1. Welcomed by the church

    Acts 21:17-19   And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us
    gladly.
    18. And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were
    present.
    19. And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had
    wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.

     a. Paul is captured by the Jews

      Acts 21:26-30   Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them
      entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until
      that an offering should be offered for every one of them.
      27. And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia,
      when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,
      28. Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where
      against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into
      the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.
      29. (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they
      supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)
      30. And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and
      drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut.

    b. Seized by the Romans

      Acts 21:31-33   And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief
      captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
      32. Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and
      when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul.
      33. Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be
      bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done.

     c. Paul is allowed to speak to the Jewish mob

      Acts 22:1-2   Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto
      you.
      2. (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the
      more silence: and he saith,)   ( see Vs. 3-23 for his address to them )

     d. The mob rejects his words

      Acts 22:22.....Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should
      live.

   e. Paul is to be scourged

      Acts 22:24-28   The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and
      bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they
      cried so against him.
      25. And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is
      it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?
      26. When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take
      heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.
      27. Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He
      said, Yea.
      28. And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And
      Paul said, But I was free born.

     f. Paul’s defence before the Jewish council

      Acts 23:1-10   And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I
      have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
      2. And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on
      the mouth.
      3. Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou
      to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
      4. And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?
      5. Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written,
      Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
      6. But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other
      Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a
      Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
      7. And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the
      Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
      8. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but
      the Pharisees confess both.
      9. And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose,
      and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken
      to him, let us not fight against God.
      10. And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul
      should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and
      to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

    g. The Lord Jesus himself encourages Paul

      Acts 23:11   And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good
      cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness
      also at Rome.

     h. A plot to kill Paul

      Acts 23:12-13   And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and
      bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they
      had killed Paul.
      13. And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. (see Vs.13-35 )

     i. Paul is delivered

      Acts 23:23-24   And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two
      hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen
      two hundred, at the third hour of the night;
      24. And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto
      Felix the governor.

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