Thoughts on Study Question from Acts Ch 13&14 on 3/31
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 13
Vv 42-52
New evidence of Paul’s effectiveness appears in v49. What is it?
God's message spread throughout the region.
People came to listen.
People rejoiced and glorified the Word of God.
How do the Jews react to Paul’s preaching?
They run him and Barnabus out of town.
(They instigated (NASB)/incited/stirred up strife and persecution by devout women and prominent men)
What does v51 mean?
American Standard Version
But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
This is the direction Jesus gave the those He sent out in ministry in Matthew 10:14.
From one commentary: The ship of salvation began its slow turn from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.
Another commentary: they counted the Jews in this region as pagan and broke all affiliation to them.
What two things filled the disciples? What is the relationship between them?
- Joy
- Holy Spirit
This happened continually (NASB)
If you have the Holy Spirit, you have joy.
You have true joy only in the Holy Spirit because Joy is part of the Fruit of the Spirit.
New evidence of Paul’s effectiveness appears in v49. What is it?
God's message spread throughout the region.
People came to listen.
People rejoiced and glorified the Word of God.
People came to listen.
People rejoiced and glorified the Word of God.
How do the Jews react to Paul’s preaching?
They run him and Barnabus out of town.
(They instigated (NASB)/incited/stirred up strife and persecution by devout women and prominent men)
(They instigated (NASB)/incited/stirred up strife and persecution by devout women and prominent men)
What does v51 mean?
American Standard Version
But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
This is the direction Jesus gave the those He sent out in ministry in Matthew 10:14.
From one commentary: The ship of salvation began its slow turn from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.
Another commentary: they counted the Jews in this region as pagan and broke all affiliation to them.
What two things filled the disciples? What is the relationship between them?
- Joy
- Holy Spirit
This happened continually (NASB)
If you have the Holy Spirit, you have joy.
You have true joy only in the Holy Spirit because Joy is part of the Fruit of the Spirit.
Chapter 14
Vv 1-7
Southeast of Pisidian Antioch.
Vv1-2 sound like a repeat of what?
There is now a rift between Jewish believers and Jewish unbelievers.
Why do Paul and Barny leave town?
The continued Southeast to Lystra and Derbe
Vv 1-7
Where is Iconium?
In Galatia, the region known as Lycaonia.Southeast of Pisidian Antioch.
Vv1-2 sound like a repeat of what?
What happened in Antioch in Chapter 13There is now a rift between Jewish believers and Jewish unbelievers.
Why do Paul and Barny leave town?
There was an attempt on their lives.The continued Southeast to Lystra and Derbe
Vv 8-19
Note. There was no Synagogue in Lystra.
How does Paul’s healing “technique” compare to Peter’s?
This refers more to the healing described in Acts 3 than the one in Acts 9 because the men healed in each situation were crippled from birth.
- Paul focused on the man's faith.
- Peter was the one with faith, not the cripple.
- Both made eye contact with the man they helped.
- Peter helps the man up.
- Both use similar words.
Oh, oh. This miracle leads immediately to a problem. To what TODAY can you compare the attitude and reaction of the folks of Lystra?
Problem
The people in Lystra think Paul and Barnabus are gods because there was a fable about a time when that city lost favor with the gods because they did not recognize Zeus and Hermes when they visited. The townspeople determined not to make that mistake again.
Biblically, Paul and Barnabas are a bit like Aaron and Moses early in that ministry.
Today
There is still a penchant today to make men/women god-like in the minds of people.
Note. There was no Synagogue in Lystra.
How does Paul’s healing “technique” compare to Peter’s?
This refers more to the healing described in Acts 3 than the one in Acts 9 because the men healed in each situation were crippled from birth.
- Paul focused on the man's faith.
- Peter was the one with faith, not the cripple.
- Both made eye contact with the man they helped.
- Peter helps the man up.
- Both use similar words.
Oh, oh. This miracle leads immediately to a problem. To what TODAY can you compare the attitude and reaction of the folks of Lystra?
Problem
The people in Lystra think Paul and Barnabus are gods because there was a fable about a time when that city lost favor with the gods because they did not recognize Zeus and Hermes when they visited. The townspeople determined not to make that mistake again.
Biblically, Paul and Barnabas are a bit like Aaron and Moses early in that ministry.
Today
There is still a penchant today to make men/women god-like in the minds of people.
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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Vv 8-19
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”?
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