IV. At Jerusalem (continued)
E. The Lord Appears to Paul by Night, 23:11
1. Who appeared to Paul at this time?
a. How must this appearance be understood?
1) Was it an appearance like the appearances to the disciples during the 40 days after
the resurrection?
2) Or was it a vision or dream in which the Lord appeared?
3) Does the fact that it was during the night prove anything as to the kind of
appearance?
b. Was it important that the Lord appeared and not merely spoke to Paul? Why?
2. What was the occasion of the appearance?
a. Why at this particular time did Paul have need of it?
b. Was the appearance necessary with a view to events just past, or with a view to events
that were still to come, or both?
3. What message did Paul receive from the Lord?
a. Why does the Lord emphasize that Paul will testify of Him?
b. Does this indicate anything as to the possible reason for discouragement on Paul’s
part? Was it fear for his person or disappointment and discouragement with a view
to his ministry?
c. What does this message teach us concerning the way in which we are to view suffering
for Christ’s sake?
d. Did this word from the Lord have any effect on Paul during the next two years of his
imprisonment at Caesarea?
F. The Plot against Paul’s Life Foiled, 23:12-30
1. What plot was hatched against Paul?
a. Who were the conspirators, vs. 12? How many were there, vs. 13? Can anything more
be said as to who these men were?
b. What was their oath? What does it mean that they “bound themselves under a curse”?
Did they keep this vow?
c. What does this incident reveal of their attitude toward Paul?
1) Had the Jews assumed a similar attitude toward anyone else before? Against
Whom?
2) Is there any connection between the two?
d. Who were the co-conspirators? Whose was the greater guilt?
e. What was the nature of the plot against Paul this time? Did they plan on getting rid
of him by any method that had the appearance of being legal, or merely to assassinate
him? Could they have succeeded in this without loss of their own lives, in view of the
fact that Paul would be guarded as a Roman citizen by Roman soldiers?
2. How was the plot discovered?
a. Who heard first of the plan?
1) Do we know anything more about this young man or about his mother?
2) What prompted him to expose the plot?
b. To whom was the plot exposed finally?
1) What accounts for it that Paul, a prisoner, could so easily get a hearing for his
nephew with the chief captain or tribune?
2) Why did the tribune so readily accept the young man’s report? Could he be
certain that it was not a plot on the part of Paul and his nephew to bring friction
between the tribune and the Jewish leaders?
c. Was this merely a “fortunate” turn of events for Paul, or must we connect this
directly with the Lord’s promise to him in vs. 11?
3. What was the effect of this expose upon the chief captain? 22, 23
a. Why did he not want the young man to tell anyone of his report?
b. What plan did the chief captain devise?
1) Where was Paul to be taken? Why?
2) How large a force was to carry out this plan? Why so large?
3) Was this the proper way to treat Paul on the basis of the captain’s own testimony?
4) Was this the proper way to treat Paul’s accusers?

PAUL AT CAESAREA Acts 23:31 to 26:32
I. Taken to Caesarea, 23:31-35
A. The Journey
1. At what time of night did the journey begin?
2. Where did they bring Paul by night?
a. Where was Antipatris?
b. Where did it get its name?
3. Why did the infantry return to Jerusalem after this, and allow the horsemen to take Paul
on to Caesarea?
B. Arrival:
1. To whom was Paul brought immediately upon his arrival?
a. Who was governor at this time?
b. What are the dates of his governorship? What is the time therefore of Paul’s
imprisonment at Caesarea?
c. What did Felix inquire as to what province Paul came from? Did this have anything
to do with his jurisdiction over Paul?
2. Where was Paul kept in the meantime?
II. Paul’s hearing before Felix, 24:1-27
A. Accused by Jews, 24:1-9
1. Who came to accuse Paul?
a. Who was engaged by the Jews as their lawyer?
b. Is anything known of this man?
c. What did not the Jews take care of their own case?
2. How does Tertullus begin his speech of accusation? 2-4
a. What was the purpose of this introduction?
b. Was it according to truth or was it vain flattery?
c. What does this reveal concerning the ethics of the Jews?
3. What accusations are brought against Paul?
a. Why did they accuse him of sedition?
b. What is the meaning of “ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes”?
c. Was the charge in vs. 6 at all according to fact?
d. How do these charges agree with the earlier narrative of Paul’s capture?
e. How does Tertullus present the action of the Jews at the time of the capture?
1) Did they merely “take “ Paul in orderly fashion?
2) Had they any intention of judging him according to their law, judging by the account
of the mob violence?
3) Is the action of Lysias presented correctly here?

Originally Published in:
Vol. 19 No. 2 March 1959