It was only upon reaching the shore that the survivors learned they were in Malta, a small island in the center of the Mediterranean, just south of Sicily. In the two weeks they had been adrift in the sea, yielded to the force of the wind, they had covered about four hundred seventy-five miles since … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: Acts ends with Paul’s journey to Rome. Paul perseveres through chains, shipwreck, and rejection by Jewish leaders. The only way the message is stopped is in the lives of those who reject it. Lesson 13, September 29, 2018 1. Have a volunteer read Acts 27:20-24. Ask class members to share a thought on what … Continue reading –>
In his second intervention in the story, Paul assured all who were on board—276 people altogether (Acts 27:37)—that, though not everything would come out fine, there would be no casualties; only the ship would go down (Acts 27:22). Fourteen days later, the apostle’s words were fulfilled. Still under a terrible storm and with the ship completely adrift, … Continue reading –>
After about two years of confinement in Caesarea (Acts 24:27), Paul was to be sent to Rome. Judging by the first person plural and the richness of details used to describe the long and turbulent sea journey to Italy (Acts 27:1-28:16), Luke was accompanying Paul, as was another Christian named Aristarchus (Acts 27:2). Another important character in the … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Acts 27, Acts 28, Rom. 1:18-20. Memory Text: “Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar” (Acts 27:24, ESV). Paul had long wished to visit Rome, but his arrest in Jerusalem changed everything. By giving in to the legalistic pressure of the Jerusalem church leaders, he ended up in Roman custody for … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: “Did the mind of Agrippa at these words revert to the past history of his family, and their fruitless efforts against Him whom Paul was preaching? Did he think of his great-grandfather Herod, and the massacre of the innocent children of Bethlehem? of his great-uncle Antipas, and the murder of John the Baptist? of … Continue reading –>
Although Paul was speaking to Agrippa, Festus was the first to react, as seen in Acts 26:24. Festus would have had no problem if Paul had spoken about the immortality of the soul, but even the ancient Greco-Romans knew that both concepts—immortality and resurrection—do not go along well with one other. Thus, they kept the former … Continue reading –>
With the scene set and the royal guests seated alongside the governor, the prisoner was brought in to present his defense, which was aimed primarily at Agrippa, as Festus had already heard it before (Acts 25:8-11). Read Acts 26:1-23. What was Paul doing in his speech before Agrippa? Paul’s speech was in fact an autobiographical report of … Continue reading –>
Festus agreed to grant Paul’s request to be sent to Rome (Acts 25:12). Meanwhile, the governor took advantage of a state visit by Herod Agrippa II to consult him concerning Paul’s case, in particular regarding what kind of information he should send to the emperor in his official report. Festus was not yet acquainted enough with … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: Paul defends himself and his faith before three groups of people. We can learn from this how we might stand up for ourselves and our beliefs. Lesson 12, September 22, 2018 1. Have a volunteer read Acts 24:10-19. Ask class members to share a thought on what is the most important point in this text. … Continue reading –>
