Friendly community or hostile, Paul would never change his mission and purpose.
Bible Study Ideas and Commentary for Acts 22:6-21
Paul returns to Jerusalem and an unsurprising arrest. And in between a murderous mob and an untrustworthy Roman military, Paul shares a testimony that both exposes and enrages his Jewish audience. Sometimes people won't listen to your testimony politely; but that doesn't change your responsibility to God to live as His ambassador of the gospel.
22 They listened to him up to this point. Then they raised their voices, shouting, “Wipe this man off the face of the earth! He should not be allowed to live!”
Soooo, We've Kinda Studied This Passage Recently
I'll call this an "interesting choice" on Lifeway's part to devote one of their three lessons on the end of Acts to this passage. The walkthrough of the context will come below as always. Here, I just want to prep you for what you're going to read.
This week's focal passage is Acts 22:6-31 -- Paul's message to the mob that wanted to kill him. And that message is his testimony of the events that happened in Acts 9:3-22, which we studied just four months ago in August:
In other words, we've studied much of this week's passage recently. That's probably okay this week because I expect there to be a lot of distracted talk in your group (see below).
And if you're willing to go back further, one of my most-read posts also covers that passage:
Here are the topics I mentioned as ways to help you understand these events:
"Why are you persecuting Me?"
Powerful conversions
Your favorite hymn
A time you were really wrong about somebody
The most influential theologians of all time
The road to Damascus
Light
The church welcomed Paul
What is a "theophany"?
As always, if you think I've skimped on a topic below, it might be because I covered it already is another post on this passage/related passage.
Getting Started: Things to Think About
The Election, of Course!
For future readers, I'm posting this the day after Election Day 2024. I decided to use this idea on Tuesday, when the news outlets were trying to insist that Harris would win. I'm actually writing this on Wednesday, when those same outlets have conceded that Trump won. Regardless of who won, the topic does not change.
When Talking about Elections in Small Group Bible Study
The most important thing to remember is this: not everybody in your group shares your exact political opinions. In fact, I hope your group is open and outreaching enough that there are people in your group who do not share your political opinions! I have no problem repeating the truth that "God is neither Republican nor Democrat".
In other words, if you are happy with the election results, don't be a pig in slop about it. And if you are unhappy with the election results, don't be fist-shaking hater about it. Just be a Christian who loves your country and loves all of the people in your group (with their diverse opinions).
Here's your once-in-four-years opportunity to get away with this question set:
Does this election affect God's expectation of your lifestyle?
Does this election affect the content of your faith?
Does this election affect the Bible's rules for your character?
Does this election affect God's plan of salvation?
Goodness, gracious, everybody had better understand those answers well.
So, then,
What does the outcome of this election affect?
That's an interesting question that might spark some interesting discussion in your group.
For my part, the only thing that changes for me is the political and social environment in which I live out the faith that does not change. (And that's our connection with this week's passage, but more on that below.)
But What If I Have Group Members Who Are Buffoons about This?
Here's one of the age-old questions group leaders have -- "how to moderate group discussion". I know that plenty of group members read this post, so this is also a great time for y'all to understand the role you can play in healthy group discussion.
Let's say you have someone in your group who starts saying things about the election that make other group members uncomfortable. Like, really uncomfortable. What do you do?
Most importantly, you can't let it go on. Group members will leave your group if they find it an uncomfortable place to be. If you can simply get on with the Bible study (guided change of subject), do so. In my opinion, public confrontation is not an effective tool of discipleship.
Otherwise, put on your teacher hat and interrupt with a question, "All right, what is the purpose of our group?" You can't ask that question often enough. The purpose of your group is to make disciples of Jesus. This starts with bringing in lost people and introducing them to Jesus for salvation, then continues with all of you learning how to be better/more mature followers of Jesus. If the person who is stirring up the trouble in your group has any kind of relationship with Jesus, he/she should see your point. And if that person insists that their political opinion is necessary for all Christians to hold, then you will want to interrupt with a firm "Let's talk about this at lunch; right now, we need to get to our scheduled Bible study."
I talk about these things more in this post:
Here's a quote:
Sunday School emphasizes ongoing, open Bible study groups that reproduce new groups as the best long-term approach for building a ministry environment that A. encourages unsaved people to come to faith in Christ, B. assimilates new believers into the life of the church, and C. encourages believers to lead others to Christ.
Note: there's one thing in that post I'm going to change. In it, I say that the purpose of your group is to bring lost people to salvation. I'm going to modify that -- the purpose of your group is to make stronger disciples of Jesus. One necessary outcome of being a stronger disciple of Jesus is that you will meet, befriend, and bring lost people into your group in hopes that the wonderful environment of your group helps that person take the steps toward salvation.
When the members of your group understand
the purpose of your group and
the kind of environment that will help your group flourish,
I believe that you will be able to work through uncomfortable moments in your group.
You Can and Should Have Political Discussions
So with all of that said, let me circle around to the original topic -- using the election as a discussion idea. It would be silly to ignore. It's too important to who we are as Americans! (Btw, don't forget that there were other elections as well that are worth discussing...)
Everyone in your group will have an opinion about the election, some stronger than others. Those opinions often reflect deeper theological beliefs, and those beliefs can (and should) be discussed. Growth as a disciple means confronting and changing beliefs that are contrary to God's Word, and then affirming and building beliefs that are consistent with God's Word. That's not easy -- people don't usually like to acknowledge that their beliefs need to change.
However, there are biblical guidelines to having that and any discussion:
Col 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains, 4 so that I may make it known as I should. 5 Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.
A person who lives by those words will do well in any group discussion. Why? Because the Holy Spirit will bless and guide. Be that kind of person in your group.
If for whatever :) reason your group is sick of the election by Sunday, perhaps you might use:
A Time You Talked Yourself out of or into Trouble
Paul is going to do both in this week's passage. His calm and reasoned words are going to impress the Roman officials and sway the crowd. And then his truth-telling is going to make that same crowd want to kill him.
Your experience might not be that dramatic, but we have all talked ourselves into and out of trouble in our lives. Do you remember what happened?
I love this blatant variation on my topic:
Note the word "smooth". Ha!
Am I amused or dismayed that there's a Wikihow article about this? I haven't decided.
I tend to get myself into trouble when I say inflammatory things. And I tend to get myself out of trouble when I am calm, humble, and more or less behave and speak in the ways the Bible tells Christians to speak and behave.
Anyway, my recommendation would be to put together a short list based on what you discussed:
What are "tips" for talking yourself into trouble?
What are tips for talking yourself out of trouble?
Paul is not going to back down on the truth, and so this passage is a good reminder that sometimes you need to let your words get you in trouble.
Where We Are in Acts
Last week, we covered the end of Paul's "Third Missionary Journey", and we are on to the final section in Acts. I like the outlines that call this section "Paul's Fourth Journey".
Paul's Fourth Missionary Journey: From Jerusalem to Rome
On to Jerusalem (21:1-16)
Arrival in Jerusalem (21:17-26)
Arrested in Jerusalem (21:27-36)
Paul Speaks to the Crowd (21:37-22:21)
Paul's Citizen Defense (22:22-29)
Paul's Trial before the Sanhedrin (22:30-23:11)
The Plot to Kill Paul (23:12-22)
Transferred to Caesarea (23:23-35)
Paul's Trial before Felix (24:1-27)
Paul's Trial before Festus (25:1-12)
Festus and King Agrippa (25:13-22)
Paul's Hearing before Agrippa (25:23-26:32)
On to Rome (27:1-12)
The Storm and Shipwreck (27:13-44)
On Malta (28:1-10)
Arrival in Rome (28:11-16)
Paul's Mission in Rome (28:17-31)
I highlighted the three sections our final lessons in Acts come from.
Paul's travel to Jerusalem from Miletus (last week's passage) is more of the same. Paul (and Luke and companions) continue to travel to Jerusalem, consistently meeting with friends and colleagues who warn him not to go to Jerusalem but also love and support him.
In Jerusalem, the remaining apostles tell Paul that the rumors are that he is anti-Jewish, and they ask Paul to participate in a purification rite with some men who had taken a Nazirite vow; their rationale is that this will convince the people that Paul has not turned away from his Jewish heritage.
The opinions of the Jewish mob toward Paul should make sense because they mirror the feelings of that same mob toward Jesus, and Paul simply continued to teach what Jesus said and did. Salvation is not found in obeying the law but in faith in Jesus, who is greater than Moses and the law (or rather, is the fulfillment of the law).
Anyway, eventually the mob notices Paul in the temple complex, and a huge riot erupts.
30 The whole city was stirred up, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul, dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. 31 As they were trying to kill him, word went up to the commander of the regiment that all Jerusalem was in chaos. 32 Taking along soldiers and centurions, he immediately ran down to them. Seeing the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the commander approached, took him into custody, and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He asked who he was and what he had done. 34 Some in the crowd were shouting one thing and some another. Since he was not able to get reliable information because of the uproar, he ordered him to be taken into the barracks. 35 When Paul got to the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, 36 for the mass of people followed, yelling, “Get rid of him!”
So, Rome to the rescue, I guess.
Paul convinces the Roman commander to let him speak to the crowd, and this week's passage follows.
This Week's Big Idea: Being a Christian No Matter Who's President
Trump supporters feel a huge sense of relief and validation today. Harris supporters feel a huge sense of dread and confusion today. Everyone else is just wondering what will happen next. There are Christians in all three groups.
Let me reiterate that: there are Christians in all three groups.
This is where Paul's experience in this week's passage can help us realize what that means.
Paul Is in a Community (of Jews) Where People Want to Kill Him
Not just people -- a lot of people. Including powerful people. And yet, Paul insisted on going there and being visible there. Why? Didn't Jesus say something about this?
Matt 5:11 You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. 12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
14 You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Yes, indeed Jesus did say something about this. Have you realized the close connection between "The Beatitudes" and "Salt and Light"? Perhaps you thought they were just nice statements stuck together by chance. No!
Why are people persecuting you? Because you are being salt and light. How can the earth "be preserved" (by salt -- meaning the gospel be spread) if you aren't out there "being salty"? 😎 You might read and say, "But look, being salt and light results in people coming to God, right?" Yes -- some. Not everyone.
And so what is Paul doing in Jerusalem? He is being salt and light there in the hopes that some people will be drawn to Jesus and be saved.
Do you feel like an alien in your community after this election? Be salt and light so that people will be drawn to Jesus and be saved. And if they persecute you because of Jesus (and important distinction), all the better.
Paul Is under a Judicial System (of Romans) Known to Be Capricious
Just look at the immediate context -- the Roman officers arrested him without knowing what he had done or who he was. They were ready to flog him to find out what was going on. And once they found out he was a Roman citizen, they immediately released him and ordered the Sanhedrin to assemble and explain themselves. Catch that -- the Roman commander had the authority to assemble the Sanhedrin. And when things got out of control in the Sanhedrin, he had the authority to remove Paul and put him in protective custody.
And then what happens? He spends two years in jail in Caesarea under Felix who wanted to please the Jews by keeping Paul in jail but also would have released Paul if Paul bribed him. (!) And then the next guy (Festus) lets Paul appeal to Caesar, even though he would have released him. And then Agrippa and his wife show up (to great pomp and circumstance), hear the same thing, agree that Paul was no criminal, and send him to Rome anyway.
Luke ends his history with Paul under house arrest in Rome, sharing the gospel with everybody who comes by. Under house arrest ... even though the Roman officials openly acknowledged that Paul was no criminal. Did that stop Paul from his mission?
Paul Is in an Empire Soon-to-be Hostile to Christians
Here's a timeline or two for you:
Emperor Tiberius - 14-37 AD
Emperor Caligula - 37-41
Emperor Claudius - 41-54
Emperor Nero - 54-68
Paul's timeline:
Paul's conversion - 33 AD
First Missionary Journey - 46-47
Second Missionary Journey - 49-52
Third Missionary Journey - 52-57
Imprisonment in Rome - 60-62
So, yes, Paul did a lot of missionary work under the relatively calm reign of Claudius (though Claudius did attempt to revitalize the ancient Roman religions). But all of the events in this week's passage take place during the reign of Nero.
Let's talk about Nero.
Nero was described by his own historians as compulsive, corrupt, tyrannical and self-indulgent. Many historians believe he instigated the Great Fire of Rome (64) to make room for a large personal palace, blaming it on the Christians in order to put them to death.
Nero was only 16 when he became emperor in 54 AD, meaning he was only 20 when Paul "appealed to Rome". Let's take a look at this time period:
55 AD - his stepbrother and trusted advisor Brittanicus is murdered
59 - he has his mother executed, "losing all sense of right and wrong"
62 - he has his first treason trial and executes rivals for the first time
64 - the Great Fire of Rome and the beginning of Nero's persecuting Christians
In other words, Paul is in prison under a regime that is in real-time disintegrating, and the gossip about it spread quickly. Did that change Paul's opinion of what he was going to do?
The closing of Philippians is one of my favorites -- it's one of Paul's "prison letters" from his time in Rome:
Phil 4:21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you greetings. 22 All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
You tell me what Paul was doing while in prison.
It comes back to this -- whether you are in a location that is pro-Jesus or a location that is openly and violently hostile to the gospel, your mission and character does not change.
Paul's Pre-Testimony
Don't miss how Paul introduces himself. If you want to make an impact on your audience, this is a surefire way:
3 I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strictness of our ancestral law. I was zealous for God, just as all of you are today. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, arresting and putting both men and women in jail, 5 as both the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. After I received letters from them to the brothers, I traveled to Damascus to arrest those who were there and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished.
Part 1: Paul Shares His Damascus Road Experience (Acts 22:6-9)
6 “As I was traveling and approaching Damascus, about noon an intense light from heaven suddenly flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 “I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, the one you are persecuting.’ 9 Now those who were with me saw the light, but they did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.
You might find it interesting to compare this with Luke's original account:
Remember that Paul is speaking to a Jewish audience, so he would emphasize details they would understand. (And also assume that this story had circulated in Jerusalem already.)
Paul adds the detail "about noon", probably to emphasize how great the light was.
This is Paul's testimony -- his actual "come to Jesus" moment. How hard do you think that experience would be to try to explain to an outsider?
Now it's time to think about your own testimony. When and how did you "come to Jesus"? Do you have trouble describing it to someone else? How hard have you worked to put your experience with Jesus into words?
Paul did not let the miraculous nature of his salvation experience prevent him from sharing it openly and boldly. Take courage from his example.
Make sure that everyone in your group can share their testimony!
Part 2: Paul Concludes His Damascus Road Experience (Acts 22:10-16)
10 “I said, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ “The Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything that you have been assigned to do.’ 11 “Since I couldn’t see because of the brightness of the light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and went into Damascus. 12 Someone named Ananias, a devout man according to the law, who had a good reputation with all the Jews living there, 13 came and stood by me and said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight.’ And in that very hour I looked up and saw him. 14 And he said, ‘The God of our ancestors has appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the words from his mouth, 15 since you will be a witness for him to all people of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now, why are you delaying? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’
Just to be honest, modern sensibilities lead me to think that you should be a little "quicker to the point" with your testimony. I could be wrong; do you think a mob would patiently listen to all of this in today's world?
Note Paul's emphasis of Ananias's good reputation among the Jews.
Also note Paul's repeated use of words indicating that his is a divine mission.
Finally, catch the use of "God of our ancestors" -- this is his shared Jewish experience with his audience, and now God is doing something new.
Verses 14-16 are not in Luke's telling, meaning they were personally important to Paul. Ananias gave Paul clear "orders" -- God had appointed him to learn from the Righteous One (Jesus) and share that message with the rest of the world. And that needed to start now. Ananias had no question whether Paul had "asked Jesus into his heart" because there was no doubt. Paul was now God's chosen instrument. (Luke mentioned "scales falling from his eyes" to give a clear indication that Paul's heart had been transformed by the Holy Spirit.)
One interpretation question -- once again we are faced with the possibility that baptism leads to forgiveness of sins. (See our long discussion of this in Pentecost, the Spirit, and Peter's First Gospel Presentation -- a study of Acts 2.)
Here's a better way to read verse 16:
Calling on His name,
get up,
be baptized,
have your sins washed away.
In other words, the "being baptized" is not the cause of forgiveness of sins, but the "calling on His name". But baptism -- the immersion in water in the name of Jesus -- is an incredible visual symbol of two things: the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and being "washed clean" of your sins. Peter would later try to make this clear:
1 Pet 3:21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.
Anyway, Paul's testimony closing gives the audience a clear set of steps as to what they can do if they want to be a Christian. (Remember that in that day, if you were baptized in Jesus' name, you were clearly identifying yourself in a hostile community.)
Part 3: Paul Takes It One More Step (Acts 22:17-21)
17 “After I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw him telling me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 “But I said, ‘Lord, they know that in synagogue after synagogue I had those who believed in you imprisoned and beaten. 20 And when the blood of your witness Stephen was being shed, I stood there giving approval and guarding the clothes of those who killed him.’ 21 “He said to me, ‘Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
What I mean by that heading is that Paul knew that he was stepping beyond his "testimony" into what happened next, something he knew would infuriate his audience.
And when has a furious audience ever stopped Paul? (Well, in Ephesus, but that was only because his friends forcibly kept him out of sight.)
So, the Lord (meaning Jesus -- the referent of "him" is "the Lord", which Paul had just said to be Jesus) told Paul that he would be in danger from other Jews if he stayed in Jerusalem. How do you think that went over with his audience?
Catch Paul's resistance to Jesus' command. Why do you think this is? "But Jesus, you changed me, can't you also change them?"
And of course that's true, but that wasn't God's plan for Paul. God's plan was to send him to the Gentiles.
The lesson stops here, but it shouldn't. The immediate result of Paul's words were
22 They listened to him up to this point. Then they raised their voices, shouting, “Wipe this man off the face of the earth! He should not be allowed to live!”
Put that in contrast with Peter's gospel presentation at Pentecost:
2:37 When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
Wow, what a change! Here are two simple lessons:
In historical context, this shows how God's plan no longer emphasized the people of Jerusalem but rather the rest of the world.
In practical application, this reminds us that people won't always be excited to hear and respond to our own testimony.
Sharing your testimony is like sharing your heart -- it hurts when someone rejects it. Paul's experience reminds us that we don't share our testimonies for personal approval! We share them to help someone else draw near to Jesus.
In closing, why do you think Paul's audience was so furious about the mention of Gentiles?
It might be simple bigotry. Why would God care at all about non-Jews? This is a cautionary tale to all Christians. There is no "favored nation" with God. Christianity is actually growing around the world today, but not in America. There are now more Christians in Africa than citizens in America, and that number will double in the next 20 years. Will American Christians be jealous of that? I hope not. (I'm looking at you, United Methodists.) We should rejoice when God reaches people around the world with the gospel. And if that means Christianity looks different than it does in America, so be it.
I say we end this lesson with an excellent question in the Lifeway material:
With whom is God calling you to share your testimony?
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