“TWUD: The Power of One’s Story”
Sermon Series on the Book of Acts
(Acts 21:37-22:21)
March 19, 2006
Dr. Peter Barnes
First Presbyterian Church

Introduction
      There is compelling power in the telling of one’s story. I remember as a boy listening to my Grandma Blanton in Laurel, Mississippi as she would tell us her story about growing up in the late 1800’s in rural Mississippi. We children were captivated by her tales of life on the farm and the simple ways of people back then. Life was also very hard and often filled with tragedy, and our hearts broke as she related the difficulties she and her family endured. On the screens you will see a few photographs of my grandmother and her family. Grandma Blanton lived to be two months shy of 100-years-old. She had a lot of stories to tell, because she had lived a lot of life!
      This morning we consider a text which relates the power of one person’s story. It is the story of the apostle Paul and his conversion, which he told in his sermon to the Jews in Jerusalem. It is also a story of grace and God’s call on a person’s life. As we reflect on these matters today, I want you to notice: 1) the substance of Paul’s story; and 2) the lessons of Paul’s story.

I. The Substance of Paul’s Story
      Before we look at the particulars of Paul’s story, it is important to discuss the background which led up to these events. You will recall from our earlier study of the book of Acts that, as he concluded his third missionary journey, Paul left Troas and set sail for Palestine. Paul and representatives of the churches in Macedonia who accompanied the apostle were carrying with them an offering collected by those churches to assist in the famine relief for Christians in Jerusalem. While meeting with the leaders of the church there, Paul agreed to submit to the counsel of the elders with the observance of a vow in order to assuage concerns that he was circumventing the Old Testament Law of Moses. However, while he was in the Temple, Paul was spotted by some Jews from Asia, probably from the city of Ephesus, and they stirred up the crowd against him.
       In their outrage, the people descended upon the apostle, and they seized Paul and dragged him from the Temple while he was there fulfilling the vow. They were trying to kill him, when the Roman commander sent in his troops to stop the uproar. Paul was put in protective custody, and the commander ordered that he be taken to the Roman barracks for questioning. When they reached the steps, the violence of the mob was so great that Paul had to be carried by the soldiers as the crowd kept shouting, "Away with him! Away with him!" (Acts 21:35)
      The passage also tells us that as the soldiers were about to take Paul to the barracks, the apostle asked if he could speak to the commander. The Roman officer was surprised to hear Paul speak Greek, and he wondered aloud if Paul was an Egyptian terrorist who started a revolt in Jerusalem a few years before. Josephus, a Jewish historian who lived at the time of Christ, described the revolutionary to whom the commander was referring as a man who in 54 AD rallied thousands of Jews together and led them to the Mount of Olives. He promised them that the walls of Jerusalem would fall flat at his command, and they would be able to break into the city and overpower the Romans. However, Felix, the Roman governor, intervened, and the nationalistic zealots were either arrested or killed, although the Egyptian disappeared. The Roman commander wondered if Paul was that revolutionary now come back to Jerusalem. The apostle assured the commander that he was not the Egyptian. Rather, Paul spoke proudly about his citizenship of Tarsus. Then he asked permission to address the crowd, and the Roman commander allowed him to speak.
      Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. For some reason the crowd quieted down, and he spoke to them in Aramaic. When the Jews heard him addressing them in their native language, they became even more quiet. Then Paul told them his story, the story of how God brought new life and joy into his world, the story of his encounter with Jesus Christ.
      There are three things Paul emphasized in his story. First, he told them of his Jewish background and his zeal for God. In verse 3 we read, "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city[Jerusalem]. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers..." (Acts 22:3).  Paul assured the crowd of his Jewishness. He related to them his training in the Old Testament Law as a disciple of Gamaliel, the most eminent rabbi of the time, who had died just five years earlier.[1] In doing this he sought to establish his common ground with them as a Jew by emphasizing both his Jewish birth and his Jewish upbringing. As the apostle wrote in the book of Philippians, he was "circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee..." (3:5).  The Jewishness of Paul was incontrovertible. His Jewish roots were deep and unambiguous, and his pedigree was unquestioned. 
      The apostle went on to say, 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 also the high priest and all the [Sanhedrin] can testify. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished" (22:3-5).  Paul showed himself as a persecutor of Christians in his zeal for God and his commitment to Judaism. On all these points Paul was at one with his audience.
      But then the apostle shifted gears in the telling of his story, and the second thing he related to the crowd was his conversion experience. Paul told of the way in which he was traveling on the road to Damascus, when all of a sudden a bright light from heaven blinded him. Then a voice from heaven spoke to him and identified Himself as Jesus of Nazareth. Paul also related the ministry of Ananias, who he characterized as a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living in Damascus. It was Ananias who restored Paul's sight and told him that God had chosen Paul to know God's will, to see the Righteous One, to hear His voice, and to be His witness. Then Ananias said, “’What are you waiting for?  Get up, be baptized, wash your sins away, and call on His name’” (22:16).
      Finally, Paul also told of his supernatural vision and his calling from God. This took place in the very Temple he was accused of having defiled, though there was absolutely no merit to the charge. In the vision the Lord told him to leave Jerusalem, in spite of Paul's reluctance and over his objections. God said to him, “Go.  I will send you far away to the Gentiles.” (Acts 22:21) It was at this point in Paul's telling of his story that he was interrupted by the crowd, and they loudly called for his death. In their eyes, what the apostle was saying was an abomination, and his words were tantamount to declaring that Jews and Gentiles were equal and that both came to God on identical terms. The Jews would not stand for this, and so the passage says, "they raised their voices and shouted, 'Rid the earth of him! He's not fit to live!" (22:22).  
      It was quite a story.

II.  The Lessons of Paul’s Story
      There are several lessons we can learn from this passage in which the apostle Paul tells his story. First, it demonstrates that we all have a story to tell. I don’t care who you are, you have a story to tell.  It is your story and no one else’s, and one of the best ways to share your faith in Christ with others is simply by telling your story. Sadly, we Presbyterians have forgotten how to tell our story. We have become timid and fearful, worried about offending others, and so we keep the good news of what Christ has done for us to ourselves. In a day when scientism and spiritism and all the other “isms” of the world have produced an environment of skepticism, telling one’s story is perhaps the best and most effective way of sharing the gospel. Who can argue with personal experience?
      Personal witness frees us from having to know all the answers in sharing our faith. We don’t have to be biblical scholars and know everything there is to know about theology. We don’t have to have a PhD in apologetics or know Anselm’s proofs for the existence of God. All we need to do is be able to tell our story, what we have seen and heard and know for ourselves to be true. The example of Paul should encourage every one of us to realize, “Even I can do that! I can tell my story of how Christ has worked in my life.” 
      If you’ve never done it before, let me encourage you to take some time this afternoon or in the coming week to sit down and briefly write out your story. Answer the questions: 1) what was my life like before I met Jesus? 2) what were the events that led to my conversion? And 3) how has Christ made a difference in my life since I made a commitment to follow Him? Share your story with one other person. Tell them it’s a homework assignment and you need to get their feedback! Be creative. Make it an adventure. We all have a story to tell.
      Second, this passage reminds us that we need to build bridges whenever we tell our story. It is interesting to note the many ways Paul sought to build a bridge with his audience when he told his story. He spoke in Aramaic, the native language of his audience. Paul spoke in a manner they could understand. He also declared his Jewish roots in order to build a bridge. He established common ground with his listeners and talked about things that would have been of mutual interest and even pride. He spoke about their common zeal for God.
      In a world that is growing more and more hostile to the Christian faith, one of the best ways to communicate our convictions with unbelieving friends and co-workers is by trying to find common ground which builds a bridge over which a conversation of faith can travel. Sowing seeds of faith is a biblical metaphor, and it provides practical and effective ways for us to tell others about Jesus. Let me encourage you to think about interests and activities you have which might serve as points of contact with unbelievers. Use secular movies and books to talk about biblical ideas. Discuss your anxiety and worry in life and how Christ has helped you to cope in these areas. Keep up with current events and see if there is a biblical perspective that can be brought to bear on the problems of the world. Take a personal interest in people and ask about their family, their work, their hopes and fears. 
      Philip Yancey has written, “When Christians attempt to communicate to non-Christians, we must first think through their assumptions and imagine how they will likely receive the message we are conveying. That process will affect the words we choose, the form and, most importantly, the content we can get across.”[2]  Put yourself in the other person’s place. Get inside their head, if possible, and try to understand the world from their perspective. 
      I think it’s fascinating that, with parchment being so precious and in short supply in the First Century AD, Luke nevertheless relates the story of Paul’s conversion on three different occasions in the book of Acts. And each time it is told a little bit differently. Now, why in the world would Luke do that? On the first occasion, Luke simply relates the historical details of the story (Acts 9). The second time Luke writes about it is when Paul preaches to the Jews in the Temple (Acts 22). The last time Luke records it, Paul is making his defense in Caesarea before Felix, the governor of Judea (Acts 24). Each time the story is told with a slightly different twist. 
      Paul adapted his story to the particular audience with whom he was speaking. When the apostle related his story in the Temple, there was a Jewish slant to the events. When Paul related his story before Felix the governor, there was a Roman emphasis. The apostle was clever; he adapted his message to fit his audience while never compromising the truth. As he wrote in 1 Corinthians 9, “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some” (9:22). 
      The final lesson we can learn from Paul’s story is that we can’t control the reaction people will have to our story. We must leave the results to God and trust that He will work by the power of His Spirit to lead others to Himself as He sees fit when we seek to be faithful in sharing our stories. In our passage this morning, when Paul mentioned his call by God to go to the Gentiles, the crowd erupted in anger and cried out, “'Rid the earth of him! He's not fit to live!" (22:22).   You and I can’t control how people will react. We can only control our response to God’s call to share our story.
      Most Americans cannot fathom the religious fanaticism that led to violent riots in Afghanistan over the alleged destruction of copies of the Koran. There is a spiritual fervor and passion in the Middle East which helps to explain the strong reaction of the Jews in this passage. However, even in America, we can see the way in which people react negatively in a variety of ways to our message concerning Christ.
      Some time ago I read a book by Tim Downs[3] on building common ground in which he wrote about a colleague who was invited to speak on behalf of a Christian organization in New York City. The sponsoring group arranged for him to give a “free speech” in Washington Square Park. It was the Fourth of July weekend, and the park was jammed with every kind of person imaginable. Huddles of shirtless teenagers played hackey-sack. Aspiring astrologers wandered through the crowd offering to read anyone’s sign. A throng of spirited citizens were burning an American flag. The man noticed one man walk by a park bench and drop a handful of crumpled bills. A split second later, a second man scooped up the bills and left in its place a small plastic bag. Almost instantly, a third man snatched up the plastic bag and disappeared into the crowd. Just another day at the park.
      It was time to begin. The sponsor of the Christian group did the introduction. Stepping up onto a small platform, he announced through his bullhorn, “We’re a group of Christians from all over the United States. We’d like to share with you how you can have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.”
      Just then, three of New York City’s finest, hearing the bullhorn, approached the speaker. They announced in front of the groaning audience, “You can’t use that bullhorn without a permit.” Instantly, the audience erupted in applause.
      Washington Square Park was a microcosm of the United States that day. Every age group, every ethnic group and class were represented. Every social custom, manner, fashion, and hairstyle could be observed. A dozen or so languages were spoken. Every major vice and virtue were on display. No one raised an eyebrow, until a group of Christians wanted to say something with a bullhorn. Small bags of controlled substances could exchange hands, but God forbid that a person should preach the gospel!
      In this kind of environment with this kind of intolerance, one of the best ways for you and me to share our faith is simply by telling our stories. And you never know how God will use what you say to impact another person, even years down the road. 

Conclusion
      Many years ago, when I was a freshman in college at the University of Georgia, early in the school year I met another freshman by the name of Bill Toler. He was from Alabama. Bill was one of the funniest people I have ever met, and he always had us doubled over laughing at his antics and jokes. We shared a mutual love of basketball, so it wasn’t long before we became fast friends. 
      Like many freshman, Bill used his first year away from home to spread his wings. I recall him telling me that one of his goals for the fall quarter was to fill up the entire opening of his dorm room window with empty beer cans after he had consumed their contents. He achieved his goal before the quarter was over. 
      My faith in Christ was revitalized that freshman year, and so I began to talk to Bill about the Lord. He was resistant and usually deflected my serious conversations with his humor. Still, I prayed for Bill, and whenever I had the opportunity I shared my story with him, even if it felt like I wasn’t getting through to him at all.
      Late in the spring of our freshman year, Bill told me he was dropping out of school. It seems a young woman from back home was pregnant, she said Bill was the father, and he needed to get his act together and do the right thing. We were sad to see him leave school, and I lost a friend who made me laugh and had become dear to me.
      For the next few years, I wondered what happened to Bill and I prayed for him off and on. Then, out of the blue, during my senior year at Georgia, I got a phone call. It was Bill Toler. I couldn’t believe my ears. “How in the world are you?” I asked, “And what have you been up to?” He told me that he went back to Birmingham after he left school and moved home with his parents. It turned out that the girl wasn’t pregnant after all – she used it as a ploy to try to get him to marry her. They didn’t get married, and he was now going to school and working part-time. Then he said to me, “Pete, I also want you to know that back at Georgia when you shared all those things with me about becoming a Christian, I know it didn’t look like I was listening. But I was, and I kept thinking about what you said. I’ve become a Christian, too, and now I’m singing in the choir and I coach the girls’ softball team at the church! I just wanted to say thanks for sharing your story with me and for not giving up on me.”
      You and I never know what God will do with our feeble efforts to share our story with another person. Take a chance in the coming week. Break the “sound barrier” and tell someone your story. Ask God to provide an opportunity for you to share your faith. It may just blow you away to see what God does with your story. Amen.