I Stand Here Testifying: Applying Paul's Use Of Autobiography To Our Preaching
In contrast to his message at the temple, Paul omits any reference to Ananias. In chapter 22, the mention of Ananias is designed to assure the Jewish mob that Paul's Damascus road experience did not change him into an anti-Jewish maverick. When the apostle preaches to the authorities who hold the highest territorial power, he telescopes the experience, highlighting his commission as coming from a singular, unmediated authority--Jesus himself (26:12-18). Here in Caesarea, Paul connects with Agrippa and the Gentile audience by focusing less on the details of the Damascus Road conversion experience. Rather than offering more detail about his Jewish background, Paul focuses on his divine call to bring the light of Christ not only to the Jews, but also "to the Gentiles" (26:23).17
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As in chapter 22, Paul recounts Jesus asking him the question, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" (22:7; 26:14). In the speech to the Gentiles, however, Paul adds a striking phrase and attributes it to Jesus: "It is hard for you to kick against the goads" (26:4). Scholars note that this statement was a common proverb of the times, particularly among Greeks and Romans. The phrase is found in works by the playwrights Euripides and Aeschylus, with whom person in this audience are familiar. Obviously, the proverb hit a responsive chord with the Gentiles on this particular occasion.18 Once again, Paul employs pathos both through the act of self-disclosure as well as the content of that self-disclosure.
It is important to acknowledge that in the case of these two particular messages in which Paul employs autobiography, neither were received well by most who were listening. Paul was addressing audiences that were hostile both towards him and towards the Gospel he was proclaiming. (In Acts 22, the angry crowd would not let him finish, and in chapter 26, Agrippa thought Paul to be mad.) Nevertheless, it is clear that Paul knew how to share autobiography skillfully, and that he used it to bring the Good News to unbelievers (see also Galatians 1:11-24). His skills in identifying with his particular audiences enabled Paul to be an ambassador who could speak the language of his intended audiences. And there is no doubt that his efforts to connect through personal story have impacted souls through the ages. Classical historian E. M. Blaiklock issues this declaration, praising Paul for his ability to speak the language of differing contexts:
The rabbi of Jerusalem, the Greek of Tarsus, the citizen of Rome; trilingual participant in three civilizations, interpreter of East to West; Paul the apostle of Christ, emerges from the record more real than any personality known to us from his generation.19
None of us can attain quite so lofty a place in our time. Nevertheless, as we use autobiography for different audiences at different times, we can look to our model confessor who took pains to be "all things to all people."