Thoughts on Study Questions from Acts Ch 14/15 on 4/7
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 14
Vv 8-19
Vv 8-19
It’s difficult for Paul and Barny to get out of this situation. How do they try?
- They tore their garments. This was a traditional expression of grief and mourning throughout the region. This showed they were just men, not gods.
- They describe as the Maker of heaven and earth. This was like saying, "Your gods are worthless!"
How do the local Jews “solve the problem”?
- They entice the crowd to stone Paul.
- They drag Paul out of the city and leave him for dead.
- Was Paul "playing dead" because he knew Jews did not touch dead bodies?
It’s difficult for Paul and Barny to get out of this situation. How do they try?
- They tore their garments. This was a traditional expression of grief and mourning throughout the region. This showed they were just men, not gods.
- They describe as the Maker of heaven and earth. This was like saying, "Your gods are worthless!"
How do the local Jews “solve the problem”?
- They entice the crowd to stone Paul.
- They drag Paul out of the city and leave him for dead.
- Was Paul "playing dead" because he knew Jews did not touch dead bodies?
Vv 20-28
What do we learn about Paul in v20?
- Paul is alive.
- He goes back into town.
There was some question of why Paul went back into town. Opinion ranged from "He was delirious" to "To get his clothing and get ready to leave."
In vv21-22, we learn something else about Paul. What?
Paul's priority is entering the Kingdom of God.
- Because of that, he warns them about trials and hardships.
- He retraced his route to reinforce his message.
- He encouraged them to have faith... regardless!
To what event in today’s society can we compare v23 with?
- A church plant
- The coming together of various church groups for annual meetings.
- An ordination service.
At the end of this section, Paul returns to Antioch. What does he do?
- Called the believers to gather together.
- Reported the main events on his journey INCLUDING how Gentiles are now welcomed as part of Christianity.
Why do you think he kept returning to Antioch?
- The church in Antioch was the church that sent him on this journey.
Chapter 15
- They were Jews.
- Pharisees were the strictest Jewish sect when it came to making and following rules.
- They saw no reason to stop "non-doctrinal" practices--keeping part of the Law they'd lived with all their lives.
- It was a cultural norm in Judea.
Why do Paul and Barny go to Jerusalem?
- Peter and other apostles are there.
- To settle the circumcision question once and for all.
What do they do on their trip?
- They describe as the Maker of heaven and earth. This was like saying, "Your gods are worthless!"
Why do you think they told the stories they did?
- Seized the moment.
- Learning of the Gentile conversions brought joy to the Jews listening.
What’s different about this visit by Paul to Jerusalem compared to his first visit after his conversion?
- A hearty welcome was far different than the first welcome, which was fear-fueled.
Why should the mention of the Pharisees in v5 not surprise you?
What do we learn about Paul in v20?
- Paul is alive.
- He goes back into town.
In vv21-22, we learn something else about Paul. What?
Paul's priority is entering the Kingdom of God.
- Because of that, he warns them about trials and hardships.
- He retraced his route to reinforce his message.
- He encouraged them to have faith... regardless!
To what event in today’s society can we compare v23 with?
- A church plant
- The coming together of various church groups for annual meetings.
- An ordination service.
At the end of this section, Paul returns to Antioch. What does he do?
- Called the believers to gather together.
- Reported the main events on his journey INCLUDING how Gentiles are now welcomed as part of Christianity.
Why do you think he kept returning to Antioch?
- The church in Antioch was the church that sent him on this journey.
Chapter 15
Vv1-21
Why do you think the men from Judea were teaching as they did?
- They were Jews.
- Pharisees were the strictest Jewish sect when it came to making and following rules.
- They saw no reason to stop "non-doctrinal" practices--keeping part of the Law they'd lived with all their lives.
- It was a cultural norm in Judea.
Why do Paul and Barny go to Jerusalem?
- Peter and other apostles are there.
- To settle the circumcision question once and for all.
What do they do on their trip?
- They describe as the Maker of heaven and earth. This was like saying, "Your gods are worthless!"
Why do you think they told the stories they did?
- Seized the moment.
- Learning of the Gentile conversions brought joy to the Jews listening.
What’s different about this visit by Paul to Jerusalem compared to his first visit after his conversion?
- A hearty welcome was far different than the first welcome, which was fear-fueled.
Why should the mention of the Pharisees in v5 not surprise you?
- That's what Pharisees do!
- Pharisees FOLLOWED THE LAW.
- Pharisees were CRITICS.
- That's what Pharisees do!
- Pharisees FOLLOWED THE LAW.
- Pharisees were CRITICS.
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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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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