Acts of the Apostles
Lesson 16Acts 21-23
Last week we concluded our study of Paul’s second and third missionary journeys, and now we turn to the final phase of Paul’s ministry: his return to Jerusalem, imprisonment, and last trip to Rome.
We cannot leave the study of his missionary journeys without being impressed by his strong desire to carry the gospel to the Gentile world in spite of very difficult circumstances. Setting his sights on Jerusalem and Rome, that desire will be even stronger, as he follows Christ’s call to take the gospel to the heart of the Roman Empire and Rome itself.
Let’s read Chapters 21 through 23 and then answer the following questions:
- Departing the Ephesians and heading back to Jerusalem, Paul and his company arrive at Tyre in Syria. How long do they stay in Tyre while the ship unloads its cargo? (Acts 21:1-4)
- What happens to Paul during the week while they are in Tyre? (Acts 21:4)
- When they arrive at Caesarea, whose home do they stay at? Where have we heard of this person before? What is mean by Luke when he writes "He was one of the seven."? (Acts 21:8)
- Who visits Philip and his guests while Paul is staying there, and what does he tell them? (Acts 21:9-12)
- Why would the Jews want to bind Paul and turn him over to the Roman Gentiles? (Acts 21:21 & 28; Acts 22:21-22, and Acts 23:6)
- What was Paul’s approach for answering the prophet and all those in Caesarea who did not want him to go to Jerusalem because he would be thrown in prison? (Acts 21:13-14)
- In verse Acts 21:27, we find Paul in the Temple area and the Jews begin to stir up the crowd against him. Who are these Jews that do this, and where are they from? (Note that they are not from Jerusalem.)
- Who stepped in and stopped the angry mob that was beating Paul? (Acts 21:31-35)
- Paul is permitted by the Roman Guard to speak to the mob, and he gives a defense of his position in Acts 22:1-21. Here, he recounts his Damascus Road experience and Christ’s commissioning of his ministry. What part of this defense got the crowd upset with him all over again?
- Paul is about to be scourged by the Roman Guard when he tells them he is a Roman citizen. In response to this, the Commander takes off the chains and prevents the scourging, but still wishes to know what the fuss is all about, i.e., what is causing so much turmoil in Jerusalem. What does he do to find out why the Jews are accusing Paul? (Acts 22:30)
- What relationship would Paul have had with the "Council" and "the Chief Priests"? Would he have known any of them? (Acts 23:6)
- What does Paul say causes the dissension among them? Who defends him? (Acts 23:6-9)
- The Commander again takes Paul away from the crowd for his own protection and puts him back in jail. That night, Paul also learns he is headed to Rome to be a witness for Jesus there. How does he learn this? (Acts 23:11)
- The Commander decides that he needs to move Paul to Caesarea to be heard by the Governor, Felix. A plot develops to assassinate Paul before the trip can begin. Who is involved in the plot, and how does the Commander come to be aware of it? (acts 23:12-35)
In our next lesson, Felix hears the case against Paul.
Have a great week everyone.
Yours in Christ,
Wes