Giving Your Personal Testimony. (Acts 21:37-22:29)

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Welcome:

Sharing your personal testimony is one of the most impactful ways to communicate the gospel. Paul’s address in Acts 21:37–22:29 provides a clear model for how to structure a testimony: describing life before Christ, the moment of conversion, and the transformation afterward. This episode explores Paul’s speech and draws principles for crafting an effective personal testimony.

Key Points

1. The Context

Paul was accused of violating Jewish law, leading to a violent mob scene. The Roman commander, mistaking him for a fugitive Egyptian revolutionary, arrested him. Paul’s fluency in Greek and his citizenship from Tarsus (a culturally significant city) granted him permission to address the crowd in Aramaic.

Lesson: Connect with your audience by speaking in a way they understand, both linguistically and culturally.

2. Paul’s Testimony Structure

Paul’s approach offers a simple but powerful three-part framework:

• Life Before Conversion

Application: Describe your spiritual state before encountering Christ. Be authentic. Every story—dramatic or ordinary—demonstrates God’s grace.

• The Moment of Conversion

Application: Share your pivotal moment of transformation. Highlight the grace of God and the gospel message—Jesus died for our sins and rose again.

• Life After Conversion

Application: Describe your life since coming to Christ. Share how God has changed your heart, given you new purpose, and granted the assurance of forgiveness.

Additional Insights

• Authenticity Matters: Avoid exaggerations or embellishments. God works powerfully through every genuine story.
• The Gospel Focus: Paul’s testimony points clearly to Jesus’ death and resurrection. Always centre your testimony on the grace of God rather than personal achievements.

Practical Tips for Sharing Your Testimony

• Be Concise: Respect your listeners' time.
• Be Relatable: Use language and examples they understand.
• Focus on Jesus: Ensure the gospel is the central message.
• Share with Humility: Let God’s grace, not your past, take center stage.

Conclusion

Paul’s testimony reminds us that sharing our story is a powerful tool for witnessing. By following his example—before Christ, moment of conversion, and life after—we can effectively communicate God’s transformative power. Testimonies, no matter how ordinary or extraordinary, point to the same glorious truth: salvation through Jesus Christ.

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Transcript

Giving Your Testimony. (Acts 21: 37- 22:29)

 Transcript: 

It is important to share what happened to you with people who aren’t Christians when you’ve been converted. We commonly called that giving your testimony. And that is a very effective way to share the gospel. 

At the same time, I think that most people have never been given any instructions as to exactly how to do it, and if they had, a little instruction might help sharpen their presentation and make them even more effective. 

There's actually one very simple little formula that you should follow when you're giving your testimony. It is illustrated. In one of Paul speeches in the book of Acts. (One of several directions)

From this point on in the book of Acts, we were given a number of speeches. In this speech in chapter 21 that bleeds over into chapter 22, is the one we can draw a template for a personal testimony….

So, we're going to pick off, pick up exactly where we left off last time. You remember that Paul was in the temple in Jerusalem, and they thought that he had violated the Jewish law, and they bring him out in the street. When he got rescued by the Roman soldier. 

In verse 37 the narrative continues.

21:37 As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?”

“Do you speak Greek?” he replied. 38 “Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the wilderness some time ago?” 39 Paul answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.”

40 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.

22: 1 “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defence.” 2 When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.

Then Paul said: 3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. 4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5 as the high priest 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.

6 “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’

8 “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. “ ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. 9 My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.

10 “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. “ ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’ 11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.

12 “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. 13 He stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I was able to see him. 14 “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. 15 You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’

17 “When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw the Lord speaking to me. ‘Quick!’ he said. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 “‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you. 20 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.’ 21 “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”

22 The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!”

23 As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and interrogated in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this. 25 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?”

26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.”27 The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes, I am,” he answered. 28 Then the commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.” “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied. 29 Those who were about to interrogate him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.

(Acts 21:37-22:29)

As I mentioned earlier, Paul had been accused of violating Jewish law, and the people were about to beat him up in the streets. The Jews grabbed him, and in the ensuing commotion a riot was almost breaking out.

The Romans, having built a fort just above the temple known as the Fortress Antonia—named after Marc Antony, by the way, had a perfect view of everything happening in the temple courts. Seeing the commotion, they rushed in and in effect rescued Paul. The text tells us that they took him into the barracks, a reference to this fortress of Antonia.

As they were taking Paul away, he requested permission to speak to the crowd. The commander, surprised, remarked that he has arrested him because he thought Paul was the Egyptian who had previously led an insurrection. 

This Egyptian he mentioned was someone who had caused significant trouble before being suppressed by the Roman army, although he himself managed to escape. 

So, it seems the Romans thought this Egyptian was back in town causing trouble again.

By the way, this event is historically documented by Josephus.

When the commander heard Paul speaking in Greek, he realized his assumption was wrong. Paul clarified, “I am not the Egyptian. I am from Tarsus, a city of no insignificant reputation.” This phrase, sometimes translated as “no mean city,” is a classic understatement that has entered our modern lexicon and is still used to this day. Tarsus was renowned for its culture, education, and commerce. Paul was simply stating that he came from a city of some importance.

Paul then asked for permission to address the crowd, and the commander agreed. The speaking to the Jews in Hebrew—a critical detail showing Paul immediately connected with his audience by using their language. 

This is a helpful lesson for us: when sharing your testimony, speak in a way that your listeners understand, both literally and figuratively.

Most of Acts 22 now records Paul’s speech to the crowd. Instead of defending himself as we might expect, Paul used this moment to share his testimony. This is a powerful example of how to give a testimony, and what we can learn much from Paul’s approach.

His structure was simple—so simple it’s almost embarrassing:

1.   He described what his life was like before his conversion.

2.   He explained how his conversion happened.

3.   He shared what his life was like after his conversion.

So, let’s walk through how Paul presented his story and how it applies to us.

Paul Before His Conversion.

Paul began by emphasizing his Jewish heritage. Speaking in Hebrew, he immediately captured their attention. He first declares, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city.” He had been immersed in Jewish culture from an early age. But for his higher education, he didn’t return to Tarsus; instead, he studied under the renowned Rabbi Gamaliel, a respected teacher known for his expertise in Mosaic law.

Paul highlighted his zeal for God, stating that his passion matched theirs. But he went even further, detailing how his zeal had led him to persecute followers of “The Way” (Christians). He told them how he had in fact received official letters from the Sanhedrin, authorizing him to arrest Christians in Damascus. He invited them to verify his credentials with those leaders who still held the records.

All of this is to demonstrate Paul’s religious fervour and commitment to Judaism before his encounter with Christ.

When sharing our own testimony, it’s vital to also describe our spiritual state before your conversion. 

Regardless of your background, your story is significant. 

Too often, we only spotlight dramatic conversions—those involving gang members, criminals, or people with troubled pasts. While these stories are compelling, they can unintentionally minimize the testimonies of others with less dramatic journeys. 

Every testimony is a story of God’s grace and transforming power, no matter how ordinary it may seem.

I’m not opposed to people with dramatic stories giving their testimony—those testimonies have their place, and they can be powerful. But here’s the key: whatever your story is, tell it honestly.

When Paul shared his testimony, he didn’t focus on how wicked he had been. Instead, he highlighted his religious devotion. 

From our Christian perspective, persecuting Christians is undoubtedly wicked, but remember Paul’s audience here would have viewed it differently. They would have admired his zeal for protecting Jewish traditions. His story wasn’t about being rebellious or immoral; it was about being deeply religiously committed to a misguided cause.

This brings us to an important principle: The best way to give your testimony is simply to tell your authentic story.

Perhaps you grew up in a Christian environment, attended church regularly, and lived a morally upright life. Should you share that? Absolutely.

There are two reasons for this:

Your story could resonate with someone else. Many people are just like you—good people who haven’t yet understood their need for salvation. Hearing a testimony that reflects their experience can open their eyes to their need for grace.

If it’s your story, tell it well. Personal stories are inherently engaging when they’re shared with authenticity and clarity. Don’t underestimate the impact of telling your authentic testimony with sincerity.

If that’s your story, tell it! If your story involves rebellion and a dramatic turnaround, tell that. The power of your testimony is in how God changed your life, whatever your starting point.

Next Step Paul’s Conversion Experience

Paul’s next step was to describe his moment of conversion. In Acts 22:6, he begins recounting what happened to him:

"About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me."

It’s worth pausing on two details here.

First, it was noon, when the sun is at its brightest, yet this light outshone the midday sun. That tells us this wasn’t an ordinary event—it was supernatural. 

Second, if we read the text carefully, we see that Paul recounts his conversion experience, sharing the pivotal moment when his life was forever changed. 

So, what’s the heart of his story?

Jesus appears to Paul and speaks to him, lets just pause for a moment and consider the significance of this.

Jesus—who had been crucified and died, spoke to Paul. This encounter affirms the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul is speaking to a Jewish audience familiar with Jesus’ crucifixion, and by sharing his direct interaction with the risen Lord, he’s subtly but powerfully declaring the truth of the resurrection.

Paul also emphasizes that he didn’t receive the gospel he is preaching from other human beings but directly from Jesus. He reiterates this in Galatians 1:12, where he writes, “I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.” This point matters to all of us today because, while we haven’t had Jesus physically appear to us, we too have encountered the gospel message.

The good news we share is the same: Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead.

When we share our testimony, the focus should be on God’s grace, not our own goodness or badness. Sometimes testimonies become tales of personal transformation without emphasizing the gospel itself. We must remember that the core message isn’t just that Jesus died—many people have died, including soldiers and heroes—but that He died for our sins.

Our message should also make it clear that salvation comes by faith in Jesus Christ. As Paul writes in Ephesians.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” 

(Ephesians 2:8-9)

When I share my testimony, I make it clear that, although I was religious and had even been christened in a Christian church, (Methodist in my case), but that wasn’t enough.

That’s the point we need to communicate: Christ died for our sins, and salvation is by faith in Him alone.

Paul’s story then continues, where he explains what happened after his conversion. 

Having been struck blind by the great light, he was led into Damascus, where a man named Ananias came to him, restored his sight, and delivered a message from God.

In the translation I read verse 16 says that Ananias after doing this says:

And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’

At first glance, this verse may seem to suggest that baptism is necessary for the washing away of sins. In fact, this is one of the favourite verses of those who believe in baptismal regeneration—the idea that baptism is required for salvation.

But let’s take a closer look and I’m sorry but in explaining this I need to make a technical point about the Greek language used here.

The key to understanding this verse lies in its structure. The Greek text contains four key words: arise, be baptized, wash, and call. 

However, these words are connected by participles, and in Greek grammar, the action of the participle usually precedes the action of the main verb.

Here’s how the construction works:

“Arise” is linked with “be baptized”—before you can be baptized, you have to stand up.

So although the translation I read is correct word for word, in essence, the correct sense of the verse is:

“Having called on the name of the Lord, be baptized.”

This interpretation aligns perfectly with the consistent teaching of all the other scripture where we see that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not through works (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Baptism is an outward expression of an inward reality, not a means of obtaining forgiveness.

If this technical explanation doesn’t resonate, consider it this way:

Calling on the Lord’s name is what brings salvation, and baptism follows as a step of obedience.

There’s simply no question that Scripture teaches salvation is by faith alone. Acts 22:16 is not contradicting this; it’s emphasizing the connection between faith and the outward act of baptism, showing that baptism should follow one’s calling on Christ.

After Paul’s conversion, he then tells us how he was given a mission:

That mission is that his testimony was to be shared with others.

His post-conversion journey was unique, full of visions and direct encounters with Jesus. While we may not have had the same dramatic experiences, Paul’s approach to sharing his testimony still offers a timeless model:

·        Tell what your life was like before you were saved.

·        Describe the moment of your conversion—what happened when you came to Christ.

·        Share what God has done in your life since then.

Paul’s unique mission was clear, but for us, our testimony may look different. 

One of the most crucial things to emphasize when sharing your story is that, now that you’ve come to Christ, you know for certain your sins are forgiven. That assurance of forgiveness is foundational, and it’s something people desperately need to hear.

Why? Because most people—especially those with a religious background—believe that getting to heaven is about doing enough good works or following certain rituals. They think if they do X, Y, and Z, God might “grade on a curve,” and they’ll squeak by. What they need to hear from your testimony is this:

You know for sure that eternal life is yours because of what Jesus did for you, not because of anything you could do.

That kind of certainty cuts through confusion and offers a clear picture of salvation by grace through faith.

After you emphasize assurance, tell what changed in your life.

For some, it’s the first time they felt true peace or joy.

For others, it might be a newfound sense of purpose. 

The point is: encountering Christ radically changes you. Your story matters because it shows how God works in individual lives.

In Acts 22:21, Paul shares that the Lord told him, “I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.” At this point, the crowd, which had been listening attentively, exploded in anger when they heard the word “Gentile.” The very mention of it drove them into a frenzy.

Roman soldiers had to step in to protect Paul. In verse 24, the commander ordered Paul to be scourged to find out the truth. 

The Roman method of finding out if something was true was the brutal use of a whip until they “confessed” whatever the soldiers wanted to hear.

But Paul, ever wise, stopped them with a question: “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?”

This was a bombshell. Roman citizens had legal rights that protected them from such treatment without a trial. The centurion ran to the commander in a panic, reporting, “This man is a Roman.” The commander himself came to verify it, saying, “I paid a lot of money for my citizenship.”

Paul responded, “I was born a citizen.” That revelation terrified them—they had already come dangerously close to violating Roman law by binding him.

Even though they backed off, the commander still wanted answers. He arranged for Paul to be brought before the Sanhedrin, setting the stage for the next confrontation. Which we will look at next time.

Now, let’s wrap up with a few final observations before we go...

If you read Paul’s story carefully, you’ll notice just how diplomatic he was from the beginning. He said, “I was reared in this city,” referring to Jerusalem. He spoke of our fathers, not your fathers.

In verse 14, instead of using the name of Jesus directly, he refers to Him as the Righteous One—a Messianic title his audience would understand. He also mentions praying in the temple, showing his reverence for their shared traditions.

Paul was speaking their language, using wisdom and diplomacy to make his message as palatable as possible but without ever compromising the truth.

That’s an important lesson for us: when you share your testimony, use the parts that will resonate with the person in front of you. Don’t water down the truth or lie but be thoughtful about what details you share.

Different aspects of your story will connect with different people. That’s using wisdom. That’s what Paul did.

Now, did Paul’s approach “work” in this case? No, it didn’t lead to immediate results. But does that mean we should give up sharing our testimony? Absolutely not. Even if you don’t see instant fruit, you never know the impact your story might have down the road.

Look at verse 20 even Paul mentions Stephen’s martyrdom and his own role in approving it. Many scholars believe that Stephen’s testimony played a significant role in Paul’s eventual conversion. Which tells me that testimonies often plant seeds that grow over time.

So, I urge you—seize every opportunity to tell your story. You don’t need formal training or memorized scripts. Just share what Jesus has done in your life. Make it personal, make it real, and point to Christ.

The agnostic thinker Thomas Huxley once challenged a Christian, asking him to explain why he believed. The Christian, knowing Huxley’s scepticism, was reluctant but eventually agreed. He said, “I’m not here to argue, but let me tell you what Christ means to me,” and shared his testimony. When he finished, Huxley replied, “I would give my life if I could believe what you believe.”

Testimonies have always been a powerful tool for sharing the gospel.

In John 1, John the Baptist pointed to Jesus, declaring, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” Because of his testimony, Andrew followed Jesus. Andrew then brought his brother Simon Peter, saying, “We have found the Messiah.”

The story continues: Philip came to Christ and told Nathanael, “We have found Him of whom Moses and the prophets wrote.” Notice he says we—implying that Peter and Andrew had also shared their testimony with him.

This is the chain reaction of a simple testimony:

·        John the Baptist’s testimony brought Andrew to Christ.

·        Andrew’s testimony brought Peter to Christ.

·        Andrew and Peter likely shared with Philip, who came to Christ.

·        Philip’s testimony brought Nathanael to Christ.

·        All these men became Jesus’ first disciples. And it all started with one testimony.

So in summary this passage offers a pattern for Giving Your Testimony

A simple, powerful framework for sharing your story:

•        Before – What was your life like before Christ?

•        At – What happened when you came to Christ?

•        After – How has your life changed since then?

Remember this structure whenever you tell your story. It makes the gospel clear, relatable, and personal.

Who knows what kind of chain reaction your story could start? Begin where you are, with the people God places in your life. Share your story. Trust God to use it. The results are in His hands.