15. (a) When speaking to a Jewish audience in Antioch of Pisidia, how did Paul endeavor to get on a common ground with them? (b) Why do you feel that getting on a common ground is important in our witnessing?

¹⁵ In Acts 13:16-41 is presented a discourse that Paul gave to a Jewish audience in Antioch of Pisidia. He first endeavored to establish a common ground with his audience. (See Ac 13 verses 16, 17.) Why did he do that? Because it would help them to be willing to reason on the subject he was going to present. He did not introduce himself as a member of the Christian congregation with a message for them about Jesus Christ. He was talking to Jews, so he took into account their thinking. He acknowledged that his audience was made up of people who feared God, and he indicated that he, like most of them, was a Hebrew by birth.

18. What can help us to get good results in our efforts to reason with others from the Scriptures?

¹⁸ The good news that Paul preached in Athens was the same message that he delivered in Antioch. The differences in style of presentation were because he recognized what was needed in order to reason with people. He cared deeply enough about them to put forth the added effort required in order to do that.