Saul’s Progress (Acts 9:20-22)

²⁰ Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. ²¹ Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?” ²² But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

When given an opportunity, the recent convert immediately does what Christ asks of us all; Saul witnesses (Acts 1:8; Acts 9:20). God likes immediate obedience. More than just telling the truth Saul proclaimed or declared it. That is, he preached the Christ in the synagogues. Is there a difference between telling the truth about Christ and preaching Christ? Yes.

• Telling the Truth About Christ — When we tell the truth about Christ it is often not planned. In the moment or in an informal setting we relate information about Jesus. The goal of telling can be as high as compelling someone to make a decision or as simple as conveying information that may be of use. Our personal testimony is not preached; it is shared as we have opportunity and given out with the goal of giving the listener evidence for the reality of Jesus’ resurrection in our own lives. Telling, when we seek to make it known that Jesus is Lord and through Him alone we can find forgiveness, is one way of fulfilling the command to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). We should tell the gospel often and tell the gospel well. (There is an excellent book on this aspect of witnessing by Mark McCloskey — Tell it Often Tell it Well: Making the Most of Witnessing Opportunities.) Telling about Christ presents information that will help a listener understand the why and how of choosing Him.
• Preaching Christ — Where telling is informal and happens in the moment as there is opportunity, preaching is planned. The preacher actively seeks an occasion to deliver a message and aggressively engages the audience with an agenda. The goal of the preacher is not merely conveying information; the aim to use the message proclaimed to promote transformation or action in the hearers that brings them into alignment with the will of God. Where telling is often informal in its context, preaching is formal and characterized by greater intentionality, preparation, and a clearly stated desired outcome. Preaching Christ pushes people. It pushes them to repent and turn to Him or to maintain a resolve to follow Him. Preaching is for a change or a charge stand strong.