Acts 22 | Renewed Testimony

Monday: Read Acts 22:1-7
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Have you ever carried the weight of failing someone—God, others, or even yourself? Shame has a way of gripping people in different forms. Some try to bury it, refusing to think about the damage they’ve caused. Others live as though shame has sentenced them to never being good enough, their thoughts consumed daily by past mistakes. Still others attempt to block it out entirely, only to feel crushed each time the memories resurface. Shame can linger like a shadow, distorting how we see ourselves and keeping us from walking freely in God’s calling.

Luke never states outright that Paul wrestled with shame, yet Paul’s own words suggest he knew its sting. He described himself as “the least of the apostles” because he had persecuted the church (1 Corinthians 15:9) and even called himself “the worst of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). Still, Paul did not hide his past; he openly admitted, “I persecuted this Way to the death” (Acts 22:4). Over 21–25 years since his conversion, Paul had moved from being haunted by his past to walking in the reality of God’s grace. The guilt of his former life was real, but it no longer crippled him. Instead, he spoke of his past with a renewed understanding that God’s forgiveness made him not only free but also qualified to proclaim the very grace he had received. The same is true for us, grace transforms shame into testimony. The question is, when you look at your past, do you still see it through the lens of shame, or through the lens of God’s grace?

Spiritual Practice: Living Free from Shame

Paul’s life reminds us that while guilt and shame can linger, they do not define us in Christ. God’s grace not only forgives but also qualifies us to live boldly for Him. This practice will help you bring your past into the light of God’s grace, moving from being haunted by failure to walking in freedom.

1. Recall and Release – Identify one memory or failure from your past that still tempts you toward shame. Write it down and acknowledge it before God.

2. Confess and Receive – Pray honestly about this area, thanking God for His forgiveness and declaring His grace over your life.

3. Replace the Lie with Truth – Find a specific Scripture that speaks to God’s grace and repeat it aloud whenever shame resurfaces.

4. Encourage Another – Share a word of encouragement with someone else who may be wrestling with shame, letting your testimony of grace strengthen them.
   

Want to Dig Deeper?
Study: Isaiah 43:25, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Hebrews 8:12, 1 John 1:9

Tuesday: Read Acts 22:7-11
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We do not know how close Paul truly felt to God in those early days, but we do know he was well studied and fiercely zealous in trying to stamp out what he believed was a dangerous heresy spreading like wildfire. From the outside, it appeared that Paul was running in the exact opposite direction of God’s work. To the Christians he persecuted, Paul seemed utterly lost, an enemy consumed by sin and blind rage. Yet Paul was never lost to God. Even at his worst, God knew exactly where he was and met him, not by sending a search party, but by stopping him in his tracks on the road to Damascus.

Paul’s story reminds us that no one is ever too far gone for God’s grace. His actions and blindness placed him in direct opposition to Jesus, fiercely attacking the very One he thought he was serving. Yet even as Paul opposed Christ Himself, he was never beyond Christ’s reach. On the road to Damascus, God stopped him, spoke to him, and set him on a new course as a witness to the gospel he once tried to destroy. The same God who pursued Paul still pursues people today. This truth encourages us to never give up on others or on ourselves, because even in our darkest moments, God knows exactly where to find us, how to confront us, and how to bring us back on track.

Spiritual Practice: Never Too Far Gone

Paul’s story reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace. Even while running in the opposite direction, God knew exactly where to find him and how to change his course. This practice helps us shift our perspective from despair to hope, learning to trust that God can redeem anyone’s story—including our own.

1. Remember God’s Pursuit – Take a few minutes to reflect on how God has pursued you personally, even when you were going your own way. Write down one or two moments when He stopped you and redirected your life.

2. Pray for the “Impossible” Person – Identify someone in your life who feels far from God. Commit to praying daily for them, asking God to meet them where they are.

3. Release the Burden – If shame or regret from your own past weighs heavily, bring it honestly before God in prayer, trusting that His grace is greater than your failure.

4. Live with Expectation – As you go about your day, ask God to open your eyes to His pursuit of people and be ready to play a role in pointing someone to His grace.

Want to Dig Deeper?

Study: Psalm 139:7–10, Luke 19:10, John 10:28–29, 1 Timothy 1:15–16

Wednesday: Read Acts 22:12-16
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The message of grace is not only about the grace God extends to us but also about the grace we are called to extend to others. This comes to life in the story of Ananias and Paul. On the very day Paul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, he was still known as the fierce persecutor who had been hunting down Christians, imprisoning them, and even approving of their deaths. To Paul, Ananias was an enemy; to Ananias, Paul was a persecutor who deserved judgment, not kindness. Yet at God’s command, Ananias entered the house where Paul was staying and, instead of fear or bitterness, he greeted him as “Brother Saul” (Acts 9:17). He delivered God’s message faithfully, laid hands on him so he might see again, and welcomed him into the family of believers through baptism. Grace moved Ananias to extend brotherhood and belonging where there had once been hatred.

This same grace is what believers are called to live out. The gospel transforms not only how we receive God’s mercy but also how we treat others, even those we feel least deserve it. Extending grace may mean forgiving someone who has wronged you, showing kindness where resentment feels easier, or welcoming those the world rejects. Paul would later write, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13). Like Ananias, we are invited to trust God enough to see people through the lens of grace, believing He can redeem any life. The question is, who in your life needs you to extend the kind of grace God has so freely extended to you?

Spiritual Practice: Extending Grace to the Undeserving

Grace does not stop with what we receive from God—it flows through us to others. Just as Ananias extended grace to Paul, welcoming him as a brother despite his past, we are called to show grace even to those who may seem least deserving. This practice helps us surrender resentment, obey God’s leading, and reflect His mercy in our relationships.

1. Pray for God’s Eyes – Ask God to show you one person in your life who is difficult to love or forgive and pray to see them as He does.

2. Release the Debt – Identify what offense, wound, or judgment you hold against them, and intentionally release it before God in prayer.

3. Speak or Act in Grace – Find one tangible way to extend grace—through kind words, forgiveness, or a simple act of service.

4. Trust God with the Outcome – Leave the results in His hands, remembering that Ananias obeyed even without knowing how Paul would respond.

Want to Dig Deeper?

Study: Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:36, Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13

Thursday: Read Acts 22:17-21
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Paul was recounting what had happened in Acts 9:26–30, giving us a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes conversations he had with Jesus during that time. What stands out is that God, who knows all things, was fully aware that the believers in Jerusalem would struggle to accept Paul’s conversion as genuine. Yet He still allowed Paul to make the 135-mile journey to Jerusalem. At first glance, it might seem like a wasted effort, but it became the moment Paul met Barnabas, the man who would later join him on his first missionary journey that lasted two years. By God’s grace, what could have been viewed as a pointless trip was redeemed. What Paul may have considered a failure, God used as a setup for future fruitfulness and kingdom impact.

Paul’s journey reminds us that God never wastes time. Even when we see detours, delays, or what feels like wasted effort, God is working with intention. The same grace that redeemed Paul’s trip to Jerusalem can shape how we view our own waiting. The next time we find ourselves stuck in traffic, sitting too long at a restaurant, or waiting on a response we desperately want, we can remember that God is not careless with our time. He uses even the interruptions and inconveniences to prepare us, grow us, or set us up for what is next. When we learn to trust His timing, we discover that no moment is wasted in His hands.

Spiritual Practice: Trusting God in the Waiting

Paul’s long journey to Jerusalem may have seemed like wasted time, yet God used it to form life-changing partnerships and set up the spread of the Gospel. In the same way, God never wastes our waiting. What feels like delay, inconvenience, or even disappointment is often the very soil where He is preparing growth in us and opening unseen opportunities. This practice invites us to see waiting not as empty space but as purposeful space, where God is still at work shaping our lives and advancing His mission.

1. Pause and Pray – The next time you face a delay or interruption, stop and invite God into that moment instead of rushing past it.

2. Reframe the Moment – Ask, “How might God be using this time for His purpose?” Shift from frustration to expectation.

3. Look for Small Opportunities – Use waiting moments to encourage someone, pray for others, or reflect on Scripture.

4. Record God’s Timing – Keep a journal of times when what felt like wasted time later revealed God’s purpose, building a testimony of His faithfulness.

Want to Dig Deeper?

Study: Psalm 27:14, Ecclesiastes 3:11, Isaiah 40:3, Galatians 6:9 

Friday: Read Acts 22:22-30
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Even in the midst of chaos, Paul chose to extend grace toward those who captured him. As a Roman citizen, he had the legal right to a fair trial before being chained or whipped, yet in Acts 21:33 we see him restrained, violating the protections of Roman law. The scene was tense and chaotic, and it’s likely Paul had no chance to inform the Roman official of his status before the order was given. When the Tribune later learned Paul was a citizen, the reality sank in, if he had carried out the punishment, it could have cost him not only his career but possibly his life. Paul’s silence in that moment highlights more than a missed opportunity to defend himself; it reveals a heart willing to endure injustice with patience.

What makes Paul’s response remarkable is that he had every right to fight back, argue, or lash out at the Tribune for violating his rights, yet he did not. Instead of making the official his enemy, Paul extended grace amid wrongdoing. His restraint serves as a reminder that extending grace is often most powerful when we feel wronged and justified in retaliating. For the believer, this challenges us to follow Paul’s example, choosing patience, humility, and grace even when we have every reason to push back. Grace in these moments not only spares others but also reflects the heart of Christ, who Himself did not retaliate when wronged but entrusted Himself to God’s justice.

Spiritual Practice: Choosing Grace Over Retaliation

Paul had every right to protest his unjust treatment as a Roman citizen, yet instead of responding with anger or retaliation, he chose restraint and extended grace. His example shows us that true strength is not always found in fighting back, but in trusting God enough to respond with grace even when wronged. This practice helps us slow down, resist the urge to react harshly, and invite God to shape our responses toward mercy.

1. Reflection: Think about a recent moment when you felt wronged or misunderstood. Acknowledge the ways you could have defended yourself or lashed out in response.

2. Pause and Pray: Before reacting, take a moment to pray, “Lord, help me respond with grace, not out of anger or pride.”

3. Extend Grace: Choose one practical way to respond with kindness to someone who has hurt, misunderstood, or wronged you. This could be softening your words, letting go of a grudge, or even offering help.

4. Release the Outcome: Trust that God sees and will deal with justice in His timing. Your role is to honor Him in how you respond.

Want to Dig Deeper?

Study: Matthew 5:44, Romans 12:17-18, Colossians 3:12-13, 1 Peter 2:23