Paul Before Agrippa—Acts 25:23–26:32 Open It 1. *What is one story from your past that you enjoy telling? 2. What sorts of ceremonial events have you attended? 3. If you could spend an evening with any president, prime minister, or other national leader, whom would you choose? Explore It 1. How did Agrippa and Bernice use the occasion of their meeting with Paul to display their position and power? (25:23) 2. Who commanded Paul to be brought in? (25:23) 3. How was this meeting a fulfillment of the prophecy in Luke 21:12? (25:23) 4. How did Festus open the proceedings? (25:24–26) 5. In opening the proceedings, what did Festus say to his royal guests? (25:24–26) 6. Why did Festus bring Paul before this group? (25:26–27) 7. How had Festus become tangled in a difficulty of his own making? (25:25–27) 8. How did Paul begin his address to Agrippa? (26:1–3) 9. What did Paul say about his early years in Judaism? (26:4–8) 10. What was Paul’s obsession before his conversion? (26:9–11) 11. *How did Paul describe his conversion and new life? (26:12–18) 12. How did Paul fulfill his commission? (26:19–23) 13. *How did Paul deal with Festus and Agrippa during his speech? (26:24–29) 14. *How did Paul conclude his defense? (26:29) 15. What did Agrippa—a man well-trained in Judaism—conclude about Paul? (26:31–32) Get It 1. How are some Christians like Agrippa and Bernice? 2. How did Festus use Paul to placate the Jews? 3. How did Agrippa’s background and experience help Festus deal with Paul? 4. When you need the right kind of help, how do you go about getting it? 5. Why do you think Festus brought Paul’s case before Agrippa and Bernice? 6. What was Paul’s primary goal in his speech? 7. *How did Paul tailor his message to the audience and situation he faced? 8. How did Paul take advantage of his wretched, unjust situation? 9. What should be our objective when we tell others about the way we came to believe? 10. *How can we use stories of our own experience to share the message of Christ? 11. How do you think you would have reacted to Paul’s testimony if you had been in the audience? Apply It 1. Why is it important to pray for your political leaders? 2. *What story of God’s working in your life can you rehearse for sharing with others? 3. This week, how can you support a minister of the gospel who is in trying circumstances?