Pauls Arrest and Imprisonment

[Acts 21:1 Acts 28:31]

 Offensive Defense

Viewing Acts Chapter 22 & 23

Paul Makes His Defense [21:37-22:21]
Paul : Asked the commander in
Greek if he could say something
Commander:
surprised Paul spoke in Greek
asked if Paul was the Egyptian who
started a revolution some time ago
Led four thousand armed
terrorists into the desert
Paul: told him that he was a Jew,
Born in Tarsus, Cilicia,
A citizen of an important city
Asked to speak to the people
 Sending a
Message
In this chapter we will see
what Pauls message was
to the crowd that wanted
him dead.
 Pauls Defence to the Jews
Have you ever had to give a speech or talk
in front of a group of people? How did you
feel before, during, and after your speech?
The Roman commander granted Pauls request to
speak to the people. If you were facing the same
angry people who had just tried to beat you
senseless, whats the first thing you would be
probably say to them? What did Paul say (v1-5)?
Since his adversaries were Jewish purists,
Paul began with a quick intro to identify himself
with them. But then he launched into the story of
how he came to know and follow Jesus.
Standing on the stairs
above the crowd, Paul
speaks to the people in
Hebrew. (v37-40)
Paul Makes His Defense [21:37-22:21]
Pauls speech to the crowd
Spoke in Hebrew
Addressing them as his brothers &
fathers
Gave them his Jewish background
Though a Jew from Tarsus, studied
under Gamaliel in Jerusalem
Received strict instruction in the
Law of their ancestors
Grew up as dedicated to God as
they were
Paul Makes His Defense [21:37-22:21]
Even persecuted to death the
people who followed the Way
Going all the way to Damascus to
arrest them with permission of the
High Priest and the Council
While travelling to Damascus
A bright light flashed around him
Jesus spoke to him
Asked why he was persecuting him
Was told by Jesus to go into
Damascus and he will be told
everything that God had planned
for him to do
Paul Makes His Defense [21:37-22:21]
The bright light blinded him
In Damascus, a religious Jew
Ananias
came to him & prayed for his sight
to be restored
Told him that
God of their ancestors had
chosen him to know His will,
to see His Righteous Servant
Jesus and to hear him
speaking with his own voice
Paul Makes His Defense [21:37-22:21]
He was to be a witness to tell
everyone about what he had seen
and heard
Asked Paul to be baptised & have
his sins washed away
Paul went back to Jerusalem
While praying in the Temple, had
a vision of Jesus
Jesus told him to leave Jerusalem
quickly - the people would not
accept his witness about him
Paul Makes His Defense [21:37-22:21]
Paul told God
The Jews knew how he had
persecuted those who were
believers
He was there approving of
Stephens murder when Stephen
was put to death
Jesus told him to leave for he was
sending Paul far away to the
Gentiles
 Pauls Defence to the Jews
Read Pauls testimony in v6-21. What did
he choose to highlight?
His experience on the road to Damascus
and a second encounter with the Lord back
in Jerusalem.
If you were describing your own
conversion to Christianity, do you think
youd tell your story as well as Paul told
his? Why or why not? What info and/or
experiences would you include?
 Pauls Defence to the Jews
Paul was addressing a huge group of angry
Jewish people. Do you think it was wise for
him to include the part about how Jesus
told him that he would be rejected by many
Jewish people because they didnt know
any better (v7-21)? Explain.
It was most certain to evoke a negative
reaction, yet it was the truth. Paul didnt
attempt to misrepresent facts in any way.
Paul Reveals His Roman Citizenship
[vv22-30]
The peoples reaction upon hearing
Pauls claim
Shouting at the top of their voices
Demanding that Paul be killed
He was not fit to live
Screaming, waving their clothes
Throwing dust up in the air
The commanders order
To take Paul into the fort
To whip him in order to find out
why the Jews were screaming like
this against Paul
 Fury of the Jews
Paul had boldly given this testimony. He had not
held back anything, even at risk of personal injury.
He had been faithful to God. So what was the
result (v22-24)?
The mob still wanted him dead. But an order was
given to have him flogged instead.
Do you think God was unfair to leave Paul in such
a situation, after Pauls faithfulness? Explain.
Some people may think so, but we often view
things in the short run, not the long-run view that
God has.
 I No Friend U,
Jews!
throwing dust (v23) Expressions by
Paul shook out his raiment/garment;
You take blame for it go to the
Gentiles Two occasions when he
categorically turned from the Jews to go
to the Gentiles.
1. At Antioch in Pisidia (13:51) note g page
65;
2. At Corinth (18:6) notes e page 49;
 Paul a Prisoner
Paul had allowed himself to be a target. Do
you think he had given up caring what
happened to him (v25-29)? Explain.
Even though we can put our lives in Gods
hand, no one enjoys unnecessary suffering.
Paul knew he was entitled to certain rights
as a Roman citizen-including the right not to
be beaten like a common criminal. And he
didnt hesitate to claim those rights. Note
Paul was born a Roman citizen, and the
commander had to purchase citizenship for
a price.
Paul Reveals His Roman Citizenship
[vv22-30]
Pauls question to the officer lawful
to whip a Roman citizen who had
not even been tried for any crime?
Officers response went & asked the
commander what he was doing by
ordering Paul, a Roman citizen, to
be whipped
The commander
asked Paul if he was a Roman
citizen
became a citizen by paying a lot of
money [Paul by birth]
The Tribune Takes Paul before the Sanhedrin
How did Pauls confidence in his citizenship
help him (v30)?
The Roman commander released him and
set up a meeting with the Sanhedrin to find
out exactly what its members had against
Paul. And again, Paul had the opportunity to
speak to his accusers.
The mob still wanted him dead. But an order
was given to have him flogged instead.
As a Roman citizen, Paul knew he had rights. Sometimes
he claimed those rights sometimes he waived them so as
not to offend others (Rom 14).
Paul Reveals His Roman Citizenship
[vv22-30]
Became frightened realised he
had put a Roman citizen in
chains [the soldiers drew back
from Paul]
Wanted to find out what the Jews
were accusing Paul of
Had Pauls chains taken off the
next day
Ordered the chief priests and the
whole Council to meet
Brought Paul to stand before
them
 Rights of a Roman Citizen
Paul claimed his right of Roman
citizenship on three occasions
(zpg80).
1. At Philippi (16:37);
2. At Jerusalem, where the chief captain
would examine him by scourging
(22:24);
3. When before Festus he appealed unto
Caesar (25:10-11).
SPM 1998, 2002, SPM 2010 ???
 Lina Joy her constitutional right
Lina Joy, a Muslim converted to Christianity in 1998, has
since been seeking her constitutional right to practice the
religion of her choice. According to the Law Reform
(Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, Lina could not register
with the Registrar of Marriage as long as Islam is on her
identity card, which means she is legally a Muslim. The
National Registration Department (NRD) had, in October
1999, accepted the reason given (the change of religion)
and changed her original name, Azlina Jailani, to Lina Joy.
In April 23 2001, High Court Justice Datuk Faiza Tamby Chik
rejected Lina Joys application that to drop the word
Islam on her identity card. He said that Malays could not
renounce Islam because an ethnic Malay was defined by
the Constitution as "a person who professes the religion
of Islam," and the jurisdiction in conversion matter lay
solely in the hands of Syariah Court. On May 30, 2007, the
Federal Court rejected her appeal.
The Plot Thickens
 Paul before the Sanhedrin
Paul was as well trained and qualified as any of the
Jewish leaders. Yet he also knew and proclaimed
the truth about Christianity, so the Jewish leaders
tried that much harder to keep him under control. At
this trial, what tactic did they use (v1,2)?
Physical force, by order of the high priest, Ananias
yet for no justifiable reason.
Do you think Paul was justified in calling Ananias a
name (v3-5)? Why?
It is debated whether Paul actually didnt recognise
the high priest, or was simply refusing to
acknowledge his position due to his non-priestly
behaviour. Either way, Paul was correct in calling
him a hypocrite.
 Paul before the Sanhedrin
Because Paul was so knowledgeable about
the religious beliefs of these people, he was
able to cause a diversion (v6-10). What did
he do?
Knowing that the Pharisees believed in
resurrection of the dead and the Sadducees
didnt, Paul steered the conversation to that
topic. Soon, many of the Pharisees were
siding with him against the Sadducees. It
seems as though Paul wanted this to
happen so that he could be tried by a higher
court.
 The Lord Cheers Paul in a Vision
It must have been depressing for Paul to be
rejected so often as he tried to tell others
the truth about Christianity. What kept him
going in spite of all the persecution he
received (v11)?
Paul never lost touch with Gods will for his
life. His encouragement came directly from
God, so the approval of other people didnt
seem so important.
 Appearances of Our Lord
In visions (pg xxiii).
1. Damascus (9:10);
2. Corinth (18:9,10);
3. Jerusalem (22:17-18);
4. Jerusalem (23:11)
Possible SPM Question
 Plot to Assassinate Paul
What is the strongest hatred thats
ever been directed at you? How does it
compare to what Paul experienced
(v12-15)?
If you knew that more than forty people
had taken an oath not to eat or drink
until they had killed you, how would
you react? What plans would you
make?
SPM 2007A
 The Plot Discovered

Tucked away in the pages of the Bible are a

number of stories of unnamed young people
who performed noteworthy, heroic actions. If
you had the same opportunity to do what the
kid in v 16-22 did, do you think you would?
Why or why not?
The Tribune Decides to Send Paul to Caesarea
Thanks to the young mans efforts, arrangements
were made for Paul to be transferred. Do you think
Paul felt safe as he was moved (v23-24)?
Paul was probably more secure in Gods
protection than in the 470 soldiers assigned to
protect him. But, to be truthful, knowing that forty
or more assassins were
out there somewhere must
have been a little unsettling.

Fortress to Caesarea
 The Journey to Caesarea

A letter was written (v25-30) and Paul was

safely transferred (v31-35). Yet he was still
awaiting trial. What do you suppose Paul
prayed about while waiting for his
accusers to show up?

Paul under house arrest