The Book of Acts: Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

(continued)

III. The Journey to Jerusalem, 20:7 – 21:16 (continued)

D.  From Miletus to Tyre, 21:1-6

1.  Trace Paul’s journey from Miletus to Tyre, vss. 1-2

a.   Did Paul travel in a small ship that hugged the coast, or did he travel in a large merchant vessel?

b.  Which churches did Paul not visit on his return trip this time? Why? For example, why did he not even go to Antioch?

2.  Whom did Paul meet at Tyre?

a.  Was Paul known to them? If so, how? Was the church at Tyre evangelized by Paul?

b.  Was the bond between them and Paul very close?

c.  What testimony did they give Paul?

1) Is this the same as what Paul mentions in 20:23?

2) Does this mean that the Spirit forbade Paul to go to Jerusalem?

3) If this is true, was Paul disobedient in this instance?

d.   What was the attitude of these disciples at Paul’s departure?

1) What does it indicate that they accompanied him out of the city?

2) Is there any significance in the mention of “wives and children”?

3) Why did they kneel down and pray? What do you suppose they prayed? Does this incident reveal anything concerning the level of the spiritual life of the disciples at this time? Can we learn from this?

e.  How did Paul journey from Tyre?

E.  From Tyre to Jerusalem, 21:7-16

1.  How long did Paul stop at Ptoelmais?

a.  Why did he stay a week at Tyre and only a day here?

b.  Was Ptolemais a place where Paul had labored earlier?

c.  How then were they acquainted with Paul and he with them?

d.  What does it mean that he “saluted” the brethren?

2.  Where did Paul next stop? vss. 8-14

a.  In whose house were they guests here?

1) Which Philip was this? Why is he called the evangelist? Who are “the seven” mentioned here?

2) Where is Philip last mentioned in the narrative? What evidently took place since he was last mentioned?

b.  What peculiar blessing of Philip’s family is mentioned?

1) Is there any indication that his daughters were prophetesses, or did they simply occasionally prophesy?

2) Is there any connection between their prophesying and their being virgins? Why is it mentioned that they were virgins?

3) Can you connect this instance with the prophecy of Joel quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost?

4) Can this example be used in support of the idea that women may hold office in the church?

c.  How long did Paul stay here? Why?

d.  The coming of Agabus:

1) Who was Agabus? Where did he come from? Is he mentioned elsewhere in Acts?

2) What did Agabus prophesy? What important fact is assumed in thie prophecy, which sheds lights on the whole question whether Paul did right in going to Jerusalem?

3) What effect did this prophecy have on those who heard it? Who are now added to those who seek to dissuade Paul?

4) Why does the Holy Ghost give this same testimony so often? For who benefit is this?

5) What effect does this all have on Paul?

a) Is he indifferent?

b) Is he at all dissuaded?

c) Did the disciples make it difficult for Paul?

d) To Paul, what is evidently involved in his going or not going to Jerusalem? Why and in what way is the “name of the Lord Jesus” involved?

e) Whose attitude is to be preferred, that of Paul or that of those who dissuade him?

6) Were the disciples reconciled to the idea of Paul’s going to Jerusalem? On what basis? Does this mean merely that they would leave the outcome to the Lord, or that they realized what the will of the Lord in this case would surely involve and were submissive to it?

3.  How must Paul’s insisting on going to Jerusalem be viewed? Was it not rash and foolhardy in the face of the plain warnings of the Holy Ghost?

a.  How is it to be viewed in the light of Paul’s God-given duty?

b.  How is it to be viewed with respect to the disciples at the various places where Paul stopped?

c.  How is it to be viewed with respect to God’s purpose:

1) with the Jews at Jerusalem?

2) with the churches and the saints?

3) with the relationship between the Gentile churches and the Jerusalem church?

4) with His servant Paul, both in the present and in the future?

4.  How did they travel from Jerusalem to Caesarea?

a.  Who made the trip?

b.  Who is especially mentioned?

1) Why is this special mention? Is there a marginal, or substitute reading here which possibly explains the mention of Mnason better?

2) Why is it mentioned that he is an “old disciple?”

 

IV.  At Jerusalem, 21:17 to 23:30

A.  The Capture of Paul

1.  His meeting with the brethren, 21:17-25

a.  How was Paul received by the Jerusalem church?

1) Who are meant by “the brethren”? 17

2) Why did they receive him “gladly”?

b.  What did Paul do the day after his arrival?

1) What James is this?

2) Who else were present?

3) What was the purpose of this meeting?

c.  What did Paul do at this meeting?

1) What is meant by “declared particularly”?

2) On what was the emphasis in this report?

3) What was the reaction of those who heard Paul?

4) What reservations and misgivings did they have, however?

a) What was Paul’s reputation among the believing Jews at Jerusalem?

b) Was this true? Where did this idea come from?

5) What did they propose that Paul should do?

a) Was this proper for Paul?

b) Was Paul agreeable? Why?

c) Was this a wise course? Was it not a catering to a false reports? Was this a bit of politics? Was it diplomacy?

d) Was this course of action in conflict with the decision of the Jerusalem council in Acts 15?

2.  The Capture, 26-40

a.  What was Paul in the process of doing? What exactly was this purification?

b.  Who became the provocateurs? Where were they from? Why were they here?

1) Were these of the believing Jews mentioned in vs. 20?

2) What had these men evidently been doing?

3) What was their charge against Paul?

a) Was there any truth to this charge?

b) Has Paul ever taught what they accused him of teaching, either to Jew or Gentile?

c) Had Paul ever deliberately provoked the Jews? What was always his desire and his aim? What was his method? What was his motivation?

d) On what mistaken bit of evidence was part of their charge based? Was this merely an honest mistake?

c.  What was the effect of this provocation?

1) What effect did it have on the “whole city”?

a) What did they do with Paul?

b) Why were the doors shut forthwith?

c) What were they in the process of doing with Paul?

2) Who interfered?

a) Why did he stop the mob? Was it from a concern for Paul?

b) What was done with Paul? What was the result of his being taken prisoner from the point of view of God’s purpose?

c) By this time what characterized the mob? Proof?

d) Who did the chief captain take Paul to be? To whom is he referring?

e) How does Paul identify himself? Why?

f) What does he give Paul permission to do? Why?

g) How does Paul obtain a hearing from the mob?