On The Road Again (Or Sea As It Were)

This is the study page for the Thursday Night Study Group meeting on February 28.  We will be studying Acts chapter 20.  The chapter is about half travelogue and half dialogue.  The route is not what was intended, but to avoid trouble the travelers took the long way.

There are lots of odd elements to the trip, and most of them are left unexplained.  In essence, this chapter forms a connection to the trip to Jerusalem, or would if it weren't for the long monologue of Paul.  Be thinking about why Luke included the elements he did, and consider what is missing that you would have liked to have known.  Some things may have been assumed to be common knowledge of the day, but a lot wouldn't.

Read the chapter through several times.  It may be helpful to read ahead just to get a sense of how this chapter fits into the story Luke is relating.  Remember to look for things that seem out of place or incomplete.  Ask questions about what Luke wrote.  It would be nice to be able to ask him personally, but we'll just have to put ourselves in his shoes and see what we can figure out that way (not a great method really, but it's what we have).  Look stuff up in commentaries you may have or other sources you find online.

After reading it through a few times, consider the questions below:

• Where was the uproar that ceased?
• How long was he in Greece?
• Why did he return back through Macedonia?
• Which names of his companions did we run across in chapter 19?
• Where was this guy from?  Who else was from there?
• From verse 5, who is now another of the companions of Paul?
• What was taking all night in Troas?
• What has Luke, the "physician", left out of the story in verse 11?
• If Paul is in such a hurry to reach Jerusalem, why travel by foot instead of boat?
• Find Assos, Mitylene, Chios, Samos, and Miletus on a map.  How far are they traveling?  Why would this take them a while to navigate?
• How far did the Ephesian elders need to travel to see Paul?
• What is Paul doing in the first part of his speech?
• What does he expect in Jerusalem?
• Since he doesn't think he will see them again, what does he begin to do?
• What warnings does he give them?
• From verse 31, how did Paul work with people?
• In 33, what is he doing?  Isn't this the third time he does this in some fashion?
• When did Jesus say the quote Paul claims for Him?
• Where would Paul have gotten this quote?
• What, after all that, really bothered the elders?

That should do.  There are lots of other stuff.  Read up and bring your thoughts and questions to group.  I look forward to seeing you all then!

Fun Times In Ephesus

This is the study page for the Thursday Study Group meeting on February 21.  The passage being studied is Acts 19 where Paul spends two years in Ephesus.  A lot happens in that time.  We also have a picture of the sorts of things that happen around Paul when he's ministering.

Read the chapter through several times.  Note the different events, people, backgrounds, responses, and actions taken.  It gets somewhat muddled when we look at the sequence or timing, Luke doesn't seem to be that concerned about timing until he sets up the riot.  Jot down questions and details you note as you go through the chapter several times.  It may help to continue on into chapter 20 some way for context.

As you go through a last few times, consider the questions below.  Add to or modify any of them with your own observations/questions.

• How does Luke setup Paul's entrance into Ephesus?  Why mention Apollos?
• What does Paul find immediately as he gets to Ephesus?
• This is the second time running across the Baptism of John, where did this one come from?
• Are these Jews or Greeks?  What are the clues?
• After the synagogue refuses to listen, where does Paul go? (sound like a fun school?)
• After two years, how far has the good news of Jesus gone?
• How often do we hear of Paul healing?  So how common might this be?  What does this sound like/remind you of? (remember Acts 5?)
• Without Jesus, how do Jewish Exorcists function?  Why might this work for some?
• Why wouldn't it work for the "Seven Sons of Sceva"?
• Wat is the result of these miracles?
• There are several terms for "magic".  Look up this one at G4021.  It's a compound word, so look at both words  used to make it up.  What English word/phrase does it sound like?  What might characterize this sort of magic?
• How much was the cost of the "burned books"?  Why not sell them and give the money to the church?  What might that tell you about "fund raising"?
• What does Paul decide to do?  Why stay in Ephesus?
• What do these silversmiths do?  Why is business so bad?  What is their answer to the problem?  Where else was this solution attempted?
• Who is this "Artemis of the Ephesians"?  What about the temple is impressive?
• Who do the rioters grab?  Later on, who do the Jews put forward? What are the "Jews" doing there?
• Who calms the rioters down?  What is his reason for there being no reason for the riot?

That should be a good start to this chapter.  Be sure to bring your own observations and questions as well. 

The Beginning of the End

This is the study page for the Thursday Night Group meeting on February 14, and the text is Acts 18.  This chapter is made up of lots of pieces that might seem disconnected.  Actually they form an excellent backdrop to 1 Corinthians, possibly 2 Corinthians as well.  These two letters were most likely written before the completion of the next two chapters (19 and 20) where Paul returns to Corinth.  They aren't very long, and it's possible to read them straight through and still have time to study this chapter.  Lots of reading, but it's also very illuminating.

Read the text through several times (it's not long).  Jot down questions and observations that occur to you as you read.  It might be a good idea to read ahead a chapter or so as things accelerate from here to Rome.  Knowing the context may help understand various events and pieces of this chapter.  As you read it through a final time, consider the questions below:

• Paul was waiting for Timothy and Silas in Athens, what reasons might he have for leaving before they arrive?
• Where are Aquila and Priscilla from?  What do they do?  When have we heard that Paul has a trade skill?
• What does Paul do different when Silas and Timothy arrive?
• How far did Paul go after leaving the Synagogue?
• Who is the first person noted as baptized and what does he do? (keep that in mind for later)
• Paul has a vision, what was the content?  What is different about that?
• What does this Proconsul Gallio do different than others we've encountered so far?
• Who is being beaten up yet ignored?
• Who beats him?  (read verse 17 in as many translations as you can)
• What does Paul do as part of a "vow"?  (save this reference for later)
• Who does Paul take with him to Syria?
• Where do they reach first?  Who continues on with him?
• Paul lands at Caesarea, and then "goes up" to the church, and then "down" to Antioch.  Where was the "church"? (look at a map of this journey below, it might surprise you)
• What happens in verse 23?  What would you call this?  What's odd about where he goes?
• Back at Ephesus, who arrives there?  Where is this guy from?
• What does he know and preach so powerfully?
• What do Aquila and Priscilla do for him?
• Where does he go from Ephesus?
• Read 1 Corinthians 1:10-15, and 3:1-9.  What sort of effect did Apollos have in Corinth?

That should be plenty for now.  Notice that there really is not much distinction between where this chapter ends and 19 begins, so you're only helping yourself when you read ahead.  Like I said, Acts accelerates from here, and we're heading rapidly to the end.

See you Thursday!