Hierarchical Précis
Paul’s trials and imprisonment
Paul’s imprisonment in Jerusalem
[Acts 21:17-23:35]
The
day
after
arriving
at
Jerusalem,
Paul
and
some
of
his
company
go
to
see
James
and
the
elders.
When
Paul
tells
them
of
the
things
accomplished
by
God
in
his
ministry
to
the
Gentiles,
they
glorify
God.
Yet
there
is
still
disquiet
amongst
the
Jewish
believers
who
consider
that
Paul
preaches
against
Moses,
and
it
is
suggested
he
joins
four
men
in
a
purification
process
they
need
to
undergo
concerning
a
Nazarite
vow.
This
would
show
that
Paul
is
fully
compliant
with
Moses’
law,
and
the
things
they
heard
concerning
him
are
of
no
real
concern.
Paul
agrees
and
goes
with
the
four
to
the
temple.
Seven
days
later,
at
the
end
of
the
purification
process,
some
Asian
Jews
raise
an
insurrection
against
him
because
of
his
teaching,
and
their
assumption
he
had
taken
one
of
his
Gentile
friends
into
the
temple.
Paul
is
dragged
from
the
temple
and
the
people
are
of
a
mind
to
kill
him
when
the
chief
captain,
responding
to
the
uproar,
brings soldiers and has Paul bound and taken to the castle.
Paul
requests
he
be
able
to
speak
to
the
people.
Permission
is
given
and
he
addresses
them
in
Hebrew,
which
encourages
them
to
listen.
He
gives
them
an
account
of
his
birth
and
education,
his
early
prejudices
against
Christianity,
and
of
his
miraculous
conversion
and
call
to
discipleship.
When
they
hear
Paul
say
that
God
sent
him
to
preach
the
Gospel
to
the
Gentiles,
they
become
outraged
and
want
to
take
his
life.
The
chief
captain
orders
Paul
to
be
taken
and
examined
by
scourging,
but
Paul
pleads
his
rights
as
a
Roman
citizen and escapes the torture. The next day, the chief captain orders the Sanhedrin to assemble and hear Paul’s case.
While
offering
his
defence
before
the
Sanhedrin,
the
high
priest
orders
Paul
to
be
smitten
on
the
mouth.
Paul
sharply
reproves
him
and
is
in
turn
reproved
by
one
of
the
high
priest’s
attendants,
and
so
he
has
to
account
for
his
words.
He
notices
the
council
is
comprised
of
both
Pharisees
and
Sadducees
and
splits
their
opinion
by
asserting
that
it
was
because
of
his
belief
in
the
resurrection
that
he
was
called
in
question
(the
Sadducees
do
not
believe
in
the
resurrection).
In
fear
of
Paul’s
safety
in
the
tumult
that
follows,
the
chief captain has him brought into the castle.
That night, Paul is comforted by a dream in which the Lord says he will also be a witness in Rome.
The
next
morning,
more
than
forty
Jews
conspire
with
the
Sanhedrin
to
have
Paul
brought
before
them
again,
intending
to
lay
in
wait
and
kill
him.
Paul’s
nephew
hears
of
this
and
ensures
the
plot
becomes
known
to
the
chief
captain.
Consequently,
arrangements
are
made
for
Paul
to
be
sent
to
Caesarea
with
a
large
escort,
and
a
letter
sent
to
Felix
the
governor
explaining
the
circumstances
of
his
case.
When
Felix
hears
that
Paul
is
from
the
province
of
Cilicia,
he
agrees
to
give
him
a
hearing,
but
only
when
his
accusers
are
come.
Meanwhile, he is to be held in Herod’s judgement hall.
Paul’s imprisonment in Caesarea
[Acts 24-26]
After
five
days,
Ananias
the
high
priest,
the
elders
and
Tertullus,
an
orator,
come
to
Caesarea
to
accuse
Paul.
After
Tertullus’
oration,
Paul
is
beckoned
by
Felix
and
gives
his
defence.
Having
heard
both
the
case
against
Paul
and
his
defence,
Felix
decides
to
wait
to
hear
the
testimony
from
the
chief
captain.
Meantime,
orders
are
given
for
a
centurion
to
take
charge
of
Paul,
but
to
allow
him
his
liberty
and
access to his acquaintances.
After
some
days,
Felix,
with
his
wife
Drusilla,
sends
for
Paul
to
hear
from
him
concerning
the
faith.
Felix
is
greatly
affected,
and
suggests
he
would
hear
Paul
again
at
a
later
date.
He
hopes
that
by
keeping
Paul
in
Caesarea
he
might
receive
some
money
in
exchange
for
his
liberty,
but
in
the
meantime,
sends
for
Paul
more
often
to
converse
with
him.
After
two
years,
Felix
is
superseded
by
Porcius Festus. In order to please the Jews, Felix leaves Paul imprisoned, but now in Festus’ charge.
As
Festus
is
now
governor
of
Judea,
the
Jews
again
try
to
get
Paul
brought
to
Jerusalem
for
trial,
intending
to
lay
in
wait
to
kill
him.
Festus
refuses,
saying
that
his
accusers
must
come
to
Caesarea.
This
they
do,
but
again
fail
to
prove
anything
against
Paul.
Festus,
wanting
to
please
the
Jews,
asks
Paul
if
he
would
be
willing
to
go
to
Jerusalem
to
be
tried
there.
Paul
refuses
and
appeals
to
Caesar,
as
is his right as a Roman citizen, which Festus acknowledges.
Some
time
later,
Herod
Agrippa
and
his
wife
Bernice
come
to
Caesarea
to
pay
respects
to
Festus
and
are
told
about
Paul,
the
accusations
against
him,
his
trial
and
appeal
to
Caesar.
Agrippa
wants
to
hear
Paul
for
himself,
so
an
appointment
is
made
for
the
next
day, which is turned into an occasion of pomp and ceremony with the chief captains and principal men of the city present.
Festus
opens
proceedings
with
an
account
of
Paul’s
situation,
as
given
to
Herod
the
previous
day,
and
his
hope
that,
following
Agrippa’s examination, he may then have something favourable to write when he sends Paul to Rome.
Agrippa
invites
Paul
to
speak
for
himself,
which
he
begins
to
do,
but
first
pays
a
compliment
to
Agrippa,
perhaps
to
secure
a
favourable
response.
Paul
gives
an
account
from
his
youth
to
his
miraculous
conversion,
and
his
consequent
preaching
of
the
resurrected
Christ.
King
Agrippa
interrupts
Paul,
declaring
him
to
be
mad
from
all
his
learning,
to
which
Paul
defends
himself
with
an
appeal
to
Agrippa’s
own
belief
in
the
prophets.
Agrippa
confesses
himself
almost
converted
by
Paul’s
words,
before
rising
and
discussing
Paul’s
situation
privately
and
declaring
his
innocence.
Agrippa
then
tells
Festus
that
Paul
could
have
been
set
free
had
he
not
appealed to Caesar.
Paul’s perilous voyage to Rome
[Acts 27:1-28:15]
It
having
been
determined
that
Paul
must
be
sent
to
Rome,
he
is
handed
over
to
Julius,
a
centurion.
Accompanied
by
Luke,
they
embark
on
a
ship
of
Adramyttium
and
the
next
day
arrive
at
Sidon.
Here,
Paul
is
permitted
to
go
ashore
to
see
some
friends.
From
there
they
sail
past
Cyprus,
Cilicia
and
Pamphylia
and
come
to
Myra
where
they
transfer
to
an
Alexandrian
ship
bound
for
Italy.
They
then
sail
past
Cnidus,
Crete
and
Salmone,
and
come
to
the
Fair
Havens
where
unfavourable
conditions
for
sailing
force
them
to
take
shelter.
Paul
warns
against
sailing
any
farther
at
this
time,
but
the
centurion
prefers
the
captain’s
advice
and
wants
to
head
for
Crete
to
winter
there.
Having
had
favourable
winds
they
sail
past
Crete,
but
are
then
caught
in
a
tempest
and
struggle
to
keep
the
ship
afloat.
They
are
also
now
unable
to
navigate
by
either
sun
or
stars
because
of
the
storm.
One
night,
Paul
has
a
vision
and
is
able
to
tell
them
all
they
will
survive
and
be
cast
on
an
island.
After
being
tossed
around
on
the
sea
for
many
days,
they
are
finally
shipwrecked
on
the
island of Melita with the whole crew surviving, able to make it to shore on broken fragments of the ship.
The
local
inhabitants
take
care
of
them,
making
a
fire
to
keep
them
warm.
A
viper
comes
out
of
the
bundle
of
sticks
used
for
the
fire
and
fastens
onto
Paul’s
hand,
which
the
locals
perceive
to
be
a
sign
that
Paul
is
a
murderer
pursued
by
some
kind
of
divine
vengeance.
But when Paul shakes off the snake and is unharmed, they then change their minds and say he is a god.
The
crew
is
courteously
received
by
Publius,
the
island’s
governor,
and
all
are
able
to
lodge
with
him
for
three
days,
during
which
time
Paul
miraculously
heals
Publius’
sick
father.
News
of
this
brings
others
on
the
island
to
come
to
be
healed,
and
Paul’s
company
is
consequently honoured and presented with many gifts.
After
three
months
on
Melita
they
embark
on
a
ship
for
Alexandria,
then
land
at
Syracuse
where
they
stay
for
three
days
before
setting
off
again.
They
sail
past
the
straits
of
Rhegium,
landing
at
Puteoli
where
they
find
some
Christians
with
whom
they
tarry
for
seven
days
before
setting
off
for
Rome.
On
the
way
to
Rome.
they
are
met
by
Christians
at
Appii,
and
then
at
the
Three
Taverns.
Paul
thanks God for these meetings and is encouraged by them.
Paul’s house arrest in Rome
[Acts 28:16-31]
At
Rome,
Paul
is
delivered
to
the
captain
of
the
guard
who
permits
him
to
live
by
himself,
but
attended
by
a
single
soldier.
After
three
days,
Paul
calls
for
the
chief
Jews
and
states
his
case
to
them.
They
tell
him
that
no
letters
had
been
received
and
no
ill
spoken
of
him,
but Jews had spoken against the Christian faith and they want to hear from Paul about it.
An
appointment
is
made
for
the
next
day
when
Paul
speaks
to
them
at
length
from
the
law
and
the
prophets
concerning
Christ.
Some
believe
and
some
do
not,
to
which
Paul
informs
them
that
it
is
because
of
their
unbelief
that
the
salvation
of
God
is
sent
to
the
Gentiles.
Paul
remains
under
house
arrest
for
two
years,
during
which
time
he
is
able
to
preach
the
Gospel
unhindered
to
all
who
come
to
him.
Nothing further is written in Acts concerning Paul’s mission and his death.