Tips from the Truth for Testimony [Part III]
When Paul was given permission to speak
before King Agrippa and his wife Bernice in Acts 26, some of the most powerful
words of testimony were unleashed upon the lost souls that heard. It brought
the king to a place of near decision in just a few Spirit-filled moments as he
stated ‘Almost thou persuade me to be a
Christian’.
Paul’s testimony, too, was most effective
with those who knew him as shown in (v.4, 5). He spoke of his former ‘manner of life’ and those who ‘knew me from the beginning’ indicating
who and what he was before he was saved.
Then he gave details of his past sinful
life in (v.9-12) telling that he did ‘many
things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.’ He included the details of how he ‘shut up in prison’ the saints of God
even ‘when they were put to death, I gave
my voice against them. And punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled
them to blaspheme…being exceedingly mad against them…persecuted them…’ He went into great detail concerning his
past offenses against the Lord.
He unfolded the events of his salvation
experience focusing on the fact that it was Jesus whom he persecuted and it was
Jesus who called him to serve Him ‘To
make thee a minister and a witness’ giving him the charge of being sent to
the Gentiles: ‘To open their eyes, and to
turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God…’ (v.13-18)
He then utilizes the Word of God in (v.22,
23) showing from the Old Testament Scripture the truth concerning the Lord
Jesus Christ’s suffering, resurrection and His showing light to the people
[Jews] and the Gentiles.
He used the name of Jesus Christ (v.15, 23)
in his testimony giving us this powerful and effective example of personal
testimony. The name of Jesus and His title the Christ or Messiah must be
central in our giving the Gospel to those who are without the Saviour.
Paul not only used the Word of God
emphasizing the name of Jesus and his title Christ, but he keyed in on the main
message of Christ’s suffering and resurrection as the central events in
bringing light to the Jews and Gentiles for it truly is ‘the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew
first, and also to the Greek.’ (Romans 1:16)
And the bottom line and last point is the
fact that his testimony got results! Even though Agrippa was not converted and
instead accused Paul of being mad, Paul’s response to this accusation caused
Agrippa to consider and make his now famous statement: ‘Almost thou persuade me to be a Christian’.
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