Acts 21:17-26
ACTS STUDY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What caught your attention in the text or stood out to you from our study of Acts 21:17-26?
What words in Acts 21:17-26 indicate that this is a friendly and unified gathering of church leaders?
The climate in Jerusalem in AD 57 was volatile, according to both Jewish and Roman historians. Political unrest, insurrections, uprisings, assassination attempts, and oppressive reprisals were the norm. Despite that climate, what are the leaders primarily discussing and celebrating in Acts 21:17-26? How do they act toward one another? Does it seem superficial or genuine, and why? How does the unity, friendship, and embrace of the early church leadership stand in contrast to the surrounding culture, and what can we learn from observing their remarkable example?
What can we learn from the fact that among Jesus' disciples was a Jewish tax collector who worked for Rome (Matthew) and a Zealot (Simon) (Luke 6:15)? Consider the animosity they might have had toward one another. What changed?
If Jesus can reconcile Jew and Gentile into one new man, as Paul says in Ephesians 2:11-21, what hope does that give you for your friendships, work relationships, marriage, and children?
What is it that the Jewish believers in Jerusalem have heard about Paul according to Acts 21:20-22? Is it true based on what we’ve read and studied in Acts (c.f. Acts 13:7, 40-41, 16:3, 18:18, 20:16, 25:8, 28:17)? If Paul was misrepresented, what can we expect as we follow Christ and how can we prepare for that?
What did Paul teach regarding the law according to Romans 3:20-21, 7:1, 4, 7-9, 12, and 10:4? What does it mean that we died to the law so that we may belong to another (Rom 7:4) and that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness?
How does Paul respond to the concerns and recommendations of the elders (cf. Acts 21:26)? Why is that so interesting, and what do you think motivates such a response? How might you respond if you knew you had freedom from any obligation to purity ceremonies?
How might 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 shed light on Paul’s motives? How might Romans 14:1-3 and Romans 15:1-2 shed further light? What is Paul’s ultimate motive and fuel for taking such a humble and sacrificial attitude, according to Romans 15:3? How do these same principles inform our own attitudes and service toward others? Based on Philippians 2:1-7 why would we ever consider the needs of others higher than our own? How can we pray and encourage these truths in one another this week?
What will you take away from this study in Acts 21:17-26? What attitudes, actions, or affections might need to change as a result of this study?
