Acts 22: Paul Tells His Story

Alongside our Sunday teachings, we’re keeping things simple. We’ll be reading through the book of Acts, featuring the many unique voices of the ClearView Church congregation. Each week, we’ll release two chapters, followed by a few reflection questions.

In this  episode, you’ll hear a brief introduction from Pastor Phil, followed by a reading of Acts 22 and some reflection questions from one of the youth in our congregation.

Read along with the following reflection:

As you listened to this chapter, was there a word or phrase that captured your attention?

Take a moment to reflect on Paul's story. He was certain he was serving God, yet his encounter with Jesus changed everything. The one who persecuted followers of Jesus became one of His most devoted witnesses. What does this passage reveal about who God is?

Perhaps you noticed God's grace. God pursued Paul when he was far from Him. God opened his eyes, gave him a new purpose, and invited him into His mission. Perhaps you noticed God's calling. Paul was not only saved from something; he was saved for something. God had a purpose for his life and sent him to bear witness to what he had seen and heard. As you reflect on this chapter, consider your own story.

How has God been at work in your life? What difference has Jesus made in who you are becoming? Is there a part of your story that God may be inviting you to share with someone else?

Linger over these questions and bring your thoughts to God. Is there anything you would like to ask Him? Pray your life to God and take a moment to rest in His presence.

Faith Matters is a ministry of Clearview Church, Oakville, On.
https://clearviewchurch.com/

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:04

You are listening to the Faith Matters Podcast from Clearview Church, where we explore everyday faith in a complex world. Our goal is to strengthen and equip followers of Jesus just like you through practical and theological discussions and resources. In this season of the podcast, we're diving deeper into the practices of prayer and study. Each week, we'll release two episodes featuring voices from our congregation reading a chapter from the book of Acts, along with a few reflection questions. Each episode will begin with a short introduction to help set the context of the passage. As you listen, we encourage you to go slow. There will be built-in pauses with gentle background music, giving you space to reflect and wonder about what you're hearing. You might choose to follow along in your Bible or use a Bible app as the passage is read aloud. Above all, invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you and reveal what you need from the text. Our hope is that this practice would nurture and deepen your faith as you continue to grow your life with Christ. Now, onto the book of Acts and the passage of the day.

SPEAKER_01 2:09

Do you speak Greek? He replied, Aren't you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the wilderness some time ago? Paul answered, I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people. After receiving the commander's permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic, Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense. When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet. Then Paul said, I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamalia and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. I persecuted the followers of this way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison. As the high priests and all the council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished. About noon, I came near Damascus. Suddenly, a bright light from heaven flashed around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? Who are you, Lord? I asked. I am Jesus of Nazareth. Whom you are persecuting, he replied. My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me. What shall I do, Lord? I asked. Get up, said the Lord, and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do. My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me. A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. He stood beside me and said, Brother Saul, receive your sight. And at that very moment I was able to see him. Then he said, The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the righteous one, and to hear words from his mouth. You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on his name. When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance, and saw the Lord speaking to me. Quick, he said, leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me. Lord, I replied, These people know that I went from one synagogue to another, to imprison and beat those who believe in you. And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there, giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him. Then the Lord said to me, Go, I will send you far away from the Gentiles. The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, Rid the earth of him, he is not fit to live. As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, the commanders ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and interrogated in order to find why the people were shouting at him like this. As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn't even been found guilty? When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. What are you gonna do? he asked. This man is the Roman citizen. The commander went to Paul and asked, Tell me, are you a Roman citizen? Yes, I am, he answered. Then the commander said, I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship. But I was born a citizen, Paul replied. Those who were about to interrogate him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains. Take a moment to reflect on Paul's story. He was certain he was serving God, yet his encounter with Jesus changed everything. The one who persecuted followers of Jesus became one of his most devout witnesses. What does this passage reveal about who God is? Perhaps you notice God's grace. God pursued Paul when he was far from him. God opened his eyes, gave him a new purpose, and invited him into his mission. Perhaps you notice God's calling. Paul was not only saved from something, he was saved for something. God had a purpose for his life and sent him to bear witness to what he had seen and heard. As you reflect on this chapter, consider your own story. Is there a part of your story that God may be inviting you to share with someone else? Linger over these questions and bring your thoughts to God. Is there anything you would like to ask him? Pray your life to God and take a moment to rest in his presence.

SPEAKER_00 8:10

Join us again for our next episode as we continue through the book of Acts together. Go in peace and may you continue to grow your life with Christ.