Acts (19)

And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Luke 24.27

The video for lesson 19 is the same as for lesson 17. You can view it by clicking here (scroll down to Lesson 17).

Read and meditate on Acts 22.1-16.
Paul has just been rescued from an irrational mob which was seeking to take his life. But he insisted on treating his assailants as reasonable people, and he intended to give them a reason for the hope that was within him (cf. 1 Pet. 3.15).

For reflection
1.  For the Jews, the masses were tools to manipulate for their own purposes. For the Romans they were rabble to be controlled or punished. For Paul they were men and women made in the image of God, with reasonable souls, who deserved a fair opportunity to understand him and to hear the Good News. Would you say this is the way you look at the people in your Personal Mission Field? Explain.

2.  No hard feelings, just the facts: Paul relates his story about coming to faith in Jesus. A simple outline: here’s who I was (vv. 3-5, 20), here’s what happened to me (vv. 6-16), and here’s why I’m doing what I’m doing now (vv. 17-21). Using that outline, briefly sketch out your own personal testimony of the hope that is within you because of Jesus.

3.  No one can gainsay our experience of what Christ has done for us. We know Him. We know His presence, blessings, power, promises, Word, Spirit, truth, and love. We need to be ready to give an explanation of our hope whenever people ask a reason for it – and, sometimes, even when they don’t. What kinds of things do people hope in, in our day? Is ours a better hope than this? Explain.

4.  Look at the way Paul introduced Ananias into his story (vv. 11, 12). Why did he take this tack? How was Paul hoping this introduction would lend credibility to his testimony?

5.  What might be some topics, situations, or other opportunities in which you could share some part of your testimony with someone in your Personal Mission Field? Put another way, how would you be able to recognize when God had cracked an “effective door” (1 Cor. 16.9) for you to talk about Jesus?

Summary
Paul relied on his testimony on more than one occasion. This suggests that we should, too. But what is your testimony? Paul could talk about the dramatic effects of the power of Christ on and in his life. What about you? Our testimony should be a growing thing. Why? If you need some help preparing your testimony, meditate on the vignettes offered in Psalm 107. Which of these seems most like your story?

Closing Prayer
Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked,
Out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
For You are my hope, O Lord GOD;
You are my trust from my youth.
By You I have been upheld from birth;
You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb.
My praise shall be continually of You.
I have become as a wonder to many,
But You are my strong refuge.
Let my mouth be filled with Your praise
And with Your glory all the day.

Psalm 71.4-8

T. M. Moore

Each week’s studies in Acts are bound together into a free PDF that you can download for personal or group use (click here). Each week also features a video related to the studies of the week, which you may find helpful as you work through our studies in Acts.

Acts is the record of Christ’s ongoing work as King and Lord. This is the work of bringing the Kingdom of God to earth as it is in heaven. Read more about the implications of this work in our new book, The Kingdom Turn (click here).

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