More Than Silver And Gold

This is the blog page for the small group meeting on Thursday, September 13.  The topic will be Acts 3, which is only half of the story.  It is completed in Chapter 4, and I encourage you to read that chapter as well.  It will be difficult not to move on to that chapter, but there are elements of both that merit two weeks of study.

I suggest that both chapters be read together just to get a sense of the story.  Then go back over 3 more slowly, looking for anything that sticks out about events, the main characters, the setting, and dialogue (or monologue, as it turns out).  As you read the second time, jot down questions or observations.  Be sure to look up words that jump out at you as either important or peculiar in some way.

As you read the third time consider the questions below:

• Considering the previous chapter's ending, how unusual is it for Peter and John to be going to the temple?
• How often must they have seen this guy before? Why now would it be a different response to him?
• Peter speaks, but how involved does John seem to be?
• How old is the lame beggar?
• Exactly at what point did the man's legs and feet become "strong"?  Why is that significant? (or is it?)
• Consider the sight of the three entering the temple.  How possible is it for the people inside and out to miss the entrance?
• The people's response is again "wonder" and "amazement" but different words are used here. The first is "wonder" (G2285) and the second is "amazement" (G1611).  Which one seems more descriptive and why?
• In Peter's response, he uses a word from the last chapter, "Amazed" (G2296), so how is this crowd's reaction similar to the crowd on the Day of Pentecost?
• Peter again lays the death of Jesus at the feet of the people (v. 13-16), but after that how does he "soften" his approach in ways he didn't in the previous chapter?
• What different Biblical elements does he use here not used in his previous "sermon"?
• Peter finally quotes some Scripture, Deuteronomy 18.  How did he apply this to Jesus?
• How does Deut. 18 describe the penalty for not listening to the Prophet? Does it really say the person not listening will be "destroyed" or "cut off"?
• Peter then refers to the blessing of Abraham.  How does this apply to Jesus?
• Peter acknowledges that the blessing is to every "family", but who "first"?  Why them?

You will probably have more questions, so bring them on!  If you want to post them as comments to this entry first, we can all be thinking about them before Thursday.

I am looking forward to meeting again Thursday.  Our last meeting was amazing.  Blessings upon you all!