HISTORY OF THE EARLY CHURCH FROM THE BOOK OF ACTS

Lesson 11 Pauls Return To Jerusalem, And Imprisonment

(Acts 21-26)
I. Paul was Arrested and Mistreated

(Acts 21:1-40)

1. Luke had joined Paul, evidently at Philippi (See Acts 20:6; 21:1 and following verses)
2. See the loving fellowship and tender concern of the disciples at Tyre
(Acts 21:1-6)
3. They traveled to Caesarea and visited the home of Philip
(Acts 21:7-16)
a. Agabus prophesied that Paul would be bound in Jerusalem
(Acts 21:10, 11)
b. The brothers tried to persuade Paul not to go to Jerusalem
(Acts 21:12)
c. Paul said, What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart?
(Acts 21:13)
d. Paul was ready, not only to be bound, but to die for Christ
(Acts 21:13)
4. Paul and companions went to Jerusalem and visited the brethren
(Acts 21:17-26)
5. Paul was accused of bringing Trophimus, a Gentile, into the temple where only Jews
should go
(Acts 21:27-29)
6. He was seized and beaten, but was rescued by the Roman soldiers
(Acts 21:30-36)
7. He made a request to speak to the people
(Acts 21:37-40)
II. Paul spoke to the people about HIS CONVERSION TO CHRIST

(Acts 22:1-30)

1. He spoke about his former life, how he persecuted Christians and how he became a
Christian
(Acts 22:1-16)
2. They listened until he told how God sent him to the Gentiles
(Acts 22:17-21)
3. The commander was going to scourge Paul until he found out that Paul was a Roman
citizen
(Acts 22:22-29)
4. The commander ordered that Paul be brought before the Jewish Council (Acts 22:30)
III. Pauls Defense before the Jewish Council

(Acts 23:1-35)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Some of the Council were Pharisees and some were Sadducees

(Acts 23:1-9)
The Pharisees believed in a resurrection from the dead
(Acts 23:8)
There was a great uproar and some of them defended Paul
(Acts 23:9)
The Roman commander rescued Paul from the Council
(Acts 23:10)
The Jews formed a PLOT TO KILL PAUL, but the commander was informed by Pauls
nephew
(Acts 23:11-22)
6. Paul was taken quickly under armed guard from Jerusalem to Caesarea (Acts 23:23-35)
7. The commander, Claudius Lysias, sent a letter to the governor, Felix
(Acts 23:25-30)
IV. Paul Appeared before Felix the Roman Governor in Caesarea

(Acts 24:1-27)

1. An orator, Tertullus, accused Paul before Felix of being a pest and causing
dissension
(Acts 24:1-9)
2. Paul gave his defense before Felix

(Acts 24:10-22)

a. He said, According to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our

b.
c.
d.
e.

fathers
(Acts 24:14)
He was on trial that day for the resurrection of the dead
Paul was kept in custody
(Acts 24:22, 23)
Then, Felix came with Drusilla, his wife, to hear Paul again
Paul discussed with him:
(1) Righteousness
(2) Self-control
(3) The Judgment to come

(Acts 24:21)
(Acts 24:24)

(Acts 24:25)

f. Felix said, Go away for the present ........

(Acts 24:25)
g. Paul was kept in prison for two years
(Acts 24:27)
V. Paul appeared before Festus, the Roman Governor

(Acts 25:1-12)

1. He listened as the Jews charged Paul with offenses which they could not prove
(Acts 25:1-7)
2. Festus asked, Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial ....? (Acts 25:9)
3. Paul said, I APPEAL TO CAESAR
(Acts 25:11)
4. Festus replied, TO CAESAR YOU SHALL GO!
(Acts 25:12)
5. King Agrippa visited Festus at Caesarea

(Acts 25:13-26:32)

a. Festus told Agrippa that the problem was over their own religion and Jesus,
whom Paul affirmed was ALIVE! (Acts 25:19)
b. Agrippa said, I also would like to hear the man myself
(Acts 25:22)
c. The next day, Paul was permitted to speak to Agrippa
(Acts 26:1-32)
d. WHY IS IT CONSIDERED INCREDIBLE AMONG YOU PEOPLE IF GOD
DOES RAISE THE DEAD?
(Acts 26:8)
e. Paul spoke about how the Lord appeared to him on the Damascus road
(Acts 26:9-20)
f. Paul cried, I stand to this day ....stating nothing but what the prophets and Moses
said was going to take place
(Acts 26:22)
g. WHAT DID THEY SAY?
That Christ would suffer, and because of the
resurrection, He would bring light to both Jews and Gentiles (Acts 26:23)
h. Paul cried, King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do.
(Acts 26:27)
i. Agrippa replied, In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian
(Acts 26:28)
j. Paul fervently wished that Agrippa might become just like Paul except for the
chains that bound him
(Acts 26:29)
k. Both Festus and Agrippa believed that Paul had done nothing worthy of death or
imprisonment
(Acts 26:31)
l. Festus and Agrippa agreed that PAUL MIGHT BE RELEASED IF HE HAD
NOT MADE THE APPEAL TO CAESAR IN ROME
(Acts 26:32)