To This Day I Stand

Acts 26:21-23   
21 For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come— 23 that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

Paul was attacked for the hope found in the prophets and writings of Moses (OT Torah, Pentateuch).  He bore witness to those truths of God saying the Messiah, the Christian, the one of God sent into the world as deliverer was Jesus.  These same scriptures spoke of His sacrificial death and subsequent resurrection.  So light for the world held in the darkness of sin and the devil’s reign was shone to us in the face of Jesus Christ, revealing the glory of God in this most good word of life, the gospel.  For this Paul risked all, for giving up His life was a small thing to bring resurrected life that lasts forever to others.

Not Disobedient

Acts 26:17-20 
17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’  19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.

God delivered Paul from death expressly to bring the gospel words of life - that they might turn from sin and toward God, that they might have their eyes opened by God through His Spirit and Son.  That they may be forgiven for their sin, inheriting everything in Christ forever as His children.  That the darkness in their souls wandering apart from God, dead in sin, might see the blazing light of His kingdom when set free indeed.  This is why Paul was obedient to bear witness far and wide to the truth at risk to his own life.  He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose…

Minister and Witness

Acts 26:14-16 
14 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.

Paul recounted how he fell to the ground as the bright light of Jesus Christ met him on the Damascus road, and the voice of the Lord asked why Paul was persecuting Him.  Then Paul was told to stand and follow for a life of purpose - to serve and witness to all Paul had seen and would be revealed to him by God's Spirit of revelation.  God called Saul out of darkness to be transformed into Paul the apostle, evangelist, and servant, by the light of His presence and image.  We see God's calling, our purpose, and His glory in Paul’s example to learn from.

I Saw The Light

Acts 26:9-13 
9 “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.   12 “While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, 13 at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me.

Paul recounts his persecution of Christians by authority of the religious leaders, voting for their death sentences and beating them until they blasphemed.  He was so full of anger against Christ that he traveled far and wide to hunt them down.  Yet one day he saw the light… the light of heaven, Jesus, met him on the road to stop him…

Hope of the Resurrection

Acts 26:5-8   
5 They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers. 7 To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope's sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. 8 Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?

Paul’s accusers knew his strict religious upbringing and lifestyle, but were unwilling to admit that due to their hatred of the words of life he spoke concerning Jesus the Christ.  He made it clear that the Christian way was the promise made by God to Abraham and Israel.  He was being judged for that fulfilled hope of all the Scriptures, the hope of eternal life and a resurrection from death to life.  Absolute and certain hope brings life, so Jesus rose from the grave and calls us to with Him.  That gospel is what Paul was being persecuted for (as he formerly persecuted also before God found him).

Ready to Answer

Acts 26:1-4 
1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself: 2 “I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, 3 especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.  4 “My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know.

Paul spoke to the king with joy, giving an answer for the hope in him and to nullify the false accusations brought against him by those with an agenda.  He acknowledged that the king knew the Jewish customs, and so did not have to explain those to show his actions did not violate those as he was slandered to have done.  So Paul began with his past upbringing among his people to lay the foundation of his character and actions.  We also should live above reproach, suffering only as a Christian, and not for ourselves.  Then our testimony is clear and believable, honoring God. 

Not Fit to Live!

Acts 25:24-27 
24 And Festus said: “King Agrippa and all the men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out that he was not fit to live any longer. 25 But when I found that he had committed nothing deserving of death, and that he himself had appealed to Augustus, I decided to send him. 26 I have nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination has taken place I may have something to write. 27 For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him.”

The Jews presented their case to the Roman authorities as Paul not being fit to live.  The law found no cause for death, and Paul refused to be put back in judgment at Jerusalem due to the plots against him.  So, on the way to Rome for trial, he now is to be questioned by King Agrippa.  Festus the governor brought him to the king because he did not want to send Paul to Rome without any charges against him.  So God used the legal system and worldly citizenship rights to keep Paul alive to testify to the truth which Pilate questioned before Jesus at His trial.

Crux of the Gospel

Acts 25:17-19 
17 Therefore when they had come together, without any delay, the next day I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought in. 18 When the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him of such things as I supposed, 19 but had some questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

Now a king hears the plight of Paul from a governor, and hears the allegations by the Jews against him concerning Jesus who died and is told to be alive.  The resurrection is the crux of the hope in Christ, proving not only that He is God, the Lord, but also that He has power over death for us.  We who are His have a certain hope, not a wish or vague expectation, of rising from death to life - both as a reborn creature now, and beyond the grave into forever.  This hope some will try to use legal means to quench, but the word of God is effective and unquenchable.

Opportunity to Answer

Acts 25:13-16 
13 And after some days King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus. 14 When they had been there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying: “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix, 15 about whom the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, when I was in Jerusalem, asking for a judgment against him. 16 To them I answered, ‘It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to destruction before the accused meets the accusers face to face, and has opportunity to answer for himself concerning the charge against him.’

Paul was told (Acts 9:15) in his calling that he would testify before kings and Israel - he did in the synagogue and now by a king after a governor.  The nations would be next.  So here the king will hear the accused and accusers, and Paul will present the reason for the hope in him and the suffering it has brought unjustly.  God used Paul to testify, to bear witness to the gospel’s words of life.  So will we have opportunities to give a reason of our hope, though not specifically called as Paul before kings necessarily. 

To Caesar!

Acts 25:9-12 
9 But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?”  10 So Paul said, “I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. 11 For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.”  12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!”

Festus wanted to appease the Jews and deliver Paul to them, but Paul reminded the governor that he had the right as a Roman to be judged in Rome.  He would gladly face the charges in a legal court due to his innocence, but not before biased religious leaders set on destroying him, much as others tied to do to King David a thousand years earlier.  It was his right as a Roman citizen.  So he was granted an audience before Caesar.  We are under the rulers God sets over us, so we use the process with a good conscience.

Give No Offense

Acts 25:6-8 
6 And when he had remained among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day, sitting on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought. 7 When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood about and laid many serious complaints against Paul, which they could not prove, 8 while he answered for himself, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all.”

The governor heard Paul in court, as well as the Jews who wanted him dead still.  The allegations were weighty, but lacked merit - they could not prove anything.  So Paul again made it clear he did nothing against Roman law, let alone against the Jewish religious system.  He made it a point to be without offense to God and man, as we should also.  Standing for the truth in loving response (though firm) allows God to show His glory in His sovereign work.

Ambush

Acts 25:1-5 
1 Now when Festus had come to the province, after three days he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. 2 Then the high priest and the chief men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they petitioned him, 3 asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem—while they lay in ambush along the road to kill him. 4 But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there shortly. 5 “Therefore,” he said, “let those who have authority among you go down with me and accuse this man, to see if there is any fault in him.”

The new governor Festus was also approached by the religious leaders to setup a trap to kill Paul, much like before - an ambush.  Again God provided wisdom to the governor to instead call the accusers to present their legal case while Paul was remained safely in the Roman protection at Caesarea.  God watched over Paul again so the gospel could continue to be proclaimed through him to kings and authorities as he was previously told would accompany his sufferings for Christ's sake.

Curious Conviction

Acts 24:24-26   
24 And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” 26 Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.

Felix and his Jewish wife asked Paul to speak with them, being curious, but soon felt convicted by the reasoning from scripture.  Paul talked about righteousness (we all fall short so can only have Christ's), self-control (choosing to do what God says over our desires), and the judgment that is coming (we are all accountable for our sin and will be rightly punished apart from Christ's righteousness).  So Felix sent him away to avoid confronting the truth of his own sin, guilt, and just dues.  But he did send for him often to get him to pay for better treatment or possibly even release… the seeds were planted, however.

Knowing the Way

Acts 24:22-23   
22 But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.” 23 So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him.

The governor hears Paul's good defense for the reason of the hope that is in him, gaining a better picture of what the accusations were.  He waited until the army commander came before deciding the legal case against Paul, meanwhile keeping Paul under house arrest with visitation privileges.  He was not treated as a criminal, but the legalities had to be followed.  Yet God used this as an opportunity for Paul to have a captive audience to the words of life as well…

Judged for Assured Hope

Acts 24:17-21 
17 “Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, 18 in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult. 19 They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me. 20 Or else let those who are here themselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council, 21 unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.’ ”

Paul came to do his religious and civic duty when nearly beaten to death, and so he presented the case that those falsely accusing him should show up for the trial.  The real reason they had so much against him that they wanted to kill him was the gospel - the resurrection after death in Christ.  The certain hope in Jesus went against the ritualistic earning of God's favor that so many wore as their prideful accomplishments, and so they sought to stop the free gift that nullified their useless efforts.  Grace by faith in Christ alone was on trial.  Even today religious systems wage war against this. 

Good Conscience

Acts 24:14-16 
14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. 15 I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. 16 This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

Paul testified that the way of Jesus Christ was not different nor opposed to the Law and Prophets of Israel, but the fulfillment of all God said as it was written.  This hope was in God and so also by His word and work - including a resurrection, life after death.  So Paul sincerely worked to be blameless with a clear conscience before both God and others, fulfilling the commands to love God and others. This should be our hope in a life now and after death, and our sincere life lived toward God and all others.

Sincere Worship

Acts 24:10-13 
10 Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: “Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself, 11 because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. 13 Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me.

Paul finally gets to speak to Felix, and so begins by honoring the leader by respectfully acknowledging his time in office.  So he gladly begins to reply to the allegations, telling of his sincere worship in Jerusalem and his blameless behavior there.  Paul did not stir up a crowd or argue with those opposed to the gospel, not in public nor in the synagogue.  He points out the allegations are unfounded.  So he uses the truth in the legal system to be blameless and harmless as a dove while knowing the wolves and their strategies.  A good example for us in standing for the gospel in these times.

Assenting to His Death

Acts 24:5-9 
5 For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law. 7 But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, 8 commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.” 9 And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so.

The orator lawyer spoke for the Jews before the Roman court of how Paul needed to be judged by religious law, but the Roman commander Lysias “violently” took him out of their hands.  He left out the part about their own violent actions to kill Paul, however.  So they now accused him to stop the gospel legally, they thought.  These imagined that disagreements over the law and the gospel could only be solved with Crusade-like actions instead of reason.  So many still oppose the gospel with hostility.

Kept Safe

Acts 23:31-35 
31 Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 The next day they left the horsemen to go on with him, and returned to the barracks. 33 When they came to Caesarea and had delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34 And when the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. And when he understood that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will hear you when your accusers also have come.” And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's Praetorium.

Paul was escorted in safety to Caesarea to be presented to the provincial governor.  There the commander’s letter was given concerning the riotous mob and Paul's situation as a Roman citizen.  So he was kept in the Praetorium headquarters until his accusers arrived to present their case.  So the legal system of the Roman occupation was helping a Roman Jew being hunted for spreading the gospel he once himself attacked and hunted those followers of it.  God turned Saul into Paul to suffer for and spread these good words of life, and protected him until it was accomplished.

Sovereign Over All Rulers

Acts 23:23-30 
23 And he called for two centurions, saying, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night; 24 and provide mounts to set Paul on, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”…  29 I found out that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but had nothing charged against him deserving of death or chains. 30 And when it was told me that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him immediately to you, and also commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against him. Farewell.

Paul was escorted safely by 470 Roman soldiers to see the governor after the plot to kill him was found out.  The commander wrote a letter to the governor explaining the mob and Paul's innocence.  So Paul was given the chance to testify to the hope in him, and to have his Jewish accusers half accountable for their accusations and possibly even their actions.  God rules over the rulers, sovereignly directing their hearts and history at all times, as we see here.

Plot Foiled

Acts 23:20-22 
20 And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask that you bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more fully about him. 21 But do not yield to them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.”  22 So the commander let the young man depart, and commanded him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”

The young nephew of Paul reveled the details of the plot he overheard to the Roman commander of the army in Jerusalem.  The forty plus murderers were going to set a trap in the guise of questioning, then kill him on the way there.  So the plot was foiled, and the commander sent the man away, commanding him to keep quiet about their conversation.  The Roman was set to help Paul.  So God moves hearts of men for His purposes.

God's Plan and People

Acts 23:13-17 
13 Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy. 14 They came to the chief priests and elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 Now you, therefore, together with the council, suggest to the commander that he be brought down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to make further inquiries concerning him; but we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”  16 So when Paul's sister's son heard of their ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. 17 Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him.”

Those committed to ambush and murder Paul talked the Jewish council into calling the Roman commander to bring Paul to them to end him and the words of life they so opposed.  But God put Paul’s nephew there to overhear and warn Paul, who then sent him with a centurion to tell the commander of the plot and how they were to involve the Romans.  The enemy will use all means to stop the gospel, but God never steps down from sovereignty to abide anything against His plan and people.

God Spoke Encouragement

Acts 23:10-12 
10 Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.   11 But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” 12 And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

Paul is rescued by the Roman army from the mob set on killing him for the fulfillment of their law in Christ, the gospel words of life.  Then God came to strengthen and encourage Paul by telling him he would certainly make it to Rome with the gospel as he had spoken in Jerusalem.  To the end of the earth.  But others plotted to kill him, even vowing to not eat or drink until he was dead.  Ah, but God controls and allows as He wills, making the plans of man nothing unless they align with His…

Hope of the Resurrection

Acts 23:6-9 
6 But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”  7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. 8 For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. 9 Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, “We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.”

Paul escaped a dangerous situation when he claimed his Pharisee upbringing to divert the two doctrinally opposed groups to look at each other instead.  By pointing to the resurrection of Jesus and others, the Sadducees had to argue, for they were like JWs who believed in annihilation instead of an eternal spirit of man.  So the Pharisees’ scribes suddenly saw Paul as innocent, and wanted to stop in case they were fighting God.  God moves the hearts of kings and peasants alike like a river to the course He sets.

Lawful Truth-Telling

Acts 23:2-5 
2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?” 4 And those who stood by said, “Do you revile God's high priest?” 5 Then Paul said, “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ ”

When Paul was slapped by order of the high priest, he pronounced God's judgment on him for breaking their own law.  Yet, when Paul found out he was the high priest, he quoted the law concerning not speaking evil of a ruler as he said not knowing who he was.  The position Paul did not want to speak evil of, but the reason and God's judgment were not retracted it seems.  We need to know who we speak to for respect and honor, but truth spoken in love cannot be restrained either.

Earnest Conscience

Acts 22:30 - 23:1 
30 The next day, because he wanted to know for certain why he was accused by the Jews, he released him from his bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down and set him before them.  23:1 Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”

Paul began his defense against the false accusations before the religious leaders by first looking intently and intentionally at them.  He then spoke of his sincerity in all he did to live for God - having a clear conscience and not deceiving or misleading as he was accused of.  This included his persecution of Christians as well as seeing His light to become one himself in fulfillment of all the law and scriptures.  This is being a witness and witnessing to the gospel words of life and truth.

Born a Citizen

Acts 22:26-29 
26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the commander, saying, “Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman.” 27 Then the commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” He said, “Yes.”  28 The commander answered, “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.” And Paul said, “But I was born a citizen.”  29 Then immediately those who were about to examine him withdrew from him; and the commander was also afraid after he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

Paul used the law as a way not to avoid mob violence, but to further give a defense of the hope in Jesus and the words of life that are the gospel.  So fear in the Roman ranks caused the beatings to stop and the rule of law and its consequences to surface.  This was all part of God's work to move Paul safely elsewhere to give his defense of the gospel to many more besides the mob at hand.  The sovereignty of God fills the pages of Acts here as it does throughout the Bible.

Un-condemned

Acts 22:22-25 
22 And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!” 23 Then, as they cried out and tore off their clothes and threw dust into the air, 24 the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and said that he should be examined under scourging, so that he might know why they shouted so against him. 25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?”

The Jewish mob wanted to kill Paul when he claimed God wanted him to go to the nations instead of the Jews, even though they were opposed to the gospel.  They wanted God for themselves, even a God whose possible Messiah was Jesus.  Judgmental hate ruled and fueled their system of religion, having been blinded to the fact that Jesus fulfilled their Law, not abolished it.  The Roman commander only knew the trouble seemed to be Paul, so tied him up to beat him; however, Paul revealed he was a Roman also and it was his right as a citizen to first have sentencing before punishment.

Sent to the Nations

Acts 22:17-21 
17 “Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance 18 and saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’ 19 So I said, ‘Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You. 20 And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ 21 Then He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.’ ”

So Paul recounted God's saving grace again, this time when warned to leave Jerusalem in a hurry for safety.  Paul knew he had persecuted many of God's children, and even watched gladly as Stephen was killed for his testimony.  Because of the gospel and its offense to the Jewish leaders, God was sending Paul to the nations who would hear, fulfilling the promises to Abraham and Isaac to bring children from the world to God.  This was the biggest offense to those who arrogantly assumed they were the only ones of God, and God was theirs alone.

Call on His Name

Acts 22:14-16 
14 Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. 15 For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’

God chose Saul and called him out to be Paul.  He was to see the Just One (Jesus our righteousness), hear His voice to reveal God's will to us (via much of the NT), and know God's will to do and to teach to the church as it grew.  So Paul bore witness to the God revealed in the face of Jesus Christ after being cleansed from his sins in forgiveness as he called on the Lord’s name to salvation.  The example pattern was to be called out by God, be forgiven, call on Jesus as Lord, and follow to serve according to each one’s calling and path set out to walk in after Him. 

What Shall I Do, Lord?

Acts 22:10-13 
10 So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.’ 11 And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.  12 “Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, 13 came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him.

What was Saul to do when blinded by the Lord of the universe as he was on his way to persecute more of God's people?  God told him to go to town and wait to be told.  He went.  Led by the hand, Saul came to Ananias and was told to see.  So Saul looked up and saw.  This shows how God gives sight to the spiritually blind, for none of us is able to see Him until He opens our eyes.  But when He does, we see clearly for the first time, and the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ is then seen all around.