1. Review together the major timeline of the apostle Paul, filling in as many details as you can about his story and where he finds himself at this point.

2. Review the historical and cultural context of this story. What time period is it? What is the ruling power? How does the nation of Israel fit into this larger context? Who is Paul addressing and what is their connection to each other? Was any of this information new to you? Does it shape your understanding of the story in a new way?

3. What had Paul been accused of?

4. What did Paul declare that he was on trial for?

5. What has the word “hope” been reduced to in our culture? What is the Biblical understanding of “hope”?

6. What are some of the key parts of the Messianic hope that the people of Israel were waiting for? See: Is 42:1-7, Ps 16:8-11, 2 Sam 7:12-16, Is 9:6-7, Gen 12:2-3, Jeremiah 23:5-6, Ps 22:1,14-18,27-28, Is 53

7. Why do you think it was so hard for the Jewish people to see Jesus as the fulfillment of their Messianic hope?

8. Take some time to share the reason for the hope that you have. What is included in your testimony, your “apologia”, your defense, your reason for hope?



9. Pray for one another, and specifically for opportunities and courage to share the reason for your hope with others around you who need to hear it as a means of planting the seeds of hope in them.