The Holy Spirit's Guiding Ministry
Afterwards, Paul left for Jerusalem, for he knew the Holy Spirit was leading him to go there. On his way to Jerusalem, he arranged for a meeting with the elders from the church in Ephesus, and shared with them his urge to go to Jerusalem, as we can read in Acts 20:22-23
And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.
It was very hard for these believers to let Paul go, as we can read in Acts 20:37-38 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was the statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.
The Holy Spirit had shown some of the believers in Tyre that Paul would have to face great challenges if he were to go to Jerusalem, so they tried to persuade him not to go there, as we can read in Acts 21:3-4
After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. Finding the disciples there, we stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.
But Paul would not be persuaded. Even the words of a visiting prophet named Agabus could not stop him from going up to Jerusalem, as we can read in Acts 21:11-15 Coming over to us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, "The Holy Spirit says, "In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles." When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.” After this, we got ready and went up to Jerusalem.
As predicted, once Paul arrived in Jerusalem, opposition followed very soon, including a plot to kill him, as we can read in Acts 23:12
The next morning the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
However, the plot was discovered and so Paul was taken to Caesarea, as we can read in Acts 23:31-33
So the soldiers carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. The next day they let the cavalry go on with him, while they returned to the barracks. When the cavalry arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him.
While in Caesarea, Paul appeared before the governor Felix, and he used that opportunity to share the gospel with the governor, as we can read in Acts 24:24-25 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgement to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.”
For two years, Paul shared the gospel with Felix. After that period another governor took the place of Felix, a man named Festus. He too had Paul appear before him. Paul asked to be sent to Rome to appear before Caesar. However, Festus had some important visitors, king Agrippa and his wife Bernice. Festus told king Agrippa about his prisoner Paul. King Agrippa became quite curious about this man Paul, and so it was arranged that Paul would appear before him, as we can read in Acts 25:23
The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high ranking officers and the leading men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
Paul used this opportunity to share the gospel, not just with Festus, but with king Agrippa and his wife Bernice as well, as we can read in Acts 26:1-3
Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense. “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today, as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.”
Paul ended his sermon to king Agrippa with the words in Acts 26:29 …. I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am except for these chains.
Paul would have known that these events had been arranged by the Holy Spirit for they were in fulfilment of what the Lord had told Ananias Paul had to do, as we can read in Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.”
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Question 1. Where was the Holy Spirit leading Paul to go to next? Answer: The Holy Spirit was leading Paul to go to Jerusalem.
Question 2. Who did Paul arrange to meet while on his way to Jerusalem? Answer: While on his way to Jerusalem Paul arranged for meeting with the elders from the church in Ephesus.
Question 3. According to Acts 20:22-23, what did the Holy Spirit warn Paul about was going to happen to him in Jerusalem? Answer: According to Acts 20:22-23, the Holy Spirit warned Paul that prison and hardships were facing him in Jerusalem.
Question 4. According to Acts 20:37-38, did these believers from Ephesus find it easy to let go off Paul? Answer: According to Acts 20:37-38, these believers embraced and kissed Paul. They were most of all grieved that they would never see his face again.
Question 5. Which believers did Paul meet next? Answer: Paul next met some believers in Tyre.
Question 6. Did these believers in Tyre know that Paul would be facing challenges if he were to go to Jerusalem? Answer: The Holy Spirit had shown some of the believers in Tyre that Paul would be facing challenges I he were to go to Jerusalem.
Question 7. Did these believers in Tyre want Paul to go to Jerusalem? Answer: No, these believers in Tyre did not want Paul to go to Jerusalem so they tried to persuade him no to go.
Question 8. According to Acts 21:3-4, how long did Paul stay with these believers in Tyre? Answer: According to Acts 21:3-4, Paul stayed for seven days with these believers in Tyre.
Question 9. Were these believers in Tyre able to persuade Paul not to go to Jerusalem? Answer: No, these believers in Tyre were not able to persuade Paul not to go to Jerusalem.
Question 10. Which prophet came to see Paul? Answer: The prophet Agabus came to see Paul
Question 11a. According to Acts 21:11-15, how did the prophet Agabus act out the difficulties Paul would be facing in Jerusalem? Answer: According to Acts 21:11-15, the prophet Agabus acted out the difficulties Paul would be facing in Jerusalem by taking Paul’s belt and tying his own hands and feet with it.
Question 11b. According to Acts 21:11-15, what prophecy did the prophet Agabus speak over Paul? Answer: According to Acts 21:11-1 5, the prophet Agabus spoke the prophecy over Paul that in this way the Jews of Jerusalem would bind the owner of this belt and would hand him over to the Gentiles.
Question 11c. According to Acts 21:11-15, Who had inspired the prophet Agabus to speak that prophecy over Paul? Answer: According to Acts 21:11-15, the Holy Spirit had inspired the prophet Agabus to speak that prophecy over Paul.
Question 11d. According to Acts 21:11-15, what was the response of everyone present as a result of these words? Answer: According to Acts 21:11-15, everyone pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
Question 11e. According to Acts 21:11-15, how did Paul answer these believers?
Answer: According to Acts 21:11-15, Paul answered these believers by saying, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Question 11f. According to Acts 21:11-15, did these believers continue to try and dissuade Paul from going to Jerusalem? Answer: According to Acts 21:11-15, these believers gave up trying to dissuade Paul from going to Jerusalem and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”
Question 12. What happened to Paul as soon as he arrived in Jerusalem? Answer: As soon as Paul arrived in Jerusalem opposition followed him, including a plot to kill him.
Question 13a. According to Acts 23:12, who formed a conspiracy to kill Paul? Answer: According to Acts 23:12, the Jews formed a conspiracy to kill Paul.
Question 13b. How did the Jews show they were serious about killing Paul? Answer: According to Acts 23:12, the Jews showed they were serious about killing Paul by binding themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
Question 14. Was the plot to kill Paul discovered? Answer: Yes, the plot to kill Paul was discovered.
Question 15. Where was Paul taken to? Answer: Paul was taken to Caesarea.
Question 16a. According to Acts 23:31-33, who took Paul with them? Answer: According to Acts 23:31-33, soldiers took Paul with them.
Question 16b. According to Acts 23:31-33, where did the soldiers take Paul? Answer: According to Acts 23:31-33, the soldiers took Paul to Antipatris.
Question 16c. According to Acts 23:31-33, who took Paul to Caesarea? Answer: According to Acts 23:31-33, the cavalry took Paul to Caesarea.
Question 16d. According to Acts 23:31-33, who did the cavalry go to in Caesarea? Answer: According to Acts 23:31-33, the cavalry went to the governor in Caesarea.
Question 16e. According to Acts 23:31-33, what did the cavalry deliver to the governor in Caesarea? Answer: According to Acts 23:31-33, the cavalry delivered a letter to the governor of Caesarea.
Question 16f. According to Acts 23:31-33, who did the cavalry hand over to the governor of Caesarea? Answer: According to Acts 23:31-33, the cavalry handed Paul over to the governor.
Question 17. Who did Paul come before in Caesarea? Answer: In Caesarea Paul came before governor Felix.
Question 18a. According to Acts 24:24-25, what was the name of the wife of governor Felix? Answer: According to Acts 24:24-25, the name of the wife of governor Felix was Drusilla.
Question 18b. According to Acts 24:24-25, what was the nationality of Drusilla? Answer: According to Acts 24:24-25, the nationality of Drusilla was Jewish.
Question 18c. According to Acts 24:24-25, what did Paul speak about to governor Felix? Answer: According to Acts 24:24-25, Paul spoke to governor Felix about faith in Christ Jesus.
Question 18d. According to Acts 24:24-25, what particular subjects did Paul focus on in his preaching to governor Felix and his wife Drusilla? Answer: According to Acts 24:24-25, In his preaching to governor Felix and his wife Drusilla Paul focused on righteousness, self-control and the judgement to come.
Question 18e. According to Acts 24:24-25, was governor Felix pleased to hear the gospel message as preached by Paul? Answer: According to Acts 24:24-25, governor Felix was afraid to hear the gospel as preached by Paul.
Question 18f. According to Acts 24:24-25, how did governor Felix show that he was afraid to hear the gospel as preached by Paul? Answer: According to Acts 24:24-25, governor Felix showed that he was afraid to hear the gospel as preached by Paul when he said to Paul, “That’s enough for now. You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.”
Question 19. For how long did Paul share the gospel with governor Felix? Answer: Paul shared the gospel with governor Felix for two years.
Question 20. Who took the place of governor Felix? Answer: Governor Festus took the place of governor Felix.
Question 21. Where did Paul request governor Festus send him to? Answer: Paul requested that governor Festus send him to Rome.
Question 22. Before whom did Paul want to appear in Rome? Answer: Paul wanted to appear before Caesar.
Question 23. Why did governor Festus delay Paul’s departure for Rome? Answer: Governor Festus delayed Paul’s departure for Rome because he had some important visitors.
Question 24. What were the names of the visitors of governor Festus? Answer: The names of the visitors of governor Festus were king Agrippa and his wife Bernice.
Question 25. Was king Agrippa interested in meeting Paul? Answer: King Agrippa was interested in meeting Paul for he was quite curious about him.
Question 26. According to Acts 25:23, who had gathered in the audience room to hear Paul speak? Answer: According to Acts 25:23, governor Festus, king Agrippa, his wife Bernice and high ranking officers and the leading men of the city had gathered in the audience room to hear Paul speak.
Question 27a. According to Acts 26:1-3, did Paul consider himself fortunate to stand before king Agrippa? Answer: According to Acts 26:1-3, Paul did consider himself fortunate to stand before king Agrippa.
Question 27b. According to Acts 26:1-3, why did Paul consider himself fortunate to stand before king Agrippa? Answer: According to Acts 26:1-3, Paul considered himself fortunate to stand before king Agrippa because it gave him opportunity to make his defense against all the accusation of the Jews, especially because Paul knew that king Agrippa would be well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies.
Question 28a. According to Acts 26:29, what was Paul’s desire for king Agrippa as well as for all those listening to him that day? Answer: Paul’s desire for king Agrippa as well as for all those listening to him that day was that they may become like he is.
Question 28b. According to Acts 26:29, what was the one thing Paul did not wish for king Agrippa as well as all those listening to him that day? Answer: The one thing Paul did not wish for king Agrippa as well as for all those listening to him that day was for them to be bound in chains like he was bound in chains.
Question 29. Who would have arranged these events for Paul? Answer: These events would have been arranged by the Holy Spirit.
Question 30. Why would Paul have believed that these events would have been arranged by the Holy Spirit? Answer: Paul would have believed that these events would have been arranged by the Holy Spirit because they were in fulfilment of what the Lord had told Ananias Paul was to do.
Question 31. According to Acts 9:15, what exactly had the Lord told Ananias Paul was to do? Answer: According to Acts 9:15, the Lord had told Ananias that Paul was God’s chosen instrument to carry His name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.