Paul’s Salvation Testimony

Acts 22:6–16
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What if we had each person that witnessed the resurrection of our Lord give their testimony here this morning and talk for 15 minutes telling what they saw. If we listened to the testimony of all the people that Jesus appeared to, we would be here all day, and all night, and Mond … More

Testimony

Paul gives his personal testimony of the appearance of the Lord to him on the road to Damascus (vv. 6-7). So far as we know he had never known Jesus in the flesh. His first glimpse of Him was a blinding vision from heaven, and this became the driving, motivating force of his life. When he asked, “Who art thou Lord?” He replied, “I am Jesus of Nazareth” (v. 8). Then and there, Paul exchanged Judaism for Jesus. Up to that point he had persecuted those who knew the Lord, but from henceforth he must proclaim what he had seen and heard in this vision.

The men who were traveling with Paul saw the light but did not hear the voice (v. 9. The Lord told him to, “Get up and go to Damascus and when you get there, you will be told what to do” (v. 10). The light had been so bright that he couldn’t see, and the other men had to lead him by the hand to Damascus (11). Ananias, a devout Jew who resided there, came to see Paul, and standing by his side said, Brother Saul, look up and receive back your sight (vv. 12-13). And in that very instant he recovered his sight. Then Ananias told him, “The God that our ancestors worshiped has chosen you to know what he wants done (v. 14). You must tell everyone what you have seen and heard (v. 15).

The word “baptize” about six hundred years before Christ had nothing to do with water at all. It meant to dye or change the color of a garment from one color to another. Little by little the meaning of the word “baptize” came to mean “identify” or “to change the identity of a garment”. If it went in yellow and came out black it was baptized. On the Damascus road Paul was told to be identified with Jesus Christ. As a Jew he had been identified with Moses, and now he was to be baptized or identified with Christ (v. 16).

Application

Paul used a personal testimony in addressing this crowd. Personal testimonies are still a very effective way to share the Gospel with people. I want to use my testimony every place I can.

Acts 22:6-16 (English Standard Version)

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