but as a blind man struggling to walk. His blindness was healed by Ananias.
The question he asked Jesus was answered when he was praying in the Jerusalem temple, where he was giving his defense. Lord asked him to leave Jerusalem and go far away to Gentiles as His witness.
Lesson for us
What an amazing testimony!
But the Jewish mob on that fateful day in AD 54 (approximately) did not have any more patience to listen to his words. Paul was pulled away by the commander. But what is the lesson for us?
Paul used his testimony, which transformed his life from Saul to Paul. He provided his justification for who he was before his conversion. He had no reason to change his belief system. His encounter with Jesus changed everything. I am sure each of us would have our encounter with God. How did he reveal to us? How God took care of us in the past? How he showed his love for us? If we do not have a defense for our faith and why we believe in Jesus, it’s time to compose one right now.
Do you want to know more about God?
