ACTS

INTRODUCTION
Although he had been warned by Agabus that he would be arrested in Jerusalem, and although the disciples had tried to discourage Paul from going to Jerusalem, Paul arrived in Jerusalem and was welcomed by the brethren. the Jewish Christians, well aware of the problems Paul would encounter from the Christian Pharisee party and the Jews in general encouraged Paul to demonstrate that he was not opposed to Jewish customs and had not been set on destroying the Mosaic law. James and the elders of the church in Jerusalem encouraged Paul to go to the temple and purify himself as was the Jewish custom after having been in the Gentile world, and to pay for the vows of four Jewish disciples so they could shave their heads as part of the Nazarite vow.

We are again confronted with the difficulty of understanding the difference between Paul honoring Jewish custom and sensitivity and yet refusing to bind the law of Moses on Gentiles! Paul, as a Jew, could take Jewish vows and go through the ceremony of purification without keeping this as a law or principle of justification or salvation.

Justification and salvation for both Jew and Gentile are by grace through faith in what God has done in and through Jesus.

Justification and salvation are not earned by keeping any laws, but are gained through accepting God's grace and through faith in Jesus which involved being united with Jesus through baptism. Salvation is not by our effort, works, and law keeping.

But Paul, as Jew, could keep Jewish cultural and religious requirements without being in conflict with the principle of grace. As long as cultural and religious acts are not seen as conditions of salvation, are kept as personal opinion and conviction, and are not bound on others as requirements for justification and salvation, they do not come into conflict with salvation and justification by grace through faith in Jesus.

CONFLICT WITH THE JEWS AND SUBSEQUENT ARREST (Acts 21:27-40)
When Paul's seven day period of purification was almost completed Jews from Asia arrived and having seen Paul in the Temple they stirred up trouble, accusing Paul of desecrating the Temple by taking Greeks into the Temple (a false accusation) and of turning the people against the law. A noisy crowd gathered and were about to kill Paul. Paul was rescued by a Roman Tribune and his cohort of soldiers, bound in chains and taken to the Roman barracks. Just before Paul entered the barracks he asked permission to speak to the crowd. Paul was accused by the Tribune of being a Greek or Egyptian insurrectionist and assassin. Paul spoke up in the Hebrew dialect in defense of his ethnic and religious background, proclaiming that he was a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia. (Luke actually says "the Hebrew dialect", which was most likely Aramaic, the sister language of Hebrew. At the time of Jesus and Paul, Hebrew was the "sacred" Temple language and not commonly spoken by the populace.)

PAUL'S DEFENSE BEFORE THE JERUSALEM CROWD AND THE ROMAN TRIBUNE (Acts 22:1-29)
Paul explained that he was no Egyptian assassin, but a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia (the normal way for a person to introduce himself - ethnic, city, provincial roots) who had been educated under Gamaliel ( a prominent Rabbinic teacher) according to the strict manner of their fathers (most likely as a Pharisee). He had been zealous for God and working with the Sanhedrin had persecuted Christians. Paul then told of his journey to Damascus to continue the persecution of Christians, and of his conversion.

Note on Paul's Conversion, in his own words:
We read of this also in Acts 9:1-19 in the context of Paul's historical circumstances. Here Paul is retelling the story of his conversion.
1. Paul was on the road to Damascus to persecute Christians
2. Jesus appeared to Paul (see Acts 26:12-18; Gal 1:16; 1 Cor 15:5-10)
3. Paul believes in Jesus (Acts 22:10)
4. He is told to go to Damascus where he will be told what to do in response
     to his faith in Jesus
5. Having been blinded by the vision of Jesus he is led into Damascus to the
     house of one, Ananias
6. Paul received his sight and is told by Ananias to "Rise and be baptized,
     and wash away your sins, calling on his name." (See Acts 9:18; 26:19 "I
     was no disobedient to the heavenly vision...")

Leaving Damascus Paul returned to Jerusalem where he was encouraged by the Christians to quickly leave Jerusalem because the Jews would not accept his testimony and preaching.

Paul's speech enraged the Jews who wanted all the more to get rid of Paul. The Tribune commanded Paul to be brought into the barracks and scourged (a Roman vicious method of punishment intended to get people to tell the truth). Paul then asked whether it was lawful to bind and beat a Roman citizen without a trial. The Tribune was astonished and asked how Paul was a Roman citizen. The Tribune had bought Roman citizenship with a large some of money (indicating that he had not always been a Roman citizen). Paul answered that he had been born a Roman citizen
(indicating that his father or some ancestor had bought citizenship, and that he had come from a wealthy and prominent Jewish/Roman family).

PAUL'S TRIAL BEFORE THE JEWISH SANHEDRIN (Acts 22:30-23:11)
The next day the Tribune commanded the Sanhedrin to assemble and to hear Paul's case.
When Paul began to speak, claiming to speak with a clear conscience before God, the High Priest struck Paul. Paul admonished the High Priest, not recognizing that Ananias was the High Priest (indicating that matters had changed in the Sanhedrin while Paul had been gone from Jerusalem).
Paul began his defense before the Sanhedrin, tracing his Jewish heritage and religious background. Recognizing that both Pharisees and Sadducees were present, Paul spoke of the resurrection of Jesus, thus dividing the Pharisees and Sadducees over the issue of resurrection, for Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of man, but the Pharisees did. The Pharisees spoke up, "We find nothing wrong in this man," causing a violent uproar among the Sanhedrin.
Again, Paul was rescued from the crowd by the Tribune who returned Paul to the barracks.
The next day the Lord spoke to Paul, "Take courage, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also at Rome." (Acts 23:11).

PAUL IS TAKEN TO CAESAREA TO APPEAR BEFORE FELIX, THE ROMAN GOVERNOR OF THE REGION OF SYRIA (Acts 23:12 - 24:27)
The Jews were not satisfied with the decision of the Pharisees in the Sanhedrin and plotted to kill Paul. Word of the plot reached Paul's nephew (his sister's son) and reported this to the Tribunal who ordered two centurions to gather a strong force ands escort Paul to Caesarea where his case would be heard by the Roman governor for the region, Felix. The Tribune wrote a letter introducing Paul and explaining that he had done nothing deserving death, and that Paul was a Roman citizen. Felix, the governor agreed to hear Paul's case when his accusers arrived from Jerusalem.

After five days the high priest, Ananias arrived with support and through one Tertullus, brought charges against Paul. Paul explained that he was in Jerusalem worshipping when a crowd was stirred up. Paul explained that eh was being charged because he taught the resurrection from the dead. He explained that he had been gone from Jerusalem on his Gentile mission and that when he returned he had gone through the traditional Jewish purification rites.

Felix, who knew something about Christianity (the Way) delayed and decision until the Tribune arrived from Jerusalem. During this time Felix called several times for Paul and hade several discussions with him.

Paul was kept in custody, but was allowed friends who tended to him. He was kept in prison in Caesarea by Felix for tow years.

PAUL BEFORE FESTUS (Acts 25:1-12)
Felix was succeeded by Festus as governor. Shortly after arriving in Caesarea he went up to Jerusalem where the chief priests and others asked for Paul to be returned to Jerusalem. The intended to kill him as previously planned. Festus refused the return Paul to Jerusalem and instructed the Jewish leaders to return to Caesarea and bring charges against Paul.

When Festus returned to Caesarea he had Paul brought before him. Paul explained that he had broken no laws, not Jewish not Roman. When Festus asked whether Paul would like to be returned to Jerusalem he declined, appealing his case to Caesar. Festus then decided that Paul should go to Rome to appear before Caesar.

FESTUS AND HEROD AGRIPPA (Acts 25:13-27)
At that time Herod Agrippa II and his sister, Bernice, arrived in Caesarea to welcome Festus, the Roman governor. Festus laid Paul's case before Herod Agrippa. Agrippa told Festus that he would like to hear from Paul. Festus hoped that Agrippa could come up with some charge that he could write to the Emperor, since he had found nothing wrong in Paul that deserved death. Agrippa told Paul that he had permission to speak for himself. Paul recited the events of his conversion and mission to the Gentiles and told the king that it was because of his message and preaching to the Gentiles that the Jews sought to kill him. Paul the appealed to Agrippa whom he knew understood the prophets, but Agrippa made light of Paul's appeal. Agrippa, Festus, and Bernice left and met together commenting that if Paul had not appealed to Caesar he could have been set free, for he had done nothing deserving of imprisonment or death.

PAUL SENT TO ROME (Acts 27:1-28:16)
Luke picks up the "we" passages again in Acts 27:1, indicating that he was now part of the group that set sail for Rome. Also in the group was Aristarchus, A Macedonian from Thessalonica.
Luke's description of the journey is amazing in its details, indicating that Luke must have been the author of Luke/Acts since he describes geographical details of this journey with great care.
Luke informs us that there were in all 276 persons on the ship, and that the Centurion treated Paul kindly.

En route Paul warned the Centurion that they were heading into a dangerous journey, but he Centurion listened to the captain and pressed on. After a troublesome journey, with several storms and problems, including a shipwreck on the Island of Malta. During their three month stay on Malta, Paul preached and healed several people. Finally, they were able to leave Malta and set sail for Italy, landing first at Rhegium then at Puteoli where they found some brethren. They stayed seven days with the brethren in Puteoli, then leaving for Rome they were met at a place Luke identifies as Three Taverns by brethren from Rome who thanked God for Paul's safe journey. Arriving in Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself in a house, guarded by a soldier.

PAUL IN ROME (Acts 28:17-31)
After three days Paul met with the local Jewish leaders. He explained that at the instigation of the Jews he had been arrested in Jerusalem , but that he had done nothing against his people (the Jews) or the Jewish customs. He had no other recourse than to appeal to Caesar, and it was because of this that he was in Rome. The Jewish leaders expressed an interest in discussing this further with Paul at a later date because they had heard that the sect of Christianity had been spoken against everywhere. At an appointed day they assembled in great numbers with Paul and he preached about the kingdom of God and taught about Jesus Christ. Some of the Jews were convinced but others disbelieved. Paul cited a scripture from Isa 6:9, 10 that had predicted that Israel would not believe because they were stubborn, and than because of this God would turn to the Gentiles.

Paul continued to live in his own house in Rome for another two years, and was able to preach and teach openly. The two years is important since Roman law required accusers to appear in Rome within two years, after which the case was dropped. Church history records that after two years Paul was released from house imprisonment and journeyed tot eh west, possibly to Spain. It was at this time, after his release from Roman house imprisonment that Paul wrote 1 Timothy and possibly Titus. Church tradition records that he was again arrested and taken to Rome where he wrote 2 Timothy and was martyred sometime during the late 60's possibly, 64CE, possibly during the Neronian persecution and burning of Rome (64CE).

Luke does not mention these last years as they do not fit into his story line which began in Acts 1:6-11 with the instruction from Jesus to preach the gospel beginning in Jerusalem, then Judea, then Samaria, then to the end of the earth. The Gospel story has spread from Jerusalem all over the then known world (that is, the Roman world) and has reached Rome. We do not know precisely when the gospel reached Rome; some Jews from Rome were converted on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:9-11), but we do know that under Paul's preaching it had now reached Rome. This had been Luke's purpose, to explain to Theophilus (Acts 1:1) how the Gospel had spread through first the Jewish world, then into the Gentile world, even to Rome.

	1.	After Paul's third missionary journey he had been determined to go to Jerusalem. The disciples had pleaded with him not to go to Jerusalem. leaving Caesarea Paul went to Jerusalem.
	2.	In Jerusalem the Jewish disciples were concerned that he might offend the Jews since he had preached to the Gentiles and was accompanied by some Gentile Christians. The encouraged him to go through the traditional Jewish purification rites expected of Jews after travel or contact with Gentiles. Paul did so. This still did not satisfy the Jews and after problems Paul was taken by a Roman Tribune into prison for his own safety.
	3.	Paul was tried in the Sanhedrin where he preached the resurrection which divided the Pharisees and Sadducees.
	4.	After defending himself Paul was taken to Caesarea because the Jews had a plot to kill him.
	5.	In Caesarea he appeared before the Roman governor, Felix, then the new Roman governor, Festus. Finally he defended himself and explained his conversion story to King Herod Agrippa II and his sister Bernice. During this time he appealed his case to Caesar at which point Festus agreed to send Paul to Rome to appear before Caesar.
	6.	At this point Paul, accompanied by Luke and Aristarchus and a Roma Centurion and soldiers left by boat for Rome. After a hazardous journey and shipwreck Paul and his group arrived in Rome where he was placed under house arrest but granted freedom to teach and preach.
	7.	After two years in which time his accusers in Jerusalem had not arrived to accuse him before Caesar, Paul was released form Roman house imprisonment.
	8.	During his Roman house imprisonment Paul was able to teach and preach freely the message of Jesus.
	9.	Luke's story which had begun in Acts 1:6-11 with Jesus' command for the gospel to be preached beginning in Jerusalem, then Judea, then Samaria, then to the end of the world was complete. The Gospel under the apostolic preaching and witnessing had reached Rome.

Summary and Discussion:

1) Discuss the situation that led up to Paul's journey to Rome. Why was this
     necessary? How did the Jews and Romans feature in this?

2) Comment on the role's of Felix, Festus, and Herod Agrippa II in Paul's trials.

3) What interesting experiences did Paul have on his trip to Rome?

4) Why was Paul's imprisonment limited to just over two years? Why was he
     apparently released without a trial in Rome?

5) What did Paul do while in prison in Rome?

6) Why does Luke's narrative in Acts close with Paul's Roman imprisonment when we
     know that he did mission work beyond his Roman imprisonment? How does this fit
     into Luke's Acts narrative?