Acts #5,
The Imprisonment and
Defense of Paul
Paul and the Gospel
go to Caesarea &
then to Rome.
Acts 21:17 - 28:31
This last section of Acts:
• may indeed bring to a close the
preaching tours / missionary journeys of
Paul and those who traveled with him…
• but it certainly doesn’t stop the spread
of the Gospel for him or others!
• Though arrested, he keeps right on
preaching and writing of the good news
of Jesus Christ & His Kingdom.
What we’ve seen so far in
our study of Acts:
• the Church come into existence on the
day of Pentecost in Jerusalem.
• the Church spread into Judea &
Samaria through Philip’s preaching.
• the Church transition to the Gentile
world through Peter’s preaching.
• the Church expand to the uttermost
through Paul’s preaching. Acts 1:8
The Basic Outline/Synopsis of
where we’re headed today:
• Acts 21:15- 40 Paul’s vow and arrest by the
Romans
• Acts 22 His defense to the people
• Acts 23 His defense before the Chief Priests and
Sanhedrin Council; his escape to Caesarea
• Acts 24 His defense before the Roman governor
Felix
• Acts 25 His defense to Festus- Felix’s successor
• Acts 26 Paul before King Agrippa
• Acts 27-28 The journey to Rome
Paul’s Trip back to Jerusalem
 Previously, Paul has been hurrying to get
back to Jerusalem by Pentecost. He
addressed the Ephesian Elders at Miletus to
avoid time that would be lost in Asia, 20:16.
 While the ship unloaded its cargo, he spent a
week in Tyre with the brethren who warned
him not to go to Jerusalem, 21:3- 4.
 Likewise, at Caesarea, the prophet Agabas
(cf. 11:28) came down from Jerusalem a said
he would be bound hand and foot, 21:10-14.
Paul’s Vow & Arrest by the
Romans, Acts 21:15-40
 He is received gladly by the brethren, v.17.
 In vv.18-21, James and the Elders express
their concerns over accusations circulated by
other Jews about Paul, vv.18-22.
 They suggest he take a vow (and pay
expenses for four other men also) to show the
falsehood of the rumors, vv.24.
 He did so, v.26.
 It didn’t work, vv.27-32.
 The Roman commander arrested Paul but
allowed him to address the people, vv.33-40.
Paul’s Defense to the People,
Acts 22
 His Hebrew dialect quieted the crowd, v.2 >
21:34-36.
 He tells them of his former persecution of
“this Way”, vv.3-5.
 He tells them of his Damascus road
experience, vv.6-11.
 He tells them of his conversion by Ananias,
vv.12-16.
 He tells them of his heavenly vision: “Go!
For I will send you far away to the
Gentiles.” vv.17-21.
Paul’s Defense to the People,
Acts 22
 This statement of God’s purpose for him (to
go to the Gentiles) re-enraged the mob,
vv.22-23.
 The Roman commander almost has him
beaten before Paul tells him of his Roman
citizenship, vv.24-29 (cf.21:39)….
 But still doesn’t know what exactly is going
on among the Jews! v.30 So….
Paul’s Defense to the Chief
Priest & Council, Acts 23
 Improper Conduct- vv.1-5.
 Paul’s perception and division of the
Council, vv.6-10.
 Paul is encouraged by the Lord, v.11.
 The Plot and its foiling, vv.12-24.
 Paul is taken to Felix (the governor) at
Caesarea, vv.25-35.
Paul’s Defense to the Roman
Governor- Felix, Acts 24
 The flattery and charges by Tertullus, vv.1-9.
 Paul’s response:
>stating of the facts, vv.10-11
>denial of the charges, vv.12-13
>admission of guilt: “according to the
Way…. I do serve the God of our
fathers”, vv.14-16.
 A challenge offered by Paul: Where is my
guilt? vv.17-21
 Felix delays, vv.22-23.
Paul’s Defense to the Roman
Governor- Felix, Acts 24
 Paul’s address to Felix:
“Righteousness”- was a corrupt governor, v.26
“Self-Control”- he had stolen Drusilla (his wife &
daughter of Herod Agrippa) from her first
husband, Azizus (the king of Emesa).
& “Judgment to come”- According to Tacitus, Felix
“with every kind of cruelty and lust, exercised
the authority of a king with the temper of a
slave”.
 The End of Felix, v.27. History records that he
was dismissed in disgrace and that he, Drusilla,
and a son killed in the eruption of Mt. Vesuvious.
Paul’s Defense to the Roman
Governor- Festus, Acts 25
 Old tricks tried again by the Jews, vv.1-5.
 Festus capitulates, vv.6-9.
 But Paul counters with the right of his
Roman citizenship: Appeal to Caesar,
vv.10-12.
 Agrippa arrives, v.13. (This is Herod Agrippa IIson of I, 12:1; and great-grandson of The Great,
Matt.2:1. “Bernice” was his sister with whom he
lived incestuously.)
 Paul was not required to defend himself to
them, but took the opportunity to preach.
Paul’s Defense to Agrippa,
Acts 26
 He tells the same true story, vv.2-18.
 And preaches the same true sermon of
Jesus, vv.19-23.
 Festus thinks he’s out of his mind, v.24.
 But Paul pushes his point, vv.25-27.
 And Agrippa “gets it”! v.28-32
The Journey to RomeShipwreck, Acts 27
 The bad weather and storm, vv.3-9
 Paul’s warning, v.10ff.
 The storm, vv.14-20.
 Paul’s encouragement, vv.21-26
 The shipwreck on Malta- 276 people brought
safely through, vv.27- 44.
The Journey to Rome- Acts 28
 The events on Malta:
-the kindness of the natives, v.2
-suspicions turned to worship, vv.3-6
-the miracles, vv.7-10.
 Finally, to Rome, vv.11-29.
 Paul is left under house arrest for two
years...
doing what he had done since his conversion“preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching
concerning the Lord Jesus Christ” vv.30-31.
Conclusion: What have we
seen in Acts?
 The Church:
-Established in Jerusalem, chps.1-2
-Persecuted & Purged, chps.3- 4
-Function in benevolence for its own, chp.6
-its first martyr, chp.7
-it Spread to Judea & Samaria, chp.8
-it Transition to include Gentiles, chps.9-10
& -it Expand to the Uttermost Part of the World,
chps.11-28.
This is the story of Acts- next, James.