#Bible Thoughts on Study Questions from Acts Ch 15 on 4/14
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 at the end of the post.
Try it.
You'll like it.
There is a timeline of Paul's life at the end of the post.
Try it.
You'll like it.
Chapter 15
Vv1-21
Somewhat surprisingly, Peter comes to the defense of Paul’s position. What is Peter’s reason?
- The work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of converts under his ministry and Paul's teaching.
- He learned there should not be discrimination.
V10 is interesting. Can you think of some “yokes” established Christians put on new Christians today?
- The word "yoke" is derived from the word "control."
- Proper dress "appearance" - not so much as it used to be.
- Requiring re-baptism - demeans the act in the eyes of many.
- Order or Type/Style of worship.
- Style of communion and who can take it in that church.
- Drinking alcohol.
What is Paul’s ultimate explanation of salvation?
- Salvation is by God's grace only.
What does James add to the defense?
- "Don't trouble the Gentiles."
- 13 When they had finished speaking, [b]James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 [c]Simeon (Simon Peter) has described how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name [to honor Him and be identified with Him]. 15 The words of the Prophets agree with this Acts 13:13-15a (Amplified Bible)
What does the church in Jerusalem do about this situation?
- Draft a letter to send to Antioch.
Vv1-21
Somewhat surprisingly, Peter comes to the defense of Paul’s position. What is Peter’s reason?
- The work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of converts under his ministry and Paul's teaching.
- He learned there should not be discrimination.
V10 is interesting. Can you think of some “yokes” established Christians put on new Christians today?
- The word "yoke" is derived from the word "control."
- Proper dress "appearance" - not so much as it used to be.
- Requiring re-baptism - demeans the act in the eyes of many.
- Order or Type/Style of worship.
- Style of communion and who can take it in that church.
- Drinking alcohol.
What is Paul’s ultimate explanation of salvation?
- Salvation is by God's grace only.
What does James add to the defense?
- "Don't trouble the Gentiles."
- 13 When they had finished speaking, [b]James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 [c]Simeon (Simon Peter) has described how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name [to honor Him and be identified with Him]. 15 The words of the Prophets agree with this Acts 13:13-15a (Amplified Bible)
What does the church in Jerusalem do about this situation?
- Draft a letter to send to Antioch.
What three restrictions are the only ones placed on new believers?
- Eat no food that has been offered to idols.
- Do not commit sexually immoral acts.
- Eat no meat from an animal that was strangled.
Why those?
- To not offend weaker brothers.
- Make a commitment to your spouse.
- Meat from strangled animals was a health threat.
Vv 22-35
 |
| From a comment in one student's Bible. |
Why send anybody to Antioch with Paul and Barny?
- Silas and Judah were from Antioch.
Who’s Silas?
- Silas was a leader and prophet.
- He was a Hellenistic Jew, perhaps a Gentile.
- The name "Silas" is a shortened form of "Silvanus", and the Silvanus whom Paul mentions in his writings to the Corinthians (2 C 1:19) and the Thessalonians (1 Th 1:1; 2 Th 1:1) is almost certainly the Silas of Acts, and probably the same as the Silvanus who carried the Apostle Peter's first letter (1 P 5:12) to its scattered recipients. (http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/200.html)
How closely does the letter conform to Luke’s narrative?
- The contents of the letter are word-for-word in places to what Luke describes earlier.
Why did the people of Antioch consider the letter to be an “encouraging message”?
- There were only three requirements imposed.
- They did not have to become "Jewish" to be a Christian.
- The Church in Jerusalem sent converts (Silas and Judas) to represent them.
What is the “blessing of peace”?
- In the New Testament, shalom [peace] is revealed as the reconciliation of all things to God through the work of Christ: “God was pleased . . . through [Christ] to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through [Christ’s] blood, shed on the cross” (Colossians 1:19–20). Shalom experienced is multidimensional, complete well-being — physical, psychological, social, and spiritual; it flows from all of one’s relationships being put right — with God, with(in) oneself, and with others.
Note: Verse 34 is not included in many translations with access to recently discovered manuscripts of Scripture.
From another commentary.
Why send anybody to Antioch with Paul and Barny?
- Silas and Judah were from Antioch.
Who’s Silas?
- Silas was a leader and prophet.
- He was a Hellenistic Jew, perhaps a Gentile.
- The name "Silas" is a shortened form of "Silvanus", and the Silvanus whom Paul mentions in his writings to the Corinthians (2 C 1:19) and the Thessalonians (1 Th 1:1; 2 Th 1:1) is almost certainly the Silas of Acts, and probably the same as the Silvanus who carried the Apostle Peter's first letter (1 P 5:12) to its scattered recipients. (http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/200.html)
How closely does the letter conform to Luke’s narrative?
- The contents of the letter are word-for-word in places to what Luke describes earlier.
Why did the people of Antioch consider the letter to be an “encouraging message”?
- There were only three requirements imposed.
- They did not have to become "Jewish" to be a Christian.
- The Church in Jerusalem sent converts (Silas and Judas) to represent them.
What is the “blessing of peace”?
- In the New Testament, shalom [peace] is revealed as the reconciliation of all things to God through the work of Christ: “God was pleased . . . through [Christ] to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through [Christ’s] blood, shed on the cross” (Colossians 1:19–20). Shalom experienced is multidimensional, complete well-being — physical, psychological, social, and spiritual; it flows from all of one’s relationships being put right — with God, with(in) oneself, and with others.
Note: Verse 34 is not included in many translations with access to recently discovered manuscripts of Scripture.
 |
| From another commentary. |
Vv 36-41
Trouble in Paradise. What is the cause of friction between Paul and Barny?
- Back in Pamphylia, John Mark, Barnabas's cousin, chose to end his journey with Paul and his other companions and return home to Jerusalem.
- Paul considers Mark a deserter. Barnabas wants to forgive and move on.
- This Mark is generally recognized as the author of the Gospel of Mark.
Who does Paul choose as his new traveling companion?
- Barnabas and Mark don't abandon missionary work. They head to Cyprus.
- Paul chooses Silas as his companion.
What appears to be a problem with this?
- There doesn't seem to be a problem with Silas.
40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. Acts 15:40-41
Trouble in Paradise. What is the cause of friction between Paul and Barny?
- Back in Pamphylia, John Mark, Barnabas's cousin, chose to end his journey with Paul and his other companions and return home to Jerusalem.
- Paul considers Mark a deserter. Barnabas wants to forgive and move on.
- This Mark is generally recognized as the author of the Gospel of Mark.
Who does Paul choose as his new traveling companion?
- Barnabas and Mark don't abandon missionary work. They head to Cyprus.
- Paul chooses Silas as his companion.
What appears to be a problem with this?
- There doesn't seem to be a problem with Silas.
40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. Acts 15:40-41
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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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”?
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