5. The High Priest and the whole Council of elders can bear witness to this. From them I received letters for the Jewish brothers in Damascus and I set out to arrest the Christians I would find there and bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment.
Acts of Apostles 22 reports Paul's defense before the crowd in Jerusalem after being arrested by the high priest. In this defense, Paul narrates his conversion to Christianity and the mission given to him by Jesus. Some topics covered in this chapter are the so -called divine, conversion and testimony.
Romans 8:30: "And to those who predestined, they also called them; and those who called them, also justified; and those who justified them also glorified." This verse talks about the divine predestination and the call God makes to the chosen ones. This relates to Paul's call narrated in his defense in Acts 22.
John 3:3: "Jesus said unto him, Indeed, indeed, I say that if one is not born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." This verse talks about the need for conversion to enter the kingdom of God. Paul narrates his own conversion to Acts 22, so this verse relates to the theme addressed in this chapter.
Philippians 3:7-8: "But what was profit for me I came to consider him as a loss for Christ's sake. And, more than that, I consider everything as a loss compared to the supreme greatness of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, My Lord, by whom I lost all things. I consider them as a manure to be able to win Christ. " This verse talks about Paul's testimony and his willingness to sacrifice everything for the sake of Christ. This relates to the testimony Paul gives in his defense in Acts 22.
Acts of the Apostles 1:8: "But you will receive power by descending the Holy Spirit upon you, and you will be my witnesses in both Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and even to the ends of the earth." This verse talks about the power given by the Holy Spirit to be a witness to Jesus. This relates to Paul's testimony in Acts 22, which is the narrative of how he became a witness to Christ.
Ephesians 4:1: "I pray for you, the prisoner in the Lord, who are worthy of the vocation to which you were called." This verse talks about the responsibility of living according to God's call. This relates to Paul's defense in Acts 22, where he narrates how he has lived according to his vocation.
“Como é belo esperar!” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina
