Paul’s arrest and imprisonment: Part 2 (Acts 25:1-28:31) NT2 – Study 10

Outline of this study Paul before Festus – the appeal to Caesar (25:1-12) Festus consults with Herod Agrippa II (25:13-22) Paul’s defence before Herod Agrippa II (25:23-26:32) The journey to Rome (27:1-28:16) Paul and the Jews in Rome (28:17-31)

Source: David Cook, Teaching Acts (Christian Focus)

Alternative reading by David Cook (pp.263-8) Group of 3 trials => Felix (24:1-21), Festus (25:6-12), Agrippa & Festus (25:23-26:32) Framed by 3 declarations of Paul’s innocence => Claudius Lysias (23:29), Festus (25:25), Agrippa (26:32) Source: David Cook, Teaching Acts (Christian Focus)

Why 3 trials? To vindicate God’s Word, i.e. despite charges before tribunals, God brings Paul to Rome in fulfillment of his Word (23:11; cf. 18:10) To show Paul giving solemn witness, in fulfillment of Acts 9:15; partly to prove innocence but primarily to persuade hearers of the truth of the gospel. To show that the resurrection of Christ empowers perseverance in testimony (cf. 1 Cor 15) To explain the content of charges against Paul (in support of Paul’s case in Rome?), how it is a dispute about the Jewish religion concerning the death and resurrection of Jesus. Source: David Cook, Teaching Acts (Christian Focus)

Why 3 trials? (cont’d) To show we’ve been here before (cf. Luke 23). God is in control of both events. In one he brings about human redemption through the death of his Son (cf. Acts 4:28). In the other, he ensures that the message of redemption is brought to Rome, despite the best efforts of opponents (cf. Acts 23:11) Source: David Cook, Teaching Acts (Christian Focus)

1. Paul before Festus – the appeal to Caesar (25:1-12)

1. Paul before Festus – appeal to Caesar During the first visit of the new procurator, Jewish leaders urged Festus to transfer Paul back to Jerusalem, which he initially declined. Paul’s 3-point defense in 25:8 => Nothing against Jewish laws or Temple or Caesar Paul appeals to Caesar to save himself? Or for the sake of the gospel?

2. Festus consults with Herod Agrippa II (25:13-22)

2. Festus consults with Herod Agrippa II Festus’ dilemma (25:14-21) “they did not charge him with any of the crimes I expected“ (v18) “I was at a loss how to investigate” (v20) “I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar” (v21) Arranged an audience with Agrippa, part Jewish and an authority on Jewish religion

3. Paul’s defence before Herod Agrippa II (25:23-26:32)

3. Paul’s defence before Herod Agrippa II An apologia or evangelistic appeal? ‘Apologetic’ elements (p.132) Acknowledgement of his innocence by Roman provincial government (25:25; 26:31) The verdict of the Jewish ‘king’ (26:32) Publicly demonstrated before ‘the high-ranking military officers and the prominent men of the city’ (25:23)

3. Paul’s defence before Herod Agrippa II Yet not just “narrow” defence, but also positive presentation of gospel (pp.132-3) Autobiographical account by Paul stressing faithfulness to the Jewish faith and Scriptures OT prophet-like conversion-commission that includes Gentile mission Rejection by Jews but obviously preserved by God; for his gospel is in total harmony with what the prophets and Moses said about the Messiah (26:23)

3. Paul’s defence before Herod Agrippa II Agrippa’s response (26:28-32; cf. p.133) “Agrippa would see at once the logic of Paul’s words, but he declined to be drawn ...” “Agrippa seems not unimpressed by Paul, for all his refusal to be committed, and he agrees that Paul is not anti-Jewish, not anti-Temple, nor anti-Roman”

4. The journey to Rome (27:1-28:16)

Source: www.esvbible.org

4. The journey to Rome (27:1-28:16) Why allocate so much “space” to the voyage? Compare with other storm situations in the Bible -> Paul displays the faith the disciples lacked -> Paul shows same confidence in God’s good pleasure as shown by Jesus 27:24-25 => “in the economy of God there is an area of ‘blessing’ that certain people may experience because of their relationship with believers” (p.134)

5. Paul and the Jews in Rome (28:17-31)

5. Paul and the Jews in Rome p.137, “He had come at last to Rome, the apostle to the Gentiles, to be the figurehead in the fulfillment of the last section of Christ’s commission – ‘to the ends of the earth’ (1:8)” First to the Jews, then to the Gentiles => “all who came to see him” (28:30) What he did: Proclaimed kingdom of God + taught about Lord Jesus Christ (28:31)

What is “missing” in Luke’s account of what happened in Rome? What could be the reason why Luke ended his account this way?

Questions & Answers

JUMPA LAGI !!!