"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony" (Revelation 12:11). "Let the redeemed of the LORD say so" (Psalm 107:2). Jesus told a healed man, "Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee" (Mark 5:19). And the blind man said simply, "whereas I was blind, now I see" (John 9:25).
A testimony is simply your story of what God has done: how He found you, changed you, carried you, or answered you. You do not need a dramatic past or a theology degree to have one. Scripture shows ordinary people telling their stories, and those stories led others to Christ. These twelve King James verses cover the power of a testimony, testimonies in the Bible, and how to share yours with gentleness and respect. For the message of the gospel itself and the call to share it, see sharing the gospel.
The power of your testimony
1. Revelation 12:11
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."
Believers overcame the accuser by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. Christ's sacrifice is the victory; our testimony is how we declare it. Your story is part of God's triumph.
2. Psalms 107:2
"Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;"
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so. Psalm 107 goes on to describe wanderers, prisoners, the sick, and sailors rescued by God. If He has redeemed you, you have something to say.
3. Psalms 66:16
"Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul."
Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul. A testimony is personal: what He has done for you.
4. Psalms 40:2-3
"He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD."
David describes his testimony in three movements: a horrible pit, feet set upon a rock, and a new song. That before, rescue, and after shape still works for telling your own story, and many shall see it and trust in the LORD.
Testimonies in the Bible
5. John 9:25
"He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see."
Pressed by religious leaders, the man born blind admitted what he did not know, then said what he did know: whereas I was blind, now I see. You do not need every answer to share what Jesus has done.
6. Mark 5:19
"Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee."
The man freed from demons wanted to follow Jesus, but Jesus sent him home to tell his friends. Often the first place to share your testimony is with the people who knew you before.
7. John 4:39
"And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did."
Many Samaritans believed because of a woman's simple testimony: He told me all that ever I did. God used her honesty to reach a whole town.
8. Acts 4:20
"For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."
Threatened and ordered to stop speaking about Jesus, Peter and John answered, we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. A true testimony is hard to keep quiet.
Sharing your story with gentleness
9. 1 Peter 3:15
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:"
Be ready always to give an answer for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. A testimony is not an argument to win; it is a reason for hope, offered gently and respectfully.
10. 2 Timothy 1:8
"Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;"
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. Paul reminded timid Timothy that God supplies the power. If sharing feels scary, you are in good company.
11. Matthew 5:16
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
Let your light so shine before men. A testimony is spoken, but it is also lived. Good works give your words weight.
12. 1 John 5:11
"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Every personal testimony rests on God's testimony about Jesus. Keep Him at the center of your story.
A short prayer
Lord, thank You for what You have done in my life. Give me courage to tell my story and humility to keep You at its center. Prepare the people who need to hear it, and let my life match my words. In Jesus' name, amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Download our free SOAP study page · Get the SOAP Bible Study Journal
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about your testimony?
Scripture says believers overcome "by the word of their testimony" (Revelation 12:11), calls the redeemed to "say so" (Psalm 107:2), and asks us to share with "meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15). Jesus sent a healed man home to tell his friends (Mark 5:19).
How do I write my Christian testimony?
Follow the pattern of Psalm 40:2-3 or Paul's testimony in Acts 26: your life before Christ (or before a hard season), how God met you, and how life is different now. Keep it short, honest and centered on Jesus, then try writing it out on our free SOAP sheet.
What if my testimony is not dramatic?
A quiet testimony is still a testimony. Growing up in a Christian home and trusting Christ early is a story of God's faithfulness. The blind man's words, "one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see" (John 9:25), work for every believer.
Is a testimony the same as sharing the gospel?
They work together. Your testimony is what God did for you; the gospel is what Christ did for everyone. Our sharing the gospel page covers the message and the call to share it.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Bible verses about sharing the gospel · Bible verses about salvation · Bible verses about God answering prayers · Bible verses about light · Bible verses about truth · Bible verses about worship
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