Facing false accusations and physical mistreatment, Paul would not be silenced. Whether bound in chains or brought before leaders and kings, Paul faithfully shared his powerful witness of Jesus Christ and His gospel. This lesson is intended to help you develop a greater desire to follow the example of Paul in testifying of Jesus Christ and His gospel in your daily life.
Invite students to testify of doctrine and principles: Help students understand that “the sharing of testimony not only blesses the person who bears testimony but can also strengthen the faith and testimonies of others. … [A testimony] can simply be a statement of what a person knows to be true, spoken with sincerity and conviction. It can be a simple affirmation of how a person feels about a doctrine or principle of the gospel and the difference it has made in his or her life” (Gospel Teaching and Learning: A Handbook for Teachers and Leaders in Seminaries and Institutes of Religion [2012], 33).
Student preparation: Invite students to ponder and come prepared to share an experience where they were impacted by someone else’s testimony.
Possible Learning Activities
Sharing testimony
Remind students of the student preparation invitation for this lesson as they respond to the following questions.
In a religious or spiritual sense, testifying or bearing testimony usually refers to sharing personal beliefs of spiritual knowledge as given by the Holy Ghost (see Guide to the Scriptures, “Testify” and “Testimony”).
When have you felt the power of sharing your own testimony or hearing someone else share their testimony? How has this impacted you?
How willing are you to share your testimony with others? Why might someone be hesitant to share their testimony?
What questions and concerns do you have about testifying to others about your beliefs?
In this lesson, you will study Paul’s testimony of the Savior and how the Savior impacted Paul’s life. You will also learn how others reacted to Paul’s testimony. As you study, consider how the Savior can bless your life as you are willing to share your testimony of Him and His gospel, regardless of how strong you think your testimony is.
The Apostle Paul’s testimony
Despite being beaten, stoned, and falsely imprisoned, Paul repeatedly shared his testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel. As you read Paul’s story, practice visualizing what is happening in the account.
This might be a good opportunity to remind students of the effectiveness of visualizing. Encourage them to imagine they were present during the account. As they read, they can envision the sights, sounds, and feelings they might have experienced.
The following passages contain portions of Paul’s testimony and the reactions of those who heard him. Choose one of the passages to read, and think about how you might have been impacted by his testimony if you had been there.
Consider displaying the following information for students. If class time is limited, it might be helpful to emphasize that students do not need to read all three testimonies.
Paul’s testimony
The people’s reaction
Paul’s testimony
Paul was bound in chains after his arrest in Jerusalem. He was permitted to speak to the people while standing outside the Antonia Fortress.
Paul was arrested outside the temple in Jerusalem and was then brought before Jewish leaders. He was questioned by these Jewish leaders and imprisoned. The Roman captain who had arrested Paul learned of a conspiracy among a band of Jews to kill Paul, so he sent Paul to Caesarea. At Caesarea, Paul was permitted to speak in his own defense before the Roman governor Felix.
After two years of imprisonment, Paul appeared before the new governor and demanded the opportunity to testify before Caesar. King Agrippa arranged to hear Paul’s witness before his journey to Rome.
After students complete one of the reading assignments above, consider inviting them to openly share personal impressions from their study before the following activity.
In your study journal, write down what you learned. Be sure to include the following points:
What specific things stood out to you about Paul’s testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel?
What impressed you about Paul in these verses?
Why do you believe Paul had the courage and strength to testify of Christ in such trying situations?
Why do you think it’s important to share testimony even when others might reject it?
As students share their answers, listen carefully for true principles, and write them on the board. One possible principle might be that disciples of Jesus Christ boldly share their testimonies.
Read the following statement, pondering how it could help you have the courage to testify like Paul did.
While emphasizing that sharing our testimony with others does not need to be perfect and can take practice, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared the following.
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Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
In whatever ways seem natural and normal to you, share with people why Jesus Christ and His Church are important to you. …
Understand that it’s not your job to convert people. That is the role of the Holy Ghost. Your role is to share what is in your heart and live consistent with your beliefs.
In your study journal, make two columns. In one column, reflect on and record your personal testimony, including personal experiences that have strengthened and built your testimony of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and Their gospel. In the other column, record any thoughts and impressions about how you can share this testimony with others in your daily life, like Paul did.
Consider sharing (and allowing students to share) testimony as well as thoughts, impressions, and ideas about testifying in normal and natural ways. As you do, emphasize the Savior’s example of sharing His testimony. This could be done before or after discussing the following questions.
In what ways was the Savior an example of sharing testimony regardless of the response or reaction of others? (see Doctrine and Covenants 138:25–26).
You might feel hesitant or nervous about testifying of the Savior. How might it help you to think of how the Savior feels about your efforts to testify of Him?
Commentary and Background Information
Where can I learn more about what a testimony is and how to strengthen my own testimony?
For help in understanding what a testimony is and how to strengthen your own testimony, read the Gospel Topics article “Testimony” (topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
For examples on how others strengthened their testimonies, consider watching the video “Increase Your Testimony” (4:59), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Why is it important to be valiant in my testimony?
Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
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Elder Quentin L. Cook
Being “valiant in the testimony of Jesus” [Doctrine and Covenants 76:79] is the simple, essential test between those who will inherit the blessings of the celestial kingdom and those in the lesser terrestrial kingdom. …
Being valiant in our testimony of Jesus is a stepping-stone toward qualifying for the Savior’s grace and the celestial kingdom.
How can I share my testimony in normal and natural ways?
For examples on how to share your testimony in normal and natural ways, consider watching the video “Sharing Your Beliefs” (2:02), available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org. You may also consider exploring the web page “Share the Gospel: Share Online,” available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, or reading the article “Ministering Principles: How to Share Testimony More Naturally” (Ensign, Mar. 2019, 8–11).
Consider helping students understand the impact of Paul’s testimony by reading Joseph Smith’s feelings about Paul as shared in Joseph Smith—History 1:21–25. Why did Joseph feel a connection to Paul? How do you think Joseph was strengthened by Paul’s testimony? In what ways do Paul’s experiences relate to you today? What are some ways Paul’s testimony and experiences can help you?
Help students visualize
To help students visualize Paul’s testimony before Agrippa, consider showing the video “Paul: A Chosen Vessel” from time code 3:36 to 8:36, available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Connections to Come, Follow Me
Come, Follow Me this week highlights the truth that “disciples of Jesus Christ share their testimonies boldly” (see “July 31–August 6. Acts 22–28: ‘A Minister and a Witness,’” Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: New Testament 2023). It invites all to contemplate opportunities to share their testimonies. Consider asking students if they did this and inviting those who did to share their experiences. If students did not do this, remind them that they will have an opportunity to do this in their Come, Follow Me study.
