Are You Living as a Witness of the Gospel?

Discover how Paul’s encounter with Jesus transformed him into a powerful gospel witness. Learn how God opens spiritual eyes to reveal His truth and calling for your life through Acts 22. After meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus, the apostle Paul’s spiritual eyes were opened. God revealed His will to Paul and allowed him to see the Lord because He wanted Paul to be a witness of what he had seen and heard. This is a calling that applies to each one of us as well.

[Scripture]

Acts 22:12-21 (ESV)

[12] “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, [13] came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. [14] And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; [15] for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. [16] And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ [17] “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance [18] and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ [19] And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. [20] And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ [21] And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” (Acts 22:12-21, ESV)

[Daily Word]

God Who Opened Spiritual Eyes to Know the Gospel

After beholding the light of the glory of Christ on the road, Paul lost his sight. It was then that Ananias — a man who lived according to the Law and was well spoken of by all the Jews — came to Paul. When Ananias told Paul to “receive your sight,” Paul’s eyes were opened. What opened Paul’s eyes, however, was not Ananias himself. This was an event in which God opened the spiritual eyes of a sinner who had fallen short of the Lord’s glory, so that he might come to know the gospel.

The reason Paul had lived in opposition to the Lord all along, without knowing God’s will, was that sin — a life lived apart from God’s purposes — had veiled the spirit that looks to the Lord, and he lacked the spirit of discernment.

Yet Jesus met Paul and, as in verse 14, made him know the Lord’s will, caused him to see the Lord, and enabled him to hear the voice from His mouth. Not only was Paul forgiven of his sins, but by being made to know the gospel of Jesus, he was brought into the kingdom of God to live there.

This is the most abundant grace for those of us living in this world. Yet some people, even while believing in Jesus, may feel that grace and blessing are lacking in their lives. The clear truth is this: because the Lord has made us His children, we can call Him Abba Father, and He has given us the hope of heaven. I invite you to believe that this is precisely the grace and blessing granted to those who had no right to receive it.

Called as Witnesses of the Gospel

The reason God made Paul know the Lord’s will, caused him to see Jesus, and enabled him to hear the Lord’s voice was so that Paul would become a witness of the gospel — testifying to everything he had seen, heard, and experienced.

Therefore, Ananias urges Paul without hesitation: “Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.” The reason we have received grace from the Lord is the same as the mission Paul was given — to become a messenger of the gospel of the cross, proclaiming the news that Jesus died on the cross and rose again.

The Audience God Has Appointed for the Gospel

Later, Paul returned to Jerusalem and sought God’s guidance while praying in the temple. In verse 18, the Lord appeared to him in a vision and commanded him to leave Jerusalem quickly, because the Jews there would not receive his testimony about the gospel.

So Paul replied to the Lord: “Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.” But God commanded him in verse 21: “Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.”¹

God appoints for those who carry the mission of the gospel of the cross the very people to whom they are to proclaim it. In particular, that audience includes every person we are able to encounter in the place where God has set us. God desires that we fulfill this mission without delay — for there may be people waiting to hear the gospel, and there may be those living in pain under the weight of sin, just as we once did. Therefore, we must remember that God longs for them to return to the arms of the Lord through us, and that he wants us to carry out this calling without hesitation.

May we all become true witnesses of what we have seen and heard while living in this world, and take part in God’s work of salvation.

Originally published in Korean at bible2u.com