Studies in Acts–Lesson 5

Read Acts 9; 22:3-16; 26:9-18

1. What is meant by “breathing threats and murder”?
   Comments: To threaten and kill those who called themselves Christians. Saul’s over-riding purpose was to rid the world of these blasphemers who claimed this man Jesus had not only risen from the dead by was the Messiah and Son of God. Note that he went to the high priests to get permission to round up these people. (9:1)
2. Whom did Saul want to arrest? Why?
   Comments: Men and women of the Way. They claimed that Jesus was the Son of God and that after he was crucified, he rose from the dead. Was Saul one of those who rose up with the Libertines against Stephen in Acts 6:9? He was, after all, from Cilicia. Note: The Way is the only proper collective noun used in Acts to refer to those who were disciples. At my count, it appears three times:,in Acts: 9:2, 22:4, and 24:14. (9:2)
3. Briefly describe the conversation between the Lord and Saul.
   Comments: After Saul falls to the ground from being struck by a bright light[was he walking, or on a horse?], Jesus asks Saul why he is persecuting Him. [To persecute Christ’s people is to persecute Him, the other side of Matthew 25:40, 45, where Jesus says that to do good to others – or to neglect others – is to do the same to Him.] Paul asks, “Who are you, Lord?” Jesus answers, “Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Go into Damascus and you will be told what you must do.” (Acts 9:3-6)
4. Describe Saul’s condition in Damascus.
   Comments: He was blind and stunned into silence and prayer, having no food or drink. He is also repentant, as indicated by the new direction his life takes after this. In his writings, he never seems to forget what he did to the disciples of Christ. In 1 Timothy 1:15, he refers to himself as the “chief of sinners.” In Romans 1:14, he calls himself a “debtor, both to Greeks and Barbarians, the wise and the foolish.” We cited examples of those we know who, having been entrenched in sinful lifestyles, have a fervor for God not seen in some of us who did have to leave as much behind when we became Christians. (9:9)
5. What instructions did the Lord give Ananias?
   Comments: To go to a house on Straight Street, and find the man praying, to restore his sight, and to instruct him of the Lord’s will concerning him. (9:11; 22:14-16) Note: God uses men to teach his gospel. 1 Corinthians 1:21 refers to it as “the foolishness of preaching.”
6. Why was Saul baptized?
   Comments: To wash away his sins. (22:16)
7. What was Saul’s mission?
   Comments: To carry the gospel to Gentiles, kings, and sons of Israel, and to suffer for Jesus’ name sake (9:15). To be a witness to all men (26:16-18); To open men’s eyes to the light – for the forgiveness of their sins (26:19-20).
8. What did Saul immediately begin to do?
   Comments: Preach Christ as the Son of God. (9:20)
9. How was he received?
   Comments: With amazement, distrust, apprehension. The Jews plotted to kill him. (9:21-25). Note: It is thought that at the comma in verse 23 (“when many days had elapsed,”) Saul went away to Arabia and spent three years there before returning to Damascus and facing the persecution by the Jews. Is it a coincidence that he spent the same time in Arabia as the other apostles spent in the presence of Jesus? (See Galatians 1:15-24.)
10. How did he escape from Damascus?
    Comments: Paul’s disciples let him down in a basket through a hole in the city wall after nightfall. This is similar to the ways Rahab helped the spies escape (Joshua 2:15), and Michael helped David escape from those wanting to kill him (1 Samuel 19:12).
11. How did the disciples in Jerusalem receive Paul?
    Comments: With suspicion and fear. (9:26) Note from Don De Witt, in Acts Made Actual, pg. 127:
    “What were the thoughts of this humbled Pharisee as he approached the city of Jerusalem, as he looked upon the city wherein he had been trained, where he had so zealously labored for the Law? He would come face to face with many of his old friends. What would they think? But away with these thoughts of retrospect! He must make himself known to the disciples and above all he must meet the apostles.”
12. Who vouched for him in Jerusalem?
    Comments: Barnabas, so-called by the apostles because it means “Son of Encouragement.” (9:27, 4:36)
13. Where did the brethren take Saul, and where did they send him?
    Comments: To Caesarea, to catch a boat (assumed) back home to Tarsus. (9:30)

True or False

1. Saul asked for authority to kill all Christians he found. False
   He gathered them to be put into prisons (9:2; 22:5; 26:10,11). In 26:10, he confessed to casting his vote against them when they were being put to death. He also said that he tried to force them to blaspheme.
2. Saul was stricken by the light halfway between Jerusalem and Damascus. False
   He was almost to Damascus when the light struck him. (9:3)
3. The men with Saul heard the voice, but saw no man. True
   (9:7; 22:9)
4. Saul fasted and prayed without food but did take a little water. False
   He took neither food nor water. (9:9)
5. When the Lord spoke, Saul said, “Here am I, Lord.” False
   This was Ananias’s reply to God (9:5, 10) – in the NASV and ASV. Other versions merely read, “Yes, Lord.” The original Greek leaves out the words “Here am,” and merely says “I, Lord.”
6. Saul lodged in the house of Simon the tanner, by the sea. False
   Saul was in the house of Judas, on Straight Street in Damascus, when Ananias found him. (9:11). Peter stayed in the house of Simon the tanner (9:43).
7. Ananias said, "Brother Saul, arise and be baptized, for you are now saved." False
   Ananias said, “Brother Saul, receive your sight!” in 22:13. In 22:16, he said, “And now why do you delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.”
8. When Ananias placed his hands on Saul, it was as if scales dropped from his eyes. True (9:18)
9. Saul confounded the Jews at Damascus. True (9:22). Other versions read “baffled.”
10. Saul slipped out of the gate at Damascus to escape his enemies. False. He was let out through a hole in the wall. (9:25)

Studies in Acts, Lesson 4

Read Acts 8.

True or False:

1. Opposition to the church takes a definite turn in procedure beginning with the eighth chapter.
   True – 8:1. No longer did the persecutors find the need to conduct a trial – even a bogus one. They just dragged the people off to jail. Note: The prophesy of Jesus Acts 1:8 is coming true: the gospel has been preached in Jerusalem and is now spreading through Judea and Samaria.
2. This change, or turn, was the fact that the Sadducees now took up the persecution whereas it was formerly the Pharisees.
   False – 8:3. Previously, the main opposition were the Sadducees, objecting to the teaching on the resurrection. Saul, however, was a Pharisee.
3. The book of Acts teaches us that this persecution was confined to Jerusalem.
   True – 8:3. This particular persecution does seem to be confined to Jerusalem, causing disciples to flee. Later on, it spreads to other areas, e.g. Saul on his way to Damascus to bring Christians back to Jerusalem.
4. There is a record of the apostles hiding themselves in Jerusalem, which is why they were able to stay in the city.
   False – 8:1. There’s no record of their hiding. In fact, later, Peter and John go to Samaria to help new Christians there.
5. "The word" they preached was preached everywhere.
   True – 8:4. To quote one preacher, “As they preached, they ran, and as they ran, they preached.” By now, you have thousands of “missionaries.” 4:4 – 5,000 men; 5:14 – multitudes of men and women added to their number; 6:7 – the number of disciples increased greatly. Many of them may have been returning to their homes, having gone to Jerusalem for the Passover and Pentecost, and staying there, enjoying their new-found freedom in Christ and fellowship with others.

Circle the letter of the correct word or phrase.

1. Philip went to Samaria and proclaimed unto them:
   a. The Messiah (New Living Translation)
   b. The Christ 8:5 (Most translations)
   c. Jesus
2. This Philip was:
   a. Philip the apostle
   b. Philip, one of the Seven in Jerusalem (6:5; 8:5. Acts 21:8 refers to him as “Philip the evangelist, “one of the seven”)
   c. Another Philip
3. Philip became an evangelist:
   a. When he was ordained by the apostles
   b. When he started evangelizing (8:5 – Like so many other disciples.)
   c. Later in Caesarea
4. Among the diseases healed by Philip was:
   a. Demon possession (8:7 – as well as the paralyzed and the lame)
   b. Blindness
   c. Deafness
5. As the result of the preaching and healing, there was much:
   a. Conviction
   b. Joy (8:8)
   c. Conflict in the city
6. The record states that Simon amazed the people by:
   a. Sorcery (8:9)
   b. Ventriloquism
   c. Both
7. All believed Simon from the least to the greatest, because:
   a. He had been doing it for such a long time (8:11)
   b. He was the mayor of the town
   c. He had an agreement with the leaders of the city.
8. They believed Philip instead of Simon because:
   a. Not all heard Simon
   b. Some never did believe in Simon
   c. Philip's message and work were superior to Simon's (8:12 – “but”; 8:13 – even Simon was amazed.)
9. Acts 8: 12 compares very well with:
   a. Acts 2:38
   b. Acts 3:19
   c. Mark 16: 15,16 – mentions both belief and baptism. Verse 17 also mentions casting out demons, which is what Philip had been doing.

Locate the following verses and answer the short question (Quoted from New King James Version):

1. Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 8:14
   Why?
   Comments: So they could impart the gift of the Holy Spirit (verse 15), which apparently Philip could not do.  The believers had received the gift of the Holy Spirit at baptism (2:38), but not any kind of miraculous power (8:17-18). In verse 15, the apostles also prayed for them, and in verse 25, they preached to them.
2. “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! ... Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity." 8:22,23
   Was Simon a Christian?
   Comments: Some said No. Just because it says Simon believed doesn’t mean he was a Christian. James 2:19 – “Even the demons believe, and tremble.” Also, Peter tells him he is “in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.” Others – Yes. In context, James is talking about an empty faith not followed by action. Simon, however, followed up on his faith by submitting to baptism. Over time, his mercenary nature got the best of him, and he saw there was profit to be made in spiritual gifts. Peter told him there was a way he could be right with God again: repent and pray for forgiveness.
3. So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading? And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” 8:36
   What two attitudes do you see in Philip and the eunuch that we might emulate?
   
   [Again, we didn’t finish in an hour. REST OF THE ANSWER NEXT WEEK!]
   
4. Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”
   From the context, what did "preaching Jesus” include?
5. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus.
   What did the two men do after the baptism? (See also 8:25.)

Studies in Acts, Lesson 3

Read Acts 5: 17 - 7:60

1. What caused the high priest and the Sadducees to “rise up”?
   Comments: Jealousy. They did not like all the attention Peter was getting. Note: Apparently, they jailed all the apostles. See 5:12 – All the apostles seemed to be at Solomon’s porch; 5:29 – It was more than just Peter and John.
2. How is the second arrest different from the first?
   Comments: 1) In verse 18, the high priest and his associates simply put them in a public jail. 2) In verses 26 and 27 – after the miraculous release of the apostles – the captain of the temple guard and officers went to the temple and brought them before the Council.
3. What two charges were made against the apostles? What was their response?
   Comments: 1) 5:28 – You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching; 2) You intend to bring this man’s blood on us. Note: The high priest was right! In 5:30, Peter and the apostles say just that. “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on the cross.”
4. What do the scriptures tell us of Gamaliel?
   Comments: 5:34 - He was a Pharisee, teacher of the Law, respected by the people. He may have been a member of the Council, since it says he “stood up in the Council.” It’s not clear whether or not there were some there outside the Council. Acts 22:3 tells us he also taught Saul of Tarsus.
5. What was Gamaliel’s advice to the Council?
   Comments: 5:28-39 – If this “plan or action” is not from God, it will be overthrown. If it is from God, you don’t want to oppose it. Note: How refreshing to hear these words of wisdom from a respected member of the community, to witness how he persuades them calmly, while appealing to their “better selves”: Surely you would not want to oppose God!
6. What shows the utter disregard of the apostles for the punishment from the Council?
   Comments: 5:41-42. They rejoiced that they had been worthy of suffering shame [and not shame alone, but a beating as well!]. They went right back teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. They were content to leave the situation in God’s hands, as Gamaliel had suggested.
7. List two problems that arose in the church at this time. (6:1 –
   Comments: 1) 6:1-2 An accusation of discrimination from the Hellenistic (Greek-speaking) Jews, that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2) 6:9 Members of the synagogue of the Libertines (Freedmen, or freed slaves) began debating with Stephen.
8. Who selected the seven men? What were their qualifications?
   Comments: 6:3-13. The congregation of the disciples chose them. The men were to have good reputations and to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. Note: Another example of wisdom on the part of the apostles. According to their names, all the men were Hellenistic Jews. The apostles chose from their own number the men to take care of this responsibility.
9. What two-fold task did the apostles have in the Jerusalem church?
   Comments: Prayer and ministry of the word. Note: Prayer is mentioned first, and then ministry of the word.  Even if that has no significance, the two seem to be equal in importance.
10. What was the purpose of the laying on of hands?
    Comments: Endorsement, encouragement, ordaining their ministry. In this verse (6:6), the apostles seem to be the ones laying on the hands, for the purpose of ordination, setting these men apart for a particular service. Later, in 8:17, the apostles will lay hands on believers to pass on miraculous gifts of the Spirit. In 13:2-3, the church in Antioch will lay hands on Barnabas and Saul before sending them on a mission trip. Here, too, they are “set apart” for a particular work. Note: We do the same today when we hold a special ceremony before sending out missionaries. We “lay” our hands on them in hugs, pats, and handshakes as signs of our support and encouragement.
11. What are the thoughts conveyed in the phrase "obedient to the faith"? See also Jude 3 and Romans 6: 17-18.
    Comments: They turned (were converted) to Christ from Judaism. Jude 3 – “Contend earnestly for the faith…once for all delivered…” Romans 6:17-18 – Obedient to a form of teaching. When they obeyed the faith, they participated in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, they turned from sin to righteousness, from the old man to the new man.
12. Why do you think the Sanhedrin would be especially interested in the charge against Stephen?
    Comments: 6:11-13 – He was part of a movement, which preached Christ risen from the dead, which they hated, and couldn’t control (See 4:21-23). They perceived him as a threat to their way of life.
13. What was the specific charge made against Stephen?
    Comments: 6:13-15 He “spoke against this holy place”: Insurrection, blasphemy, wanting to destroy Jerusalem. They were afraid that Jesus would “destroy this place”? He was supposed to be dead!
14. Do you recall an incident similar to this? Describe the circumstances that are alike in the two incidents.
    Comments: The persecution and execution of Stephen resemble the trial and crucifixion of Christ:
    Matthew 26:61 and Acts 6:14 – Both were accused of destroying symbols of Jewish law. In Christ’s case it was the temple.
    Matthew 26:65,66 and Acts 6:11 – Both were accused of blasphemy.
    Matthew 26:67-68 and Acts 7:57-58 – Both suffered physical abuse.
    Matthew 27:20 and Acts 7:57 – Both were victims of a mob mentality
15. In chapter 7, Stephen gives a brief history of Israel's rejection of God's council. Make a list of the things Israel rejected which are mentioned here.
    Comments: 7:9 – Joseph; 7:25,39 – Moses; 7:51-52 – Prophets; 7:52 – the Messiah; 7:53 – God’s law
16. Which verses do you think best answer the charge that was made against Stephen?
    Comments: In 6:11, Stephen is accused of blasphemy. In 6:14, he is accused of plotting to destroy “this place.” Acts 7:55-56 may answer the first charge; Acts 7:47-50 answers the second: God does not dwell in a house made with hands. Men cannot destroy a house not made with hands.
17. Which of Stephen’s statements do you think caused the most anger in the council?
    Comments: Several answers on this one: 7:52 – “Your fathers killed the prophets”; 7:53 – You received the law but did not keep it;  and 7:56 – “I see the heavens opened….” Most likely, each statement brought them closer to the point of uncontrolled fury.
18. According to tradition, who probably cast the first stone?
    Comments: According to this passage, the witnesses were those who began to stone him. A good practice, if you think about it. If you’re the one who has to carry out the execution, you might think twice about making a false accusation – if you’re in your right mind. These men were not.
19. Was Saul a member of the council?
    Comments: It doesn’t say. The general consensus was that he was not – because 1) of his age – he was a young man.  2) In 9:14, he’s given authority by the chief priests to arrest Christians. Given his background (Philippians 3:4-6), however, he could have been.
20. Do Stephen's last words remind you of similar words spoken by another? What were they? Who else spoke them?
    Comments: Both Jesus and Stephen asked forgiveness for those who murdered them. Jesus, in Luke 23:34, cried "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." Here, in 7:60, Stephen cried, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!”

Studies in Acts, Lesson 2

Read Acts 3:1 – 5:16

True or False

1. The lame man was healed at the third hour. False – Some translators render this 3 p.m., but the original language says it was the 9th hour of the day. The Jewish calendar days began at 6 a.m. 3:1
2. This healing took place at the Temple Beautiful. False – It was the Temple Gate (or Door) called Beautiful. 3:2
3. The lame man spoke to Peter and John before they spoke to him. True – 3:3. (Providential?)
4. Peter told the lame man to arise and walk. False, if this is meant to be a quote. 3:6: “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
   Comment: When the crowd gathers, Peter asks them why they marveled so much. Why look at Peter and John as if they had done something by their own power? This was done by the power of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God who glorified Jesus, and whom they had killed, sparing a murderer instead.
   Isn’t this true of us today sometimes? We’re surrounded everyday by the amazing evidence of the power of God, yet we’re still more attracted to the sensational.
5. Acts 3:19 and 2:38 compare favorably and generally teach the same thing. True. Both involve commandments to repent, and both give promises. 2:38 commands baptism, while 3:19 commands “turning again.” The promises in 2:38 are remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Promises in 3:19 are the blotting out of sins and seasons of refreshing.

Circle the letter of the most accurate word or phrase.

1. Moses said that:
   a) God would one day raise up the Messiah.
   b) God would one day raise up a prophet like himself. 3:22
   c) God would one day restore Israel.
   Comments: Note Peter’s readiness to preach. Surely this is a fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to His apostles in John 16:13: “The Spirit of Truth…will guide you into all truth.”
2. Peter appealed to the heart of the Jew in the conclusion of his sermon by telling them of:
   a) The advantages of being a Christian.
   b) The terrible death of their Messiah.
   c) The blessing that God promised them through Abraham that was now to be found in Christ. 3:25,26
   Comment: Note in 3:26, Peter tells them that Jesus has been sent to the Jews first – an indication of the time to come when the Gentiles would have access to the kingdom.
3. The real reason for Peter's and John's arrest was:
   a) They taught the people and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 4:2
   b) They disturbed the peace.
   c) They had too large a crowd.
   Comment: Notice that the Sadducees were among those who arrested Peter and John. Since they didn’t believe in a resurrection from the dead, they would be particularly offended. Also note that Annas was a Sadducee. (See Robertson’s Word Pictures.)
4. The official or appointed high priest was:
   a) Ananias.
   b) Caiaphas – according to the Romans (Robertson’s Word Pictures)
   c) Annas 4:6 – according to the Jews (Robertson’s Word Pictures)
5. The Sanhedrin asked the following question of Peter and John:
   a) What have you done?
   b) By what power or in what name have you done this? 4:7
   c) By what authority have you done this?
   Note: The text does not specifically say this was the Sanhedrin, but it consisted of the same groups of men. The Sanhedrin was composed of 70 men: 24 priests, 22 scribes, and 24 elders.

Locate the following verses (Quoted from the NASB):

1. Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were marveling, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. 4:13
   Note: Despite what we may want to believe, the apostles taught that Christianity is the one true religion of the one true God.
2. But Peter and John answered and said to them. "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard." 4:19,20. Note the boldness and confidence of the apostles. No matter the consequences, they preached what they knew to be true.
3. "He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the very corner stone." 4:11. See also Matthew 16:16-18; Isaiah 28:16; and Psalm 118:22.
4. "And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Thy bond-servants may speak Thy word with all confidence.” 4:29 A “secret” of their boldness, perhaps? They prayed for it.
5. And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own; but all things were common property to them. " 4:32-35. A model church, where love was primary midst the gratitude they felt for their salvation.

Correct any mistakes in the following:

1. Jacob, Joseph, called Barnabas, having a field, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. 4:36
2. When Ananias and Sapphira laid the money at the feet of the apostles, they he lied to the apostles and the men of the church God. Comment: We may think we're lying only to men, but that’s not how God looks at it. Although Ananias spoke his lie to men, he was actually trying to deceive God by pretending to be more generous than he really was.
3. The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was two-fold: the love of self the desire for esteem in the eyes of men (a love of praise) and the love of money. Comment: They wanted to be seen as sacrificial without actually having to sacrifice.
4. About one hour three hours later Sapphira joined her husband in death. 5:7.
5. The scriptures say that even Peter's shadow healed some some carried their sick out into the streets, hoping Peter’s shadow would fall on them. 5:15

Reason together:

Is being added to the Lord the same as being added to the church? How do you know? Comments: The term “added to the Lord” appears in the the American Standard and King James Versions. Others (NIV and NASB) say that believers in the Lord were “added to their number.”

Acts 5:11 is the first use of the word “church” in Acts. Previously, Luke had referred to the collective body of the saved as “their number” (Acts 2:47); those who believed (Acts 4:4) “multitude of them that believed” (Acts 4:32). Acts 2:47 points out, too, that the Lord does the adding

Ephesians 1:22,23 refers to this body of the saved as the church, of which Christ is the head.