Galatians 2

1. 2:1-3 Who were Barnabas and Titus? What ethnicity were they? (See Acts 4:36,37; 9:26,27; 2 Corinthians 2:13; Titus 1:4,5)
   Class Answers: Barnabas was a Levite from Cyprus, who introduced Paul to the apostles in Jerusalem. He was a companion of Paul. Titus was a Greek (Gentile), who also traveled with Paul and later preached for the church in Crete. Even though Titus was a Gentile, he was not “compelled” to be circumcised, even though that’s what the Judaizing teachers would have desired.
2. 2:2 What was the gospel Paul preached among the Gentiles? (See 1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
   Class Answer: The gospel of salvation: the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
3. 2:3-5 Why did Paul want a private meeting with the church leaders? Who was trying to interfere?
   Class Answer: He didn’t want to be running “in vain,” to have his ministry rendered fruitless by the false teachers. He wanted to be able to speak to the leaders without the disruption of those were trying to take away freedom in Christ and impose slavery to the Law.
4. 2:6-10 What were the leaders’ responses to Paul’s
   Message - v. 6 – They added nothing to it. As far as they were concerned, the gospel Paul preached lacked nothing.
   Ministry - v. 7 – They saw he had been entrusted with the gospel to the Gentiles.
   Mission - vv. 9-10 – They gave him the right hand of fellowship, asking him only that he and Barnabas continue to remember the poor.
   Comment by John Stott: The meeting proved there was no rift among the apostles.
5. 2:11-14 How was Peter “clearly in the wrong”? What caused him to act this way?
   Answer: When men came from Jerusalem (or James), Peter withdrew from socializing with the Gentiles. In doing so, he was trying to force the Gentiles to live by Jewish customs. Why? He was afraid of those who came from Jerusalem – afraid of crossing them.
6. 2:15-16 By what are we justified? (Romans 4:1-3) Does this mean we’re not subject to any law? (See James 2:8)
   Answer: Not by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. James 2:8 states that we are subject to the “Royal” law of Christ: to love our neighbors as ourselves. Obedience to commandments of Christ by itself doesn’t save us, but it’s evidence of our faith. How can God know we believe unless we obey, as Abraham did?
7. 2:17 In what way would Christ promote sin?
   Answer: If, while claiming to be justified in Christ, we willfully sin. But that’s not the case. Justification in Christ doesn’t give us license to sin (Romans 6:1,2). Trying to follow the law will make us lawbreakers, because it is impossible to keep perfectly.
8. 2:18 What had Paul destroyed?
   Answer: His old way of life, his allegiance to the Old Law. Why bring that back again? 1:23 – In the past, Paul had tried to destroy the church. So he had destroyed that life of destruction.
9. 2:19-20 How had Paul been “crucified with Christ”?
   Answer: Paul’s identity was gone; he was now living by faith. The old Paul/Saul was gone. We are spirits in a body, not merely bodies with spirits. If our will – our spirit – has been replaced with the Spirit of Christ, then that renewed spirit will be manifest in what we do with our physical bodies.
10. 2:21 How could Christ “die for nothing”?
    Answer: If we can be righteous through the law, then Christ’s death was in vain. Commentary: To mingle legalism with grace makes grace a mockery.

Choose a verse from Chapter 2 to memorize (or to post in a prominent place).

Verses chosen: Galatians 2:16 and 2:20.

Galatians 1

1. 1:1 Why should the Galatians listen to Paul?
   Class Answers: 1) Because he was appointed by God, not man. 2) Because he was an apostle; he had seen the risen Christ.
2. 1:2 Identify the churches of Galatia. (Acts 13, 14)
   Class Answers: Perga of Pamphyllia (Acts 13:13); Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 13:14); Iconium (Acts 13:51); Derbe and Lystra in Lycaonia (Acts 14:6-8). Paul was also in Attalia (Acts 14:24-26), which was a seaport, but there’s no indication that he started a church there.
3. 1:3-7 What is this “different gospel? Why is it really not a gospel? (What does “gospel” mean?)
   Class Answers: According to Acts 15:1, men from Judea were telling Antioch Christians, “You can’t be saved without circumcision.” In other words, Gentiles must submit to the Old Law before they can follow Christ. This is not a gospel – or good tidings – because it negates the cross of Christ, which made the Old Law unnecessary.
4. 1:8-9 What will be the consequence of preaching another gospel?
   Class Answers: KJV – Anathema. Other versions: Eternal condemnation – which makes teaching the gospel a serious responsibility.
   Note: The word anathema is oddly derived from a word that means “to consecrate or devote.” Anything devoted to God could not be redeemed and therefore would be destroyed. So the word came to mean “devoted to destruction.” Idols were “anathema,” or banned, in Deuteronomy 7:26. Where the NASV uses the word banned, the ASV calls it “a devoted thing”; the KJV translates it as “cursed thing”; and the NIV translates it “set apart for destruction.”
5. 1:10 What principle can we learn from verse 10?
   Class Answers: If our aim is to please men, we can’t also be servants (or slaves) of Christ.
6. 1:11 Paul calls the Galatians “brothers.” Why might this be significant, seeing they have “deserted” the gospel?
   Class Answers: 1) Even though they seem to be accepting false doctrine, they are still part of the spiritual family. 2) To demonstrate that he hadn’t deserted them. 3) The gospel is for all, received by grace.
   Note: According to John Stott’s The Message of Galatians, the Greek word translated deserting (v. 6) means to transfer one’s allegiance.
7. 1:12, 15-17 Why does Paul emphasize the lack of any man’s influence on him?
   Class Answers: In order for the Judaizers to discredit Paul’s message, they had to discredit him. His emphasis on his calling from God gave him the same credibility as the other apostles.
   More questions: How did Saul spend his time in Arabia? Did he receive private instruction directly from Christ at this time? Was he re-studying the Hebrew scriptures, viewing them in light of this new revelation? How could anyone know? It is interesting that the three years he spent before seeing Peter is the same time period the other apostles had spent in Jesus’ presence.
8. 1:13-14 Considering the consequences of his decision, how could Saul of Tarsus make such a radical change?
   Class Answers: Paul’s aim had always been to please God, not men. As soon as he knew the truth about Jesus, he was willing to change – and not privately – though, as pointed out in the previous question – he seemed to prepare for this for a long time. According to verse 16, he also knew from the beginning that God had a plan for him. Paul had the courage that comes from a sense of purpose. See also Acts 9:9-16.
9. 1:18-20 Why might Paul choose to visit Peter instead of one of the other apostles?
   Class Answers: 1) Peter was recognized as a leader in the early church. 2) Peter also had a great zeal for God. 3) Peter had been part of Jesus’ inner circle of apostles. 4) Paul had been called by God to preach to the Gentiles, but, as recorded in Acts 10, God had revealed the plan to Peter that the Gentiles were included in His plan.
10. 1:21-24 What was the response of the churches in Syria and Cilicia to Paul?
    Class Answers: The verses here don’t say. They do say that when the churches in Judea heard the report, they praised God because of Paul.
    Note: This question should have asked about the churches of Judea, not Syria and Cilicia. Also note: Cilicia was Paul’s home territory. I’m not sure if we read anywhere what their response was to his conversion.

Choose a verse from Chapter 1 to memorize.
Class Choices: 1:3; 1:6-7; 1:8; 1:10

Studies in Acts–Lesson 14

Read Acts 25:14 through Chapter 28.

Who said it – or might have said it? Where? When? Why?

Acts 25

1. "There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix." v. 14. Who? Festus, to King Agrippa. Where? In Caesarea. When? While the King was staying in Caesarea, several days after Paul appealed to Caesar. Why? Possibly to find out Agrippa’s judgment in the matter.
Note: This King was Agrippa II, and Bernice was his sister – and his wife. Previously, she had been married to her uncle. Their father – Agrippa I – was the member of the Herod family that was eaten up by worms as recorded in Acts 12.

2. "For it seems absurd to me in sending a prisoner, not to indicate also the charges against him." v. 27 Who? Festus. Where? In the audience hall. When? The next day. Why? He wanted to know what to write to Rome about the charges against Paul. He knew Paul had done nothing deserving of death, so he was trying to explain his actions.

Acts 26

3. "You are permitted to speak for yourself." v. 1 Who? Agrippa to Paul. Why? So Agrippa could hear Paul’s side of the story. He was curious. 

4. "... especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently. v. 3. Who? Paul to Agrippa. Why? He knew Agrippa’s background and wanted an informed listener. Maybe also a bit of flattery? Paul’s hope was in the promises of God.

5. “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” Who? Jesus, to Saul, in Hebrew. Where? On the road from Jerusalem to Damascus on one of his journeys to arrest Christians. When? At midday, after Saul was blinded by the sun. Why? Jesus had chosen Saul to serve.

6. “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.” v. 28. Who? Agrippa, to Paul, at the end of Paul’s speech. Why? It’s hard to know what was in Agrippa’s mind. In some versions, this is stated as a question, as if to ask Paul his intentions. In other versions, it’s a statement – either honest or in derision.

 

Acts 27

7. "And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy…." v. 1. Who? Luke. Where? Caesarea. Why? Paul was headed for Rome – at government expense. According to Don DeWelt’s Acts Made Actual, this was probably in late August.

8. “You may go to your friends.” v. 3. Who? Julius, the centurion, to Paul. When? When the ship docked in Sidon. Why? So they could care for Paul. Note: It appears they traveled 65 miles that first day.

9. “Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be attended with damage and great loss….” v. 10 Who? Paul, to the centurion and sailors. Where? Near Lasea. When? According to commentaries, October. Why? He perceived there would be danger if they continued. Also, according to commentaries, sailing after September 15 was dangerous.

10. “…you must stand before Caesar….” v. 24. Who? An angel of God, to Paul. Where? On the ship at Paul’s bed. When? At night, after passing Cauda after the third day out. Why? In order to assure him they would all survive the storm. God wanted Paul to preach in Rome.

11. “…this is for your preservation….” v. 34. Who? Paul, to the rest of the men on the ship, as they drifted across the Adriatic Sea. Why? To urge them to eat.

Acts 28

12. "Undoubtedly this man is a murderer. ... " v. 4. Who? The natives of Malta, after a viper attached itself to Paul’s hand. Why? He must have been deserving of death, and since the sea hadn’t punished him, the viper would.

13. “Let the fever pass from him….” v. 8. Who might have said it? Paul, about the father of Publius, while he stayed with Publius in Malta. He was sick with dysentery, and God could heal him.

14. “Stay with us for a week.” v. 14. Who? Believers in Puteoli (chief port of Rome), to Paul, when the ship docked there.

15. "...nor have any of the brethren come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you.” v. 21. Who? The Jewish leaders in Rome, to Paul. When? Three days after arriving in Rome, assembled at Paul’s request. Why? Because Paul had told his story, the reason for his chains.

16. “We do not believe these things.” v. 24. Who? Some of the Jews in Rome, to Paul, after he had taught them the gospel. “They refused to believe.”

17. "You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; and you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive." v. 26. Who? Paul, to the unbelieving Jews in Rome. He is quoting what Jesus quoted, from Isaiah 6:9-10.  (Matthew 13:14-15)

18. “This salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen.” v. 28 Who? Paul, to the Jews, as they left him in prison. Why? Maybe to shame them? Maybe they wouldn’t listen, but the Gentiles would.