Paul's defense, our defense we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.

Acts 21:37-22:16 (NASB) from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

³⁷ As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I say something to you?” And he *said, “Do you know Greek? ³⁸ Then you are not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” ³⁹ But Paul said, “I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city; and I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.” ⁴⁰ When he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the stairs, motioned to the people with his hand; and when there was a great hush, he spoke to them in the Hebrew dialect, saying,

Paul’s Defense before the Jews

22 “Brethren and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you.”

² And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew dialect, they became even more quiet; and he *said,

³ “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today. ⁴ I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons, ⁵ as also the high priest and all the Council of the elders can testify. From them I also received letters to the brethren, and started off for Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem as prisoners to be punished.

⁶ “But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, ⁷ and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ ⁸ And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’ ⁹ And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. ¹⁰ And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.’ ¹¹ But since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me and came into Damascus.

¹² “A certain Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law, and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, ¹³ came to me, and standing near said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very time I looked up at him. ¹⁴ And he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear an utterance from His mouth. ¹⁵ For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard. ¹⁶ Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’

The title in today’s text is Paul’s defense before the Jews. But what is it that Paul is really defending? Paul is not offering a legal defense in an effort to free himself. Rather, Paul is defending the gospel message he preaches and declares. He offers the testimony of how an encounter with Jesus Christ changed his life. He tells of how he was once against Jesus but by a revelation of who Jesus is, Christ, the Lord and Savior, he has been changed. Paul feels no need to defend himself. He has the same confidence as the psalmist, who says in Psalm 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?

The writer of Hebrews offers the same encouragement to us in Hebrews 13:5-6.

He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” ⁶ so that we confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.
What will man do to me?”

The purpose of our testimony and the confidence we have , like Paul, like the psalmist , like the writer of Hebrews to lead others to the knowledge and the revelation of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 13 continues. Verse 7-9 says:

⁷ Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. ⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.⁹ Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings

Revelation 12:10-11  says:

10Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. 11"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

Whether we are accused by men or accused by “the accuser of our brethren”, our defense should be as Paul’s. Our defense should be to tell others what has happened in our own life since we have encountered Jesus. After all what can men do to us.  Our goal and our desire should not be to legally defend ourselves. It should be as it says in Revelation to overcome by the blood of the Lamb. Jesus says in John 16:33:

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

Our testimony to others, our words and our actions are so that what the writer of Hebrews says may be true. The confidence we have in Christ will have this result in others. They will,

⁷ Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. ⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God by who’s blood we overcome, precious Holy Spirit. May I have the confidence of Paul, that when I am accused I will not seek to save my life, but rather I will declare the truth of how You have already saved me. I trust in You, my Lord, my Helper. What can men do to me? I declare as the psalmist declares: The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? May my words and actions have the result of Jesus instruction in Matthew 5:16.

 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. May others see You in my actions and through my testimony. To You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be the glory forever.   Amen.