The Essential Question (Part 8): Paul's Journey to JerusalemSýnishorn

The Essential Question

Prepare: Take a few minutes to remember the story of how you first encountered Jesus. Then, thank God for the people and experiences that caused you to say yes to him.

Read: Acts 21:37-22:21

Reflect: If I had just escaped from an angry mob trying to kill me, the last thing I'd do is willingly go back and engage my enemies on the very topic that caused the upset. But that's exactly what Paul did here, and it reminds us how spiritually "strong and courageous" he was (see Deuteronomy 31:6).

How do you communicate the gospel to those who don't want to hear it? That was Paul's challenge as he began speaking to this crowd of angry religious leaders from the steps of the Roman military barracks called the Antonia Fortress. This crowd already knew everything they wanted to know about God. Anything Paul said would only set them off.

As a follower of Christ today, you may have faced similar, though less volatile, situations. The reality is, no matter how you spin it, telling people they need to repent of their sins and accept Jesus Christ can cause friction. Paul handled the situation by simply telling his story, the unvarnished facts of what God had done in his life. That's a good strategy for today because it's hard to argue with a changed life.

Paul also built his testimony around three questions. The first was, "Who are you, Lord?" (22:8). The blinding light and voice from heaven forced him to reevaluate a lifetime of religious assumptions, something he wanted his listeners to do. The second question was, "What shall I do, Lord?" (22:10). If Jesus really was alive, then it required a response. The final question came from Paul's first spiritual director, Ananias, "What are you waiting for?" (22:16). There's a time to debate spiritual ideas, but there's also a time to make a decision. That was the point of Paul's speech.

This passage brings us to the heart of the journey we've been taking through Acts. If you truly are a follower of Jesus, and if you truly want to make a difference for him with your life, then the question, "What shall I do, Lord?" becomes your essential question. What mission, what challenge, what need, what area of Christian service has God brought to your mind and heart as you've progressed through this study?

As we've discovered, God had an assignment for Paul, one that would change his life and the world forever. Yours probably won't be as remarkable as Paul's, and I hope not as stressful! But whatever God calls you to do is no less important, because it's part of his plan and it could change your world forever. Maybe the best way to get started is to follow the advice of Oswald Chambers, author of the classic devotional My Utmost for His Highest, when he said, "Trust God and do the next thing." How does that help you begin to answer your essential question today?

Apply: Turn to the Essential Question Journal at the back of this book. Pray, and then make a start at answering Paul's question, "What shall I do, Lord?"