Paul's Witness Before the Crowd in Jerusalem
(Acts 21-22)

The Apostle Paul had a burning desire to go to Jerusalem. He knew that trouble waited for him there. But Paul was determined to obey God and tell people about Jesus, no matter what happened. His friends begged him not to go, but Paul said, "I am ready to die for the Lord Jesus." So he packed his bags and traveled to the holy city.

When Paul arrived in Jerusalem, he went to see the church leaders. They were happy to see him and praised God for all the amazing things Paul had done among the non-Jewish people. They had a big problem, however. Some Jewish believers had heard a rumor that Paul was teaching Jewish people to stop following the laws of Moses. This was not true, but the rumor was causing a lot of anger.

The leaders asked Paul to do something to show everyone that he still followed Jewish customs. Paul agreed and went to the temple to make a special offering. For seven days, he followed the purification rites. But on the last day, some Jews from the province of Asia saw him in the temple and caused a huge uproar. They shouted, "Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law!" The whole city was stirred up, and a mob of angry people seized Paul.

They dragged him out of the temple and began beating him. They were about to kill him when the commander of the Roman guard heard the commotion and rushed over with soldiers. He arrested Paul and ordered him to be bound with two chains. The soldiers had to carry Paul up the steps to the barracks because the crowd was so violent and angry, shouting, "Get rid of him!"

As Paul was being carried up the steps, he asked the commander, "May I say something to you?" The commander was surprised that Paul spoke Greek. Paul told him he was a Jew from Tarsus, a very important city. Then Paul asked for permission to speak to the crowd. The commander allowed it.

Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the people with his hand. When they became quiet, he began speaking to them in Hebrew, their own language. This made them listen even more closely. Paul shared his incredible story. He told them he was a Jew, educated under the famous teacher Gamaliel. He had been just like them, very strict about the law and extremely zealous for God. In fact, he had even persecuted Christians! He held the coats of the men who stoned Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

Then Paul told them about his life-changing meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus. A bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around him, and he fell to the ground. He heard a voice asking, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" Paul asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The voice replied, "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting." The men traveling with Paul saw the light but didn't understand the voice.

Paul was blinded and had to be led by the hand into Damascus. A man named Ananias, a devout follower of the law, came to him and said, "Brother Saul, receive your sight!" Immediately Paul could see again. Ananias told Paul that God had chosen him to know His will and to be a witness to all people of what he had seen and heard. Paul was baptized and called on the name of the Lord.

Paul concluded his testimony by telling the crowd that God had sent him far away to preach to the Gentiles. The crowd had listened peacefully up to that point, but when he mentioned the Gentiles, they exploded with rage. They shouted, "Rid the earth of him! He's not fit to live!" The commander ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks and examined by scourging, but Paul reminded them that he was a Roman citizen by birth, so they could not torture him. The next day, the commander brought Paul before the Jewish council to find out the real reason for all the uproar. Paul had boldly shared his faith in the face of danger.