Thoughts on Questions on Acts Ch 21 from 6/30


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. 

Ch 21

Vv 1-16

I’m not sure why Luke spends so many words describing their route. What do you think?
  • All stops are islands except Tyre that's on the mainland.
What do the disciples from Tyre tell Paul? 
  • Don't go to Jerusalem because the Holy Spirit directed them.
How does he respond?
  • He continues on to Jerusalam.
Who do we “revisit” in v.8?
  • Philip the Evangelist.
  • He was one of the first seven deacons chosen to serve Greek widows after Pentecost. Stephen was another. (Acts 6:5)
Describe Agabus’ actions. 
  • He's a prophet who predicted an area-wide famine.
  • He removes Paul's belt and ties himself up.
What do they represent? 
  • What will happen to Paul in Jerusalem.
  • They foreshadow Paul's fate.
Who do they echo?
  • Believers in the previous and current port of call.
Paul’s response to Agabus and the others who are concerned?
  • "The Lord's will be done."
  • God wanted him to go to Jerusalem.
  • We must accept all that comes with God's will.
Why does Luke use the term “go up to Jerusalem”?
  • It's on the top of a hill.

Vv 17-26

How would you describe Paul’s immediate actions upon arriving in Jerusalem?
  • He's welcomed by the brothers and James, a church leader.
  • He describes what the Holy Spirit accomplished in his ministry.
What’s the “word on the street” about Paul? [at least among Jews!]
  • Jews accuse him of violating and disrespecting Mosaic Law.
What do the Jerusalem believers urge Paul to do? 
  • Go with some vow-keepers and pay their expenses.
Why? 
  • "Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law.25 As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.” Verses 24b-25
  • Paul knows that God wants him in Jerusalem. He is willing to do whatever it takes for him to complete that will.
What does Paul do?
  • Joins the vow-keepers and pays their expenses.


 We got this far this week. 

Here's a link to a great Timeline of the Apostle Paul. I recommend bookmarking it. 


SEOs: Bible, Acts, Bible study, questions and answers

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!

Comments

Popular Posts