1. A faithful witness in the midst of trouble - Acts 21-23 1. The trouble Paul faced 2. Pauls witness to Jesus

2. 1. The trouble Paul faced Paul - Acts a. Going to Jerusalem – 19:21; 20:3,16,22 b. Plots by the Jews – 20:3,19; 23:12f c. Warnings – 20:22,23; 21:4,11 d. Hostile crowd/court -21:27- 31; 23:1-10 e. Faithful – 20:24; 21:13 Jesus – Gospels a. Going to Jerusalem – Mk.10:32; Lk.9:51 b. Plots – Lk.6:7,11; 11:53,54; 22:1,2 c. Warnings – Mk.8:31; 9:31; 10:33,34 d. Hostile crowd/court – Lk.22:66-23:25 e. Faithful –Mk.8:31- 33;Lk.9:51

3. The trouble Paul faced a. False accusation – 21:21,27-29 b. Attempts to kill him - Jewish crowd – 21:30-32; 22:22,23 - Jewish council – 23:10 - Plotters – 23:12-15 c. Arrest

4. 2. Pauls witness to Jesus a. Unwavering witness to Jesus – Paul will not be stopped by:- 1. Well-meaning friends – 21:4,10-14 cf. Mk.8:31-33 2. The hostility of a crowd – 21:39-22:21 3. A prejudiced court – 23:1-6

5. b. What he says about Jesus Paul speaks about:- 1. His former life – 22:3-5 Devout & rebel 2. Jesus arresting him – 22:6-9,11; 26:13; Rev.1:16,17 3. Jesus commissioning him – 22:10-21 - a special assignment –v.10 cf,Eph.2:10 - an apostle to the Gentiles –v.15,21 - told to be baptized – v.16

6. 3. Are you/I a faithful witness? a. Do you know Jesus? - Is he your Saviour & Lord? - Have you been baptized? b. What does trouble do to your witness? - living in a broken world - as you speak of Jesus Troubles – opportunity to trust in & speak of Jesus