Passing 'Round The Messiah

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting March 9 to study Luke 23:1-12.  It was going to be longer, but I think there's enough here to take up our time.

Read through the passage and the parallels in Matthew 27:1-14, Mark 15:1-5, and John 18:28-38.  Not all the Gospels share the same set of characters, sequence, or wording.  There's enough detail between them to get some sense of the event, including the chaotic feel of it.  Make notes and jot down questions as you go through.

After you have your notes and questions, go back through with some sort of commentary.  The more detail the commentary has the more they will deal with the discrepancies between the Gospels.  They're not critical to know and address, but can be helpful in getting a sense of what happened.

After you have your notes and questions, revised them with some commentary, go back through with the questions below:

• The Sanhedrin brings Jesus to Pilate.  Later on there is a stoning of Stephen, so they can execute someone in an unofficial sense and get away with it.  Why do you think they want the Romans to execute Jesus officially and publicly?  (for more food for thought here, consider John 18:32)
• In verse 2, the religious leaders accuse Jesus with different accusations than they arrived at in their council chambers.  Why do you think that might be?  Even so, are they "lying" to Pilate?
• Once Pilate says he finds no guilt in Jesus, the religious leaders then widen the accusations.  When Pilate hears Jesus was from Galilee he perceives a way out for himself.  Why do you think Herod happened to be in Jerusalem just then?
• Luke records (actually repeats from earlier in Luke 9) that Herod actually wanted to see Jesus.  But why do you think he was interested in Him?
• Herod gets nothing from Jesus.  At least Jesus spoke with Pilate, but to Herod He says nothing.  Why do you think that would be?
• Herod and his detachment of soldiers mock Jesus but also give Him an expensive robe.  Why do you think Herod would give Jesus such a thing?
• The Jewish leaders are accusing Jesus strongly as Jesus gives no answer to Herod.  What sort of effect do you imagine this is having on Herod?
• Herod sends Jesus back to Pilate.  Luke then makes the odd statement that Herod and Pilate became friends from that day on, and that before they had been enemies.  Why do you think this is in any way important to the account in Luke?  He leaves out so much other stuff, but this he includes.  Why do you think that might be?

 That will probably keep us busy for a few hours.  Remember to think through what all this says about Jesus and your relationship with Him.  What do you learn about that relationship from Jesus' treatment and response?

Feeding Popular Opinion and Worms

This is the study page for Chapter 13 of Acts for the study group session on Thursday, December 6.  We're also feeding the Infiltrate group, so this study may be put off a week.  On either week, this is the study page.

Be sure and read through the chapter a few times.  Be sure and look up Herod so you know something about him (more than the footnote in your study Bible).  The ISBE article on The Blue Letter Bible site should be sufficient.  The first problem will be figuring out which Herod we have in chapter 13.  Here is a link to get you started.

Also look for those things that seem odd or out of place.  Look for details that are interesting or intriguing.  Once you've gone through and made your own set of notes and questions, go through again and use the questions below:

• This seems sudden.  From any research on Herod, why him, why now?
• There is not much said about James' death, not like Stephen, what is that weird?
• How is this king able to get the "apostles", especially the top three so easily?
• What seems odd about Peter's imprisonment?
• What seems very beneficial about the timing?  What does that mean for Peter though?
• How long were people praying for Peter?
• What does the angel do to wake Peter up?  Why is that odd?
• Consider what could have been seen by the guards if someone had noticed Peter leaving.  Why is it impossible that he was seen?
• How did the two soldiers he was chained to not miss him earlier?
• How many facets does this miracle actually have?  How many more are possible?
• So, is this the Angel of the Lord, or just an angel of the Lord?
• What does Peter assume as he's leaving the prison?  Why would he assume that?
• When Peter realizes what happened and where he is, where is he?  Where is the angel?
• What does Peter do first?  Where does he go?  What character is introduced?
• Who answers the door?  Look closer, who answers the door?
• What do the people think about poor Rhoda?  Why?
• What is odd about what they were praying about, who is at the gate, and how they respond?
• What does Peter tell them?  Why James?  What does that tell you about the "authority" of the "Twelve"?
• What does the morning bring at the prison?
• Who is looking for Peter?  What happens to the guards?  Who's the victim here?
• What is being setup between the people of Phoenicia and Tyre and King Herod?
• How do the people (which people?) respond to the king's speech?
• How does God respond to the king's response to the people's response to the king's speech?
• What happens to the church?
• What is the timing of these events?  
• Who returns with Barnabas and Saul?

That is plenty for our discussion.  You probably have a lot of questions not listed here, so please bring them with you.  I look forward to seeing you all Thursday!

Blessings upon you until then!