How can we prepare to share our faith like Paul in Acts 25:22? Setting the Scene in Acts 25 Agrippa’s curiosity—“I would also like to hear the man myself” (Acts 25:22)—flows from Paul’s steady witness. Paul has spent two years imprisoned (Acts 24:27), yet his reputation for clear, courageous testimony precedes him. When the moment comes, he is instantly ready. What We Notice in Paul’s Readiness • Confidence: Paul trusts the Lord’s sovereignty over governors and kings (Acts 23:11). • Clarity: he knows the gospel story and his own story inside out (Acts 26:4-23). • Consistency: his life and words match, removing any hint of hypocrisy (Acts 24:16). • Courage: he speaks “boldly” regardless of audience size or status (Acts 26:26). Practical Steps to Prepare 1. Ground yourself daily in Scripture • Let God’s Word dwell richly in you (Colossians 3:16). • Memorize key gospel passages—Romans 3:23-24; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. 2. Know your testimony • Outline your life before Christ, how you met Him, and the change since—just as Paul does (Acts 26:9-18). 3. Walk in integrity • Keep a clear conscience “before God and man” (Acts 24:16). • Confess sin quickly (1 John 1:9) so nothing undermines your words. 4. Pray for divine appointments • Paul’s trials looked like setbacks, yet each was a platform. Ask God to order your steps similarly (Proverbs 16:9). 5. Cultivate spiritual boldness • “The righteous are as bold as a lion” (Proverbs 28:1). Boldness grows as we trust the Spirit’s power (Acts 4:31). 6. Anticipate questions and objections • “Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you” (1 Peter 3:15). Study common questions about faith, but keep the focus on Christ. 7. Depend on the Spirit in the moment • Jesus promised, “The Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say” (Luke 12:12). Verses That Shape Our Preparation • Acts 20:24 – “I consider my life worth nothing… that I may finish my course and the ministry I received.” • 2 Timothy 4:2 – “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season.” • Ephesians 6:19-20 – “Pray… that I may fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.” • Colossians 4:5-6 – “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders… let your speech always be gracious.” Living It Out Today • Start each day asking, “Lord, make me ready for anyone who might say, ‘I’d like to hear about your hope.’” • Keep a short, three-minute version of your testimony in mind, and a longer version for deeper talks. • Carry a pocket Bible or app bookmarked to key passages. • View every conversation—coffee lines, work breaks, family gatherings—as potential Agrippa moments. • Trust that God can use prisons, pressures, and ordinary days alike to place you before the very people He intends you to reach. With hearts anchored in Scripture and lives yielded to Christ, we can meet every “I would like to hear” with the same eager readiness Paul displayed. |
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