An Opportunity for Testimony

"But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name's sake. It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭21:12-13‬ ‭NASB‬‬
http://bible.com/100/luk.21.12-13.nasb

When you are brought in front of the authorities, it is because you have done something that displeases them, or is something they believe goes against the order described in the law, or some similar reason. Generally speaking, you don’t get brought in front of the legal authorities because you have lived a quiet life, and made everybody happy.

So, what occurred to me this morning as I listened to the reading of this text is that if we are people pleasers, if we just live to make everybody happy, to not stir up trouble, to not ruffle any feathers, then we will miss the opportunities for testimony that are described in this passage.

I have to think that Paul was aware of this passage as he ascended the Roman hierarchy of appeals. If he had led a quiet life, he would not have been brought before those authorities. He would not have had their attention, had the opportunity to testify, to tell them something they wouldn't have heard without someone like Paul talking to them. The system of appealing up the chain “to Caesar”, combined with the initial charges against Paul, led to his opportunity to testify them about Jesus.