Thoughts on Study Questions from Romans Ch 4-5 on 9/16
My Sunday school class/Life Group is studying the book of Acts. I posted these questions this Monday and encouraged you to jot your thoughts down.
It's Wednesday. This post consists of some comments from the class discussion.
If you’d like a PDF file of the questions, email me at crd.author@gmail.com
Chapter 4
Vv32-37
Communal living
Sacrificial offerings
Protection
"Open hands give to others and receive from God. Closed hands do neither.
Why were there no needy persons?
Dispersing of money from gifts.
Stay tuned. We soon find out that all was not as rosy as painted here.
What is the general organization of this "group of believers"?
Almost like a big family.
They did a lot of stuff TOGETHER.
1) Apostles. 2) Everybody else.
Who do we meet for the first time in this passage?"Barney the Preacher"
Joseph called Barnabas "Son of Encouragement"
(There was one question as to whether this might have been Joseph of Arimathea. Thoughts?
Stay tuned. He's a key player later on.
Vv32-37
Details on what practice are given here?
Socialism
Communal living
Sacrificial offerings
Protection
"Open hands give to others and receive from God. Closed hands do neither.
Communal living
Sacrificial offerings
Protection
"Open hands give to others and receive from God. Closed hands do neither.
Why were there no needy persons?
Communal sharing.
Dispersing of money from gifts.
Stay tuned. We soon find out that all was not as rosy as painted here.
Dispersing of money from gifts.
Stay tuned. We soon find out that all was not as rosy as painted here.
What is the general organization of this "group of believers"?
Community.
Almost like a big family.
They did a lot of stuff TOGETHER.
1) Apostles. 2) Everybody else.
Almost like a big family.
They did a lot of stuff TOGETHER.
1) Apostles. 2) Everybody else.
Who do we meet for the first time in this passage?
"Barney the Preacher"Joseph called Barnabas "Son of Encouragement"
(There was one question as to whether this might have been Joseph of Arimathea. Thoughts?
Stay tuned. He's a key player later on.
Chapter 5
Vv1-11
Lying.
Deception.
They lied to the Holy Spirit.
They plotted to lie--both had knowledge of the lie.
Didn't they have the "right" not to give the whole price to the church?
What do you think of Peter's reply to Ananias' gift?It indicates that he knew Ananias was intentionally trying to deceive the church.
The Greek verb translated "keep back" in many versions is stronger. See below from https://goo.gl/Y7Lo7T
Vv1-11
What was the problem with Ananias and Sapphira?
Greed.
Lying.
Deception.
They lied to the Holy Spirit.
They plotted to lie--both had knowledge of the lie.
Lying.
Deception.
They lied to the Holy Spirit.
They plotted to lie--both had knowledge of the lie.
Didn't they have the "right" not to give the whole price to the church?
Peter implies this is v4. However, lying to God is always a sin.
What do you think of Peter's reply to Ananias' gift?
It indicates that he knew Ananias was intentionally trying to deceive the church. The Greek verb translated "keep back" in many versions is stronger. See below from https://goo.gl/Y7Lo7T
David Guzik :: Study Guide for Acts 5
b. He kept back part of the proceeds: They sold the possession, and gave only a portion to the church, while implying that they had sacrificially given it all to the church.i. The word for kept back is nosphizomai, which means "to misappropriate." The same word was used of Achan's theft in the Greek translation of the Old Testament (Joshua 7:21), and in its only other New Testament use, it means to steal (Titus 2:10).
ii. "The story of Ananias is to the Book of Acts what the story of Achan is to the book of Joshua. In both narratives an act of deceit interrupts the victorious progress of the people of God." (Bruce)
b. He kept back part of the proceeds: They sold the possession, and gave only a portion to the church, while implying that they had sacrificially given it all to the church.
i. The word for kept back is nosphizomai, which means "to misappropriate." The same word was used of Achan's theft in the Greek translation of the Old Testament (Joshua 7:21), and in its only other New Testament use, it means to steal (Titus 2:10).
ii. "The story of Ananias is to the Book of Acts what the story of Achan is to the book of Joshua. In both narratives an act of deceit interrupts the victorious progress of the people of God." (Bruce)
We got this far this week.
We got this far this week.
Do you think Sapphira could argue that Peter used “entrapment” on her?
Why would Luke include this gruesome event directly after a paragraph describing the unity of the believers?
An important word (term) is used for the first time in v11. What is it?
How was the church affected by the "great fear" that seized them?
Vv12-16
Did you find the answer to the last questions yet?
Verse 13 is a strange one. What does it mean?
How do you reconcile v14 with 13?
What is significant about 1) the way people were healed? and 2) the number that were healed?
Why do you think so many people were “tormented by evil spirits”?
Vv17-42
What was the reason for arresting the apostles?
How long did the imprisonment last? How did it end?
How does the attitude of the Sanhedrin/soldiers change in v26?
How does this set of charges differ from the first time Peter and John were arrested in Chapter 4?
Peter and the others answer with a famous quote in v29. How can this “defense” be used correctly? How has it been abused?
Why would the Sanhedrin's reaction to the apostles’ explanation be fury?
Friday, This week Expressions of Faith is Acts Ch 7. Living a Parallel Life - Part 2.
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