Paul – Hero of the
Faith
“Norma Bombeck writes the following advice;
1. Never
have more children than you have car windows.
2. Never
loan your car to someone to whom you have given birth.
3. Pick
your friends carefully. A "friend" never goes on a diet when you are
fat or tells you how lucky you are to have a husband who remembers Mother’s
Day--when his gift is a smoke alarm.
4. Seize
the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert
cart.
5. Know
the difference between success and fame. Success is Mother Teresa. Fame is
Madonna.
6. Never
be in a hurry to terminate a marriage. Remember, you may need this man or woman
someday to finish a sentence.
7. There
are no guarantees in marriage. If that’s what you’re looking for, go live with
a Sears battery.” (Erma Bombeck.
www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/a/advice.htm)
Paul was
encouraged by the Lord in
A.
The
tests of warning and weeping.
1.
“Through
the Spirit” they urged Paul not to go to
2.
"The
Holy Spirit says,” – Agabus the prophet warned Paul
that the Jews would bind Paul and hand him over to the Gentiles - Acts 21:7-12
a.
How
would Paul be bound? (Hand and foot)
b.
Who
would hand him over to the Gentiles?
(Jews)
3.
When
the people heard this they pleaded with Paul not to go to
a.
Peter
also tried to stop Jesus
b.
How
did Jesus react to Peter? Matt. 16:21-23
4.
What
was his reaction to the concerns of the disciples? Acts
5.
Was
Paul disobeying the Holy Spirit or was this “unwise” counsel?
6.
How
can we know when to follow the advice (or pleadings) of our brothers?
a.
Knowing
Paul, how do you think he viewed these warnings?
b.
Was
he following Christ? How?
7.
Do
we know of anyone else that met a similar fate in
8.
What
was Paul hoping to accomplish? Phil.
3:10-11
a.
Could
Paul have been thinking he would receive the same treatment as Christ?
b.
How
would suffering help Paul to know Christ?
9.
Do
you think God wanted Paul to go to
10. Does God want us to go among
hostile people to suffer?
Conclusion: The test of Paul’s fears showed that he was
not afraid of men
B.
What
was the situation that leads to Paul being handed over to the Gentiles? 17-36
1.
Paul
was greeted warmly by the brothers and went to see the elders.
2.
Note: Luke does not mention Paul delivering the
money for the poor. (Acts 24:17)
3.
How
did the elders react to the news from Paul about the Gentiles? V. 20
4.
How
did the Jewish believers in
a.
Was
their zeal for the Law a problem?
b.
Romans
had already been written at this time.
What did Paul write about the zeal of the Jews?
c.
Could
obeying the Law conflict with the grace of Christ? How? (justification)
4.
What
was the charge against Paul? Acts
a.
Was
this charge true?
b.
What
did Paul teach about the Law of Moses?
Rom.
5.
Was
this a Paul verses James contest?
a.
What
was the idea they came up with? V. 22-24
b.
Would
this be more effective than words?
(Sounds like James)
6.
What
was the accusation made by the Jews from
a.
Was
the accusation true?
b.
Did
their zeal for the Law result in obedience to it? (false testimony)
7.
Was
the
a.
Was
there a connection between the
b.
There
was a short wall that separated the Court of the Gentiles from the Court of the
(Jewish) Women on the
c.
Warning
sign unearthed that pertains to the
d.
Paul
was accused of taking a Gentile beyond that point.
e.
The
wall still stood when Paul wrote the Ephesian letter – Eph 2:11-16
f.
This
wall was removed in AD 70.
8.
What
happened to Paul? 30-36
a.
Captured
by the Jews and beaten (like Jesus)
b.
Handed
over to the Romans (like Jesus)
c.
The
Jews shouted “Away with him!” (reminds
us of “crucify him!”)
Conclusion: Paul
like Jesus was falsely accused by those who were “zealous” for the law
C.
What
was the intention of Paul’s speech?
1.
Paul’s
demonstration of respect for the Law was not effective
2.
Paul
is speaking to the people who had just tried to kill him
3.
Paul
gave his background
a.
a
Jew, born in
b.
Taught
by Gamaliel (A famous Jew, an expert in the Law of
Moses highly respected by the Jews)
c.
Thoroughly
trained in the law
d.
Zealous
for God
e.
Persecuted
the followers of this Way to their death in an official capacity
f.
As
also the high priest and all the Council can testify
g.
What
would have been the effect on the Jewish hearers?
4.
Paul
told the story of his conversion
a.
Confronted
by the Lord Jesus on the road to
b.
Instructed
to wait in
c.
His
sight was restored and he was instructed he would have a prophet ministry
bringing God's Word to all men.
d.
He
was then baptized as a Christian for the forgiveness of sins and called upon
the Lord Jesus.
e.
The
Lord instructed him to leave
f.
How
would the Jewish audience have received this information?
5.
What
part of Paul’s speech angered the people?
21-23
a.
What
caused the reaction?
b.
What
part of the gospel seemed shameful to the Jews?
Conclusion: Paul
wanted to relate to the people and help them understand that he was obeying
God’s instructions
D.
What
do you think is God’s purpose in allowing Paul to be caught up in this
conflict?
1.
Do
you think there is purpose in all this or is Paul just a victim in a
meaningless conflict?
2.
How
does Paul avoid the beating?
a.
What
made him declare his citizenship this time before he was beaten?
b.
What
did Paul ask in verse 25? Does the
question imply a trial is necessary?
c.
Would
Paul eventually receive a trial in the Roman courts?
3.
What
was the Lord’s purpose for Paul now and in the future? V. 30
a.
Did
Paul have a clear conscience up to this point?
b.
What
made the High Priest have Paul struck?
(he believed he was guilty)
c.
Did
Paul have a clear conscience after he rebuked the High Priest?
d.
Jesus
was also struck – John 18:22-23
e.
It
was illegal to punish one who had not yet been found guilty. What made Paul call the High Priest a
whitewashed wall? Matt. 23:27
f.
How
can you keep a clear conscience?
§
Clear
conscience characteristic of a deacon – 1 Tim. 3:9
§
Make
sure the goal of our spiritual instruction is based in love – 1 Tim 1:5
g.
What
was Paul’s purpose in starting an argument among the Sanhedrin instead of
defending himself or trying to preach Christ to them?
h.
How
did the dispute end the trial?
i.
What
was the message from Jesus to Paul that night?
j.
What
do you think Paul was expecting to do in
Conclusion: The Lord’s purpose for Paul was to have him
testify before Jews and Gentiles in
Finn, John
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