Acts 22

ScriptureActs 22:1 “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.”Observation - What does it say?The Apostle Paul got up to address the crowd of Jews. And from the start, he lets them know that he is one of them. He respectfully calls them “brothers and fathers” and speaks in their language, the Hebrew dialect of Aramaic. As a result he gained their complete attention, at least for a while. Unfortunately, once he mentioned God’s plan to not only save the Jews but the whole world, the crowd turned on him.Understanding - What does it mean?When sharing our testimony and the good news of Jesus with people, speak from common ground. We aren’t looking down our noses at those who don’t yet know Christ, but we are sharing with them as people who at one point were in their shoes! The Apostle Paul gives us an inside look at his strategy for winning the lost in his letter to the believers at Corinth.1 Corinthians 9:20-23²⁰ To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. ²¹ To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. ²² To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. ²³ I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.Life ApplicationBecome all things to all people, in order to win them to Christ!

God, help us to become more effective fishers of men. Give us the wisdom to find common ground with those who are lost and the favor to see them come into saving relationship with you. Use us! Amen.

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