Leader's page and Student's page best viewed left/right side together
Leader’s notes: Acts 21:27-28:31
I suggest that you go through this exercise yourself before the day the ladies try it. They may need more paper for making notes. Walk round the groups as they work – encouraging and helping. This is not an easy exercise!
Divide the ladies into four groups and give each group a Bible section to work on
1. Acts 21:27 -23:22
2. Acts 23:23-24:27
3. Acts 25:1-26:32
4. Acts 27:1-28:31
Each group must aim to be able to tell their part of the big true story to the assembled other groups.
Ask them to put themselves into the sandals of the people they are reading about – Paul, the Roman commander, the centurion, Felix and Drusilla, (see Appendix 2 page 69), Agrippa and Bernice, Julius and the shipwrecked, people who visited Paul in prison at Caesarea, people who visited Paul under guard in Rome.
Imagine what were they feeling at the described events. Things like:
*apprehension? *joy? *fear?
*opportunity? *curiosity? *stress of leadership? *anger? *peace? *responsibility?
*anything more you can see in the narratives? ? ? ?
These were real people, not just names! They had feelings just as we all do.
After an appropriate time ask each group to share the story with the whole class, commenting on how people in the story must have felt.
Some extra information if required:
Paul’s bad eyes? Acts 23:1-5, compare Galatians 4:15, 6:11.
Questions are raised here, but there are no definitive answers.
Lots of security given to protect this ‘special’ Roman citizen from known threats, Acts 23:23-24.
Paul was in prison for two years – waiting, not even serving a sentence, 24:27.
Student's page:
Lesson 26 Back to the Book of Acts – 21:27-28:31
We pick up again the narrative of our true story in Acts, with Paul in Jerusalem to bring the monetary gifts from Philippi, Berea, Corinth, (no international banks or Western Union then!). He also reports to James and the leadership of the Jerusalem church and celebrates with others the Jewish feast of Pentecost.
Group 1. Work together on imagining how people felt in Acts 21:27 -23:22.
Group 2. Work together on imagining how people felt in Acts 23:23-24:27.
Group 3. Work together on imagining how people felt in Acts 25:1-26:32.
Group 4. Work together on imagining how people felt in Acts 27:1-28:31.
This will be a challenge – please enjoy rising to it!
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Leader's page:
To finish the true story of Paul’s life:
Paul was in prison at Caesarea awaiting a court hearing, probably A.D. 57-59.
He was then under house-arrest in Rome A.D.60-62.
He was freed, and travelled more, but we have no record of where - see opposite.
He was rearrested around A.D. 65-67 and executed in Rome.
The end of Paul was not the end of his ministry. Far from it!
Perhaps your own children, your church ladies group, your Sunday School class, will be what you leave to influence future generations into Christian discipleship? Can you think of more investment for Jesus you can make into other people who will live on after you?
Luke the doctor, who so faithfully recorded the life of Jesus, the early history of the Church including the life of Paul, disappears from ancient records. How much we owe to his diligence in researching and recording under God! He was a doctor for Paul and an intermittent but faithful companion. 2 Timothy 4:11 “Only Luke is with me.” There are no reliable details of his life or his death.
God will certainly reward Luke in glory! A great encouragement for us who work away quietly and obediently at everything God gives to us to do. God knows and He totally understands.
From frightened men in Jerusalem to teaching about Jesus Christ in Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire, including all over the then known world.
God knew what He was doing then.
He still does!
We can wholeheartedly trust Him, 100%.
Student's page:
Look up theses references – they may give some clues about Paul between his two arrests A.D. 62-65.
Romans 15:24 and 28 The following letters were written during Paul’s house arrest in Rome:
Philippians 2:24
Philemon 22, most probably in Colosse
1 Timothy 3:14-15; 2 Timothy 1:3-5
All these guide best guesses for what Paul did, we don’t know for sure.
How did Paul cope with everything that came his way?
Check the next references – share what was happening for Paul.
Think how he might have reacted facing these various things?
Acts 14:19-20
Acts 16:19-24
Acts 27:21-26
Acts 28:15
Romans 16:1-2, 13
1 Corinthians 16:10-11
Galatians 1:6, 3:1
2 Timothy 2:9, 4:6-8, 9-13, 16, 20-21. (written during his final imprisonment)
Are you able to do what Paul says, in your life?
in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18?
in Philippians 4:11-13?
in 2 Corinthians 12:8-10? Note: Any of these would make good verses to memorise! In your mind and in your heart God’s word can encourage you at any time, even surprising times!
No-one said living Christianly was easy.
Trust the One who loves you.
Encourage each other.
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