Acts: Lesson 12

Study Guide Questions for Ch. 23-24

If you are looking for the beginning of this study you can start HERE with the brief introduction. At the bottom of that introduction will be the links to each section of the study guide as it becomes available. For this study the English Standard Version is the translation that is being utilized and you can read it online HERE or pick up the copy of your choice from Amazon or your local book store. I find THIS EDITION to be useful for deeper study and annotation.

Virtues/Vices/Great Ideas: (Find them in the Text)

Battle of Wits, Deception, Despotism

Grammar Questions: (The Information of the Text)

1. What did Paul apologize for saying?

2. How did Paul set the Pharisees and Sadducees against one another?

3. What did forty-some men swear an oath to not do until they killed Paul?

4. Who overheard this plot and what did he do?

5. What actions did the tribune, Claudius Lysias, take in order to keep Paul safe from the plot?

6. What did Tertullus claim Paul was guilty of doing?

7. According to Paul, who should actually be there before Felix to accuse him?

8. Concerning what things did Paul “reason” with Felix and his wife Drusilla?

9. How long did Paul remain in custody with Felix?

Logic Questions: (Interpreting, Comparing/Contrasting, Reasoning)

1. Why didn’t Paul realize he was talking to the high priest?

2. What might we infer about Paul’s nephew by the fact that “The tribune took him by the hand”?

3. Why would the text say “the Jews also joined in the charge” when the original accusers, the high priest and Tertullus, were also Jews?

4. Why did Paul think that the men accusing him before Felix were not the proper ones to be making an accusation against him?

5. Why might Felix have had “a rather accurate knowledge of the Way”?

6. Why might Felix have been “alarmed” by Paul’s teaching?

Rhetoric Questions: (The Analysis of Ideas in the Text)

1. Claudius Lysias’ letter is a good example of what is called “a slanted narrative”. What details about what had happened concerning Paul’s situation did Caludius amend to not quite match the truth? Why might he do this?

2. Tertullus’ address before Felix involves a significant amount of flattery whereas Paul’s address is substantially less flattering, though not offensive. To what extent is it appropriate to use flattery when giving a persuasive speech? Should Christians use it at all? Why or why not?

3. “Due process” refers to the fair and lawful treatment of an accused person. What elements of due process do we see in this reading? In what ways is Paul’s due process seemingly infringed upon? Why does such a thing as due process matter? Explain your answer carefully.

Theological Analysis: (Sola Scriptura)

1. Read 1 Samuel 14:24-46. What connection might we make between this passage and our current reading? What wisdom might we gain from considering both of these passages together?