Acts #26 – Study Questions
Nothing to Hide
Acts 21:17-23:30
INTRODUCTION: Paul has made it to Jerusalem. And, just as it was revealed to him and to the other disciples along the way, he has experienced trial and persecution. In this passage, Paul will be arrested and will stand before the Sanhedrin (the Jewish leading court), and a Roman tribunal. In the middle of all of it, he hears from Jesus, who reminds him that because he has been faithful, he will make it to Rome to testify of the glory of Jesus. Before he gets to Rome, he has to go through the tribunals and trials in Jerusalem. This scene will begin with the brothers and James praising God with Paul for what God has done. Paul’s arrival can be dated to a period around AD 57, when Jerusalem is tense with rising Jewish nationalism, political unrest, and the presence of Rome in a ruler, Felix, who was said to have the “instincts of a slave.” Most loyal Jews would have viewed Gentiles and the Gentile mission with suspicion. The church in Jerusalem was caught in the middle, wanting to preach to the Jews but supporting the outreach to Gentiles. How to address both sets of concerns was a major issue.[1] In this intense moment, Paul shows a gracious concern for his Jewish brothers and presents the truth of the gospel with no shame, hesitancy, or as if he has anything to hide. His life has been genuine, and he wants them to see that. Why? Because when a life is changed by Jesus, it tells a powerful story.
GETTING STARTED – As you begin your group time, put yourself in Paul’s shoes; what story would your life tell in regards to your faith? Or, maybe, more importantly, looking forward, what story would you like it to tell?
IN THE WORD – Let’s dig back into the passage. It is important to strengthen our muscles in reading God’s Word. On Sunday, we walked through the passage in the sermon. Hopefully, that helped you to see the landmarks of the passage with fresh eyes. Now, with your group, go back through it and see what God is saying to you specifically.
First, before you read the passage, take a moment to ask God’s Spirit to quiet your mind and heart and to illuminate the text to you. Second, read the passage aloud to the group. Then, follow the simple method below. (O.P.A)
Observe: Make 8-10 observations from the passage. Pay close attention to observe and note repeated words and phrases, names, places, and themes.
Principles: From your list of observations, what patterns or big ideas do you see emerging? Can you distill it down into 2-4 big idea truths?
Apply: Moving from your list of principles, it is time to apply God’s Word. Remember, we believe that God’s Word is living and active and that it can change the way we live Monday- Friday. What is one tangible way to apply a truth from your list above?
[1] Darrell L. Bock, Acts, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2007), 643.