The Acts of the
Apostles
Session 24: Chapter 24-25
Essential interruptions
The Acts of the
Apostles
Spring 2014
Current Schedule:
Session
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Date
Passages
8-Sep-13
Introduction
15-Sep-13
1:1 - 26
22-Sep-13
2:1 - 13
29-Sep-13
2:14 - 47
6-Oct-13
3:1-26
13-Oct-13
4:1-31
20-Oct-13
4:32-5:11
27-Oct-13
No Acts
3-Nov-13
No Acts
8
10-Nov-13
5:12 - 41
9
17-Nov-13
6:1- 8:3
10
24-Nov-13
8:4-8:40
11
1-Dec-13
9:1 - 31
12
8-Dec-13
9:32-10:33
13
15-Dec-13
10:34-11:18
14
22-Dec-13
11:19-12:25
29-Dec-13
No Acts - Class TBD
5-Jan-14
No Acts – Class TBD
Beginning of Spring 2014 Semester
1
12-Jan-14
13:1-50
2
19-Jan-14
13:51-14:28
3
26-Jan-14
15:1-41
4
2-Feb-14
16:1 - 40
5
9-Feb-14
17:1-34
6
16-Feb-14
18:1-23
7
23-Feb-14
18:24 - 19:41
8
2-Mar-14
20:1 - 21:16
9-Mar-14
Missions
16-Mar-14
Missions
9
23-Mar-14
21:17-22:21
10
30-Mar-14
22:22 - 23:33
11
6-Apr-14
23:34-25:22
12
13-Apr-14
25:23-26:32
13
20-Apr-14
27:1-44
14
27-Apr-14
28
Topic
Overview of Acts
Jesus' Final Message
Pentecost - Fulfillment
Pentecost - 1st Sermon
Lame man and 2nd Sermon
Peter & John: Prison and Trial
Ananias & Sapphira
Missionary Visit
Missionary Visit
Apostles Persecution
Deacons and Stephen
Philip
Saul Conversion
Peter: Lydda, Joppa, Caesarea Vision
Gentiles Converted and Defended
Antioch, Herod
1st Missionary Journey
Iconium, Lystra
Jerusalem Council
2nd Derbe, Lystra, Troas, Philippi
Thessalonica, Berea, Athens
Corinth to Antioch
3rd - Galatia, Ephesus
Macedonia, Troas Miletus, Tyre, Caesarea
Paul Jews, arrest, crowd
Centurion , Sanhedrin, Jews plan to kill Paul, rescue
Felix - Festus
Agrippa
Shipwreck
Malta & Rome
Ebenezer Bible Fellowship Church
Page 2 of 6
The Acts of the
Apostles
Spring 2014
Review
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
The Essential Background – The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus
The Essential Role – to be a witness
The Essential Beginning – The Gift of the Holy Spirit
The Essential Message – Jesus
The Essential Proofs – Signs and Wonders authenticating the Apostles Message
The Essential Boldness – for sharing the Word of God
The Essential Character – avoiding hypocrisy with Godly stewardship
The Essential Principle – obey God rather than man
The Essential Sacrifice – The martyrdom of Stephen
The Essential Evangelism – Adjust the methods, but never the message
The Essential Conversion – Paul on the Damascus road
The Essential Understanding – Gentiles are accepted because God does not show partiality
Essential Surprises
Essential Missions – Requires everyone
Essential Work – Sharing, Strengthening, Appointing, and Committing
Essential Decision – Salvation is by grace alone
Essential Church Plant
Essential Riot – God uses all things
Essential Providence – God working
Review
Overview – 3 Trials
1.
2.
3.
4.
Sanhedrin
Felix – Governor
Festus
King Agrippa
Ebenezer Bible Fellowship Church
Page 3 of 6
The Acts of the
Apostles
Spring 2014
Paul sent to Felix … (Acts 23:23-35)
Letter
How did Paul become a citizen? God’s working before he was even born….
Herod
the Great
Paul Before Felix … (Acts 24:1-21)
Herod
Agrippa I
Who is Felix?
- Marcus Antonius Felix
- Married to Drusilla (daughter of Herod Antipas I)
Herod
Bernice
Agrippa II
- Related to King Agrippa
- Ruthless
- Older Brother Pallas was secretary of the treasury during
the reign of Claudius.
- Apparently a freed slave
- Used a magician to persuade Drusilla to divorce her husband and marry
him.
- His wife and son died in Pompeii in the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius
- There were increasing insurgencies during his reign
- Was ruthless in putting down the uprisings
- Tacitus: “he exercised the power of a king with the mind of slave”
- First wife was a granddaughter of Marc Anthony
How would you respond to the accusations if you were Paul?
Accusation
Rabble rouser
Ringleader of the
Nazarene sect
Violated the temple
Issue
Rome did not want
uprisings…they fought them
Causing religious unrest
Pauls Argument
I was there 12 days ago and
didn’t cause a mob scene at all
I believe the same things…
Breaking our religious laws
that we can judge
I brought a gift and purified and
came to worship…but was
accused by some Asian Jews who
were not here…
Ebenezer Bible Fellowship Church
Page 4 of 6
Acts 12
Drusilla
The Acts of the
Apostles
Spring 2014
Options:
1. Let him go  Jews upset
2. Punish him  nothing warrants
3. Delay for Lysias
a. Jews happy  he’s not out
b. Paul isn’t punished or killed
c. May be able to get a bribe
Private Conversations … (Acts 24:22-26)
Righteousness
Self Control
Coming Judgment
Porcius Festus … (Acts 24:27-25:12)
Two years was the limit to keep a citizen in jail without a trial
Nero is now Emperor
Ebenezer Bible Fellowship Church
Page 5 of 6
The Acts of the
Apostles
Spring 2014
Conclusions:
The Essential Interruptions…
Being questioned gave him opportunity to share the gospel
How do you view the interactions you encounter? As interruptions? Or
Opportunities?
For Next week:
1. Read Acts Chapter 24:1-25:22
2. Mediate on:
a. Paul’s actions and testimony
b. What can we learn about how to choose our words?
c. How can we prepare for the next difficulty in our spiritual journey?
Bibliography:
Jensen, Irving, Acts A Self Study Guide Moody Press 1969
Swindoll, Charles Acts The Birth of An Exciting Vision Insight for Living 1979
Acts: Life Change Series NavPress 1992
Boice, James Acts Baker Books, 1997
Girard, Robert The Book of Acts Thomas Nelson, 2007
Stott, John The Message of Acts BST , IVP 1990
Pentecost, J. Dwight New Wine a Study of Transition in the Book of Acts Kregel, 2010
Bruce, FF The Book of the Acts Eerdmans 1988
Edersheim, Alfred Sketches of Jewish Social Life Hendrickson 1994
Ebenezer Bible Fellowship Church
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