When he was mistakenly arrested for being a terrorist, “Paul was given the opportunity to defend himself (Acts 22:1). Rather than addressing the charges against him, however, he used the occasion to testify about Jesus” (Sharing Faith Under Pressure, The Spiritual Growth Bible, p. 1267). Paul’s defense of the gospel began with a brief history of his persecution of the church. Paul said, “I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today. And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison. The high priest and the whole council of elders can testify that this is so. For I received letters from them to our Jewish brothers in Damascus, authorizing me to bring the followers of the Way from there to Jerusalem, in chains, to be punished” (Acts 22:3-5, NLT).
Paul identified himself with his audience so that they would realize that he didn’t always believe that Jesus was who he claimed to be. Paul’s life before he met Christ on the road to Damascus was much like all of the other Jews who had rejected Jesus and condemned him to death. Paul explained in his first letter to the Corinthians that his former way of life had made him work harder than all the other apostles because he knew he was unworthy of his calling (1 Corinthians 15:9-10).
Paul’s account of what happened to him on the road to Damascus was particularly stunning because of his claim that he had heard the voice of Jesus speaking to him. Paul told his Jewish listeners:
“As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.”
Paul’s comment that those who were with him saw the light, but couldn’t understand the voice of the one who was speaking to him (Acts 22:9) highlighted the fact that Paul’s encounter with Jesus was a personal experience that no one else could corroborate. It was Paul’s testimony alone that would have to convince his listeners whether or not he was telling the truth.
Paul thought that his former persecution of the church would persuade the Jews that his change in disposition was not a result of him merely switching sides. Paul wanted his fellow Jews to understand that he had been overcome by the power of God’s grace. It was not Paul’s will to be a follower of Jesus Christ. Paul was chosen by God for a mission that he could not resist (Acts 22:14-16).
In spite of his compelling testimony, the Jew’s refused to believe what Paul was telling them. Paul tried to explain that Jesus had commissioned him to take the gospel to the Gentiles, but the Jews immediately shut him down. It says in Acts 22:22, “up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, ‘Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.’”
Paul didn’t stop sharing his testimony (Acts 26:12-18) and because of it he was eventually executed by the Roman government. In his last letter, Paul told Timothy, “At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it” (2 Timothy 4:16-17). Paul’s concern for the spread of the gospel kept him at his task to the very end. Shortly before his death, Paul concluded, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).
