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!

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!

Whom God Accepts

This is the study page for the Thursday Night Small Group meeting on November 1.  We will pick up at the end of Acts 9 and continue through 10 (or as far as we get). 

Last week we left off at verse 32 of Acts 9, where the narrative switches from Saul to Peter.  The remainder of 9 sets up Peter for the events of chapter 10, so they go well together.  Read from 9:32 through the end of 10:48 all together a few times.  Jot down thoughts and insights.  Note any peculiarities you find (try looking at a couple of different translations, and note differences).  Once you've taken down some notes yourself, having read the passage a few times, go back over it using the questions below:

Acts 9:32-43:

• What is known about Aeneas?
• What does Peter tell him to do (look it up in as many translations as you can)?
• Why does that seem odd? Why tell him to do that?
• What is the name of the lady in Joppa? (G5000) (G1393)
• What do the widows call her?
• What does Peter call her?
• What is the effect of all these healings?

Acts 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?

That is probably more than enough for discussion this Thursday.  I look forward to seeing you on Thursday!

Of Philip, Paul, and Peter: Spreading Good News, Changing Lives

This is the study page for the Thursday Night small group meeting on October 25.  We will be picking up with the last part of chapter 8 (the Ethiopian Eunuch), and then moving through Chapter 9 (Paul's conversion and Peter's work on the Palestinian coast).  We may get through the whole of chapter 9, but we may not (if last week was any indicator of how things might go this week).

I have included the questions from last week's study page for Chapter 8:26-40, and then added the ones for chapter 9.  As always, read through the passages on your own a few times, jotting down questions and observations.  Be sure to look for things that stand out about people, places, and timing.  Once you have read through a few times, go back through and consider the questions below:

Chapter 8:26-40

• With such a great "revival" is breaking out among the Samaritans, Philip is sent somewhere else. What sort of hesitation or limits does Philip put his response?
• He's on a desert road, and who does he see?
• Who is "Candace"? Follow the links and read about the Queen and country.
• There is an interesting pun in the text, missed in English. In verse 26, the word for Gaza is this one (G1048), and in verse 27, the word for "treasury" is this one (G1047). It turns out to be an accident of language (Gaza is of Philistine origin, and treasury is of Persian origin), but they could be related in some way.
• How is Philip receiving his "orders"? What does that tell you about the Spirit of God?
• Where is the eunuch headed? So where has he come from? Why wouldn't he be able to get an explanation from where he came from?
• What happens to Philip after the baptism? This is a debated event, think about how it's described in a few different translations.

Chapter 9:1-31

• What clues, if any, are provided that give a reason why Saul is so violent toward the believers?
• How did believers get to Damascus?  Why would Saul think that would be a good place to find them?
• What sort of authority would letters from the high priest give Saul? Under what limitations?
• What does Saul's method (high priest letters of authority to the Synagogues) tell you about the believers in Damascus?
• Why the "drama" with Saul's conversion?  Who is Saul persecuting?  How is that?
• What seems odd about Saul's question in verse 5?
• What part(s) do Saul's companion's share in this experience?  What happens to them?
• Why does Ananias' response to God sound familiar?  Who does he sound like?
• What about his assignment bothers Ananias?  How does he respond to the assignment?
• What explanation does God give to him about Saul?
• What is interesting about what Ananias says to Saul, by way of introduction/explanation?
• How long does Saul wait before preaching? (but what about Galatians 1:16-24?)
• Where is he doing all this preaching?
• What sort of preaching is he doing?
• What sort of response does he get from the people?
• Who lowers him over the wall?  What does that tell you about Saul?
• Where does he go?  What sort of response does he get there?
• Who comes to his rescue and what does he do?
• Who does Saul argue with in Jerusalem?  Why do these guys sound familiar? 
• Why does their response sound so familiar?  What trend do you see here?
• What do the believers do to rescue Saul?
• Why would Saul's conversion bring such peace on the region for the believers?

Acts 9:32-43

• What is known about Aeneas?
• What does Peter tell him to do (look it up in as many translations as you can)?
• Why does that seem odd?  Why tell him to do that?
• What is the name of the lady in Joppa? (G5000) (G1393)
• What is she known for?
• What do the widows call her?
• What does Peter call her?
• What is the effect of all these healings?

Be sure to read the passages several times.  Look up words that seem odd or interesting on the Blue Letter Bible site. Bring your questions and observations to the group.

See you Thursday!  Blessings upon you until then!

To Samaria and Beyond!

This is the study page for the small group meeting on Thursday, October 18.  We'll be studying Acts 8.  A lot happens in this chapter, and it makes for good reading.  Go ahead and get lost in the story.

Read the chapter a few times, and jot down questions and observations.  There are plenty of odd things to find.  After reading and making your own notes, read through again and think about the questions below:

• What's odd about how verse one begins?
• There are four sets of "actors" in the first 3 verses.  What does each do distinctly different from each other?  It's like "compare and contrast" for Luke.  What is his assessment?
• The set of characters "scattered" from Jerusalem, what do they do as they scatter?
• Culturally, what is odd about the church going to Samaria?  What problems are mentioned by Luke about this?
• What is the response of the people in Samaria?
• What is "Simon" known for?  Look up "magic" or "sorcery" (G3096) and follow the link for "Vines" to open that comparative explanation.  What do you learn from this description?
• If Simon is some great power, like the "power of God" or something what's interesting about his interest in Philip, Peter and John?
• How much does Simon understand about what is going on even though he joins the "movement"?
• What sort of problems do Peter and John see with working among Samaritans?  Why is that unexpected?
• With such a great "revival" is breaking out among the Samaritans, Philip is sent somewhere else.  What sort of hesitation or limits does Philip put his response?
• He's on a desert road, and who does he see?
• Who is "Candace"? Follow the links and read about the Queen and country.
• There is an interesting pun in the text, missed in English.  In verse 26, the word for Gaza is this one (G1048), and in verse 27, the word for "treasury" is this one (G1047).  It turns out to be an accident of language (Gaza is of Philistine origin, and treasury is of Persian origin), but they could be related in some way.
• How is Philip receiving his "orders"?  What does that tell you about the Spirit of God?
• Where is the eunuch headed?  So where has he come from?  Why wouldn't he be able to get an explanation from where he came from?
• What happens to Philip after the baptism?  This is a debated event, think about how it's described in a few different translations.

That should be plenty for this go around.  I look forward to seeing you all tomorrow!

Blessings!

The Long Ride Out of Town

This is the study page for the Small Group Meeting on Thursday, October 11 (tomorrow).  The text is Acts 7, all of it (we'll get through what we can).

As you get ready to read through chapter 7, go back and catch the last 10 verses or so from Acts 6, so you can recapture the sense of what's going on.  First, read it through quickly, like a novel or article.  Then go back through and note anything that seems strange or quirky.  As you have questions, write them down.  Do this a few times before you get into the questions below.

I counted three turns between Stephen's start and wrap up of his address to the assembled leaders.  Each turn was a different place where the "people" or "our fathers" made yet another rebellious mistake.  See if you see the ones I saw, or even a few more.  As you read through a final time or two, consider these questions in addition to your own.

• How does Stephen do on details of Abraham's call?  Where is he off on a point or two?
• It rapidly goes from Abraham to the "patriarchs", where do you see "conflict" with the twelve sons of Jacob?  How does Stephen describe who is involved, and what they do?
• Where and from whom did Abraham purchase a burial plot?  Where is Shechem on a map?
• How does Moses see himself as the adopted prince?
• What does Stephen claim Moses understood, but the people did not?
• What details does Stephen note about Moses in Midian that isn't typically thought about Moses?
• What is it about Moses and the people that Stephen points out will make Moses' calling difficult?
• In verse 37-38, what is Stephen pointing out about Moses, his calling, his prophecy, and his role?
• What do the people do in the wilderness, and how often do they do it?
• In verse 44, a transition is made.  What is Stephen's point in the next 6 verses?
• How does Stephen tie the mistakes of "our fathers" to his audience, and what is his point?
• What is the significance of Stephen's vision as he stands before his enraged audience?
• The last words of Stephen sound a lot like the dying words of whom?

We may get through he 60 verses or we may not.  A lot of it is a quick review of Israel's history, but it is a very quick overview.  We've spent a lot of time on the part about Abraham, and some details seemed a bit different than the ones Stephen presented.  Think about that, and how important that is or isn't.

I look forward to seeing everyone Thursday!