Bill Acton :: Acts 23 - Paul's Witness as a Prisoner of Rome

Sermon Outline for Acts 23

Paul’s Witness as a Prisoner of Rome

1. The Witness in Jerusalem – Act 21:18-23:10
   1. Before the Jerusalem mob – Act 21:18-22:29
   2. Before the Jerusalem Sanhedrin – Act 22:30-23:10
      1. The Sanhedrin – The fifth trial concerning the Lord Jesus Christ
         1. The trials of Jesus
         2. Peter and John – Act 4:5-22
         3. The twelve – Act 5:27-40
         4. Stephen – Act 6:12-7:60
      2. Paul’s Defense – Act 23:1-6
         1. His declaration of good conscience
         2. The command of Ananias
            1. His high priesthood is questionable
            2. He is haughty, arrogant, gluttonous and violent-tempered
         3. Paul’s reply
            1. “God shall smite you” – Act 23:3
            2. “You white-washed wall”
               1. Clean on the outside
               2. Dirty on the inside
         4. Paul’s apology - obedience to authority
      3. Paul’s appeal to the Pharisees – Act 23:6
         1. He perceived the division among the Sanhedrin
         2. He declares himself a Pharisee
         3. He refers to the hope and resurrection of the dead
      4. The effect of the witness – Act 23:7-10
         1. The enraged conflict between the Pharisees and the Sadducees
         2. The violent dispute
         3. The rescue by the Roman military
   3. The personal encouragement – Act 23:11
      1. The Lord Jesus Christ “stood by” Paul
      2. The message
         1. “Be of good courage”
         2. “As you have testified about me in Jerusalem”
         3. “So you must testify in Rome”
2. The Witness in Caesarea – Act 23:12-26:32
   1. The plot of the Jews
      1. They formed a conspiracy
      2. They were bound by an oath
      3. Their goal: the murder of Paul
      4. Their sinister plan – Act 23:15
   2. The failure of their mission – Act 23:16-24
      1. The nephew
      2. The transfer to Governor Felix
   3. The journey to Caesarea – Act 23:25-35
      1. The explanatory letter
      2. The arrival under guard
   4. Paul remains a prisoner