Week 5: St. Paul's trials

• Brief introduction about St. Luke and the Book of Acts:
  

  • St. Luke accompanied the St. Paul on his missionary journeys, so he accurately narrated what he witnessed. Being a physician, he also described events in detail.

  • He did not conclude the book of Acts with "Amen" like the other books because the Synaxarion (Church calendar of saints and events) comes after it, serving as the continuation of the Church’s history beyond the Book of Acts.
    

  • The Church reads the Synaxarion (the lives of the saints of the day) after the Book of Acts during the liturgy, to declare that the Word of the Lord continues to grow and multiply in His holy Church.

  • The placement of the Book of Acts between the Gospels and the Epistles serves as a connection between them: the Gospels present the life of Christ, the Book of Acts shows the preaching of the Gospel, and the Epistles reflect how to live according to the Gospel.

• Introduction:
  

  • Author: St. Luke
    

  • Time of writing:
    

    • It was written around the year 63 AD in Rome, after he had written his Gospel. It covers a period of about thirty years—from the Ascension of Christ to Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome.
      

  • Purpose of the book
    

    • A clear record of the ministry of Peter and Paul.
      
    • Demonstrates the behavior of the early Christians as high examples for us.
    • Shows the mighty work of the Holy Spirit in fulfilling Christ’s promises and establishing the Church.
      
    • Displays the divinity of the Son.
    • Proclaims the divinity of the Holy Spirit.

• Outline
  

  • • Chapter 1 – The Apostles in Jerusalem from the Ascension to Pentecost:
      Includes the selection of Matthias and the worship of the Church.
    • Chapters 2–7 – The Beginning of Evangelism until the Martyrdom of Stephen:
      Includes the gifts of the Spirit, the growth of the Church, the healing of the lame man, threats against the apostles, the death of Ananias and Sapphira, the imprisonment of the apostles, the selection of seven deacons, and the stoning of Stephen.
    • Chapters 8–12 – The Persecution of the Church in Jerusalem:
      Includes the faith of the Ethiopian eunuch, the conversions of Paul and Cornelius, the founding of the Church in Caesarea, the martyrdom of James, the imprisonment of Peter, and the death of Herod.
    • Chapters 13–15 – The Evangelism of Paul and Barnabas Until Their Separation:
      Includes the story of Elymas the sorcerer, the Church in Antioch, the healing of the lame man in Lystra, the stoning of Paul, and the First Council of Jerusalem.
    • Chapters 16–20 – Paul’s Preaching in Europe
      
    • Chapters 21–28 – Paul’s Trials:
      Includes his journey to Jerusalem, his arrest and transfer to stand trial in Rome, his trials before Felix, Festus, and Agrippa, the shipwreck in Malta, and finally his arrival in Rome and preaching there for two years.

• Reading:
  

  • Chapters 13-2021-28
    

• Resources:
  

  • The Book of Acts - Fr. Daoud Lamei English
    

• Key verse:
  

  • “'I have set you to be a light of the nations, for you to be for salvation to the end of the earth.” Acts 13:47
    
    

• Comments: 

  • Introduction about St. Paul
    • • St. Paul wrote 14 epistles out of the 27 books in the New Testament.
      • Known as the Apostle of the Gentiles.
      • Received 4 crowns: martyrdom, purity, apostleship, and righteousness.
      • Early preparation for ministry:
        • Roman Citizen: enabling him for safe travel and legal protection.
        • Greek education: Exposure to Greek philosophy
        • Jewish heritage: Adhering to Jewish law and traditions and studied under Gamaliel in Jerusalem.

        • 

        • 

  • Acts 1321 
    
    • FirstPaul missionarygoes trip:to BarnabasJerusalem and is arrested
      • St. Paul journey toward Jerusalem despite warnings (Acts 13:21: 1-1–5) 
        • 1st Journey:

          St. LastedPaul forknew 2danger yearsawaited from 44AD

          • Started from Antioch (Syria) to Cyprus to the other Antiochhim in PisidiaJerusalem, (Turkey)but obeyed God's will anyway.

          • His courage shows faith over fear.

        • This part highlights the significance of fasting and prayer
        • The act of laying hands on the servants demonstrates the Church's authority in appointing and guiding individuals for ministry. Additionally, being sent by the Holy Spirit in verse 4, confirms that their mission was divinely ordained, not self-initiated. 
          
        • Discussion:
          • What does it mean to be "called" by God? as mentioned in verse 2, To be called by God means to offer your life fully to Him—surrendering your plans, desires, and time to follow His will.
      • The ministry in Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 13:13-39):
        • The two apostles traveled by sea to the coast of what is now Turkey. At this point, St. Mark departed from them and returned to Jerusalem. St. Luke does not mention the reason for Mark’s departure, but later we learn that the Apostle Paul was upset by it. However, Barnabas tried to excuse Mark’s actions, which eventually led to a disagreement between him and Paul (Acts 15:37–39). Despite this, Paul later showed love and trust toward Mark again (2 Timothy 4:11). 
        • Verse 33, St. Paul testifiedis falsely accused and spoke about the divinity of Christ that He is the eternal Son of God, who was bornarrested in the flesh at a specific point in time to save the world through His death and resurrection.
      • The Jews rejected the word of Godtemple (Acts 13:21: 45-52)21-40)
        • VerArrested 47, "I have set you as a light toin the Gentiles...."temple, askyet yourselfhe howstayed can this verse apply to me?
          • I can shine God's light to those around me through my words, behavior, appearance,calm and actions.focused on sharing the Gospel.
    •  Acts 1422
      • SignsST. andPaul’s wondersdefense inbefore Iconium.the Jews (Acts 14:22: 1–10)21)
        • ContinuationSt. ofPaul thespoke 1stto missionarythem tripin Hebrew to show them, his respect and connection to his Jewish roots
          
        • HealingHe ofshares thehis cripplepersonal man
        story,
        • Contemplation:his Ifzeal, youconversion, letand calling. His testimony reveals that God leadcan yourtransform life and follow His path, He will work wonders through you and reveal His power in amazing ways.anyone.
          
      • Stoning of St. Paul andreveals completionhis ofRoman the 1st missionary tripcitizenship (Acts 14:19-28)22: 25–30):
        • Verse 24, "prayed with fasting" again itThis shows thethat importancebeing ofspiritual prayerdoes andnot fastingmean inbeing ournaïve, life
        you
        • Theycan madeuse manyyour disciplesrights afterto preachingdefend in these cities, so they appointed priests and organized the ministry in the churches.yourself
          
    • Acts 1523
      
      • TheSt. CouncilPaul ofdivides Jerusalemthe council by mentioning the resurrection (Acts 15:23: 1-6–12)

        • The believersPharisees frombelieve Jewishin originspirits wereand arguing,the sayingresurrection, while the others, the Sadducees, do not believe in that. They think that inthe ordersoul todies become Christian you have to be Jewish first by submitting towith the law of Mosesbody and bedoes circumcisednot first.rise

        • On the following night, the Lord appeared to Paul to comfort and encourage him, and also to tell him that he would go to preach in Rome
        • The leadersrest of the churchChapter: (

          • A group of Jews plots to kill Paul.

          • Paul's nephew hears of the apostlesplot and elders),warns whichhim.

            is
          now
          • represented

            The bycommander thesends HolyPaul Synod,under gotheavy togetherguard to solveGovernor thisFelix issuein and stated that the law of Moses and Jewish traditions was symbolic traditions to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our salvation comes only from the blood of Jesus Christ through His death and resurrections.

          • Ver 8-9, Peter explained how the Holy Spirit came upon the Gentiles even before they were baptized, showing that God approved their baptism without the needCaesarea for circumcisionsafety.
            or keeping the Law of Moses.
          • The Council's decisions (Acts 15: 22-29)
          • 2nd missionary trip (Acts 15:36-41)
            • Paul suggested to Barnabas that they go on a second missionary journey to visit the believers they had preached to during their first journey and to check on how they were doing.
      • Acts 1624
        • 2ndPaul’s missionaryTrial tripBefore Felix (Acts 16:24: 1-15)21)
          • 2ndTertullus trip: St.accused Paul of three charges and Timothy
          considered him a corrupter and harmful to society.
          • TheAnother secondaccusation missionarythat journeyTertullus brought against Paul was markedthat byhe had defiled the beginning of evangelism in Europe.
          • The journey began from Antioch (in Syria) and continued overland to Tarsus (Turkey), to Neapolis in Europe.
          • This second journey is recorded in the Book of Acts from chapter 15 -18 and lasted approximately three and a half years, from 51 AD to 54 AD.
          • In this part we see that God directed St. Paul though the vision of the Macedonian man.
            temple.
          • St. Paul anddefended Silashimself imprisoned and freed (Acts 16: 22-40)saying:
            • VerseHe 25,had Paulonly andarrived Silasin prayedJerusalem andtwelve praiseddays God,earlier, teachesmost usof thatwhich praisinghe andspent prayingimprisoned because of the Jews.
            • He came to Godworship in the midsttemple. ofTherefore, sufferinghe isrespected veryworship powerful act that can inspire others.
        • Acts 17
          • St. Paul preachingin the word of God in Thessalonica, Berea,temple and Athens (Acts 17:1–9)
          • Main points from the sermon of St. Paul (Acts 17: 22-34)
            • • Verse 24, God is the creator
              • Verse 25, God is self-sufficient
              • Verse 27, Seek God, He iswas not far
              defiling
              • Verseit 30,as Repentthey accused him.
        • Acts 1825

          • St.Festus Paultakes inover Corinthand hears Paul’s case (Acts 18:25: 1:11)1–12)

            • Aquila: a

              Paul Christianappeals ofto JewishCaesar
              

              origin, Priscilla: his wife. They were originally from Pontus Turkey
          • The End of the Second Missionary Journey (Acts 18:18-22)
            • St. Paul endednever missed an opportunity to spread the ministry, even in Rome, the capital. His personal case did not occupy his missionarymind, journeybut byrather revisitinghow somehe ofcould go to Rome to preach the cities where he had previously preached, encouraging and strengthening the believers, before returning to Antioch in Syria.
          • The 3rd missionary trip (Acts 18: 23-28)
            • Asia minor and Macedonia
            • Paul remained in Antioch for less than a year before beginning his third missionary journey, following his usual path through regions in Turkey and then into Europe. This journey lasted from the year 54 AD to 58 AD.Gospel
        • Acts 1926
          • Paul’sPaul MinistryTestifies inBefore Ephesus and His MiraclesAgrippa (Acts 19:1–12):26: 1-23)
            

            • Personal Testimony:

              • PaulHe correctedrecounts incompletehis teachingpast as a persecutor, his encounter with Christ, and gavehis propermission Christianto baptism.preach.

              • GodFocus performedon extraordinarythe miraclesResurrection: throughThe Paul:first evenresurrection handkerchiefsfrom the dead, Christ was not the first to rise from the dead—many before Him in the Old Testament had been raised, and apronsHe thatHimself raised many. However, He is the first to rise by His own power and enter Paradise and the Kingdom. The others returned to Hades because Christ had touchednot himyet healedcompleted the sickredemption.

                and
              cast
              • out

                Agrippa evilalmost spirits.believes: “You almost persuade me to become a Christian” (Verse 28)

              • Paul is found innocent but must go to Caesar

          • Acts 2027
            • TheSt. MovePaul sails to GreeceRome; the storm intensifies (Acts 27:14–26):
              • Here we compare Paul, who through his obedience to God became a reason for the salvation of the ship's passengers, with the prophet Jonah, who through his disobedience to God became a source of trouble for the ship's passengers—until they threw him into the sea, and the Raisingstorm ofcalmed Eutychusdown.
                
              (
              • Shipwrecked at Malta, all survive
          • Acts 20: 1-12)28
            

            • • AfterSt. hisPaul ministryHeals and ministers in Ephesus,Malta (Acts 28: 1-10)

                • Paul traveled to Greece, where he stayed for three months, strengthening the believers and facing plots from the Jews.

                • During his journey from Troas, he was preaching for many hours, andturns a youngshipwreck man named Eutychus was sitting byinto a window.mission As Paul continued speaking late into the night, Eutychus fell asleep, fell from the third floor, and died.

                • Paul went down, embraced him, and brought him back to life by the power of Jesus Christ, reassuring everyone that he was alive.field
              • Paul’sSt. sermonPaul arrives to theRome eldersand ofstays Ephesusunder house arrest (Acts 20:17–38):28: 11-16)
              • St. Paul preaching in Rome (Acts 28: 17-31)
                • Even in chains, St. Paul preaches boldly and freely. His house becomes a church, showing that no barrier can stop the Gospel.

              • Paul continued to preach boldly while awaiting trial, without fear or complaint. Though God allowed him to face hardship and imprisonment, He remindedremained themwith him, using every situation to spread the Gospel. The Book of hisActs faithfulends servicewith the message reaching Rome, fulfilling Christ’s promise to Godreach the withends humility,of tears,the andearth trials(Acts 1:8).

                After his first release from prison, Paul preached for five more years before being arrested again. During his second imprisonment in Rome, he wrote 2 Timothy, and how hewas preachedmartyred thein fullA.D. truth68.

                without holding anything back.
              • Paul warned them to watch over themselves and the flock, because false teachers would arise even from among them.
              • He ended by reminding them of Jesus’ words: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

        1. Review/recap questions
           
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        8. Homework
           
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