Two Governors, An Incestuous King, and a Another Cliff-Hanger

This is the study page for the Thursday Night Study Group meeting April 11 to study Acts 24 and 25.  I suspect we will get through both chapters since the events aren't that problematic.  There are some interesting issues in the text, and the characters (especially the Roman governors) are really interesting.

Read through both chapters (and continue on if you just can't stand it, and even if you can) several times.  This is nearly the end of the book, so Luke is wrapping up the final elements.  He spends considerable time on both Roman governors, Felix and Festus.  Think about that, and why.  Imagine being in on the conversations, and speeches.  What do things look like, and who says what?

After reading through the chapters a few times, consider the following questions as you read through a final few times:

Chapter 24

• Who makes up the group from Jerusalem?
• Who is Tertullus?  What does he say happened?  How accurate is his account?  Read the article about him on the Blue Letter webpage. What do you think of his argument after that?
• Read the argument of Tertullus in as many translations as you can find.  What is in some, but not in others?  What do the "footnotes" say about that (there should be footnotes regardless of the translation)?
• Paul has several elements to his defense, how long ago did he go up to Jerusalem?
• What did he studiously avoid his whole time in Jerusalem?
• So what does he claim they cannot prove?
• With what about the charges does he agree?
• How does he describe his belief?  Consider what he says here with what is recorded in the rest of Acts about how Paul spreads the Good News.  How does this affect your understanding of what he was doing and how?
• Where does Paul get the support for his beliefs?  What does he claim about his beliefs and those of his accusers?
• What parts are similar to his defense in Jerusalem?
• Who does Paul name as having accusations, but not being present?  Why should that be significant?
• What might Paul be admitting in verse 21?  Read it in a few translations.
• What does verse 22 mean about Felix?  How is this borne out in the rest of the chapter?
• What disturbs Felix about Paul's discussions?
• What is Felix waiting for?  Why not render judgment?
• How long does Felix wait?
• So what happens after that?  Why does Paul remain in custody?

Chapter 25

• What is Festus' first order of business?
• What is the chief priests and elders' first order of business?
• What does Festus offer to do?  Why can't/won't he do what they ask?
• What do the Jewish leaders want to do...again?
• What is Festus' second order of business once he arrives back in Caesarea?
• What is the problem with the charges brought against Paul?
• What is the essence of Paul's defense?
• Why does Festus want to defer the trial to Jerusalem?
• From Paul's response, what is his opinion of the new governor?
• How long before the arrival of King Agrippa and Bernice?  Why do they come?
• Who is King Agrippa? Who is Bernice? Read the article in the Blue Letter Bible about them (it's at the bottom of the "Herod" article).  What bothers both Jews and Gentiles about this "king"?
• What interest and prior knowledge would Agrippa have about Paul and Christians in general?
• What does Festus tell Agrippa?  How accurate is he?  What is his dilemma now?
• What do they decide to do?
• Who all comes to this hearing?
• What does Festus claim here?  Again, really?

So that should do it for these two chapters.  There are obviously lots of stuff in there not included in these questions.  You will hopefully have come up your own and will bring them to the group.