## Study of the Book of Acts - Part 23

(Acts 1:8b) "…Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

Tonight we continue to look at the development of Christianity to the Uttermost Part of the Earth.

I. Christianity in Jerusalem

II. Christianity in Judea and Samaria

III. Christianity to the Uttermost

A. The First Missionary Journey 13:1-14:28

B. The Council in Jerusalem 15:1-35

C. The Second Missionary Journey 15:36-18:22

D. The Third Missionary Journey 18:23-21:26

E. The Journey to Rome 21:27-28:31

1. Paul's arrest and defense 21:27-22:29

a. His Arrest 21:27-36

1) Unbelieving Jews from Asia saw Paul in the Temple with Trophimus and began to stir up the people

2) They charged Paul with teaching against the Jews, the Law, and the Temple - the same as the rumors which he was trying to dispel

3) They further charged him with defiling the Holy place by bringing Trophimus, a Gentile, inside the inner courts NOTE: This offense was punishable by death

4) They drew Paul out of the Temple and began beating him - and fully planned to kill him.

5) By this time word had reached the Chief Captain of the Roman soldiers that all of Jerusalem was in an uproar - He immediately took his men down to the Temple area to find out what was happening

6) As they came near the mob stop beating Paul and the Chief Captain took him and had him bound

7) The captain asked who he was and what he had done, but he was unable to get a clear answer so he commanded that he be taken to the palace

8) The soldiers had to carry him up the stairs - not only was he bound hand and foot but he had suffered a severe beating

9) The mob followed crying out "Away with him" (Sound familiar?)

10) The prophecy of Agabus had been fulfilled - cf. 21: 10-11

b. His defense before the mob 21:37-22:29

1) Paul asks for permission to speak to the crowd v 37- 40

a) The Captain is surprised to hear Paul speak in the Greek language - because he thought he was 'The Egyptian'

b) Josephus writes about a rebellion against the Roman garrison at Jerusalem which was led by an Egyptian - who escaped capture

c) As soon as Paul explained who he was, the Captain gave him permission to speak to the group

2) Paul gives the crowd his testimony in the Hebrew language and they listened intently v 1-20

3) The crowd is angered by Paul's statement about his commission to go to the Gentiles v21-29

a) The crowd goes wild again when Paul mentions his Divine call to take the gospel to the Gentiles

b) At this point the Captain ordered Paul brought into the palace

c) He was unable to understand what Paul had been saying to the crowd, but he was determined to find out what was going on so he ordered Paul to be scourged until he knew the truth

d) Paul asked the centurion nearby about the legality of scourging a Roman citizen. NOTE: He knew that it was illegal but he used this method to let it be known that he was in fact a Roman citizen

e) The Captain had purchased his citizenship but Paul was free born and therefore had certain rights which had been violated

2. Paul before the Sanhedrin 22:30-23:10

a. The Captain now realized that the charges made against Paul were Jewish charges - so he arranged for a hearing before the Sanhedrin v 30

b. Paul takes control of the situation v 1-10

1) As he addresses the council - Ananias commands that someone hit him in the mouth

2) Paul points out the hypocritical action and says that God will judge him

a) It was hypocritical because Jewish law presumed the accused to be innocent until proven guilty.

b) How could one break the law while sitting in judgment of one accused of breaking the law?

3) Others then rebuked Paul for speaking such a way to the high priest - Paul apologized saying he wasn't aware that Ananias was the high priest

a) Some believe that it was because of his failing eyesight

b) Others believe that Paul was speaking sarcastically about the high priest's actions not being in keeping with his office

4) Paul, realizing that a fair hearing was not possible, set to dividing the group, made up of Sadducees and Pharisees

a) He stated, "I am a Pharisee ... of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question."

b) He knew what would happen because the two groups were divided on the matter of the resurrection

c) There was such an argument between them that the Captain decided to rescue Paul and bring him back to the palace

Next: Paul is escorted to Caesarea