The American Christian
Weapons of Words Past and Present
Lesson 1
As we face uncertainties in our nation and in the world that we have never seen in our lifetime against
Christians here and abroad; we are directed by God to look into his word for Strategies on how to handle
them.
We are to look to those who have gone before us and laid our foundation as a Christian and a United
States citizen.
We look first at Paul in this first in our series.
Paul was a Roman citizen with all its rights and privileges.
Note - His Character, words, the responses of his words from others.
Acts 21:37-22:27
Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, "May I speak to you?"
He replied, "Can you speak Greek?38 Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a
rebellion and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?"
39 But Paul said,"I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I implore you,
permit me to speak to the people."
Note - Paul stood up in front of his adversaries, He stood firm.
40 So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and motioned with his hand to the
people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying,
Acts 22
22:1 Paul's Defense at Jerusalem
"Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now." 2 And when they heard that he spoke to
them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent.
Note-Paul spoke in a way they could relate to, they listened.
Then he said: 3 "I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet
of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as
you all are today. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men
and women,5 as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I
also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were
there to Jerusalem to be punished.
6 "Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light
from heaven shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul,
Saul, why are you persecuting Me?'8 So I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am
Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.'
9 "And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the
voice of Him who spoke to me. 10 So I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Arise
and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.' 11
And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with
me, I came into Damascus.
Note - Paul is telling of his conversion but also how He was to do something that was not popular and was
forbidden. Just as we study this we can correlate with things of God that may not be popular or politically
correct yet we hear from God to speak or do. Paul obeyed God rather than man.
12 "Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all
the Jews who dwelt there,13 came to me; and he stood and said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your
sight.' And at that same hour I looked up at him.
14 Then he said,'The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the
Just one, and hear the voice of His mouth.
15 For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why are you
waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'
17 "Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a
trance 18 and saw Him saying to me, 'Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not
receive your testimony concerning Me.' 19 So I said, 'Lord, they know that in every synagogue I
imprisoned and beat those who believe on You. 20 And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was
shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were
killing him.' 21 Then He said to me, 'Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.'"
Note - Paul had not been in God’s camp, but now was and doing things not appropriate according to the
Jews of the time.
22 Paul's Roman Citizenship
And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said,"Away with such a fellow
from the earth, for he is not fit to live!"
23 Then, as they cried out and tore off their clothes and threw dust into the air, 24 the commander
ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and said that he should be examined under scourging,
so that he might know why they shouted so against him. 25 And as they bound him with thongs,
Paul said to the centurion who stood by,"Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and
uncondemned?"
Note - Paul does what we should be doing, he brings the foundation of law back against them. His was
Roman law, but ours recourse is that of our founding fathers of this United States, Our Constitution and
our Bill of Rights. When being subdued, handcuffed and punished in any way, we are within our rights as
United States Citizens to quote back to our subdoers the laws of the Land.
This is why we must know our founding fathers stance and History of our Nation. What men and women
have shed and died for. We will also know if our leaders are following the Law laid out in our foundation.
26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the commander, saying, "Take care what you
do, for this man is a Roman."
27 Then the commander came and said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman?"
Acts 22:27-30
He said, "Yes."
28 The commander answered, "With a large sum I obtained this citizenship."
And Paul said, "But I was born a citizen."
Note - Wither we are a born United States citizen or acquired it, it is of high importance when looking at
any attacks on us.
We as Christian have been passive and not looking at our rights and the atance of our fathers. We should
be bold and declare “ I am a US citizen and this cannot be allowed to happen under our laws and
foundations.
29 Then immediately those who were about to examine him withdrew from him; and the commander
was also afraid after he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
30 The Sanhedrin Divided
The next day, because he wanted to know for certain why he was accused by the Jews, he released him
from his bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down
and set him before them.
Below are links to our Declaration Of Independence and Bill of Rights. AS AMERICAN CITIZENS-
PLEASE READ AND PRINT THEM OUT FOR FUTURE USE. Look at the king then that we were up against
and our ruler now. Our current time is very similar in some ways. Look for future teaching in this series
soon.
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
The Declaration of Independence
The Bill of Rights
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