The party crashers had arrived! It was the annual Israel Day Parade along 5th Avenue in Manhattan. Our team of missionaries were wearing shirts that stated in Hebrew and in English, “Jesus is Messiah.” Over 100,000 people lined up along the parade route to cheer Jewish groups, floats, and others making a statement in support of Israel. 

As you might imagine, our group wasn’t so well received as we made a statement in support of  Y’shua (Hebrew for Jesus) as Messiah!

I experienced real human trepidation as we handed out gospel tracts and spoke with anyone open to conversing about Jesus, and God was faithful.

My most memorable encounter that day occurred along a path in Central Park, adjacent to the parade route. I was cornered by two young Jewish men who began loudly interrogating me regarding my presence at the event and the nature of my t-shirt. As I began sharing truth with them, they were none too pleased with any of my words. People along the path began to stop and see if a riot would break out. 

I took advantage of the opportunity to share loud enough for all to hear. And thankfully, no physical harm was done. The young men soon left and the small crowd dispersed.

Incredibly, with one simple statement on a t-shirt — “Jesus is Messiah” — we created a powerful reaction and response. Among today’s unbelieving Jewish people, virtually any kind of Jewish belief and expression is generally considered acceptable, except belief in Jesus! In fact, 2000 years of anti-Semitism, both real and perceived, under the banner of “Christianity” evokes visceral suspicion from the Jewish community toward Jesus followers.

We continue to examine Paul’s testimony under trial in the latter part of the book of Acts. We find Paul in Jerusalem giving testimony before a very hostile group, the Sanhedrin. Here, Paul made one statement that evoked a polarizing response, and from it we draw out this evangelistic principle germane to our witness today.

Speak into Your Audience’s Reality (Acts 22:30-23:10)

After addressing the mob, Paul was arrested by a Roman commander, then interrogated and scourged. Upon learning of his Roman citizenship, the commander released Paul and convened  an unofficial meeting between Paul and the Jewish Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin, made up of both Sadducees and Pharisees, was the supreme Jewish religious body at the time. Paul took  advantage of this opportunity to share truth that compelled a defense and created a conflict: 

“But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, ‘Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!’ And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, ‘We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.’ Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks”  (Acts 23:6-10).

With one statement Paul rocked their world and crashed their “Paul-bashing” party! Here, the apostle shaped his defense around the resurrection. Why? Because among the Sanhedrin, Paul “perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees” (Acts 23:6). Paul, himself raised a Pharisee (Philippians 3:5), understood resurrection was a sharp point of contention between the two groups. In fact, the concept of resurrection was perhaps the biggest theological difference between the two groups. In light of this, Paul exclaimed, “concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged” (Acts 23:6)!

This hot button issue among the Sanhedrin, namely resurrection, was central both to the gospel message and to Paul’s statement. I find it quite fascinating that the name of Jesus isn’t mentioned, yet the Sanhedrin certainly would have understood the claims of the early church regarding His resurrection.

With the battle lines drawn, the Pharisees interestingly sided with Paul. The Sadducees became  incredulous. As the two sides began to argue, Paul was whisked away by a Roman commander.

It’s also intriguing that the Scripture records the salvation of Pharisees (Acts 15:5), but not Sadducees.

As you interact within your own sphere of influence and have conversations about spiritual issues, be aware of your audience’s reality and speak into that reality. In doing so, you affirm that person and provide the platform to connect on a personal level.

For example, while addressing a high school in Honduras during a mission trip in 2015, I shared my testimony mostly from my high school days. When speaking to a group of athletes, I’ll draw from my tennis playing and coaching experience. Years ago while speaking at a New York City chapter of Teen Challenge, a ministry for people struggling with life-controlling addictions, I shared much about my own drug addiction struggles prior to salvation and how, through Christ, I  am now clean. 

In summary, speaking into areas relevant to your audience’s reality is personal and powerful. 

So, if you know something about your audience’s reality, strive to speak into it. If not, learn about their reality through questions, in order to better relate to them and connect their reality to the reality of life in Christ.

Lord Jesus, please help me speak life and truth through the gospel into the realities of people you bring into my life, that many would come to a saving knowledge of You. Amen.