Paul was beaten by a mob, their intention: to kill him.  He was rescued by a Roman commander and his soldiers.  As they were taking Paul to their barracks, He asked the commander if he could speak to that mob, and permission was given.  (Acts 21:31-40)

Paul began his defense
(NASB) Acts 22:1-5 “BRETHREN AND fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you.’
2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew dialect, they became even more quiet; and he said,”

Paul gave his credentials
3 ‘I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today.”

Paul was zealous
4 ‘I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons,
5 as also the high priest and all the Council of the elders can testify.  From them I also received letters to the brethren, and started off for Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem as prisoners to be punished.’”

Paul understood this mob’s thinking and as he began his defense, identified with them.
He understood their zealousness against himself.
(Acts 9:1-2)

How do you understand people who are without Jesus as their Savior?  How is your background similar?
Now, I have a question that I have asked myself, ‘How do I respond to people like me, before I asked Jesus to be my Savior?’

Am I impatient or is my desire for them to know the freedom that is only by faith in Jesus Christ?

Remember: “…He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
(NASB Colossians 1:13-14)

 

Paul’s intense desire
(NASB) Romans 10:1 “BRETHREN, MY heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them (Jews) is for their salvation.”

 

Is that your prayer, your heart’s desire for others who are now living – like you once lived?  Is your intense desire for them to know Jesus and His love?