Answers. Questions. Acts 22:1-30

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1 1 Answers to Questions on Acts 22: If you had been treated like Paul by the temple mob, what would you have done? What did Paul do? Individual answers may vary from person to person. Paul boldly preached the gospel to those who would have killed him in an attempt to save their souls. He was more concerned about his enemies than about his own welfare. 2. Paul addressed his audience as brethren and fathers. Does this mean it is permissible for us to call religious leaders father? The words brethren and fathers were not used here as titles, but as words describing relationships. The men were his Jewish brethren and the older ones were fathers of the younger ones.

2 What did Paul say by way of introduction to the temple crowd? Paul asked them to hear the defense he was going to present to them. He identified himself as a Jew of Tarsus, educated in Jerusalem at the feet of Gamaliel, and that he like his hearers had been zealous toward God. 4. How could people be zealous for the law and God while at the same time being intent on killing Paul and opposing Jesus? There was no freedom of religion among the Jews in regard to keeping the Law of Moses. They believed themselves totally justified in persecuting those who departed from the law as they understood it. 5. What did Paul say about his background in verses 4 and 5? He also had persecuted to the death Christian Jews as they were now seeking to do in his case. He had consented to Stephen s death and had gone to Damascus to persecute Christians.

3 Who was the high priest Paul referred to in verses 4 and 5? This person may have been Ananias or Theophilus. 7. How did Paul use diplomacy in this speech? He spoke kindly and told of his background and early persecution of the church. He clearly explained his reasons for the profound changes that had been made in his life. 8. Reconcile Acts 9:7 with Acts 22:9. The people with Paul heard the sound (Acts 9:7) but they did not understand what the voice said. 9. When did Paul become a Christian? Give reasons for your answer. He became a strong believer when Jesus appeared to him on the Damascus Road. He deeply repented for three days of his sins. Then, Ananias baptized him to wash away his sins completing his conversion.

4 How can it be said that Ananias, a faithful Christian, was a devout man according to the law of Moses and a man of good report among unbelieving Jews? Ananias had established himself by his life as a devout man when judged by the teachings of the Law of Moses. Other Jews who were not Christians regarded him as a man of good report. Evidently Ananias continued to observe the Law of Moses after his conversion with which these Jews in Damascus would not have found fault. 11. What did Ananias tell Paul in verses 14 and 15? Paul would be Jesus witness unto all men of what he had seen and heard. He would suffer greatly for his faith. He was to be baptized to wash away his sins. 12. Why didn t Jesus tell Saul on the Damascus Road what was expected of him? Why was Ananias involved? What does this teach today s Christians?... and sinners? The gospel is in earthen vessels. It is essential for our salvation and that of lost sinners that we preach the gospel to all the world.

5 How do we get our sins washed away? What place do grace, God s love for us and our love for God have to do with forgiveness of sins? How much do we have to love God for baptism to wash away our sins? In order to have our sins washed away, we need to believe in Christ, confess that faith, repent and be baptized. We also must have God s grace and love. We must deeply love God. As the years pass, our love for God should increase. 14. To be saved we must call on the name of the Lord. How do we do that? What is involved in calling on the name of the Lord? All of the things noted in Question 13 above. Paul was a penitent believer when Ananias spoke to him. He completed his call on the Lord by being baptized to wash away his sins. 15. Is it wrong for Christians today to participate in Jewish synagogue worship? How do you explain Paul s engaging in Jewish temple worship after he became a Christian? No, this writer attended multiple synagogue services and have without exception been

6 6 cordially welcomed and have learned much on each visit. Paul s Jewish religion anticipated the coming of the Messiah. Paul in synagogues and in the temple told those who were looking for the Messiah who he really was. 16. What is your opinion of Jewish religion, prejudices and freedom of religion as described in verse 22? They were prejudiced. Their minds were closed. They had made up their minds to kill Paul. Emotions prevailed. Facts were not seriously considered. 17. Compare the brutality of Paul s culture with the brutality of our world. The society of Paul s day was terribly brutal. The world in which we live is also horribly brutal. This brutality has criminal origins, but a great amount of today s brutality has religious origins.... and don t forget the political causes of brutality. 18. How did the chief captain secure his Roman citizenship? How did Paul secure his Roman citizenship? Why was Paul not required to provide proof of his Roman citizenship? The chief captain obtained

7 7 his Roman citizenship at great cost. Paul was Roman born. To lie about Roman citizenship was a capital offence. Citizenship would have been easily checked. 19. In the book of Acts, why did Paul use his Roman citizenship to avoid scourging sometimes but not always? Paul used his Roman citizenship when it was needed to advance the cause of Christ. The use of his Roman citizenship here made him a defendant in the Roman judicial system rather than the Jewish system and lead to his preaching in Rome. 20. Make a list of all the sufferings inflicted on Paul in chapter 22. Could you have withstood such physical and emotional stress?... without wavering in your Christian service? Each person will need to give a thoughtful sincere answer. Paul was arrested, and gave his defense to a blood thirsty mob intent on killing him. Paul suffered emotional distress when the mob tried to kill him and when the Romans almost severely scouraged him. He was put in jail. He was required to defend himself the next day before the chief priests and Sanhedrin.

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