Forming a Testimony - Part 3

As you can see from the title, we are plugging through Acts. Let's get right to it.

Acts 10 - This chapter is literally a watershed moment in the history of Christianity. Peter sees a vision about unclean animals and God tells him eat. Prior to this vision, the gospel was being preached only to the Jews. This vision symbolized the tearing down of boundary between Jew and Gentile and that God was going to pour His Holy Spirit out on the Gentiles. Not coincidentally, Cornelius, a Roman centurion (a gentile) was a told in a vision to call for Peter. Upon Peter's arrival, he shares his vision, and his testimony.

He begins by saying "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him." That is kind of like what we saw yesterday with the conversion of Saul. Any sinner can be saved.

Peter continues by saying that Jesus was anointed by God and that he was killed and raised on the third day. He said that many witnesses saw Jesus after His resurrection.

In verse 42, for the first time, we see a justification for sharing the gospel in a testimony. "He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead." I think this part is important to remember because a situation may arise where the person you are testifying to will say, "why do you care what happens to me." This gives us an answer.

Peter concluded by saying "To Him all prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins." The Holy Spirit was then poured out, the people spoke in tongues and Peter then commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.

I am definitely seeing a pattern in the apostles testimony. It is key to point out that they ALWAYS build the testimony on scripture, say who Jesus was and that He died and rose again. And there is always an explanation on HOW to be saved. The apostles never left those listening high and dry and wondering, "what should I do now?"

Something else I've noticed is that many times the apostles would stay a few days in the place that they preached or where people had just been saved. This isn't always the case, but I think there is a reason for this. People who have just been saved certainly have many questions about where to go from there. The apostles may have stayed to answer those questions and help the people in their Christian infancy. Any time someone near us is saved, it is an obligation to keep tabs on them and help them through any temptations and pitfalls.

Acts 16:11-15 - There is no word-for-word account of Paul and Luke's testimony to Lydia, but it does say that she worshiped God prior to her being saved. It also says that the Lord opened her heart o heed the things spoken by Paul. This should give any of us sharing a testimony confidence and reinforcement. We just have to share the word, God does the rest.

Well, there are 12 more chapters in the book of Acts, so I'm thinking three more blogs and I should have my own testimony.