Thoughts on Study Questions from Acts Ch13 on 3/24
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.
There is a timeline of Paul's life the end of the post.
Try it.
You'll like it.
There is a timeline of Paul's life the end of the post.
Try it.
You'll like it.
Chapter 13
Vv 42-52
What evidence do we have of the effectiveness of Paul’s sermon?
In verse 44, Luke reports "almost the whole city" believed.
How does that compare to the evidence after Peter’s first sermon?
3000 converts are the immediate result of Peter's sermon.
According to a Google search, Pisidian Antioch may have had 100,000 inhabitants, so "almost the whole city" would be more than 3K.
Why do you think there is no mention of numbers of converts here?
That's not the important part of this story.
SIDEBAR
Paul was a Jew. He honored the Synagogue in each city.
The Synagogue was THE gathering place to learn/worship God for both Jews and Gentile believers.
Vv 44-47 are pivotal verses in the Book of Acts. Why?
Verse 46 reports that Paul stops preaching to Jews first after this.
What is implied here?
The Jews “blew it!”
Hmmm. v46 has some interesting wording. React to the last phrase.
And Paul and Barnabas spoke out plainly and boldly, saying, It was necessary that God’s message [concerning[a] salvation through Christ] should be spoken to you first. But since you thrust it from you, you pass this judgment on yourselves that you are unworthy of eternal life and out of your own mouth you will be judged. [Now] behold, we turn to the Gentiles (the heathen). Acts 13:46 (Amplified Bible)
What evidence do we have of the effectiveness of Paul’s sermon?
Gentile believers wanted more information.
Jewish leadership "thrust aside" [verbs in other translations include: repudiated (NASB), rejected (NIV)] Paul's message.In verse 44, Luke reports "almost the whole city" believed.
How does that compare to the evidence after Peter’s first sermon?
3000 converts are the immediate result of Peter's sermon.
According to a Google search, Pisidian Antioch may have had 100,000 inhabitants, so "almost the whole city" would be more than 3K.
3000 converts are the immediate result of Peter's sermon.
According to a Google search, Pisidian Antioch may have had 100,000 inhabitants, so "almost the whole city" would be more than 3K.
Why do you think there is no mention of numbers of converts here?
Nobody counted.That's not the important part of this story.
Paul was a Jew. He honored the Synagogue in each city.
The Synagogue was THE gathering place to learn/worship God for both Jews and Gentile believers.
Vv 44-47 are pivotal verses in the Book of Acts. Why?
Verse 46 reports that Paul stops preaching to Jews first after this.
Scriptures quoted are
Isaiah 42:6 and 49:6 which describes the Christ as the light to the Gentiles.
In Acts 9:15, God says this to Ananias when he is reluctant to go to Paul.
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen[a] instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;
What is implied here?
The Jews “blew it!”
Stiff-necked Jews rejected the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Messiah.
Hmmm. v46 has some interesting wording. React to the last phrase.
Not ignoring is in one translation.
Rejected our message is in another.
And Paul and Barnabas spoke out plainly and boldly, saying, It was necessary that God’s message [concerning[a] salvation through Christ] should be spoken to you first. But since you thrust it from you, you pass this judgment on yourselves that you are unworthy of eternal life and out of your own mouth you will be judged. [Now] behold, we turn to the Gentiles (the heathen). Acts 13:46 (Amplified Bible)
Here's a link to a great Timeline of the Apostle Paul. I recommend bookmarking it.
We got this far this week.
Follow me on Twitter: @CRDowningAuthor and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CRDowningAuthor
My website is: www.crdowning.com
I'd appreciate your feedback on Blogger!
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?
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?
Chapter 14
Vv 1-7
Where is Iconium?
Vv1-2 sound like a repeat of what?
Why do Paul and Barny leave town?
Vv 8-19
How does Paul’s healing “technique” compare to Peter’s?
Oh, oh. This miracle leads immediately to a problem. To what TODAY can you compare the attitude and reaction of the folks of Lystra?
It’s difficult for Paul and Barny to get out of this situation. How do they try?
How do the local Jews “solve the problem”?
What do we learn about Paul in v20?
In vv21-22, we learn something else about Paul. What?
To what event in today’s society can we compare v23 with?
Vv 20-28
At the beginning of this section, Paul returns to Antioch. What does he do?
Why do you think he kept returning to Antioch?
Chapter 15
Vv1-21
Why do you think the men from Judea were teaching as they did?
Why do Paul and Barny go the Jerusalem?
What do they do on their trip? Why do you think they told the stories they did?
What’s different about this visit by Paul to
Jerusalem compared to his first visit after his conversion?
Why should the mention of the Pharisees in v5 not surprise you?
Somewhat surprisingly, Peter comes to the defense of Paul’s position. What is Peter’s reason?
V10 is interesting. Can you think of some “yokes” established Christians put on new Christians today?
What is Paul’s ultimate explanation of salvation?
What does James add to the defense?
What does the church in Jerusalem do about this situation?
What three restrictions are the only ones placed on new believers? Why those?
Vv 22-35
Why send anybody to Antioch with Paul and Barny? Who’s Silas?
How closely does the letter conform to Luke’s narrative?
Why did the people of Antioch consider the letter to be an “encouraging message”?
What is the “blessing of peace”?
Vv 36-41
Trouble in Paradise. What is the cause of friction between Paul and Barny?
Who does Paul choose as his new traveling companion? What appears to be a problem with this?
Chapter 16
Vv 1-5
Who do we meet here? What is his heritage?
Circumcision? I thought Paul was against that practice. What gives?
How does the circumcision seem contrary to v4?
Comment on v5.
Vv 6-10
Where are they now? Why not go to Asia?
Something special happens in Troas. What? and what is the result?
Vv 11-15
Where is Philippi? Ever heard of it before?
Why didn’t they go to the synagogue on the Sabbath?
Why are women at the river?
What is the significance of Lydia’s profession?
After her conversion, what significant acts does Lydia take?
Vv 16-40
What’s the story of the little slave girl?
Why did the girl’s owners react as they did?
Are vv 20-21 accurate?
What punishment do the magistrates assign to Paul and Silas?
How do we know the jailer took his job seriously?
Why were Paul and Silas still awake at midnight? What were they doing?
What are the immediate results of the earthquake?
What is the jailer’s response to the earthquake?
How could Paul know what the jailer was about to do?
The jailer’s question isn’t what you might expect in such a situation. What does this tell us about P &S?
After Paul’s sermon, what acts does the jailer take? What is God’s response?
The magistrates will let P & S go. What’s Paul’s problem with that?
Why were the magistrates “alarmed” in v38 and want “to appease” P & S in v39?
What can we learn from Paul and Silas’s example in this?
Ch 17
Vv 1-9
Where is Thessalonica? What’s different about it from Philippi?
What’s Paul’s approach here?
What do we learn about the new believers that makes it clear they are not all Jews? How did the non-Jews learn Paul’s message?
How much of the accusation in vv6-7 is true?
Vv 10-15
Comment on the Bereans compared to the Thessalonians.
While Paul might not have been happy with the Thessalonian Jews, why would he understand them?
Vv 16-34
What bothered Paul about Athens?
Why did people think Paul was a “babbler”?
Comments
Post a Comment