Paul gives his defense before the council in Jerusalem, recounting his past persecution of Christians and his conversion experience on the road to Damascus. He was formerly a zealous persecutor of Christians but was blinded by a light from heaven and heard Jesus say "why do you persecute me?" He was told to go to Damascus where he was healed and learned he should preach to the Gentiles. His speech angers the crowd, who want to kill him for being a former persecutor who is now preaching about Jesus.

1. Acts 22:1-22
Tallapoosa
church of Christ
January 15, 2012

2. Acts 22:1 NKJV "Brethren and fathers, hear my
defense before you now."
Defense: “apologia,” is a verbal defense, speech in
defense, or a reasoned statement or argument
(Thayer).

3. Acts 22:2 NKJV And when they heard that he spoke to
them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent.
Then he said:
1 Peter 3:15 NKJV But sanctify the Lord God in your
hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone
who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with
meekness and fear;

4. You Lose with a Poor Defense
1. If you have a poor defense a jury will
find you guilty and you be punished
according to the law.
2. If you have sinned, your defense
before God is lousy. (But all have
sinned; Rom. 3:23).
3. Paul had a poor defense before God.

5. Paul’s Poor Defense
Acts 22:3-5 NKJV "I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia,
but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught
according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous
toward God as you all are today. (4) I persecuted this Way to
the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and
women, (5) as also the high priest bears me witness, and all
the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the
brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those
who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.

6. Paul’s Poor Defense
Acts 22:6-10 NKJV "Now it happened, as I journeyed and came
near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from
heaven shone around me. (7) And I fell to the ground and
heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting
Me?' (8) So I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to
me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.' (9)
"And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were
afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me.

7. Paul’s Poor Defense
Acts 9:5 NKJV And he said, "Who are You,
Lord?" Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom
you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick
against the goads.”
1 Timothy 1:15 NKJV This is a faithful saying and worthy
of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to
save sinners, of whom I am chief.

8. Paul’s Poor Defense
Acts 23:1 NKJV Then Paul, looking earnestly
at the council, said, "Men and brethren, I have
lived in all good conscience before God until
this day.”

9. Paul’s Poor Defense
Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV "Not everyone who
says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom
of heaven, but he who does the will of My
Father in heaven. (22) Many will say to Me in
that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in
Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and
done many wonders in Your name?' (23) And
then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you;
depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

10. Acts 22:10-11 NKJV So I said, 'What
shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to
me, 'Arise and go into Damascus, and
there you will be told all things which are
appointed for you to do.' (11) And since
I could not see for the glory of that light,
being led by the hand of those who were
with me, I came into Damascus.

11. Acts 22:16 NKJV And now why are you waiting? Arise
and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the
name of the Lord.’

12. Acts 2:36-39 NKJV "Therefore let all the house of Israel know
assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified,
both Lord and Christ." (37) Now when they heard this, they
were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the
apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

13. Acts 2:36-39 continued (38) Then Peter said to
them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the
name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (39) For the promise is to you
and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the
Lord our God will call.”

14. Romans 5:8 NKJV But God demonstrates His own love
toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died
for us.

15. John 3:16-17 NKJV For God so loved the world that He
gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life. (17) For God
did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world through Him might be saved.

16. Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is
the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and
there are many who go in by it. (14) Because narrow is the
gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are
few who find it.

17. Acts 22:22 NKJV And they listened
to him until this word, and then they
raised their voices and said, "Away
with such a fellow from the earth, for
he is not fit to live!”

18. Isaiah 59:2 NKJV But your
iniquities have separated you
from your God; And your sins
have hidden His face from you,
So that He will not hear.

19. Romans 6:23 NKJV For
the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus
our Lord.

20. Ezekiel 3:18 NKJV When I say to the
wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you
give him no warning, nor speak to warn
the wicked from his wicked way, to
save his life, that same wicked man
shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I
will require at your hand.

21. 1 John 1:7-9 NKJV But if we walk in the light as He is in the
light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of
Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (8) If we say
that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not
in us. (9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.