Thoughts on Study Questions from Acts Ch5 on 9/30
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 5 - Vv17-42
What was the reason for arresting the apostles?
The High Priest was jealous of their popularity.
To make them an example to others who might want to preach about Jesus. Stop the followers from imitating Peter and John.
They were not telling the "truth."
How long did the imprisonment last? How did it end?
An angel opened the gate and escorted them out. When word about the angel got out, the Sadducees must have busted blood vessels in their brains. Remember, Sadducees didn't believe in angels!
How does the attitude of the Sanhedrin/soldiers change in v26?
Afraid of the crowd (Christians)?
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. 1) How can this “defense” be used correctly? 2) How has it been abused?
1b) Sir Thomas More refused to pressure the Pope into annulling the marriage of King Henry VIII and his Spanish-born wife.
2a) The Crusades when they weren't following God's Word.
2b) The Spanish Inquisition
Aside
In section 21e of Plato's Apology of Socrates, Plato writes this.
From there I went to someone else, to one of those reputed to be wiser than he, and these things seemed to me to be the same. And there I became hateful both to him and to many others. After this, then, I kept going to one after another, all the while perceiving with pain and fear that I was becoming hated. Nevertheless, it seemed to be necessary to regard the matter of the god as most important.Although it's the wrong god, the "I must obey God" principle is implicit here, too!
Why would the Sanhedrin's reaction to the apostles’ explanation be fury?Their validity was in question.All members of the Sanhedrin were scholars, and their power was being questioned.
In v34, we meet Gamaliel. 1) What is his position? 2) What motivated him? 3) What was the result of his speech?
- Teacher of the Law. A Pharisee. He had a reputation for his integrity. He was respected by ALL.
- He was speaking in a closed session. He wanted them to hear that "Where humans fail, God prevails."
- He persuaded the SADDUCEE majority in the Sanhedrin to his viewpoint.
To the Jewish leaders, the apostles were examples of “internal” insurrection. Which is worse in an organization: internal or external insurrection? Why?Internal.
It's fighting against oneself in a manner of speaking.
It is hard to identify who is on which side.
It has destroyed countless organizations.
My pastor, Tony Miller, preached on "The Unnoticed" people in society Sunday and our commitment as Christians to them. Unnoticed people are looked past, disregarded, considered unimportant if given any consideration at all. Part of the Sanhedrin's problem was that "a carpenter's son should be unnoticed."
In v41, the apostles demonstrate an uncommon reaction to what has just taken place. What was the reaction, and what allowed them to act like this?
What was the reason for arresting the apostles?
They were preaching about Jesus.
The High Priest was jealous of their popularity.
To make them an example to others who might want to preach about Jesus. Stop the followers from imitating Peter and John.
They were not telling the "truth."
The High Priest was jealous of their popularity.
To make them an example to others who might want to preach about Jesus. Stop the followers from imitating Peter and John.
They were not telling the "truth."
How long did the imprisonment last? How did it end?
Not even overnight.
An angel opened the gate and escorted them out. When word about the angel got out, the Sadducees must have busted blood vessels in their brains. Remember, Sadducees didn't believe in angels!
An angel opened the gate and escorted them out. When word about the angel got out, the Sadducees must have busted blood vessels in their brains. Remember, Sadducees didn't believe in angels!
How does the attitude of the Sanhedrin/soldiers change in v26?
They get worried.
Afraid of the crowd (Christians)?
Afraid of the crowd (Christians)?
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. 1) How can this “defense” be used correctly? 2) How has it been abused?
"We must obey God rather than man."
1a) Billings, Montana, Christmas 1994. The whole town put menorahs in their windows to protest Ku Klux Klan and skinhead violence. 1b) Sir Thomas More refused to pressure the Pope into annulling the marriage of King Henry VIII and his Spanish-born wife.
2a) The Crusades when they weren't following God's Word.
2b) The Spanish Inquisition
Aside
In section 21e of Plato's Apology of Socrates, Plato writes this.
From there I went to someone else, to one of those reputed to be wiser than he, and these things seemed to me to be the same. And there I became hateful both to him and to many others. After this, then, I kept going to one after another, all the while perceiving with pain and fear that I was becoming hated. Nevertheless, it seemed to be necessary to regard the matter of the god as most important.Although it's the wrong god, the "I must obey God" principle is implicit here, too!
Why would the Sanhedrin's reaction to the apostles’ explanation be fury?
Their validity was in question.
All members of the Sanhedrin were scholars, and their power was being questioned.In v34, we meet Gamaliel. 1) What is his position? 2) What motivated him? 3) What was the result of his speech?
- Teacher of the Law. A Pharisee. He had a reputation for his integrity. He was respected by ALL.
- He was speaking in a closed session. He wanted them to hear that "Where humans fail, God prevails."
- He persuaded the SADDUCEE majority in the Sanhedrin to his viewpoint.
To the Jewish leaders, the apostles were examples of “internal” insurrection. Which is worse in an organization: internal or external insurrection? Why?
Internal.
It's fighting against oneself in a manner of speaking.
It is hard to identify who is on which side.
It has destroyed countless organizations.
It's fighting against oneself in a manner of speaking.
It is hard to identify who is on which side.
It has destroyed countless organizations.
My pastor, Tony Miller, preached on "The Unnoticed" people in society Sunday and our commitment as Christians to them. Unnoticed people are looked past, disregarded, considered unimportant if given any consideration at all.
Part of the Sanhedrin's problem was that "a carpenter's son should be unnoticed."
In v41, the apostles demonstrate an uncommon reaction to what has just taken place. What was the reaction, and what allowed them to act like this?
We got this far this week.
We got this far this week.
Friday, This week Expressions of Faith is
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