20 November 2022 (am) – Acts 25:1-26:32
 | Andy Bruins preaching from Acts on Sunday 20th November 2022. |
Paul is detained in Caesarea for 2 years, after which Felix is replaced by Festus. The Jewish leaders see this as a new opportunity to get their hands on Paul, but they cannot substantiate any of their accusations in a civil court. Rather than stand trial again in Jerusalem Paul appeals to Caesar.
In chapter 26 Paul is allowed to give an account of himself as part of an effort to gather information to send with him to the imperial court in Rome. Paul has an opportunity to testify to the Gospel before Festus, assisted by Herod Agrippa II, his sister Bernice and all the nobles of Caesarea.
Q What was it that persuaded you to follow Christ?
Q Read 26:1-11. In v6-8, what does Paul say is the real reason that the Jewish leaders want him dead? How was Paul once like them? Why do you think he goes into so much detail about how he persecuted the saints?
Q Read v12-18. What changed Paul? What did this have to do with resurrection (v6)? Why did he go to the Gentiles?
Q Read v19-23. What was Paul’s message to both Jews and Gentiles? What does he mean when he says he taught them to “prove their repentance by their deeds” (v20)? How can Paul claim that he is saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen?
Q Read v24-32. How do Festus and Agrippa respond?
Q If even the best evangelist (Paul), speaking to two knowledgeable and educated men still cannot convince them, what then is needed?
Spend some time praying for the salvation of the toughest cases you know.
