Book of Acts Quiz: Paul's Arrest, Trials and Journey to Rome

1. A prophet named Agabus met Paul in Caesarea and gave a dramatic prophecy. What did he do to illustrate it?

1. He fell to the ground and prophesied that Paul would be shipwrecked on his way to Rome
2. He placed his hands on Paul's shoulders and spoke of a crown of martyrdom awaiting him
3. He took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said the Holy Spirit declared the Jews would bind Paul this way in Jerusalem
4. He tore his own cloak in two and said the church in Jerusalem would be divided

2. Paul was seized by a mob in the temple in Jerusalem. What false accusation triggered the riot?

1. That he had brought Greeks into the temple, defiling the holy place
2. That he had claimed to be the Messiah and King of the Jews
3. That he had spoken against the emperor and refused to pay taxes
4. That he had stolen items from the temple treasury

3. Paul was rescued from the mob by Roman soldiers. He then asked to address the crowd and spoke in Aramaic. What did the crowd do when he mentioned being sent to the Gentiles?

1. They asked him to go to the synagogue and debate with the elders
2. They demanded he prove his apostleship before speaking further
3. They listened in respectful silence, then dispersed
4. They raised their voices and shouted 'Rid the earth of him! He's not fit to live!'

4. Paul claimed Roman citizenship just as he was about to be flogged. Why did this shock the Roman commander?

1. Only soldiers and senators could be Roman citizens — not a travelling preacher
2. Roman citizens could not be crucified or flogged without a trial
3. Roman citizens were exempt from all local Jewish laws and courts
4. The commander had paid a large sum for his own citizenship and Paul claimed to have been born a citizen

5. More than forty Jews took an oath to neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. How was this plot uncovered?

1. A Roman soldier overheard the conspirators planning in the market
2. One of the forty conspirators had a change of heart and came to Paul in his cell
3. Paul's nephew heard of the plot and reported it to the Roman commander
4. The Holy Spirit revealed it to Paul in a vision during the night

6. Paul stood trial before Felix, the Roman governor in Caesarea. What topic of Paul's preaching made Felix afraid, though he also hoped for a bribe?

1. Righteousness, self-control and the coming judgment
2. The coming judgment of Rome and the fall of the empire
3. The promise of eternal life only to those who repented of their sins
4. The resurrection of the dead and the power of Jesus' name

7. When the new governor Festus asked Paul if he was willing to go to Jerusalem to be tried there, what did Paul do?

1. He agreed, trusting God to protect him in Jerusalem
2. He appealed to Caesar — exercising his right as a Roman citizen
3. He asked for the case to be decided by the Jerusalem Sanhedrin
4. He refused and said the charges against him were false

8. King Agrippa II heard Paul's defence and Paul's famous appeal. What did Paul say he prayed for regarding Agrippa and all present?

1. That God would reveal himself to them in a dream or vision
2. That they would all become what he was — except for his chains
3. That they would read the scriptures and see that Jesus fulfilled them all
4. That they would receive wisdom from God to judge justly in his case

9. After hearing Paul's defence, what did King Agrippa say to Festus about the case?

1. 'He is guilty of blasphemy but deserves mercy for his sincerity'
2. 'This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar'
3. 'This man is dangerous — send him to Rome before he gains more followers'
4. 'We should delay and consult with the Sanhedrin before sending him to Caesar'

10. On the voyage to Rome, Paul warned the centurion not to sail because the voyage would be disastrous. Who overruled Paul's warning?

1. Festus had ordered the voyage to proceed before the winter and the order could not be changed
2. The centurion followed the advice of the pilot and the owner of the ship instead
3. The harbour master at Fair Havens said the weather was safe to proceed
4. The passengers took a vote and the majority wanted to continue sailing

11. During the terrifying storm at sea, Paul stood up and encouraged the crew. What assurance did he give them?

1. 'Have courage — God himself told me last night that not one of you will be lost, only the ship'
2. 'If we throw the cargo overboard, we will be light enough to survive any storm'
3. 'The God of Israel controls the seas — pray to him and he will calm the storm'
4. 'We will be blown to shore within three days — stay aboard and trust in God'

12. When the sailors tried to escape the sinking ship in a lifeboat, what did Paul tell the soldiers?

1. 'Let them go — God will protect those who remain'
2. 'Stop them — we need their navigation skills to reach shore safely'
3. 'Tie them to the mast so they cannot abandon us in our hour of need'
4. 'Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved' — so the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat

13. How many people were on board the ship that was wrecked near Malta?

1. 176
2. 276
3. 312
4. 96

14. On the island of Malta, Paul was gathering wood when a viper fastened itself on his hand. What did the islanders first think, and then conclude?

1. First that he must be a murderer whom justice was catching up with; then that he was a god when he did not die
2. First that he was a fool for touching the snake; then that he must be a prophet
3. First that he was a god who could not be harmed; then that he was a dangerous criminal
4. First that he was doomed; then that he must be protected by powerful magic

15. On Malta, Paul healed the father of Publius, the chief official of the island. What was wrong with the man?

1. He had been deaf and mute since childhood
2. He was blind from a snake bite he had suffered years earlier
3. He was paralysed from a fall he had suffered during the storm
4. He was suffering from fever and dysentery

16. How many months did Paul and his companions stay on Malta before sailing on to Rome?

1. One month
2. Six months
3. Three months
4. Two months

17. When Paul arrived near Rome, what did the Roman believers do that deeply encouraged him?

1. They arranged for him to speak before the Roman senate
2. They came out as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet him — and he thanked God and took courage
3. They prepared a great feast in his honour and welcomed him as the apostle to the Gentiles
4. They secured his release from custody and gave him lodgings in the city

18. In Rome, Paul was under what kind of custody — allowing him to receive visitors and preach freely?

1. He was confined to the barracks of the Praetorian Guard
2. He was free to move throughout Rome but reported daily to the governor
3. He was held under house arrest in his own rented lodging
4. He was in a Roman prison cell with chains

19. When Paul met with the Jewish leaders in Rome and explained the gospel, quoting Isaiah 6:9-10 about people seeing but not perceiving, what did he declare?

1. 'God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles and they will listen!'
2. 'The kingdom of God is open to all who call on the name of the Lord'
3. 'Unless you repent, you too will perish as your forefathers did in the wilderness'
4. 'Your rejection of the Messiah fulfils the very words of your own prophets'

20. The book of Acts ends with Paul in Rome. Which two things does Luke say Paul did boldly for two years?

1. Defending the faith before Roman officials and debating with philosophers
2. Preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ
3. Training disciples and appointing elders throughout the Roman churches
4. Writing letters to the churches and receiving delegations from across the empire