Acts 8-14

Answers

2009

Chapter 8 - Saul Persecutes the Church

A new era begins for the church.  Up until the time of the persecution of Stephen, the witness of the church had been to the Jews in Jerusalem.  God had instructed them to begin in Jerusalem but then to branch out into Judea, Samaria and the end of the earth.  Now they were forced to do it by persecution.  Saul, a brilliant young disciple of the teacher Gamaliel, was at the forefront of the persecution, dragging many Christians to prison.

As difficult as the persecution was, a seed had been planted and much fruit would be the result.  The seeds of the Gospel were scattered to distant places as God used the death of Stephen to spark a movement in the church that would have global impact.  Philip, the deacon in chapter 6, went north to Samaria and preached the Good News about the Messiah and many were converted.  The NT writings were not yet in place, so God empowered these disciples to do miracles in His name, verifying their authenticity.

A certain man of that city named Simon, a sorcerer, became aware of the great things Philip performed wherever he went and wanted.  This man was believed to be the founder of Gnosticism, the belief that knowledge, rather than faith, was the key to salvation.  But God used Philip to change the minds of the people formerly persuaded by the magic of Simon.

1. What does verse twelve tell us they did?  (A) “But now the people believed…and as a result were baptized.  Note the order – they first believed (and were saved) and as a result of the confession of faith, they were baptized.
2. Verse 15 seems a contradiction to the way the Holy Spirit indwelt the believers in Jerusalem.  Why?  (A) VV.14-17 tell us that the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the Samarians had received the word of God and were baptized.  They came to Samaria, prayed for them to receive the HS.  Why was this indwelling different?  (A) This was a transitional period in which the confirmation by the apostles was necessary to verify the inclusion of a new group of people into the church.  Because of the problems between the Samarians and the Jews, it was necessary for the new believers to receive the HS in the presence of the leaders of the church in Jerusalem, for the purpose of maintaining a unified church.  Anyone can claim to have received the HS, as many of the false teachers did.
3. Was it necessary for the apostles to lay hands on them (v.17)?  (A) No, the HS does not need human intervention, but it served to express the full fellowship with the believers in Jerusalem.  They were all members of one body, all one in Christ Jesus.  They were saved by faith in the Lord, the only way to salvation.
4. Simon the sorcerer saw the power of the Spirit and wanted the same.  He asked Peter for the power.  How does Peter’s response show that Simon was not a true believer?  (A) “May your money perish with you…(v.20)” – no believer will ever perish (John 3:16);  “You can have no part in this” – he was not in the fellowship; “Your heart is not right before God” – a fitting description of an unsaved person; “You are full of bitterness and held captive by sin” – this can not be true of a regenerated person.
5. V.13 says that he was baptized.  Did not this save him?  (A) Baptism does not save.  In v.22, Peter tells him to repent so that his sins be forgiven.  He was unwilling to do so.
6. V. 26 says that an angel directed Philip to go south…  Why didn’t the angel just witness to the eunuch and baptize him?  (A) This is the work set aside for all believers to do.  Angels are not granted this privilege.
7. Philip witnessed to the eunuch and in response to his confession of faith, baptized him; the Spirit immediately caught up Philip?  Why?  (A) It may have been to show the caravan in which the eunuch traveled that Phil was indeed a messenger from God, and it may have been so that the eunuch would not become preoccupied by the human instrument of conversion rather than the Lord Himself.

Chapter 9 –The Damascus Road

This chapter marks a turning point in church history.  Up until now, Peter had been the foremost figure in the church as he preached to the nation of Israel.  From now on, the Apostle Paul will gradually become the foremost figure, and the gospel will increasingly go out to the Gentiles.

Satan is the master of deceit and causes jealousies to be stirred up in people when their own way is upset or threatened.  This is what happened to young Saul as he saw the new faith, called “The Way,” supposedly threaten his exclusive Jewish religion.  Saul was one of the most promising of the young rabbis in Judaism and his zeal was far beyond that of others like him.  He carried that zeal with him as he sought to put an end to this new, upstart religion.  But God had other plans.

The Lord Jesus appeared to Saul while on the way to Damascus in Syria to find Christians and imprison them. Saul heard a voice from heaven saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

1. What did Saul learn that day that changed his life forever?  (A) He learned that the Jesus of Nazareth whom he believed to be dead was not dead at all, but that He had been raised from the dead and glorified at God’s right hand.  He learned that when he had been persecuting the disciples of Jesus, he had been persecuting the Lord Himself.  Many of us learn church doctrine before we ever really know Jesus.  For Saul it was the opposite.
2. We have often discussed the sovereignty of God as he intercedes in the lives of certain people and we see it in this story.  How?  (A) VV.10-19 –He chose a believer, Ananias of Damascus, to minister to what Ananias believed to be his mortal enemy, Saul.  He chose Saul to be “…His chosen instrument to take His message to the Gentiles, to kings, and to the people of Israel (v.15)” He chooses whom He will.  God’s message was grace and that is what Paul taught.
3. Discuss the significance of Ananias “laying his hands” on Saul (v.17)  (A) It is one of the most important things we can learn from Acts, that Christianity is a lay movement.  God used a layman, not an apostle, to minister to Saul to receive the Holy Spirit.  There is no special class of “priests” – believers are all “royal priests” called to tell about the One who calls people out of darkness into His marvelous light (1Peter 2:9).  You are called to be an “Ananias.”
4. What is amazing about vv.22&23?  (A) Saul taught that Jesus was the Son of God and as time passed his preaching became increasingly powerful, so much so that the Jews could not refute the fact that Jesus was the Messiah.  Still, they sought to kill Saul!  Head knowledge is not heart knowledge!
5. Saul is rescued and disappeared from prominent ministry for several years and the church continued to grow “in the comfort of the Holy Spirit (v.31).”

Chapter 10 – Cornelius Calls For Peter

Up until now, we have seen God grow His church through the nation of Israel, His chosen people.  Peter’s ministry has been to the Jews, but while in Joppa, his eyes were opened for the conversion of the Gentiles as well.  We see it first in v.43 of chapter 9, when he stayed in the house of Simon, the tanner.  Tanning was an occupation despised by the Jews because it dealt with the skins of dead animals and forbidden by the Law.  Now we see the divine intervention of the Roman Centurion, as God sends an angel to prompt him to seek out Peter.  For Peter to meet with a Gentile and enter into his home was forbidden.  He and his home would be considered unclean.

1. How does God convince Peter that ministry to the Gentiles is no longer forbidden?  (A) While in Joppa and in prayer, Peter sees a sheet come down from heaven filled with all kinds of animals forbidden by the Law to be consumed by Jews.  God tells Peter to kill and eat – that all that God cleanses is now clean.  After being summoned by Cornelius, Peter understands this to mean, “…I should never think of anyone (Gentiles) as impure (v.28).”
2. What can we learn from the experience of Cornelius?  (A) VV. 2, 30,31-33, all show us that he was a devout man who fasted, prayed and gave alms generously to the people.  God honored him by answering his prayers (v.31).
3. Peter gives a passionate account of the message of the gospel in vv.34-48. What are the main points that are significant for you?  (A) V.41 – Jesus became visible only to chosen believers; through the name of Jesus, whoever believes in Him will have their sins forgiven; the Holy Spirit is poured out on the Gentiles as well as the Jews, on all who heard and believed; those who “have received” (past tense) the Holy Spirit (meaning they were saved and at that moment received the _________ of the Spirit) can now be baptized in the name of Jesus. ***Note the order: 1) They heard the Word, that is, they believed.  2) They received the HS (vv.44, 47).  3) They were baptized (v.48).

Chapter 11 – Peter Defends God’s Grace

Old habits die-hard.  For centuries, the Jews believed that they were the only people God chose to be called His own.  The news that the Gentiles had received the Word of God came as a shock and the Jews in Jerusalem criticized Peter for his involvement with them.  Peter relays all that happened to him on his journey, convincing them that the Lord extended His grace to the Gentiles too.

1.     What new thing did they learn (see vv.15-17)?  (A) Peter learned that the Spirit fell on the Gentiles as he preached to them the message of God’s grace.  He remembered the words of Jesus, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”  The baptism of the HS occurs at the moment of salvation (see 1 Cor. 12:13; 1 Cor. 6:19,20; Rom. 8:9; Titus 3:5,6).  1 Cor. 12:13 tells us that all believers are immersed into the body of Christ by means of the HS.  Paul emphasizes the unity of all believers.  There cannot be any believer who had not been baptized, not can there be more than one Spirit baptism.  Believers have all been Spirit-baptized and therefore are one body in Christ.  *** This is important; please check out all of these verses for yourself.

2.     When were they baptized with the HS?  (A) When they heard and believed (v.17).

3.     What did the Jews realize (v.18)?  (A) The Gentiles also received eternal life upon repentance.  Believing is not simply head knowledge alone.

4.     What great thing happened to the Jews in the Diaspora (the scattered Jews) (vv.17-23)?  (A) Those converted Jews scattered after Stephen’s martyrdom, preached the message of salvation to the Jews and also to the Gentiles and large numbers were saved.  The great part of this is that it was laymen, not apostles, who preached God’s Word.  Not one of their names is known!

Chapter 12 – James is Killed and Peter is Imprisoned.

Satan continues his relentless attack on Christians; this time the persecution coming from King apostle Herod Agrippa, the Herod who questioned Jesus before His death.  The first death of an Apostle occurs as Herod kills James, the brother of John and one of the three most often seen with Jesus.

1.     Why do you think Herod Killed James?  (A) Herod was a Jew and an appointee of Rome.  To gain favor with the Jews, he persecuted the upstart Christian church.  Verse 2 says that James was killed with a sword - this manner of execution indicates James was accused of leading people to follow false gods (Deut. 13:12-15).

2.     Why do you think Herod wanted to kill Peter?  (A) V.3 tells us that killing James pleased the Jews and Herod wanted to be sure to be on the good side of the Jewish leaders.  He probably saw Peter as a threat to his authority.

3.     V.5 says that that the church prayed very earnestly for Peter and their prayers were answered.  Do you think they prayed any less for James?  Why wasn’t James spared, as was Peter?  (A) It really isn’t up to us which of our prayers we think God should answer.  It was His sovereign will that James be taken home and Peter spared.  That is what faith is all about – trusting in God’s perfect plan and love.

4.     What strikes you about v.12-15?  (A) While the disciples were in deep prayer, Peter came knocking on the door, delivered by God.  Although they prayed for that very thing to happen, when it did they did not believe.  God answers even faithless prayers!  Thank You Lord!

5.     Why did God strike Herod dead?  (A) VV.21-23 – The people of Tyre and Sidon came to ingratiate themselves before Herod and kept shouting “The voice of a god and not of man.”  An angel of the Lord struck him dead because he took the people’s praise and did not give glory to the only true God.

Chapter 13 – Barnabas and Saul Sent Out

Chapter 13 marks a turning point in Acts.  Up until this point, the book focused on Peter; the remaining chapters revolve around Paul and his ministry.  With Peter, the focus was on the Jewish church in Jerusalem and Judea; with Paul, the focus is the spread of the Gentile church throughout the Roman church through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Rather than a church lead by one main man (usually the Pastor/Teacher) we see the Holy Spirit use a number of men with certain spiritual gifts to minister to the church in Antioch.  Jerusalem is still the seat of the Jewish church, but Antioch now becomes the hub from which the Gentile church grows.

1.     What does v.2 tell you about the Spirit’s ministry?  (A) It was His ministry to guide the church in their growth, in their decisions, in revelation.  It is God’s will made manifest.

2.     How does He speak today?  (A) He still guides the church through the written Word, through spiritual gifts given to believers, and in personal revelation.

3.     What does He say through the five prophets named?  (A) The church was to dedicate Saul and Barnabas to the special work “I have for them (v.2)” – other versions say, “to which I have called them.”  So begins Paul’s first missionary journey.

4.     Verse 4,5 tell us that when they arrived in a certain city, Saul and Barnabas preached the Word of God in a synagogue of the Jews.  If a ministry to the Gentiles was already initiated, why preach first to the Jews?  (A) Paul (Saul) used the synagogue as an open door as a Jew, to speak and introduce the Gospel.  If he preached to the Gentiles first, the Jews would never have listened to him.

5.     In Paul’s recitation of the Gospel in vv.16-41, he mentions David as a man after God’s own heart.  Scripture shows us a different side of David – an adulterer, a murderer, a neglectful father, etc.  How is he a man after God’s own heart?  (A) There is no man that is perfect, but as David did, he recognizes sin and repents of it.  That is all God really wants of us.

6.     After Paul’s sermon to the Jews, the Gentiles begged that Paul give them the same message on the next Sabbath.  Many of the Jews and some converts to Judaism followed Paul and he urged them, “By God’s grace remain faithful (v.43).”  What do you think he means?  (A) Those who are truly saved persevere and prove the reality of their salvation by continuing on in God’s grace.  Since Paul was talking to unconverted Jews who were intellectually convinced of the truths of the gospel yet had stopped short of saving faith, he hoped this would stop them from reverting back to the legalism of the Jewish faith rather than embracing Christ completely.  This is why we must disciple new believers!

7.     We have often seen how God sovereignly chooses people for His purpose.  The Bible calls this predestination or election, yet many argue against the fact that God has the right to choose whom ever He will.  What does v. 48 say?  (A) “When the Gentiles heard this (v.47, a quote from Is. 49:6), they were glad and thanked the Lord for this message; and all who were appointed to eternal life became believers.”  We will see much more of the same in coming scriptures.  Let Scripture speak for itself.  It does not excuse man from his moral responsibility to accept Christ as Lord and Savior.  The Gentiles rejoiced and believed.

Chapter 14 – Paul and Barnabas at Iconium

Paul and Barney continue their missionary journey in Iconium in the synagogue, as was their custom.  A great number of Jews and Gentile proselytes (converts) accepted the Lord Jesus Christ.  Yet, many of the Jews remained hard-hearted and proud, putting their religion before the truth and caused hard times for the apostles.  In spite of the persecution, they “stayed there a long time.”  Stirred up by the unbelieving Jews and Gentiles, a mob formed and attempted to stone (a Jewish form of execution for blasphemy) the apostles. 

1.     As we will see, sometimes the apostles stayed in a city despite the danger of imprisonment and stoning and at other times, they fled.  Why?  (A) There seems to be no easy answer to this other than the obvious.  The apostles were in constant prayer and communication with the Holy Spirit.  He lead them to flee and leave the unbelievers behind or He caused them to stay so that many more would be saved.  As always, God’s perfect plan is in place and He blesses whom He will.

2.     They flee to Lystra and there, Paul, as he was preaching, notices a crippled man and seeing that he was full of faith, healed him.  Compare the difference between the reaction of the crowds in vv.3-11 and 8-13.  (A) In Iconium, the unbelieving Jews and Gentiles stirred up the crowd in order to stone the apostles as blasphemers; in Lystra there were few Jews (no synagogue is mentioned) and the people, according to their pagan faith, wanted to declare the apostles to be gods.

3.     How was the preaching of Paul different in 13:17-41 and in 14:15-17?  (A) In chapter 13, we see Paul quoting the OT because of the predominant Jewish crowd.  They could, and should, see God’s prophecies come true in Christ.  In Lystra, the crowd was mostly Gentile and would not understand the Jewish references.  Paul instead started with the story of creation, a subject of interest even to Gentiles.

4.     In the two stories, Paul is first spared death by stoning and in Lystra, is stoned, presumably to death (see 2 Cor. 12:2 where Paul says that at one time, he was caught up into heaven, maybe meaning he died at one point and was returned to finish the work).  What does this show about God and His relationship with His children?  (A) In chapter 9, verse 13, God tells Ananias, “I will show him (Paul) how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”  God loved Paul so much that he actually allowed him to suffer for God’s glory.  It did nothing but to cement Paul’s faith in his Lord Jesus.  Sometimes we are called to suffer.  Too many TV evangelists preach that God will always shower you with health and wealth; often, the opposite is true.  Sometimes our faith is tested in mysterious ways, yet God’s perfect plan is always in place.

5.     What amazes you about Paul’s response (vv.20-21)?  (A) After Paul’s life is restored, he gets up and goes back into the city in which he was stoned.  Instead of hiding in fear for his life, he leaves and preaches in Derbe.  He returns to the cities where he has been rejected to “strengthen the souls of the disciples there”

6.     What is important about his statement “strengthening the souls…?”  (A) To preach the gospel and see souls won for Christ should be only the beginning.  The apostles sought to build up the believers in their faith, especially by teaching them the truth of the church through God’s Word.  They sought to bring them to full maturity.  You can’t lead a person to Christ and then leave them to their own resources.  You don’t bring a child into the world and then leave him and you don’t do it to new believers.  This is what discipleship is (Matt. 28:20)!

7.     What does Luke mean when he says, “They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that they must enter into the Kingdom of God through many tribulations (v.22)?”  (A) The Christian walk does not end when one repents and is saved.  We are called to growing in Christ, using our spiritual gifts for His glory, and finishing the race.  Some are content to just be in the race, but of what value is that to oneself and to the Savior?  In fact, Paul says that we “must” enter into God’s Kingdom (at the end of time) while suffering many troubles.  We must understand that and hopefully be willing.

8.     Verse 27 is important.  The apostles gathered the church at Antioch together and reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.  It was not what they had done for God, but what He had been pleased to accomplish through them!  Paul’s first missionary journey has come to an end.

Acts 8-14

Questions

2009

 Chapter 8 - Saul Persecutes the Church

A new era begins for the church.  Up until the time of the persecution of Stephen, the witness of the church had been to the Jews in Jerusalem.  God had instructed them to begin in Jerusalem but then to branch out into Judea, Samaria and the end of the earth.  Now they were forced to do it by persecution.  Saul, a brilliant young disciple of the teacher Gamaliel, was at the forefront of the persecution, dragging many Christians to prison.

As difficult as the persecution was, a seed had been planted and much fruit would be the result.  The seeds of the Gospel were scattered to distant places as God used the death of Stephen to spark a movement in the church that would have global impact.  Philip, the deacon in chapter 6, went north to Samaria and preached the Good News about the Messiah and many were converted.  The NT writings were not yet in place, so God empowered these disciples to do miracles in His name, verifying their authenticity.

A certain man of that city named Simon, a sorcerer, became aware of the great things Philip performed wherever he went and wanted.  This man was believed to be the founder of Gnosticism, the belief that knowledge, rather than faith, was the key to salvation.  But God used Philip to change the minds of the people formerly persuaded by the magic of Simon.

 Chapter 9 –The Damascus Road

This chapter marks a turning point in church history.  Up until now, Peter had been the foremost figure in the church as he preached to the nation of Israel.  From now on, the Apostle Paul will gradually become the foremost figure, and the gospel will increasingly go out to the Gentiles.

Satan is the master of deceit and causes jealousies to be stirred up in people when their own way is upset or threatened.  This is what happened to young Saul as he saw the new faith, called “The Way,” supposedly threaten his exclusive Jewish religion.  Saul was one of the most promising of the young rabbis in Judaism and his zeal was far beyond that of others like him.  He carried that zeal with him as he sought to put an end to this new, upstart religion.  But God had other plans.

The Lord Jesus appeared to Saul while on the way to Damascus in Syria to find Christians and imprison them. Saul heard a voice from heaven saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

1. What did Saul learn that day that changed his life forever?  (A) He learned that the _______ of Nazareth whom he believed to be dead was ____ dead at all, but that He had been _______ from the dead and glorified at God’s right hand.  He learned that when he had been persecuting the disciples of Jesus, he had been persecuting the ______Himself.  Many of us learn church doctrine before we ever really know Jesus.  For Saul it was the opposite.
2. We have often discussed the __________of God as he intercedes in the lives of certain people and we see it in this story.  How?  (A) VV.10-19 –He _______ a believer, Ananias of Damascus, to minister to what Ananias believed to be his mortal enemy, Saul.  He ______ Saul to be “…His chosen __________to take His message to the Gentiles, to kings, and to the people of Israel (v.15)” He chooses whom He will.  God’s message was ______ and that is what Paul taught.
3. Discuss the significance of Ananias “laying his hands” on Saul (v.17)  (A) It is one of the most important things we can learn from Acts, that Christianity is a _____movement.  God used a_________, not an apostle, to _______to Saul to receive the Holy Spirit.  There is no longer a special class of “priests”; believers are all “______priests” ________ ___ _____about the One who calls people out of darkness into His marvelous light (1Peter 2:9). You are called to be an Ananias.
4. What is amazing about vv.22&23?  (A) Saul taught that Jesus was the Son of God and as time passed his preaching became increasingly powerful, so much so that the Jews could not refute the fact that Jesus was the ________.  Still, they sought to kill Saul!  ______ knowledge is not _______ knowledge!
5. Saul is rescued and disappeared from prominent ministry for several years and the church continued to grow “in the comfort of the Holy Spirit (v.31).”

 Chapter 10 – Cornelius Calls For Peter

Up until now, we have seen God grow His church through the nation of Israel, His chosen people.  Peter’s ministry has been to the Jews, but while in Joppa, his eyes were opened for the conversion of the Gentiles as well.  We see it first in v.43 of chapter 9, when he stayed in the house of Simon, the tanner.  Tanning was an occupation despised by the Jews because it dealt with the skins of dead animals and forbidden by the Law.  Now we see the divine intervention of the Roman Centurion, as God sends an angel to prompt him to seek out Peter.  For Peter to meet with a Gentile and enter into his home was forbidden.  He and his home would be considered unclean.

1. How does God convince Peter that ministry to the Gentiles is no longer forbidden?  (A) While in Joppa and in prayer, Peter sees a _______ come down from heaven filled with all kinds of animals __________ by the Law to be consumed by Jews.  God tells Peter to kill and eat – that ____ that God cleanses is _______ clean.  After being summoned by Cornelius, Peter understands this to mean, “…I should never think of anyone (Gentiles) as impure (v.28).”
2. What can we learn from the experience of Cornelius?  (A) VV. 2, 30,31-33, all show us that he was a devout man who fasted, prayed and gave alms generously to the people.  God honored him by answering his prayers (v.31).
3. Peter gives a passionate account of the message of the gospel in vv.34-48.  What are the main points that are significant for you?  (A) V.41 – Jesus became visible only to_______ ________; through the name of Jesus, whoever ________in Him will have their sins__________; the Holy Spirit is poured out on the ________as well as the Jews, on all who _____ and________ ; those who “____ _______” (past tense) the Holy Spirit (meaning they were ______ and at that moment received the ________ of the Spirit) can now be baptized in the name of Jesus. *Note the order; 1) They heard the Word, that is, they believed. 2) They received the HS (vv.44, 47).  3) They were baptized (v.48).

 Chapter 11 – Peter Defends God’s Grace

Old habits die-hard.  For centuries, the Jews believed that they were the only people God chose to be called His own.  The news that the Gentiles had received the Word of God came as a shock and the Jews in Jerusalem criticized Peter for his involvement with them.  Peter relays all that happened to him on his journey, convincing them that the Lord extended His grace to the Gentiles too.

1.     What new thing did they learn (see vv.15-17)?  (A) Peter learned that the Spirit fell on the _______ as he preached to them the message of God’s grace.  He remembered the words of Jesus, “John baptized with water, but you will be ________ with the ______ _______.”  The baptism of the HS occurs at the moment of salvation (see 1 Cor. 12:13; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 6:19,20; Titus 3:5,6.)  1 Cor. 12:13 tells us that all believers are immersed into the body of Christ by means of the HS.  Paul emphasizes the unity of all believers.  There cannot be any believer who had not been Spirit baptized, nor can there be more than one Spirit baptism.  Believers have all been Spirit-baptized and therefore are one body In Christ.  ***This is important; please check out all of these verses for yourself.

2.     When were they baptized with the HS?  (A) When they ____and ________(v.17).

3.     What did the Jews realize (v.18)?  (A) The Gentiles _____ received eternal life upon________ (agreeing they have sinned and turning away from it.)  Believing is not simply head knowledge alone.

4.     What great thing happened to the Jews in the Diaspora (the scattered Jews) (vv.17-23)?  (A) Those converted Jews scattered after Stephen’s martyrdom, preached the ________of _________to the Jews and also to the Gentiles and large numbers were saved.  The great part of this is that it was_________, not apostles, who preached God’s Word.  Not one of their names is known!

Chapter 12 – James is Killed and Peter is Imprisoned.

Satan continues his relentless attack on Christians; this time the persecution coming from King apostle Herod Agrippa, the Herod who questioned Jesus before His death.  The first death of an Apostle occurs as Herod kills James, the brother of John and one of the three most often seen with Jesus.

1.     Why do you think Herod Killed James?  (A) Herod was a Jew and an appointee of Rome.  To gain ______ with the Jews, he __________the upstart Christian church.  Verse 2 says that James was killed with a _______ - this manner of execution indicates James was accused of leading people to follow false gods (Deut. 13:12-15).

2.     Why do you think Herod wanted to kill Peter?  (A) V.3 tells us that killing James _______ the Jews and Herod wanted to be sure to be on the good side of the Jewish leaders.  He probably saw Peter as a _________ to his authority.

3.     V.5 says that that the church prayed very earnestly for Peter and their prayers were answered.  Do you think they prayed any less for James?  Why wasn’t James spared, as was Peter?  (A) It really isn’t up to us which of our prayers we think God should answer.  It was His ________ ______ that James be taken home and Peter spared.  That is what faith is all about – trusting in God’s ________ ______ and love.

4.     What strikes you about vv.12-15?  (A) While the disciples were in deep prayer, Peter came knocking on the door, _________ by God.  Although they prayed for that very thing to happen, when it did they did ____ ________.  God answers even __________ prayers, when they are in-line with Him!  Thank You Lord!

5.     Why did God strike Herod dead?  (A) VV.21-23 – The people of Tyre and Sidon came to ingratiate themselves before Herod and kept shouting “The voice of a _____ and not of man.”  An angel of the Lord struck him dead because he took the people’s praise and did not give glory to the ______ true God.

Chapter 13 – Barnabas and Saul Sent Out

Chapter 13 marks a turning point in Acts.  Up until this point, the book focused on Peter; the remaining chapters revolve around Paul and his ministry.  With Peter, the focus was on the Jewish church in Jerusalem and Judea; with Paul, the focus is the spread of the Gentile church throughout the Roman church through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Rather than a church lead by one main man (usually the Pastor/Teacher) we see the Holy Spirit use a number of men with certain spiritual gifts to minister to the church in Antioch.  Jerusalem is still the seat of the Jewish church, but Antioch now becomes the hub from which the Gentile church grows.

1.     What does v.2 tell you about the Spirit’s ministry?  (A) It was His ministry to ______ the church in their growth, in their decisions, in revelation.  It is ______ will made manifest.

2.     How does He speak today?  (A) He still guides the church through the written______, through ________ _____ given to believers, and in personal___________.

3.     What does He say through the five prophets named?  (A) The church was to _______ Saul and Barnabas to the special work “I have for them (v.2)” – other versions say, “to which I have ________ them.”  So begins Paul’s first missionary journey.

4.     Verse 4,5 tell us that when they arrived in a certain city, Saul and Barnabas preached the Word of God in a synagogue of the Jews.  If a ministry to the Gentiles was already initiated, why preach first to the Jews?  (A) Paul (Saul) used the synagogue as an open ______ as a Jew, to speak and introduce the Gospel.  If he preached to the Gentiles ______, the Jews would never have _________to him.

5.     In Paul’s recitation of the Gospel in vv.16-41, he mentions David as a man after God’s own heart.  Scripture shows us a different side of David – an adulterer, a murderer, a neglectful father, etc.  How is he a man after God’s own heart?  (A) There is no man that is________, but as David did, he recognizes _____ and ________ of it.  That is all God really wants of us.

6.     After Paul’s sermon to the Jews, the Gentiles begged that Paul give them the same message on the next Sabbath.  Many of the Jews and some converts to Judaism followed Paul and he urged them, “By God’s grace remain faithful (v.43).”  What do you think he means?  (A) Those who are truly saved persevere and prove the reality of their salvation by __________ on in God’s grace.  Since Paul was talking to unconverted Jews who were ___________ convinced of the truths of the gospel yet had stopped short of ________ faith, he hoped this would stop them from reverting back to the ________ of the Jewish faith rather than embracing Christ completely.  This is why we must disciple new believers.

7.     We have often seen how God sovereignly chooses people for His purpose.  The Bible calls this predestination or election, yet many argue against the fact that God has the right to choose whom ever He will.  What does v. 48 say?  (A) “When the Gentiles heard this (v.47, a quote from Is. 49:6), they were glad and thanked the Lord for this message; and all who were appointed to eternal life became believers.”  We will see much more of the same in coming scriptures.  Let Scripture speak for itself.  It does not excuse man from his moral _____________ to accept Christ as Lord and Savior.  The Gentiles rejoiced and believed.

Chapter 14 – Paul and Barnabas at Iconium

Paul and Barney continue their missionary journey in Iconium in the synagogue, as was their custom.  A great number of Jews and Gentile proselytes (converts) accepted the Lord Jesus Christ.  Yet, many of the Jews remained hard-hearted and proud, putting their religion before the truth and caused hard times for the apostles.  In spite of the persecution, they “stayed there a long time.”  Stirred up by the unbelieving Jews and Gentiles, a mob formed and attempted to stone (a Jewish form of execution for blasphemy) the apostles. 

1.     As we will see, sometimes the apostles stayed in a city despite the danger of imprisonment and stoning and at other times, they fled.  Why?  (A) There seems to be no easy answer to this other than the obvious.  The apostles were in constant _______ and _________ with the_____ ______.  He lead them to flee and leave the unbelievers behind or He caused them to stay so that many more would be saved.  As always, God’s ______ _____is in place and He blesses whom He will.

2.     They flee to Lystra and there, Paul, as he was preaching, notices a crippled man and seeing that he was full of faith, healed him.  Compare the difference between the reaction of the crowds in vv.3-11 and 8-13.  (A) In Iconium, the ________ ______and Gentiles stirred up the crowd in order to stone the apostles as blasphemers; in Lystra there were ____ Jews (no synagogue is mentioned) and the people, according to their pagan faith, wanted to declare the apostles to be______.

3.     How was the preaching of Paul different in 13:17-41 and in 14:15-17?  (A) In chapter 13, we see Paul quoting the ____because of the predominant Jewish crowd.  They could, and should, see God’s prophecies come _____in Christ.  In Lystra, the crowd was mostly _______ and would not understand the Jewish references.  Paul instead started with the story of creation, a subject of interest even to Gentiles.

4.     In the two stories, Paul is first spared death by stoning and in Lystra, is stoned, presumably to death (see 2 Cor. 12:2 where Paul says that at one time, he was caught up into heaven, maybe meaning he died at one point and was returned to finish the work).  What does this show about God and His relationship with His children?  (A) In chapter 9, verse 13, God tells Ananias, “I will show him (Paul) how many things he must _______ for ____ name’s sake.”  God loved Paul so much that he actually _________ him to suffer for God’s glory.  It did nothing but to cement Paul’s faith in his Lord Jesus.  Sometimes we are _______ to suffer.  Too many TV evangelists preach that God will always shower you with health and wealth; often, the opposite is true.  Sometimes our faith is tested in mysterious ways, yet God’s perfect plan is always in place.

5.     What amazes you about Paul’s response (vv.20-21)?  (A) After Paul’s life is restored, he gets up and goes back into the city in which he was stoned.  Instead of hiding in _____ for his life, he leaves and preaches in Derbe.  He ________ to the cities where he has been rejected to “________the souls of the disciples there”

6.     What is important about his statement “strengthening the souls…?”  (A) To _______the gospel and see _____ ____ for Christ should be only the_________.  The apostles sought to build up the believers in their______, especially by teaching them the ______ of the church through God’s______.  They sought to bring them to _____ maturity.  You can’t lead a person to Christ and then leave them to their own resources.  You don’t bring a child into the world and then leave him and you don’t do it to new believers.  This is what ___________ is!

7.     What does Luke mean when he says, “They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that they must enter into the Kingdom of God through many tribulations (v.22)?”  (A) The Christian walk does not _____ when one repents and is saved.  We are called to ________ in Christ, using our spiritual ______ for His glory, and ________the race.  Some are content to just be in the race, but of what value is that to oneself and to the Savior?  In fact, Paul says that we “must” enter into God’s Kingdom (at the end of time) while suffering many troubles.  We must understand that and hopefully be willing.