Studies in Acts—Lesson 13

Read Acts 22 – 25:1-13

Who said it – or might have said it? Where? When? Why?

Chapter 22

1. "Away with him ...” Verse 22. Who? All Jerusalem (21:31), the crowd (21:34), the people (21:39) who had been stirred up by the Jews from Asia (21:27) Where? This was in Jerusalem, on the steps of the barracks. When and Why? Paul told them the Lord had told him to preach to the Gentiles (vv. 21, 22)
2. “Is it lawful…to scourge…a Roman uncondemned…?” Verse 25. Who? Paul. Where? In the barracks. When? After the soldiers had tied up Paul and were about to flog him. Why? To use his Roman citizenship to prevent the flogging. Similar to what he had done in Acts 16. Note: Paul spoke Greek (21:37), was suspected to be an Egyptian (21:38), was a Jew from Tarsus (21:39), and was a Roman citizen. No wonder the tribune was curious about him!

Chapter 23

1. "Strike him on the mouth." Verse 23. Who? Ananias, the high priest. Where? In front of the Jewish council (Sanhedrin). When? The next day. Specifically, after Paul saId he had lived in all good conscience. Why? It’s not clear why. Because Ananias thought Paul was being disrespectful? He thought Paul was lying? Or simply because Ananias was a cruel man who hated Paul?
2. “We find nothing wrong with this man…” Verse 9. Who? The Pharisee scribes. Where? In front of the Council. When? After Paul stated that he preached about the resurrection. Why? Because in so stating, Paul caused dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, who did not believe in resurrection from the dead. The Pharisees defended Paul in order to strengthen their position against the Sadducees.
3. “Take courage…” Verse 11. Who? The Lord (Jesus). Where? In the barracks. When? During the night, after Paul had defended himself before the Council. Why? To encourage Paul to speak, to assure him he wouldn’t be harmed in Jerusalem, that the Lord was with him.
4. “We will neither eat nor drink.” Verses 12-14. Who? Jewish conspirators. Where? They conspired among themselves, then repeated their intention before the chief priests and elders. When? The next morning. Why? They hated Paul, and they wanted him dead. Note: This is what fear causes. The Jews who crucified Christ were also motivated by fear – and by envy.
5. “Do not listen to them….” Verse 21. Who? Paul’s nephew. Where? I’m supposing the office of the tribune (commander), whose name was Claudius Lysias (verse 26). When? After Paul’s nephew told him of the plot, and Paul instructed one of the centurions to take his nephew to the tribune with the message (verse 17). Why? In order to prevent Paul from being murdered.
6. “…when he learned that he was from Cilicia….” Verse 34. Who? Felix the governor (verse 26). Where? In Caesarea. When? The next day. Why? He read the letter from Claudius Lysias. Note: In the letter Claudius Lysias states that he rescued Paul after learning he was a Roman citizen, when in fact, it was after he had Paul in custody and was preparing to have him whipped – an indication that the tribune wanted to put himself in the best light possible.

Chapter 24

1. "We have found this man a real pest...." Verse 5. Who? Tertullus, the Jews’ attorney from Jerusalem. Where? In Caesarea, before Felix. When? Five days after Paul had been taken to Caesarea, after Felix summoned him to the hearing. Why? To explain why the Jews were concerned about Paul’s behavior. He was disturbing the peace.
2. “I cheerfully make my defense….” Verse 10. Who? Paul. Where? Before Felix, the governor. When? After Felix asked him to speak. Why? Because of his confidence in his innocence.
3. “…they found me in the temple purified, without any crowd or uproar….” Verse 18. Who? Paul. Where? Before Felix. When? During his defense. Why? He was presenting the true situation.
4. “Go away for the present.” Verse 25. Who? Felix, to Paul. Where? In Caesarea, with his Jewish wife Drusilla present. When? A few days after the first hearing. Why? Paul’s message of justice, self-control, and the coming judgment frightened Felix.
5. “Maybe I can collect a ransom.” Verse 26. Who? Felix. Where? Caesarea. When? When he was sending Paul back into custody for 2 years. Why? He hoped Paul would give him money to buy his release.

Chapter 25:1-13

1. "Bring him back to Jerusalem." Verse 3. Who? The chief priests and Jewish leaders. Where? In Jerusalem. When? Two years after Felix decided to keep Paul in custody. When Festus, the newly-appointed governor, came to Jerusalem, 3 days after arriving in the province. Why? Because they wanted to ambush and kill Paul along the way.
2. “You can make your accusations in Caesarea.” Verse 4. Who? Festus, to the Jews. Where? In Jerusalem. When? After Jewish leaders asked for Paul to be brought to Jerusalem from Caesarea. Why? Festus was going to be in Caesarea.
3. “Will you go to Jerusalem?” Verse 9. Who? Festus to Paul. Where? In Caesarea. When? Eight to ten days after Festus had been in Jerusalem, after the Jews had charged Paul again and Paul had again defended himself. Why? In order to do the Jews a favor. Note: Try as they might, these representatives of Rome couldn’t find anything to accuse Paul of according to the Roman law, to which they were bound. Still, they wanted to please their Jewish constituency, so they tried to squirm out of their responsibilities by delaying an official verdict or by handing that responsibility over to someone else. Echoes of Pontius Pilate!
4. “I do not refuse to die….” Verse 11. Who? Paul. Where? In Caesarea, before Festus. When? At this pre-trial hearing, in response to Festus’s question in verse 9. Why? To show he wasn’t trying to escape punishment, if that’s what he deserved. Note: I like the KJV rendering of this: “I refuse not to die,” meaning he would insist on judgment – if he was guilty. But he was not guilty.
5. “I appeal to Caesar.” Verse 11. Who? Paul. Where? In Caesarea, before Festus. When? After telling Festus he wanted a just verdict. Why? By doing this, he cut off all discussion about going to Jerusalem.As a Roman citizen, he had the right to make this appeal. Also, Christ has told Paul back in the Jerusalem prison that he would “bear witness also in Rome” (23:11).