Witnessing—found eighty-eight times in seventy-four Old Testament verses and 103 times in ninety-three verses in the New Testament
Variations: witness, witnessed, witnesses, witnesseth, witnessing
First usage in the New Testament: Matthew 15:19 (witness)
Last usage in the Old Testament: Malachi 3:5 (witness)
Interesting fact: God led Paul to implement a new practice that he wrote about in Romans 1:16. Paul would first preach to the Jews in each city that he entered. At each stop, after they rejected his message, he would then turn to the Gentiles. Some well-meaning Bible teachers teach that this practice continued even into the present day. Few of these teachers emphasize the truths that Paul also taught saying, “[t]ribulation and anguish” would be “upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile” (Romans 2:9). The whole truth is that the “Jew first” principle was both a blessing and a curse and also time-sensitive during the first century.
Bible study tip: At times, in the book of Acts, it can be difficult to determine which people accompanied Paul to the various locations. However, Luke wrote the book of Acts. Always consider the pronouns we and us in order to locate and understand the times that Luke accompanied Paul.
Sunday, Day 358—Church Day (no devotional)
Monday, Day 359—Be Ready to Give an Answer
Tuesday, Day 360—Praying for an Open Door
Wednesday, Day 361—Church Night (no devotional)
Thursday, Day 362—A Threefold Witness
Friday, Day 363—I Speak This to Your Shame
Saturday, Day 364—Why Christians Fail to Witness
Day 358: Church Day
2 Corinthians 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.