Five days after Paul’s transfer to Caesarea, a group of important Jewish leaders—the high priest, some members of the Sanhedrin, and a professional lawyer named Tertullus—came down from Jerusalem and formally laid before Felix their case against the apostle (Acts 24:1-9). This is the only trial in Acts in which the accusers employed a lawyer. In … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Acts 24, Acts 25, Acts 26, 1 Cor. 1:23. Memory Text: “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today might become such as I am—except for these chains“ (Acts 26:29, NRSV). Paul’s transfer to Caesarea began a two-year imprisonment in that … Continue reading –>
Further Study: “On this occasion, Paul and his companions formally presented to the leaders of the work at Jerusalem the contributions forwarded by the Gentile churches for the support of the poor among their Jewish brethren. … “These freewill offerings betokened the loyalty of the Gentile converts to the organized work of God throughout the world … Continue reading –>
Upset with the fact that they had not yet gotten rid of Paul by legal means, a group decided to orchestrate a plan through which they would ambush and kill him on their own. Read Acts 23:12-17. What was their plan, and how was it thwarted? What does this teach us about how passionate people can … Continue reading –>
When the Roman commander realized that Paul did not represent any threat to the empire; that is, that the issue involved internal disputes of the Jews, he asked the Sanhedrin to take up the case (Acts 22:30; Acts 23:29). Read Acts 23:1-5. How did Paul start his defense before the Sanhedrin? Paul’s introductory statement was met with a … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: There is no guarantee that we will be kept safe, but we know that God doesn’t abandon us. He gives us the courage to persevere. Lesson 11, September 15, 2018 1. Have a volunteer read Acts 21:28-34. Ask class members to share a thought on what is the most important point in this … Continue reading –>
Acts 21:37-40 tells what happened next. As Paul was being taken into the Roman fortress for interrogation, he asked the commander for permission to address the people, who were still frantically clamoring for his death. As he addressed the commander in the Greek language, the latter thought Paul might have been a certain Jew from Egypt … Continue reading –>
Having accepted the church leaders’ suggestion, Paul would need to undergo a seven-day ritual purification to assist the completion of the men’s vow (Num. 19:11-13). At the same time, Jewish tradition stipulated that any person coming from Gentile lands would be unclean and so unable to enter the temple. This is why Paul had to purify … Continue reading –>
When Paul arrived in Jerusalem, he was warmly received by believers associated with Mnason, with whom he was to stay (Acts 21:16-17). In Acts 21:18-22, James and the Jerusalem elders expressed their concerns about Paul’s reputation among local Jewish believers zealous of the Mosaic law. They had been informed that he was teaching the Jewish converts who … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Acts 21; Rom. 2:28-29; Gal. 5:6; Acts 22; Acts 23:1-30; Matt. 22:23-32. Memory Text: “The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, ‘Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome’ ” (Acts 23:11, NIV). Soon after Paul’s first missionary journey, it became clear that there was … Continue reading –>
