1. Before a hostile crowd (21:37-22:2)
a) Romans guards rescued Paul from a beating to death by a Jewish mob in the temple area. Before entering the
Fortress of Antonia, he spoke to the commander in Greek (surprising him). The commander thought he was an
Egyptian false prophet who had stirred up the crowds in an unsuccessful revolt against the Romans.
b) Paul informed him he was a Jew from the prominent city of Tarsus. After begging the commander for an
opportunity to speak to the people from the steps, Paul as an orator motioned with his hand to quiet the mob.
When he respectful addressed the crowd (“brethren & fathers”) in their local Hebrew/Aramaic dialect (the
commander couldn’t follow), they quieted more.
c) Sometimes God calls us to defend ourselves before hostile people.
2. His past before Christ (22:3-5)
a) Paul informed them he was a Jew, born in Tarsus, but brought up in Jerusalem. He was educated at the feet of the
famous Rabban Gamaliel strictly/carefully according to the Law.
b) He shared he was zealous for God as they were. It showed in the way he persecuted “this Way” (Christianity) to
death (thinking it was opposed to God). He chained men & women and put them in prison for following Christ.
The former high priest, & Sanhedrin members (nearby & maybe present), could testify to this. From them, he
received authorizing letters to go to Damascus & bring Jewish Christians to Jerusalem as prisoners for
punishment.
c) Build bridges with people by sharing your pre-Christian past.
3. His encounter with Christ (22:6-11)
a) On his way to Damascus, about noontime (likely a bright sun), a very bright light suddenly flashed around him &
he was overwhelmed and fell to the ground. Then he heard a voice, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
This associated his persecution of Christians with persecuting this heavenly Being.
b) When Paul asked, “Who are You Lord?” the reply was, “I am (emphatic) Jesus the Nazarene whom you are
persecuting.” Jesus was vindicated by God, the Father & in glory.
c) Those traveling with Paul could confirm something extraordinary happened. They saw the light, but not Jesus &
they heard the voice, but did not understand it (9:7).
d) When Paul asked the Lord what he should do, the Lord commanded him to go into Damascus where he would be
told what had been appointed/assigned for him to do. The light had blinded Paul’s eyes: he was further humbled
with his companions leading him by hand into Damascus.
4. His response (22:12-16)
a) In Damascus, Ananias, was directed by the Lord to go to Paul (Acts 9 gives details). For that audience, Paul
stressed Ananias was devout by the standard of the Law & well spoken of by all the Jews in Damascus. Ananias
was God’s instrument to restore Paul’s sight.
b) Ananias shared “the God/our father” appointed Paul to know His will (which he was missing); to see the
Righteous One (Jewish reference to the Messiah); and to hear an utterance from His mouth. Paul would be a
witness to all men (including Gentiles) of what he saw & heard with this encounter with the risen, glorified Lord.
c) Ananias then exhorted/commanded Paul not to delay, but rise, be baptized and wash away the filth of his sins by
calling upon (invoking/appealing to) the name of the Lord Jesus. He became a follower of the One he persecuted
in blind zeal.
5. How Christ led later (22:17-23)
a) Three years later (Gal. 1:18), Paul was praying in the temple in Jerusalem and he fell into a trance. The Lord
Jesus commanded him to get out of Jerusalem quickly because the Jews (especially Hellenists, Acts 9:29) would
not accept his testimony.
b) Paul objected that he was qualified to be effective: his zealous persecution of Christians in the synagogues &
support of those who stoned Stephen to death. The Lord commanded him to go because His plan was to send him
far away to the Gentiles to share the Gospel & his testimony.
c) With the mention of the Lord appearing in the temple to send someone to the Gentiles, the crowd went berserk.
They hollered out for his death accompanied with throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust in the air (showing
revulsion & rejection of Paul).
d) The Lord knows best where we will be ineffective and effective.