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The Shipwreck—Acts 27:27–44 Open It 1. If you had to be stuck on an island somewhere, what island would you choose? Why? 2. *What are some responsibilities that adults often try to escape? 3. If you were on a ship that was sinking fast, what one treasured item would you take with you on the lifeboat? Explore It 1. How long was the ship at the mercy of the storm? (27:27) 2. How did the sailors sense that they were approaching land? (27:27–28) 3. Why did the sailors drop four anchors? (27:29) 4. *Who tried to escape? (27:30) 5. *How did Paul thwart the sailors’ plan to escape? (27:31–32) 6. How did the group resolve their problems of tension and hunger? (27:33, 36) 7. Why did Paul urge those on board to eat? (27:33–34) 8. What did Paul do to give public testimony to his faith? (27:35) 9. How many people were on board the ship? (27:37) 10. What did the men do after they ate? (27:38) 11. What did the crew decide to do when daylight came? (27:39–40) 12. What unexpectedly happened to the ship? (27:41) 13. *Why did the centurion save the lives of the prisoners? (27:42–43) 14. How did Paul’s predictions prove to be true? (27:44) Get It 1. How did the sailors show that they knew how to weather a storm? 2. How can we prepare to handle bad times? 3. *Why did the sailors try to jump ship? 4. If you had been on board, why would you or wouldn’t you have been tempted to leave the ship along with the sailors? 5. *How can we know when to get out of a bad situation and when to face it? 6. How did Paul take charge of the situation on board? 7. What qualities in Paul do you admire? 8. Why did the soldiers plan to kill the prisoners? 9. In what ways do you look out for your interests before considering the needs of others? 10. How was God at work in the details of the shipwreck? 11. How can we benefit from frustrations and problems? Apply It 1. To what “storms” that you are now facing do you need to respond with faith in God? 2. *What do you need to request from God to endure the rough passages of life? 3. How can you provide encouragement and practical help to someone who is in the middle of a personal storm?

The Storm—Acts 27:13–26 Open It 1. What was the most frightening experience you ever had? 2. *If a severe storm was approaching your area, what might you do to get ready for it? 3. How well do you function in a crisis? Explore It 1. How was the ship’s crew deceived by “a gentle south wind”? (27:13) 2. *How was the ship forced away from safety? (27:14–15) 3. *What did the Northeaster do to the ship? (27:15) 4. How did Cauda provide a break from the storm? (27:16) 5. *What efforts did the men on board make to battle the storm? (27:16–19) 6. At what point did those on board ship give up hope? (27:20) 7. When did Paul speak to the others? (27:21) 8. How did Paul reprimand the crew? (27:21) 9. What message from God did Paul give the crew? (27:22–26) 10. How did Paul prepare the crew for bad news? (27:22–26) 11. What did Paul say to encourage everyone on board in spite of the hardships ahead? (27:22–26) Get It 1. *Once they lost control of the ship and their situation, how do you think the men on board felt? 2. *What do you do when circumstances get beyond your control? 3. How could Paul offer an upbeat message when life on board seemed hopeless? 4. If you had been on board with Paul, what kind of Christian witness would you have had to offer during the storm? 5. What does this account tell us about God? 6. What does this story tell us about times when our lives are in danger? 7. How can you be joyful in spite of your circumstances? Apply It 1. When can you encourage someone this week? How? 2. *How can you remember—each day this week—to trust in God’s sovereign control of your life?

Paul Sails for Rome—Acts 27:1–12 Open It 1. If you had a chance to visit Turkey, Greece, or Italy, which country would you choose? Why? 2. *What stops would you want to make on a Mediterranean cruise? 3. On a journey overseas, would you feel safer going by airplane or ship to your destination? Explore It 1. Who accompanied Paul to Italy? (27:1) 2. Why did Luke use the term “we”? (27:1) 3. Who was in charge of the group? (27:1) 4. When Paul and Luke boarded ship, who joined them? (27:2) 5. How did Paul’s friends support him along the way? (27:3) 6. Why was it difficult for Paul’s ship to sail? (27:4) 7. Where did the group change ships? (27:5–6) 8. On the second ship, where did the journey take Paul and the others? (27:7–8) 9. Why was sailing difficult after the Day of Atonement? (27:9) 10. *Why did Paul have the opportunity to offer advice? (27:9–10) 11. *How were Paul’s warnings ignored? (27:11) 12. *Why did the crew decide to sail on? (27:12) Get It 1. Who helped make Paul’s difficult journey easier? 2. Why was Paul’s advice ignored even though he had traveled by sea many times? 3. How would you have liked sharing in Paul’s sea adventures? 4. When do you count on the support of Christian friends? 5. *How do you feel when your wise counsel is bypassed? 6. *What can a person do to make his or her counsel likely to be heard? Apply It 1. How can you prepare yourself to handle difficult circumstances this week? 2. How could relying on Christian friends help you cope with a tough situation? 3. *To whom should you offer sound advice this week? When?

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?

Festus Consults King Agrippa—Acts 25:13–22 Open It 1. When you want sound advice, to whom do you often turn? 2. *When you don’t feel up to a job you’ve been asked to do, what do you often feel inside? Explore It 1. Why did King Agrippa and his sister visit Festus? (25:13) 2. *What motivated Festus to bring up Paul’s case to King Agrippa? (25:14–21) 3. Why would Agrippa’s insight and advice be helpful to Festus? (25:14–21) 4. How did Festus tell the story from a Roman point of view? (25:14–21) 5. How did Festus handle this long-standing case? (25:17) 6. *In reviewing the case with Agrippa, what did Festus say was the main charge against Paul? (25:17–19) 7. Why was Festus, in a sense, paralyzed by Paul’s case? (25:19) 8. Why did Festus feel incapable of handling Paul’s case? (25:19–20) 9. Why had Paul wanted to remain in Roman custody? (25:21) 10. *How did Agrippa respond to the governor’s story? (25:22) Get It 1. Why was Paul’s case difficult for Festus? 2. How were Roman legal proceedings different from the way the Jews approached the law? 3. Why didn’t Festus release Paul when there were no clear charges against him? 4. If you were Paul’s lawyer, what would you say to Festus to clear up his misunderstandings about the case? 5. How did God use Paul’s arrest and imprisonment? 6. *In what way did Paul’s arrest help him spread the news about Christ? 7. *Why might God allow us to suffer for no apparent reason? Apply It 1. *In what difficult situation do you want to remember that God is sovereignly in control? 2. Over the next few weeks, how can you gather practical wisdom from your Bible study?

The Trial Before Festus—Acts 25:1–12 Open It 1. How did you and your siblings settle most of your disputes while you were growing up? 2. *When was the last time someone did a favor for you? What was it? Explore It 1. How did the procurator’s visit to Jerusalem show that he wanted to rule justly? (25:1) 2. Who appeared before Festus in Jerusalem? (25:2) 3. *What did the Jewish leaders want? (25:2) 4. *Why did the leaders want Paul transferred from Caesarea to Jerusalem? (25:3) 5. *How did Festus reply to the request to transfer Paul? (25:4–5) 6. How did the scene of previous trials repeat itself when Paul was brought before Festus? (25:6–7) 7. What did Paul say to the court? (25:8) 8. Why did Festus ask Paul if he was willing to go to Jerusalem? (25:9) 9. Why did Paul want nothing to do with standing trial in Jerusalem? (25:10–11) 10. Why did Festus send Paul’s case to Caesar? (25:11–12) Get It 1. *Why was opposition to Paul by the Jewish leaders still strong, even though Paul had been under house arrest for two years? 2. Why do we tend to hold on to past grievances? 3. What should we do with old grudges? How? 4. *In what way did Paul’s enemies try to manipulate circumstances to serve their own ends? 5. What made Festus appear to be a fair ruler? 6. In what way was Paul mistreated? 7. When have you felt mistreated? 8. What does Paul’s example of self-defense have to teach us? 9. Why did Paul appeal to Caesar? 10. Why was Paul able to be confident in his appeal to a higher court? 11. How did Paul’s innocence help him in this situation? 12. When have you been called on to defend yourself? 13. What was Paul’s style in communicating to the court? 14. How do you express yourself when you are on the defensive? 15. How did Paul hold to his civil rights? Apply It 1. What or whom should you avoid to protect your spiritual well-being? 2. What rights of yours should you stand up for this week? How? 3. *What person or situation can you place in God’s hands this week as a discipline against turning events to your own ends?

The Trial Before Felix—Acts 24:1–27 Open It 1. *What do you admire most about your favorite political figure? 2. Why do you think most people do not trust or like public officials? 3. If you were sued or taken to court, why might you hire a lawyer rather than defend yourself? Explore It 1. Why did the religious leaders hire Tertullus? (24:1) 2. *Who went to Caesarea? Why? (24:1–8) 3. Why did Tertullus flatter Felix? (24:2–4) 4. What three accusations did Tertullus make against Paul? (24:5–8) 5. Who supported Tertullus in his accusations? (24:9) 6. Speaking in his own defense, how was Paul’s introduction different from the lawyer’s? (24:10) 7. What points did Paul make in his defense before the governor? (24:11–16) 8. What was Paul’s objective in visiting Jerusalem? (24:17) 9. What did Paul say about the charges brought against him? (24:11–18) 10. How did the apostle show that Tertullus did not have any legitimate charges against him? (24:18–21) 11. *What did Felix do about Paul’s case? (24:22–23) 12. How did the governor provide Paul with limited freedom? (24:23) 13. How did Paul’s speaking affect Felix? (24:24–25) 14. What motivated Felix to send for Paul? (24:26) 15. *Why did Paul languish in prison for over two years? (24:26–27) 16. Before leaving his position as governor, what did Felix do to placate the Jews? (24:27) Get It 1. Why would Felix, known as a mean-spirited and selfish leader, show restraint in dealing with Paul? 2. *How was Paul “caught in the system”? 3. How did Tertullus show contempt in dealing with the early believers? 4. With what terms do people deride Christianity today? 5. Paul was obviously misread by the Jewish religious leaders; how are some Christian leaders misunderstood and maligned by other religious leaders today? 6. How might you be misunderstood by others when your faith in Christ shows in how you live or act? 7. How can we use misunderstanding as an opportunity to explain our faith? 8. Why do you think Felix rejected Christ even though he showed interest in Paul’s teaching? 9. For what reasons do people reject Christ today? 10. In what way is the gospel difficult to accept? 11. When in the past have you had to wait for justice? 12. In what areas of your life do you need to wait for the Lord’s timing? Apply It 1. How do you want to be ready for the next time you are misunderstood? 2. For what public officials can you pray this week? 3. How can you show patience with the changes for which you are still waiting?

Paul Transferred to Caesarea—Acts 23:23–35 Open It 1. If you could select only one form of protection for your home, what kind would you want? 2. *What safety precautions do you take when you go out at night? 3. When or where do you feel most safe and protected? Explore It 1. Why was Paul sent to Caesarea? (23:23) 2. Why was the apostle escorted from Jerusalem at night? (23:23) 3. *What orders did the commander give to get Paul away from danger? (23:23–24) 4. How did the commander protect Paul? (23:23–24) 5. To whom did the tribune write a letter? (23:26) 6. *Who wrote a letter to whom? Why? (23:25–30) 7. Why did Claudius Lysias send a letter along with Paul? (23:25–30) 8. What did the tribune say in his letter to Governor Felix? (23:25–30) 9. In his letter, how did the commander bend the truth? (23:27) 10. What important fact did Claudius omit from the record? (23:25–30) 11. What important declaration did the commander make concerning Paul? (23:29) 12. Where did the soldiers take Paul the first night? (23:31) 13. Who escorted Paul the rest of the journey? (23:32) 14. *When the cavalry and Paul arrived, what did the governor do? (23:33–35) 15. After Felix learned that Paul was from Cilicia, what did the governor determine to do? (23:34–35) Get It 1. What kind of reputation did Paul have? 2. Why did the commander provide such elaborate protection for Paul? 3. What did Paul’s citizenship have to do with the just treatment he received? 4. Why is it that the legal system protects some people but not all? 5. How do you think the conspirators felt once they discovered that Paul was gone from Jerusalem? 6. How protected would you feel in a court of law? 7. What is your attitude toward civil authority? 8. *How did God protect Paul? 9. *What “human means” does God use to protect His people? 10. How can we show support for the government’s civil authority? 11. What injustices in our legal system should Christians challenge? How? Apply It 1. *As a Christian, what is one way you can protect the rights of the poor and weak? 2. How can you show your support for the government’s civil authority?

The Plot to Kill Paul—Acts 23:12–22 Open It 1. If your job was to watch others closely and secretly, how well would you do? 2. *What kinds of secrets did kids like to keep when you were growing up? 3. How well do you keep secrets? Explore It 1. Why did the Jews form a conspiracy? (23:12) 2. *Who took an oath? Why? (23:12) 3. How many men were involved in the plot against Paul? (23:13) 4. How were the chief priests and elders accomplices in the plot against Paul? (23:14–15) 5. What did the plotters want the Jewish elders to do? (23:15) 6. *When Paul’s nephew heard about the plot, what did he do? (23:16) 7. *How was the young man able to go before the commander? (23:17–18) 8. What did the commander ask Paul’s nephew? (23:19) 9. What did the young man tell the commander? (23:20–21) 10. How did the commander respond to the informant? (23:22) Get It 1. Why would the conspirators risk their own lives to kill Paul? 2. What groups are fervently anti-Christian today? 3. When have Christians been overzealous in rejecting others? 4. What does their complicity in the plot tell you about the chief priests and elders? 5. When have Christian leaders in your community compromised their faith and position? 6. How did Paul’s nephew demonstrate courage and honesty? 7. How did Paul’s family help him? 8. When might helping someone require courage or sacrifice today? 9. *When might exposing a wrong require courage or sacrifice today? 10. What kind of person exposed the plot against Paul? 11. How did God use a young person in this situation? 12. *When is it right for you to play the role of informant in correcting a wrong? 13. Why is it important to stand up for the truth? Apply It 1. *In what setting this week will you need to be prepared to stand up for the truth? 2. How can you prepare to face hardships this week? 3. How can you rely on the Holy Spirit to protect you from the attacks of others? 4. What kind of practical support can you give someone facing difficulty right now?

Before the Sanhedrin—Acts 22:30–23:11 Open It 1. When was the last time you had to deal with an overbearing person? 2. When you’ve just about had it, how do you express your anger? 3. *When was the last time you said something that caused misunderstanding or conflict? Explore It 1. Why did the commander order the Sanhedrin to assemble? (22:30) 2. *What bold claims did Paul make? (23:1) 3. *What order did Ananias give? (23:2) 4. *What did Paul say in reaction to the high priest’s illegal command? (23:3) 5. How did those standing nearby challenge Paul? (23:4) 6. Why did Paul respond the way he did to the challenge? (23:5) 7. How did Paul disrupt the proceedings? (23:6–9) 8. How did Paul divide his enemies? (23:6–9) 9. Why did the Pharisees side with Paul? (23:9) 10. Why was Paul in extreme danger? (23:10) 11. Where was Paul taken? (23:10) 12. How was Paul comforted and encouraged? When? (23:11) 13. How did the Lord confirm Paul’s plans to go to Rome? (23:11) Get It 1. *Why did the high priest react so strongly to Paul’s statement about fulfilling his duty to God? 2. When do we tend to get ourselves in trouble with our words? 3. How can our words get us in trouble? 4. *In what situations do you need to be careful with what you say? 5. What is every Christian’s duty to God? 6. What is your duty to God? 7. Why was it shrewd for Paul to get the Pharisees and Sadducees to fight among themselves? 8. How do the members of your congregation handle disagreements in church business meetings? 9. Why would Paul have needed the Lord’s support and comfort? 10. When do you often need the Lord’s support? 11. When you feel attacked or discouraged, how can you draw encouragement from the Lord? Apply It 1. How can you prepare for the next difficult step in your spiritual journey? 2. In what trying situations will you need to show patience and perseverance this week? 3. *What reminder can you use to help you be wise with your words this week?