On to Jerusalem - Acts 21:1-16
Understand It
- How did Paul and his companions leave their friends at Miletus? (21:1)
- Between Cos and Tyre, what stops did the party make? (21:1-3)
- At Tyre, what did the Christians advise Paul to do? (21:4)
- What warning did Paul ignore? Why? (21:5-6)
- Why did Paul ignore the believers’ warning? (21:5-6)
- How was the departure scene at Tyre meaningful? (21:5-6)
- What did the group do on their one-day stop in Ptolemais? (21:7)
- Who was Paul’s host in Caesarea? (21:8)
- What role did Philip have in the early church? (21:8)
- What gift did Philip’s four daughters have? (21:9)
- Who was Agabus? (21:10)
- Where did Agabus come from? (21:10)
- How did Agabus dramatize what would happen to Paul in Jerusalem? (21:11)
- After the people heard the prophecy about Paul, how did they respond? (21:12)
- What did Paul say to the Christians at Caesarea? (21:13-14)
- When they realized that Paul would not be dissuaded, what did the believers say to him? (21:14)
- What did Paul and his companions do on the final stage of their journey? (21:15-16)
Apply It
- How can you support a Christian brother or sister on the mission field?
- What decision do you stand by even though some others don’t approve of your choice?
- What fears or misgivings can you hand over to the Holy Spirit?
Paul's Arrival at Jerusalem - Acts 21:17-26
Understand It
- How were Paul and his companions received in Jerusalem? (21:17)
- After a day in Jerusalem, with whom did the missionaries meet? (21:18)
- What did Paul report? To whom? (21:18-19)
- How did the leaders of the Jerusalem church respond to Paul’s report? (21:20)
- What concern did the church leaders voice? (21:20)
- What false report had gone out concerning Paul? (21:21)
- What did the leaders of the church suggest that Paul do? Why? (21:22-24)
- Why did the leaders suggest that Paul join in the purification rites of four men and pay for their expenses? (21:22-24)
- What decision of the Jerusalem Council was repeated? (21:25)
- Why did the leaders bring up the Jerusalem decree? (21:25)
- What did Paul and the young men do the next day? (21:26)
Apply It
- How can you live more by God’s grace and less by self-imposed dos and don’ts?
- In what situations will you need to adjust your behavior for the sake of others? How?
Paul Arrested - Acts 21:27-36
Understand It
- What happened when Paul went to the temple? (21:27)
- Who stirred up the crowd and seized Paul? Why? (21:27-29)
- What did the Jews from Ephesus say? (21:28)
- What were the false charges against Paul? (21:28-29)
- How did the city respond to the furor over Paul? (21:30)
- What did the people do to Paul? (21:30-31)
- Why were the temple gates shut? (21:30-31)
- How did the commander of the Roman troops and his men intervene while Paul was under attack? (21:31-32)
- How did the commander and his soldiers save Paul’s life? (21:32)
- What did the commander do to Paul? (21:33)
- How was Paul arrested? (21:33)
- When the Roman commander asked what Paul had done, why couldn’t he get at the truth? (21:33-34)
- Why was Paul taken to the barracks? (21:34)
- Why was Paul carried away by the soldiers? (21:35-36)
Apply It
- What "false reports" about Christianity can you help dispel? How?
- How can you be a peacemaker this week at work, at home, or in your neighborhood?
