Bill Acton :: Acts 21 and 22 - The Prisoner of Rome

Sermon Outline for Acts 21 and 22

The Third Missionary Journey

1. The Witness from Miletus to Jerusalem – Act 21:1-17
   1. In Tyre – Act 21:1-6
   2. In Caesarea – Act 21:7-14
2. The Arrival in Jerusalem – Act 21:15-17
   1. The reception
   2. The opposition

The Prisoner of Rome – Act 21:18-28:31

The events in this section cover a period of about four years (58-62). During this time the apostle was a prisoner of the Roman government. The sovereignty of God prevailed in that the Gospel of Christ was given with power and authority.

1. Paul’s Witness in Jerusalem – Act 21:18-23:10
   1. The Judaistic Christians – Act 21:18-26
      1. They charged Paul with turning believers to forsake Moses and Jewish traditions
         1. Paul had rejected for himself the Law of Moses and the customs of Judaism
         2. He had not demanded that others do the same
         3. He concurred with the conference (Act 15) that rites and ceremonies did not bring salvation
         4. Paul was convinced that under the teachings of grace these observances would disappear
      2. The request of the elders – Act 21:22-26
         1. Submit to the vow of purification
         2. Paul complied with their request
   2. The non-Christian Jews – Act 21:27-31
      1. The Jews from Asia stirred up hatred – Act 21:27
      2. They brought false accusations – Act 21:28-29
      3. They were intent on killing him – Act 21:30-31
   3. The Roman authorities – Act 21:31-40
      1. They rescued Paul from death
      2. They discovered his identity
      3. They permitted him to speak to the mob – Act 21:40
   4. Paul’s message – Act 22:1-21
      1. His defense against the charges
         1. That he spoke against the Jewish traditions
         2. That he spoke against the law of Moses
         3. That he spoke against the temple
      2. The sketch of his early religious life – Act 22:3-5
         1. The conversion
         2. The calling
            1. Chosen
            2. To know His will
            3. To see Christ as righteous
            4. To hear His word
            5. To be His witness
         3. The conversion, the calling and the message were all of divine origin
   5. The effect of Paul’s message – Act 22:22-29
      1. The rage of the Jews boiled over
      2. The Romans took him into custody
   6. Citizenship
      1. Roman
      2. Heavenly
         1. Acquired through the new birth
         2. It is the gift of God
         3. It is sealed by the Spirit of God
2. Applications
   1. What are the fixed points on which we must not give way?
   2. What are the points which may be yielded?