Acts 25: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Acts 25 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

Festus arrives in the province and goes to Jerusalem after three days. The high priest and leading Jews inform him against Paul, asking him to summon Paul to Jerusalem, planning to kill him on the way (vv. 1-3).

Key verse

“But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well.”
Acts 25:10 (WEB)

Outline

Acts 25:1–5 Festus arrives and hears accusations
Acts 25:6–12 Paul's defense and appeal
Acts 25:13–21 King Agrippa's interest
Acts 25:22–26 Festus presents Paul to Agrippa
Acts 25:27 Unreasonable charges

Discussion questions

In v3, what do the high priests and principal men of the Jews ask Festus to do?
What does Paul claim about his conduct in v8?
In v11, Paul declares, 'I appeal to Caesar': what does this indicate about his rights as a Roman citizen?
In v19, the charges against Paul are said to be about 'their own religion': what does this suggest about the nature of the accusations?
When have you faced a situation where you had to stand firm like Paul did in v10?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Acts 25: Acts 24, Acts 23, Acts 26.

Before next time: read Acts 26.