Thoughts on Study Questions from Acts Ch 12/13 from 3/3



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.
This is 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.

 This would be an excellent week to read to the end of the post. 
Try it. 
You'll like it.

Chapter 12
Vv19b-25
The incident with Herod shows another aspect of God. What is it?
He is a jealous God.
Angels do His bidding.
He meant the first of the Ten Commandments.

 ASIDE
Commentary from https://theapologeticsgroup.com/the-death-of-herod-agrippa-i/

THE DEATH OF HEROD AGRIPPA I

In Featured, History & Politics by eric holmbergDecember 7, 2013
“On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.” Acts 12:21-23
Stumbled across this interesting passage from the great Jewish historian, Josephus that provides a parallel account – with fascinating color commentary – of this provocative snippet of Biblical history.
From Josephus, Antiquities 19.8.2 343-361: “Now when Agrippa had reigned three years over all Judea he came to the city Caesarea, which was formerly called Strato’s Tower; and there he exhibited spectacles in honor of Caesar, for whose well-being he’d been informed that a certain festival was being celebrated. At this festival a great number were gathered together of the principal persons of dignity of his province. On the second day of the spectacles he put on a garment made wholly of silver, of a truly wonderful texture, and came into the theater early in the morning. There the silver of his garment, being illuminated by the fresh reflection of the sun’s rays, shone out in a wonderful manner, and was so resplendent as to spread awe over those that looked intently upon him. Presently his flatterers cried out, one from one place, and another from another, (though not for his good) that he was a god; and they added, “Be thou merciful to us; for although we have hitherto reverenced thee only as a man, yet shall we henceforth own thee as superior to mortal nature.” Upon this the king neither rebuked them nor rejected their impious flattery. But he shortly afterward looked up and saw an owl sitting on a certain rope over his head, and immediately understood that this bird was the messenger of ill tidings, just as it had once been the messenger of good tidings to him; and fell into the deepest sorrow. A severe pain arose in his belly, striking with a most violent intensity. He therefore looked upon his friends, and said, ‘I, whom you call a god, am commanded presently to depart this life; while Providence thus reproves the lying words you just now said to me; 
and I, who was by you called immortal, am immediately to be hurried away by death. But I am bound to accept what Providence allots, as it pleases God; for we have by no means lived ill, but in a splendid and happy manner.’ When he had said this, his pain became violent.”

FINAL NOTE: THE NEXT VERSE IN ACTS IS “BUT THE WORD OF GOD INCREASED AND MULTIPLIED.” (Acts 12:24) Oh, the difference between the words and power of men versus God!

Why did Herod die?
God decided it was time.
He refused to acknowledge God as God.

Despite more persecution, what’s happening to the Gospel?
It is spreading.
When you break up a crowd of like-minded people, the common bondspreads and flourishes.

Saul and Barnabas take a young man with them. What do we know about him?
John Mark is Barnabas’s cousin.
His mother was a believer. It was her house that Peter went to after escaping from prison.


Chapter 13
Vv1-3
What’s the difference between a prophet and a teacher?
Prophet: Says whatever God dictates verbatim.
Teacher: Explains teachings and answers questions.

Comment on the list of names given here.
Barnabas was from Cyprus.
Simeon called Niger was from Africa. Accordingto one commentary, this might have been the man conscripted into carrying Christ’s cross.
Lucius of Cyrene is all we found. 
Manaen (who had been broughtup with Herod the tetrarch) was from Judea and was a foster brother of Herod
Saul was from Tarsus.

Why do they send Saul and Barnabas off as missionaries?
The Holy Spirit tells them to do it.

Discuss the significance of the sequence of events in v3.
  • The sequence is one that was useda lot in the early church.
  • Holy Spirit speaks --> 
  • Prayer and Fasting take place. This was a commitment. Fasting helped them focus on their prayers what God wanted. -->
  • Laying on of hands was not for show. It was a means of connecting with by the sending parties through the Holy Spirit. Luke reports the transmission of spiritual power by laying on of hands on Christ in Luke 6:19

and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.

Vv4-12

What’s happened to John Mark?
He’s become an assistant or intern.
The Holy Spirit did not choose him.

Where do they go first: geographic location? 
Selucia--> Cyprus --> Salamis and Paphos
Place in a town?
Synagogues

Who (what) was Bar-Jesus?
Jewish sorcerer and false prophet AKA Elymas.
He was attachedto the Proconsul/Governor.

Why would Elymas even care about the proconsul’s religious beliefs?
Elymas was investedin false activities. 
If the Governor listened to Paul and Silas, Elymas loses his power. 
So he opposes all that Paul and Silas preach.

In vv10-12, Paul really lays it on the line with Elymas. What are the two immediate results?
Paul’s words sound like Jesus’ words to the moneychangers in the Temple.
  1. Elymas is blinded as Paul had been. While blind, people helped Paul. Elymas has to grope around looking for help. No one helped the false prophet.
  2. The Governor becomes a believer.
Here's a link to a great Timeline of the Apostle Paul. I recommend bookmarking it. 

 We got this far this week. 


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Vv13-41

What happens to John Mark?
Who invites Paul and Barny to speak? Why would they do that?
Vv16-41 is Paul’s first recorded sermon. Compare it to the previous sermons in Acts.
What is immediately noticeable in v16?
Vv17-20a is a very short version of what 5 books of the Bible?
Whose descendents are referred to in v23?
In v26 Paul explains the purpose of his sermon. What is it?
Who specifically is included in “they” in vv 27-29?
Why do you think Paul uses the quotations he does from Psalms in vv33-35?
In vv38-41, Paul’s tone is significantly different from the tone in the same part of Peter’s first sermon. What is the warning in v40, and how does it apply to the year 2001?

Vv 42-52

What evidence do we have of the effectiveness of Paul’s sermon? 
How does that compare to the evidence after Peter’s first sermon?
Why do you think there is no mention of numbers of converts here?
Vv 44-47 are pivotal verses in the Book of Acts. Why? What is implied here?
Hmmm. v46 has some interesting wording. React to the last phrase.
New evidence of Paul’s effectiveness appears in v49. What is it?
How do the Jews react to Paul’s preaching?
What does v51 mean?
What two things filled the disciples? What is the relationship between them?



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