Sermon Bible Study Guides

    in Acts

    Acts 24:1-27 - 24th September 2021

    OBSERVATION
    What does it say?

    1. Read Acts 24:1-27 
    2. What characters are mentioned? How are they described?
    3. Who is Tertullus and what is his case against Paul?
    4. What is the basis of Paul's hope? (v. 14-15)
    5. Even though Felix knew that Paul was innocent, why did he leave Paul in prison?

    INTERPRETATION
    What does it mean?

    1. How is Tertullus' speech similar or different to Paul's? (v. 2, 10)
    2. Paul takes a different strategy in his speech than in ch. 22. 
      1. What does Paul do differently?
      2. Why do you think doesn't he take this opportunity to share his testimony?
    3. Felix knew about the Way, but he neither seemed to condemn it nor follow it.
      1. Why do you think that Felix "put off" the Way?
      2. What might be keeping him from making a spiritual decision?
      3. What's the danger in postponing a decision to follow Jesus?

    APPLICATION
    How should it change us?

    1. Have you ever been wrongly accused?
      1. What would be a sinful response to being wrongly accused?
      2. Can you describe yourself as "having a clear conscience towards both God and man"?
      3. How can you learn from Paul's attitude and defense when he was accused wrongly?
    2. God had just told Paul to take the gospel to Rome in Acts 23:11, yet Paul was now put into prison for more than 2 years.
      1. How do you think Paul thought about his time in Prison? Do you think he felt forgotten by God?
      2. Is there something in your life that you're waiting for?
      3. How can you grow in patience as you wait, knowing that God's timing may be different than your own? 
    Posted by Karson Merkel with
    Tags: paul, prison, patience, conscience, the way, governor, clear, felix
    in Acts

    Acts 22:30-23:35 - 17th September 2021

    OBSERVATION
    What does it say?

    1. Read Acts 22:30-23:35 
    2. What characters are mentioned? How are they described?
    3. What problems arise in the narrative?
    4. What facts did Paul testify about in Jerusalem? (23:11)

    INTERPRETATION
    What does it mean?

    1. When Paul stood before the council, he told them he had "lived his life before God in all good conscience up to this day."
      1. Was Paul suggesting he had never sinned?
      2. Why did he say this?
    2. What does it mean to be a whitewashed tomb in verse 3? (cross-reference Matthew 23:27) 
    3. In verse 6, why does Paul change the focus from keeping the Law to his hope in the Resurrection?
      1. Was Paul's statement here just a ruse, or was it true?
    4. How do you see the Lord's providence at work in these verses?
      1. Was it a coincidence that Paul found out about the plot to kill him?
      2. What is God's purpose in these things? (verse 11; cross-reference 2 Timothy 4:17)

    APPLICATION
    How should it change us?

    1. Can you say with Paul that you've "lived your life before God in all good conscience up until this day"?
      1. How can you grow in integrity before God and man?
    2. Being a whitewashed tomb means that you only "clean" the parts of your life that are seen by others.
      1. Are you tempted to change who you are based on who you're around?
      2. Are you ever motivated to do good works just so that others will notice?
      3. How can you grow in fearing God rather than man?
    3. How do you see the Lord's providence at work in your own life?
      1. What is God's purpose in providing for you and preserving you thus far?
    Posted by Karson Merkel with
    Tags: resurrection, courage, testify, rome, good conscience, plot

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