Day 1-PAUL’S DEFENSE BEFORE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES

Paul, who before following Christ was named Saul and persecuted believers, is one of the great defenders of the gospel. This week you are going to read his defense before Festus and Agrippa. If you have time you can read the entire account of what happens to Paul in Acts 21:15 – chapter 26. Here is the summary of how Paul gets in front of Agrippa, the Roman King of the Jews. Paul had been traveling the world and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with the Gentiles. He went to Jerusalem to worship in the temple and the Jews seized him because they didn’t like his message. He presented his defense before the Jews and the Jewish religious council, but asked for protection from the Romans because he was a Roman citizen. The Romans sent him to Caesarea under house arrest. Paul stayed in house arrest prison for two years. During his time of house arrest, God told Paul to preach the gospel to Rome so he made an appeal to see the Roman Emperor, Caesar, who lived in Rome. Since King Agrippa was the Roman King over Jerusalem and daily involved with Jewish customs, he was intrigued by Paul’s case and wanted to speak to Paul. This is where you will start reading.
Read Acts 25:23-26:31
Take notes about what you learn from Paul’s defense.

Day 2- PAUL HONORS CHRIST

Today you are going to read Paul’s defense again and learn how Paul reveres Christ as Lord. Look closely how he uses his own testimony to do so.
Read Acts 25:23-26:31
How did Jesus become Lord of Paul’s life? How did Jesus change Paul?
What do you learn from Paul’s defense of the gospel and how he used his own life to share the gospel?

Day 3- PAUL’S HOPE

Paul is defending his action in Jerusalem, but through his defense you see him share what he believes. You will have to look deeper to see what Paul hopes for, but think through why He is doing what he’s doing.
Read Acts 25:23-26:31
What is Paul hoping for? look at Acts 26:15-20
Paul’s defense of his actions is not an “I’m right, you’re wrong” defense. Instead, he shares his hope for all people he encounters.
Paul endured what He did to get to Rome to share the gospel. How do his actions show the reason for his hope? Paul himself was a severe opponent of the gospel at one time. Did he believe there was hope for Festus and Agrippa? What do you learn from Paul?

DID YOU KNOW

Paul spent two years in prison from the time he was arrested in Jerusalem. Most of the prison time was in Caesarea and it was considered a “house arrest.” Here, he lived in a house and people could come and visit him, but he would have been chained to a Roman soldier. Those specific Roman soldiers had a divine appointment to hear the gospel, didn’t they? Maybe we will get to meet some of them in heaven someday because there is no doubt they heard the gospel and saw Paul’s godly lifestyle. When Paul got to Rome he was probably in a real prison, but he was eventually released for a little while. What is really interesting is in those 2 years of prison, Paul wrote letters to the Church in Ephesus, Colossae, Philippi, and to a man named Philemon. These letters turned into the books Philippians, Colossians, Ephesians and Philemon in the Bible. Paul’s story really tells us how God can work ANY situation and turn it to good.

Day 4- PAUL IS GENTLE AND RESPECTFUL

Paul is standing before governing authorities who do not believe in Jesus. They are not evil for putting him in prison. They are doing their job. He is accused and Rome was a democracy at the time, so Paul deserved his day in court.
Read Acts 25:23-26:31
How was Paul respectful of authorities? Look closely at his words and how he addresses them. Did Paul slander his opponents or simply tell the truth? How was Paul respectful of his opponents? What can you learn from Paul’s patience? Remember, he had been in prison for two years since the incident in Jerusalem that put him in prison.
Do you think having patience can inspire gentleness?
What do you learn from Paul concerning gentleness and respect?Day 5- THE RESULTS

Read Acts 26:24-32. What does Festus think about Paul?
Do you think, because we place our hope in Jesus and follow His way, the world thinks we are crazy? How does Paul respond to Festus?
What does King Agrippa say to Paul?
Is the gospel stirring up something in his heart a little?
Think about how many people have read the Bible since it was written. Do you think Paul realized the impact his defense would have throughout history?
Did the governing authorities see anything wrong with Paul?
You must get out of your human perspective when it comes to the things that God can do. Paul might have been discouraged that King Agrippa came so close to believing, but what Paul didn’t know is that God would use his defense for generations to come. You might not get to see immediate results, but trust that God can use your defense in ways that you cannot even imagine. Lastly, Paul was innocent and could have been free that very day, but his personal freedom was not as important to Him as his obedience to what God had called him to do – share the gospel in Rome. What can you learn from Paul?
Paul was an opponent for the gospel. His past had hate and murder. Do you think there is anything in your past that could disqualify you from being used by God for His purposes? Hint… the answer is NO!