Rachel：Not to Defend but to Testify

证道经文：使徒行传 acts 21:37-40,22:1-21

[Acts 21:37] And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek?

[Acts 21:38] Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?

[Acts 21:39] But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.

[Acts 21:40] And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,

[Acts 22:1] Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.

[Acts 22:2] (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)

[Acts 22:3] I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

[Acts 22:4] And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

[Acts 22:5] As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.

[Acts 22:6] And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.

[Acts 22:7] And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

[Acts 22:8] And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

[Acts 22:9] And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.

[Acts 22:10] And I said, What shall I do, LORD? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.

[Acts 22:11] And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.

[Acts 22:12] And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,

[Acts 22:13] Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.

[Acts 22:14] And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.

[Acts 22:15] For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

[Acts 22:16] And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

[Acts 22:17] And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;

[Acts 22:18] And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.

[Acts 22:19] And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:

[Acts 22:20] And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.

[Acts 22:21] And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.