Wow, Tough Crowds

This is the study page for the Thursday Night small group meeting.  The passage is Acts 14, and it completes the account of the first missionary journey of Barnabas and Paul. 

It might be helpful to read the last portions of chapter 13 to get a better sense of the setting for 14.  Read the chapter a few times.  Be sure to look for incongruities.  Look around in the setting for what they might mean or indicate.  Look up some background material on the region (it's weird).  See the page for the previous chapter to get some ideas of where to look for background material. Jot down questions and observations.

Once you've read through a few times, go through once more considering the questions below (if you haven't already).

• What had prompted Paul and Barnabas to come to Iconium?
• What was similar about the response in Iconium to what they had experienced in Pisidian Antioch?
• How long were they in Iconium before they had to leave?  Why did they leave?
• Where did they go after Iconium?  Look at a map, how far did they go?
• What does Paul do in Lystra that he doesn't do elsewhere (at least recorded)?
• How do the people react to Paul's healing of the lame man?
• What does their names for Paul and Barnabas reveal about how they are perceived by the crowds?
• What does that reveal about the faith of the multitude of people?
• Who shows up with a bull and wreath?  Why is that weird?
• What do Paul and Barnabas do when they realize what the crowd is doing?
• Luke doesn't say, but how long might have passed between verse 18 and 19?
• He also doesn't say how long it took for those from Iconium to stir up trouble, but what impression do you get about the time frame?
• When and where do they go from Iconium?  How far is that? (look at a map)
• After all the description in Cyprus, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, what's the deal with Derbe?  Was it even successful?
• Where did they go after Derbe?  Why not just head for Antioch from there?
• What did they do along the way back from Derbe?  What did they do in each church?  Why was that important?
• When they get back to Antioch (where they started from) what sort of reception do they receive?
• How long did this trip take?

 That should do for now?  Be sure to use other resources for background and setting, both cultural and geographical.

We may do this on January 3 or we may wait a week and do it on January 10. 

From Saul to Paul to "Point"

This is the study page for the Thursday night study on December 13.  The passage is as much of Acts 13 as we can get through.

Read the chapter through a few times.  It might be good to read on to 14 as well, but at least several times through 13 will be helpful.  As you read, look for incongruities, odd wording or sentence structures, things that aren't explained, or are explained but not as expected.  Write these things down and also questions you have as you read.

As you read through a final few times, consider the questions below:

• It says these were "prophets and teachers" but who does which?
• Who is first? Who is last?
• What does "Niger" mean?  (G3526)
• Who is "Herod the Tetrarch"?
• If Manaen was raised with this Herod, where was he raised?
• Why is it fitting that Barnabas would sail first to Cyprus?
• What does Bar-Jesus (G919) mean? How is that ironic?
• What does "Paulus" (G3972) mean?
• What does Elymas (G1681) mean? How is that a translation/interpretation of Bar Jesus?
• Saul, aka "Paul" (also G3972) has the same name as the Proconsul.  How might that be significant?
• What amazed Sergius Paulus, Proconsul of Cyprus?
• Now who is first? Who is last?
• What happened to "John"?
• Where is Pisidian Antioch? Why would this be a good place to start a church?  What about the people might have made it difficult?  What about them might have made it easier?
• Paul gives a short account of Israel's history, then notes John the Baptist.  Why mention him?
• Paul quotes a few Psalms and some prophets.  Look up the references.  How does he do with the meaning of those passages?
• As Paul and Barnabas leave, how do the people respond?
• Look up "God-Fearing" or "devout" (G4576) - what does that tell you about these "proselytes"?
• What happens the next Sabbath? What does that tell you/confirm to you about these people?
• Why are the Jews upset?  Why be jealous?
• What is Paul and Barnabas' response to the "blaspheming Jews"?
• So, which group seems to respond the most to the gospel?
• Yet, who do the religious leaders stir up against Paul and Barnabas? Again, the (G4576) word is used.
• Now where are they off to?

That should be enough for us.  Remember to use any maps you have access to, and any other references you find helpful.  This is just the start of a new aspect to the work of the Holy Spirit recorded in Acts.  We will see much more of this in the coming weeks.

Consider for next week, what do you think about switching to a study of Jesus' birth until New Years'?  That could be fun, and certainly timely.  Let me know what you think.

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!