Passage Read: Acts 22-23
Meditation Verse: 23:11
Thought
Paul's witness in Jerusalem was not very detailed. To the Sanhedrin, he declared that he was on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead. To the crowd that tried to kill him, he mentioned Jesus' name and commission, but little more. That was not much of a testimony, beyond mentioning Jesus as alive and as Lord. That apparently was enough in a hostile community. It would likely result in some heat for those believers who lived in Jerusalem, but it could also result in new and more conversations about Jesus. At any rate, Jesus considered Paul's testimony at Jerusalem complete. As warned before, they would not accept his testimony.
Application
Testifying for Jesus, especially to a hostile crowd, may not be very detailed, but at least declaring faith in Jesus as raised from the dead and Lord is sufficient in God's eyes. A hostile crowd won't allow much in the way of detail, and in rejecting the messenger, they condemn themselves. The messenger has completed his task and can rest from his efforts. The Lord is not concerned with the amount of information conveyed, but with the response of the people, whether humble and repentant or stubborn and arrogant. The humble receive more light, the arrogant condemn themselves. I don't need to force people to listen to a detailed explanation of who Jesus is; I only need to declare Him risen from the dead and Lord, and let people reveal what work God is doing in their hearts. To those who want to know more, I can give a fuller testimony. To the rest, I can leave to their own end. Not everyone will accept my testimony. Not everyone will accept any testimony to the truth of Jesus.