Home Newsletter Directions Diocesan Reorganisation Parish Council Parish Groups Bible Study York Mass Times York Mass Finder Fundraising Gift Aid SVP Fair Trade Photos Links Saints Liturgical Calendar Liturgical Calendar (iCal) Prayers Contact

Middlesbrough Diocese

• Pope Benedict’s Visit to the UK
• Change in the Diocese
• Diamond Jubilee for Fr Joe Brennan

England & Wales

• Safeguarding: Annual Report released
• 50 days to go until Pope Benedict XVI visits England and Scotland
• 57 days to go until Pope Benedict XVI visits England and Scotland
• Half a million in grants to support the dignity of life
• Bishop travels to Lebanon to show solidarity and support for Christians in the Middle East

Catholic News Agency

• Congressmen to propose government-wide ban on taxpayer-funded abortion
• Benedict XVI reflects on Pope's role in Church
• Prayer must open heart and mind to God, Cardinal Pell explains
• Catholic League, Ignatius Press file brief in University of California lawsuit on course standards
• Conference draws hundreds of Catholic Native Americans for 'evangelization'

Weather Forecast

• Friday: white cloud, Max Temp: 20°C (68°F), Min Temp: 15°C (59°F)
• Saturday: sunny intervals, Max Temp: 23°C (73°F), Min Temp: 13°C (55°F)
• Sunday: sunny intervals, Max Temp: 21°C (70°F), Min Temp: 9°C (48°F)

GENERAL POINTS

1. Having read through all the sagas of these chapters, what do you feel about Paul?
   For example, does he come across a super-Christian? Or as a pedant who wants to make use of every subtlety in the Roman legal system.
   1. The action focuses on the trials, but how do you feel he would have coped as a prisoner in the times in between. In some cases he is waiting a few days (e.g. 24.1) – in another case he is waiting over two years (24:27).
   2. What impact would all this have had on his friends and on the church (as it was at that time).
   3. Do you see any parallels with those today who are waiting months or years for cases to come to trial? As Christians do we have a responsibility in such cases?

THE ADDRESS AND QUESTIONING IN JERUSALEM (22.1-29)

1. These events take place in a very multicultural society. Is it significant that Paul spoke in Greek to the Roman Tribune (21.37) but then in Hebrew to the crowd (22:1)? How important is the choice of language in such situations?
2. After he has spoken to the crowd and practically caused a further riot (22:22) it seems the Tribune is proposing to question him under torture (22:24). But this changes when Paul’s status as a Roman citizen is made clear (22:26-27). What do you feel about this? What if this has been another member of the church who wasn’t a Roman citizen?

THE SANHEDRIN (22.30-23.11)

1. What is going on here? What is Paul before a Jewish court, when he had been arrested by the Roman authorities? Are there parallels with the trial of Jesus?
2. What do you think of Paul’s tactic of splitting the Pharisees and Sadducees (23.6-8)? Was this an ethical way for him to advance his case?

THE PLOT (23.12-35)

1. Paul’s nephew (23.16-22) plays very significant role, but he is never named? Do you think he is a real person? What do you feel about the way this young man deals with the various parties mentioned (i.e. the plotting Jews, Paul himself, and the Tribune)?
2. The trial of Paul has now become a huge event, demanding vast Roman resources (22:23). Why are the Roman authorities investing so much in him? In particular, does the letter from Claudius Lisius (the Tribune in Jerusalem) to Felix (the Roman Governor of the region) give any clues (23.26-30)?

THE TRIAL BEFORE FELIX (24.1-26)

1. This section indicates a well ordered Roman trial, with an advocate called Tertullus presenting the case for the prosecution (on behalf of Ananias who is the complainant) (24.1-10) and Paul then speaking in his own defence (24.11-21).
   Look impartially at the evidence presented by each side: if you had to judge this case on the evidence provided, what would be your verdict?
2. The Governor Felix as judge seems well informed on all side – he is clearly a Roman, he has a Jewish wife (24:24) and he is quite knowledgeable about Christianity (“the Way”) (24:22). His judgement, however, is simply to put Paul under house arrest (24:23) – what do you feel about this?
3. What part does money have in this case – see 24.17 and 24.26? (Note: The relief money mentioned in 24.17 is probably a reference to the collection Paul organised amongst the Gentile churches to support the Christians in Jerusalem – it is mentioned several times in his letters esp 1 Cor 16.1-4 and 2 Cor chs 8-9).

THE RETRIAL BEFORE FESTUS (25.1-12)

1. Felix had placed Paul under house arrest (see above) but essentially left his case in abeyance. The new Governor now wants to make progress, but Paul uses his rights a Roman citizen and appeals direct to the Emperor/Caesar (25.9-12). Look at Paul’s words here – is he showing great courage or is he being reckless?

THE FURTHER TRIAL BEFORE FESTUS & KING AGRIPPA (25.13-26.13)

1. What is this case about? Is Paul just being used as tourist attraction for visiting royals? Or does Festus really need Agrippa’s advice (25.26-27)?
2. This section includes Paul’s longest speech (26.2-23). What does it have to say to us today if, for example, we are called to defend and justify our faith?

THE FINAL STRAW (26.24-32)

Read this section together – 26.24-32.

1. What do you think of Agrippa’s words “Any more, and your arguments would make a Christian of me”? (26.26). Is this the sort of response for which we pray when speaking to others about the gospel?
2. It seems that a final decision on this stage of Paul’s case is taken by Festus, Agrippa and Bernice acting together as a council of three judges. Has sense prevailed? Was Paul foolish to have made an appeal to Rome?