Who Let You In Here?

This is the study page for the Thursday Night Small Group meeting on November 29.  The Scripture passage is Acts chapter 11.  This passage falls neatly into two sections, verses 1-18 regarding Peter being challenged about the acceptance of Gentiles, and verses 19-30 about the believers in Antioch.

As you read this chapter, catch the last 4 verses of chapter 10 just for context.  Read this chapter through several times (hopefully you already have been).  Look for things that "don't match", and what I mean by that is questions that don't match the setup of the problem, answers that don't match questions, or events and actions that don't match initial intent.  Things like that can indicate some element of the account that Luke assumed was understood without explanation. They can also indicate some sort of cultural idiom, custom, or etiquette.  Look for other pieces that are strange, out of place, or just hit you cross ways.  List them, look into them (you can use the Blue Letter Bible website), and share them with us on Thursday.

After you've done some poking around on your own, or if you haven't found anything as you did so, consider the questions below as you go through the chapter:

• What had the believers in Judea heard about the Gentiles?
• Who addressed Peter in Jerusalem?
• What did they ask?  What does that have to do with what was heard?
• Why would this be important? (we sort of discussed this in chapter 10 with the whole "heavenly sheet" thing)
• How does Peter respond?  What does verse 4 say in various translations?
• Look up the Greek word used to describe how Peter went through his explanation (G2517).  Why do it that way?  What's his intent?
• What two responses does Peter get to his explanation?
• What do Peter's inquisitors conclude from his account?  (hang onto that piece of info for later)
• Why are people spreading throughout the region?
• What might that mean for the timing of these events?
• Look up the three "regions" mentioned in verse 19 on a map (one included below).  What's the relationship between all three?  Which one is different?

 

•  What prompts the proclamation to the Gentiles?  Consider the timing again, why is this interesting?
• What do those in Jerusalem do in response?
• What does Barnabas do once he arrives? (At least four things)
• What doesn't he do that might be expected?
• If these events occurred before the preceding 18 verses, then how does that affect your understanding of the reception Peter received when he arrived in Jerusalem?
• What are the differences between what Peter does and what happens in Antioch?
• What do you suppose will happen once Barnabas and Saul reach Jerusalem?

That should get us going for a nice discussion Thursday!  Be sure to bring the other questions and things you found in your own study.  We need your perspective on this.

I look forward to Thursday's discussion.  Have a blessed week!

And Now for the Next Surprising Group

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday night meeting November 8.  It's not a lot different from the last two study pages because we still haven't started chapter 10 (we've been waiting somewhat).  We did finish chapter 9 and discussed whether Aeneas was faking, and why Tabitha was called Dorkas (and it wasn't an insult!).

This week we get into chapter 10! We certainly are taking this slowly, and hopefully we will still be able to plod ahead even with the holidays coming up.  In any case, I hope you have had plenty of chances to read through the chapter, have lots of questions, and are ready to discover the nuggets our Master has for us in this chapter.  I have re-listed the questions for chapter 10.

• What are the stark contrasts in Cornelius?
• Read this article on Cornelius.  What might motivate him to worship God?
• Where is Cornelius from?
• What does God think of Cornelius?
• After the vision, who does Cornelius tell?
• Why send a servant and a soldier?
• What is Peter doing on the roof?
• What is his distraction while praying?
• Being hungry, what does the vision suggest?
• What is Peter's response to the vision?
• What is God's command? (Read it in several translations!)
• How much does Peter understand about his vision before he goes to Caesarea?
• Peter travels with the men from Cornelius, but who goes with him?
• When he arrives, what does Cornelius do?  Why would he do that?
• What is Peter's response when Cornelius tells him about his own vision?
• What quality of God does Peter discover here?
• What is Peter's assumption as he relates what he knows of Jesus?  Why assume that?
• How long does Peter have to wait during the invitation for people to respond?
• How are Peter's companions described here?
• Why are they "beside themselves"?
• What does Peter suggest (or command) they do?

I look forward to seeing all of you tomorrow night!  Have a great...two days!