Week 7
STudy Questions
Wherever Paul went, believers were willing to take him in, put him up, and offer him hospitality like one of the family (see Acts 21:4-6, 7, 8, 17). And it appears this welcoming response came even from Christians he’d never personally met since we have no record of Paul having been to Tyre or Ptolemais prior to Acts 21. How would you rank yourself in terms of hospitality? How open is your home? When’s the last time you invited someone over to your home? How readily would you see yourself warmly welcoming other Christians into your home if they needed a place to stay? If you’re uncomfortable with that, why?
In contrast to the warm welcome Paul received in other quarters, James was concerned the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem might react very negatively to Paul’s presence (Acts 21:20-22). James explained his concerns by saying these Jewish Christians were “zealous for the law” (21:20b). Sadly, they were more identified with their zeal for the law that with their zeal for the Lord. Today as well, many Christians are more zealous about certain aspects of the faith than they are about Jesus (zealous for miracles or for the poor or for the doctrines of grace); and the inevitable result is a faith life that’s out of balance. Others sadly, are more zealous about things like their golf game or their finances than they are about the things of God. What are some of the things you are most zealous about? What do you spend the most time thinking about each week? Is Jesus just one of many priorities in your life, or do you intentionally interpret every aspect of your life in terms of the Lord, His will, and His Word? Do you consider your job as separate from your faith life or as a means to glorify God and bless others? Are you more committed to your Lord or to your children or family?
James feared the Jewish Christians’ doctrinal zeal might lead them to reject or even attack Paul. In addition, he noted that they had been misinformed about Paul’s teachings (21:21). Have you ever spoken ill of another Christian (whom you’ve never met) over some less-than-foundational matter of the faith, or worse, over something you read about them or heard second or third hand? What are some things it’s OK for Christians to disagree about? What are some things it’s not OK for Christians to disagree about? What’s the difference between things it’s OK to disagree about and things it’s not OK to disagree about? In their zeal for God and His Word, the Jews seized Paul and tried to kill him – in direct disobedience to God and His Word. Somehow, the abject hypocrisy of their actions escaped their notice. What are some practical steps you can take to protect yourself from falling prey to the same sort of spiritual blindness?
Why did James ask Paul to pay for the fulfillment of the vow made by the four men (see Acts 21:23-24)? Why did Paul agree to go along with James’ request? One could look at Paul’s acquiescence here and conclude either (a) he was a sell-out who refused simply to stand on the truth of his convictions, or (b) he was gracious and willing to suffer personally for the advancement of the gospel. There’s a massive movement among some conservative Christians today to demand their rights in almost every situation. Looking at the example of Paul, what issue seems to have determined whether he stood by his rights (see Acts 16:35-39; 22:25-29; 25:11) or willingly laid them aside?
The Jews who attacked Paul in Jerusalem falsely accused him of defiling the temple by taking a Gentile into it (Acts 21:28-29). Have you ever been falsely accused of something? What is our recourse when we are falsely accused but either cannot disprove the charges or are never given the opportunity? Read Matthew 5:11-12. Jesus says you’re “blessed” when people “falsely say all kinds of evil against you,” yet it never really feels like a blessing when it’s happening. How do you respond to that reality?
After seeking to connect with the crowd in Acts 21:1-5, Paul then went on to share his testimony of how he’d come to faith in Jesus and how Jesus had changed him (Acts 21:6-21). Why is sharing your personal testimony such a powerful tool for the spread of the gospel? Would you be willing to pray and ask the Lord to give you someone with whom to share at least a part of your testimony this week? Consider praying that together as a small group.
The Roman commander, Claudius Lysias, made himself out to be a hero in his official letter to the Roman Governor of Judea, falsely suggesting he had rescued Paul from the Jewish mob because he “had learned that he is a Roman citizen” (Acts 23:7). In general, people lie in order to avoid consequences for their actions (“No, ma’am, I didn’t break your best china”) or to make themselves look better to others (“I once hit 600 homeruns in a single little league baseball game”). How careful are you to make certain everything you say is entirely true? In what sorts of situations are you most tempted to stretch the truth? Research suggests we are experiencing a crisis of truth in this nation. What can we, as the people of God, do to change that?
In Paul’s trial before Felix, he pointed out that he had not been guilty of stirring up trouble or even of arguing with people (Acts 24:12). In other words, in his presentation of the gospel, Paul made a point not to be unduly aggressive or a rabble rouser. The gospel is itself inherently offensive; it’s important that those who share the gospel not be. Have you ever seen another Christian purport to represent God or His Word in a way that you felt was inappropriately belligerent? How can you share the gospel in ways that maintain the integrity of the message (including the need for repentance and the truth of coming judgment) without being rude or unnecessarily offensive?
When Felix listened to Paul speak about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment of God, Luke said he became frightened and dismissed Paul before he could say any more. Why do you think different people react so differently to the conviction of the Holy Spirit? Has there ever been a time you were genuinely frightened by the presence of God or by His Word? According to the Bible, it’s important that you both love and fear God. In what ways would you like to grow in your love of the Lord? In what ways would you like to grow in your fear of the Lord? In praying for the lost, take time to pray for both conviction by the Holy Spirit and for the grace to respond well to that conviction.
For Further Consideration:
When Paul was allowed to speak to the crowd in Jerusalem, he began respectfully, as Stephen had in Acts 7:2, addressing them as, “Brothers and fathers” (Acts 22:1). From there he went on to tell of his own background and upbringing in the Jewish faith in an obvious attempt to establish some point of connection between himself and his listeners. Over and over we find that, those who wish to move people toward faith in Christ, begin by trying to connect with them in some real way. We’ve already covered this point several times in this study, and yet it still bears repeating. The bottom line is: You’re not very likely to win people to the Lord if they can’t identify with you and aren’t willing to listen to you.
Apparently Paul’s approach worked, because the crowd in Jerusalem was willing to listen to him until the moment he said, “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles’” (Acts 22:21). At that point, however, they began to cry out for his death (Acts 22:22-23); and it’s hard to imagine their animosity toward the Gentiles as anything but gross racism. It’s one thing to recognize that some people have not yet come to love and serve the one true God; it’s another thing entirely to despise them.
Question 1 – Do you believe racism remains a serious problem in this nation? Why or why not? If you do believe it’s still a serious problem, in what ways can and should the church address the issue? Do you ever recognize racist thoughts or feelings popping up in your own life?
Although Paul was a great proponent of laying down personal rights for the good of others and the advancement of the gospel (see I Corinthians 6:1-7; 8:4-13; Acts 16:3, 26-29; 21:22-26), he still regularly appealed to the authorities for his rights to be honored (see Acts 16:35-39; 22:25-29; 23:3; 25:10-11).
Question 2 – Based on Paul’s example, when should you, as a Christian, lay down your rights and when is it appropriate for you to insist that your rights be upheld?
In Acts 23, the members of the Sanhedrin gathered to express their disdain for Paul, but quickly devolved into displaying their disdain for one another (Acts 23:6-9). Negative, angry, and critical people tend to struggle to turn off their negativity, often to their own detriment.
Question 3 – Have you ever struggled with being too critical of others? If so, what are your triggers? Have you ever struggled with being too critical of yourself? If so, what are your triggers? What are some practical things people can do to be less critical?
During the time of the book of Acts, there were at least four primary sects of Judaism, although only three of them are mentioned in the New Testament: the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Herodians. The sect not mentioned in the New Testament were the Essenes, who pledged themselves to chastity and a strict, ascetic lifestyle in the desert apart from the rest of the Roman Empire. They were the group responsible for the Dead Sea Scrolls. The sects named in the New Testament were able to work together in many ways (the Pharisees and Herodians teamed up to oppose Jesus and the Pharisees and Sadducees generally cooperated in the Sanhedrin), but they were not above turning on each other over their differences.
Question 4 – Today there are real differences between Christians in different streams or denominations, but as Benjamin Franklin famously quipped at the signing of the Declaration of Independence: “We must all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.” With our culture growing more hostile toward biblical Christianity each day, how can Christians acknowledge their differences without attacking or demeaning one another before the world? How often do you pray for Christians who are facing persecution? Will you take a moment and do that now?
Over and over in the book of Acts, you find religious people doing unspeakably evil things, with the Jews who vowed not to eat or drink until they’d killed Paul being perhaps the most extreme example (Acts 23:12-15). And the religious leaders were willing to go along with them in their plot! Today, well-chronicled misdeeds by high-profile clergymen have jaded many people with regard to their respect for Christians and Christian leaders. And yet, the plain truth is that the vast majority of Christians and Christian leaders are good, honorable, loving people.
Question 5 – Of all the Christians you know personally, are more of them violent hypocrites or good people who are trying to love God and others?
The lawyer Tertullus praised the Roman Governor Felix and his rule, yet history suggests he was actually a very bad ruler. In fact, Felix was described by the Roman historian Tacitus as “cruel, licentious, and base;” and he was known for eagerly accepting bribes. During his reign, crime increased in the region and internal feuds and disturbances were common. According to the historian Josephus, he was ultimately removed from his position as governor of the Judean province because of his brutality in responding to a dispute between Jews and Gentiles in Caesarea.
Question 6 – Tertullus’ flattery of Felix was a form of lying. Do you ever find yourself flattering people in an effort to get what you want?
The Bible says that Felix and his wife made regular visits to Paul, listening to him speak about Jesus while hoping to receive a bribe from him (Acts 24:23-26). And as twisted as that is, remember Paul’s wisdom to the Philippians: “But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice” (Philippians 1:18). Indeed, both Josh McDowell and Lee Strobel became Christians as a result of their efforts to debunk Christianity. Without a doubt, God is great; and He is very willing to work in mysterious ways.