Paul Arrested in the Temple

(Acts 21:18-40.)

1. 1.How were Paul and his companions received by the brethren in Jerusalem?
2. 2.Describe his interview with the elders. Verses 18, 19.
3. 3.After he had finished his account of the work among the Gentiles, how did the elders address him? What did they say of the number of believing Jews in Jerusalem? For what were they all zealous? Verse 20.
4. 4.What had these Jews been told about Paul? Verse 21.
5. 5.What did the elders advise Paul to do in order to silence the reports concerning him? Verses 22, 24.
6. 6.What did they say as touching the believers from the Gentiles? Verse 25.
7. 7.What did Paul, in compliance with this advice, proceed to do? Verse 26.
8. 8.How long a time was to be occupied in all this ceremony? What happened near the close of the period? Who were the instigators of the riot? Verse 27.
9. 9.Upon whom did they call for assistance? With what words did they stir up the rage of the Jews against Paul? Verse 28.
10. 10.Upon what trivial circumstance was this charge based? Verse 29.
11. 11.What was the effect of their outcry? What did the multitude do to Paul? Verse 30.
12. 12.What was their purpose? As they were about to kill Paul, who received news of the uproar? Verse 31.
13. 13.What did he at once do? What effect did the presence of the Roman soldiers have upon the mob? Verse 32.
14. 14.What did the commanding officer do to Paul? What inquiries did he make? Verse 33.
15. 15.What response did he receive? What command did he make in order to escape the confusion? Verse 34.
16. 16.What was necessary in order to protect Paul from the violence of the people? Verse 35.
17. 17.What did they cry out as they pressed around? Verse 36.
18. 18.As Paul was about to be carried into the castle, what did he say to the captain? At what did the captain express surprise? Verse 37.
19. 19.What did he think Paul was? Verse 38.
20. 20.What was Paul's reply? What request did he earnestly make? Verse 39.
21. 21.Having received leave to speak, what did Paul do? What followed? In what language did Paul address the crowd of Jews? Verse 40.

Additional Questions and Suggestions

1. 1.In verse 20, where we have "how many thousands," the Greek has "myriads" instead of the word for thousands. A myriad is ten thousand. So what the elders really said as to the number of the believing Jews in Jerusalem, was, "Thou seest, brother, how many ten thousands of Jews there are which believe."
2. 2.If Paul had not heeded the advice of the elders to try to prove to the people that he was law-abiding, could he have gotten into any more difficulty than he did? What lesson may we learn as to going out of the way to do something merely to show that we are right, that is, doing a thing merely for effect?
3. 3.What occasion is referred to in verse 25? Recall Peter's words on that occasion which largely influenced the decision. He said, referring to the Gentiles, "God . . . put no difference between us and them." Was the advice given to Paul by the elders (Acts 21:24, 25) in harmony with what was said in that assembly?
4. 4.Note that although Greek was the common language even among the Jews in Paul's day, he spoke to them in Hebrew. Why was this?

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