Today’s passage: Acts 9:23-31

Helpful thoughts:

• “Many days” equals about three years. (Galatians 1:17-18)
• Verse 22 ended by telling us that Paul proved Jesus was the Christ.
  • We can prove that Jesus is the Christ.  That is our responsibility and calling.  We cannot bring people to repentance.  Only God has that power.
    • John 3:19-20
    • Acts 13:48
• Without Saul of Tarsus spearheading the persecution of the church, and with historical evidence of a push from Rome to further limit the Jews’ ability to govern themselves, the church enjoyed a time of peace.
  • The church multiplied in a time of peace…and the church also multiplied in times of unrest and persecution.  There is no off-switch.  Christ builds His church.

Questions to consider:

1. What is our responsibility in taking the Gospel to others and in making disciples? (Matthew 28:18-20, Romans 10:14-15, 1 Thessalonians 5:11)  What is God’s “responsibility” and promise? (Romans 8:29-30)
2. What role did Barnabas have in relation to the newcomer Saul, and to the established church members/leaders in Jerusalem?  Who has been a “Barnabas” to you?  For whom could you be a “Barnabas?”
3. In times of civil unrest, in the midst of all these changes in government, on what does the book of Acts continue to focus our attention?  How should our view of the world help us to stay above the fray and stay on mission during difficult times?

Today’s passage: Acts 9:1-22

Helpful thoughts:

• Saul was not softening to Christianity over time.  His hatred and efforts against it were only growing.
  • Saul understood that early persecution had sparked the first missionary movements.  He was seeking to bring missions to an end.  God had other plans.
  • Saul became a follower of Jesus Christ because he was chosen (Verse 15).
• When someone persecutes the church, they are persecuting Jesus Himself.
  • John 15:18-25
• Paul immediately began calling Christ, “Lord” in verse 6 and he began following the Lord through obedience to baptism and in becoming a missionary.  He began preaching immediately in the synagogue right there in Damascus, the Christ “He is the Son of God.”

Questions to consider:

1. Why is it important to know where Saul’s heart and mind were concerning Jesus and the Christians when he started on this journey?
2. We can see the evidence of change in Saul after his conversion.  But how was Ananias’ faith evidenced as well?  What fears did he overcome to obey the Lord?
3. God has commanded us to share the good news about Jesus, and just like Paul we can give proof that Jesus is the Son of God, but whose power makes a sinner call Jesus his Lord?  How does this truth encourage you to go share with others?  How does this truth help you to think about the “likelihood” that someone will repent?  Why does this truth encourage us to pray for the salvation of the lost?

Today’s passage: Acts 8:26-40

Helpful thoughts:

• The Ethiopian was reading Isaiah 53.
• There are many manuscripts that include (Or exclude) verse 37:
  • And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” (NASB)
  • Please remember, verse numbers were not added until the 16th century.
  • This verse is not included in the oldest manuscripts.  Many scholars believe that as the manuscripts were copied and passed along, commentary or verbal accounts were added.  Whether this verse is or is not part of Luke’s original writing of the book doesn’t change the meaning of the passage or any doctrine at all.  Philip would not have baptized the Ethiopian if he had not believed.
• The term “Eunuch” could be used to speak of a government official.  He may or may not have been emasculated.
  • Ethiopia covered the region of Africa south of Egypt.
  • This man was a worshiper of the Lord and knew the importance of studying the Scripture!
  • Through these miracles, Philip’s obedience, and the faith of this official, the Gospel was now going to Africa.

Questions to consider:

1. Even with all the miracles we saw in this passage, what was the means of sharing the message with the Ethiopian? (Verse 35)  Do miracles convince people or does God bring people to life through the Word?
2. How does this passage further the promise of Jesus from Acts 1:8?
3. If you were sharing the Gospel with someone starting in Isaiah 53:7-8, how would you do it?  How does this remind us that the whole Bible points to the story of Jesus?  In what ways can this account encourage us to be confident in the power of God through the Scriptures in our evangelism?

Today’s passage: Acts 8:9-25

Helpful thoughts:

• Simon’s “belief” could be compared to the belief of those in John 2:23-24.
  • Simon may have been the first false convert in the history of the church.
  • In Jerusalem, the persecution would have prevented others from doing such a thing.  In Samaria the positives outweighed any negatives in Simon’s mind.
  • Early church fathers claimed Simon as a founder of Gnosticism.
  • Simon never repents in verse 24.  He simply begs to avoid the consequences.
• The delay in receiving the Spirit in the early church happened when new people groups entered into the church (Acts 10, Acts 19).  It happened on these occasions and then did not happen again.
  • This benefited the Jews in ending any doubt in their minds that the Samaritans could be their brothers and sisters in Christ.
  • It also benefited the Samaritans.  They now knew that their faith did not have to exist in isolation, apart from the Jews.  The Apostles of the Jewish believers were their Apostles as well.  They were now one people in the Kingdom of God.

Questions to consider:

1. What was it that attracted Simon to Christianity?  What did he value more than Jesus Christ?  Was he interested in following Jesus or did it seem he thought he’d found a new and more powerful way to gain more followers for himself?
2. What environment was conducive to seeing a first false convert?  In what atmosphere might a lost person find it advantageous to play along for personal gain?  How have those kinds of conditions existed in different ways throughout history since the days of the early church? (Think Europe, the powers of the Pope in the Middle Ages, Christian nations in the west, etc.)
3. What fruit would we have seen had Simon’s conversion been genuine?  How would this passage have been different?  What does true conversion result in for Christians?

Today’s passage: Acts 8:1-8

Helpful thoughts:

• Saul (Paul) approved of the execution and martyrdom of Stephen, but that was just the beginning.  He became a force for persecution against the church.
• The scattering of Christians only resulted in the furtherance of the Gospel.  The first missionaries were sent.
• Persecution doesn’t kill the church, it makes it grow.

Questions to consider:

1. As a Christian, what would you think the pros and cons of persecution would be for the church?
2. Does this passage evaluate the spiritual superiority or inferiority of those who stayed in Jerusalem and those who left?  What was it clear that all of them continued to do, no matter where they were?
3. If persecution like this were to come, where would we find the strength to respond in courage and with a missionary zeal, faithful to Christ in the face of opposition?

Today’s passage: Acts 7

Helpful thoughts:

• In this chapter, Stephen delivers his defense.  This would have been a similar defense to the times before as mentioned in Acts 6:9-10.
• Stephen’s defense was a survey of the Old Testament!
  • Verses 35-37 point forward to the Messiah.
  • Stephen reminded them of Israel’s rebellion.
  • Stephen also reminds them that God is not confined to the Temple.
    • The Temple was a means to worship God, who is bigger than the Temple.
    • Stephen is rebuking them for putting the Temple (And the life it gave them) above God.
• This is the first time we see Saul (The future Apostle Paul).  He was not a new guy in town when he was converted.  Saul was involved and active in the early persecution of the church.
  • He heard Stephen’s defense.  He was cut to the heart and infuriated.  He gnashed his teeth.  He cried out and covered his ears.  He helped rush Stephen out of the city gates. He held the outer clothes of those casting stones.

Questions to consider:

1. What did Stephen offer as his defense?  Where did the information come from?  What would have been the right response from the Jewish leaders?
2. Did Stephen mess up?  Did he do something or say something wrong?  Did he fail as an evangelist?  When we are deciding whether or not to share the Gospel with people for fear that it won’t go well, what are our greatest concerns?
3. The book of Acts was written by Luke, who accompanied Paul on his missionary journeys.  How would Luke have learned then of the account of Stephen’s martyrdom?  How might this encourage us to share Christ with others even when we don’t expect it to go well?

Today’s passage: Acts 6:8-15

Helpful thoughts:

• Jews from at least three different synagogues (Jewish places of worship away from the temple) all debated with Stephen.
  • The “Freedmen” would have been the descendants of Jews who had been captured and enslaved in the Roman Empire.
• The fact that the accusations against Stephen were false indicates these Jews were unable to find fault in Stephen’s teaching.  They couldn’t prove him wrong, so they spread lies.
  • The same tactic was used to deny the resurrection (Matthew 28:11-15)
• If Stephen had been lashing out in anger, or defending himself by speaking hatefully toward his accusers, it would have been impossible for his face to look like that of an angel.  (Romans 12:14-21)

Questions to consider:

1. What information does verse 8 give us that may help us to understand why Stephen became a target for the Jews?
2. Do you have to be mean to win an argument?  What does this passage teach us about how to carry ourselves in our belief in the face of opposition?
3. Stephen could not control what other people were going to think about him, but what could he control?  If people are against you or against our church, what should be the cause of their frustration?  If we remember who we were before Christ and why we are saved, how should we view those who oppose us?  What does God want us to do for them?

Today’s passage: Acts 6:1-7

Helpful thoughts:

• The “Hellenists” were Jewish people who had lived outside of the area of Israel.  When they moved back and brought back some of their Greek ways, they were often treated as outsiders. (James 2:1-10)
• The elders of the church (At that time, the Apostles) needed to devote their time to prayer and the ministry of the Word.  Deacons (Taken from the word which means “Service”) were chosen to minister to the physical needs of the church.
  • “Serving tables” was used to refer to financial matters as well as things like food.
  • This does not mean that Deacons can only count money, write budgets and organize meeting physical needs.  However, the office of the Deacon was created for these purposes.  We will see these deacons doing other things in Acts, but they aren’t doing those things because they are deacons…they were chosen to become deacons because the church had already seen them serving in various ways.
• We also see in this passage the beginning of congregational government.  The elders did not choose the deacons, they led the congregation to make a choice.  Then the congregation approved and followed through on the final decisions.
  • The church is to be elder led, deacon served, and congregationally ruled.  (This article could be a helpful resource for you to learn more about what this means)

Questions to consider:

1. Who suggested how many deacons the church needed in Jerusalem and what they should do?  If we were to follow the pattern of the early church, how should each church decide how many deacons there will be and what they will do in their roles?
2. Why would it be wrong to say that elders do spiritual ministry and deacons do non-spiritual ministry?  In what ways could deacons be vital to the church spiritually in areas of unity, encouragement, service etc.?  How is the biblical definition of a deacon different than the business-styled executive board member approach that is quite common in our culture?
3. With the example we see in this passage, what do you think it means for a church to be elder led, deacon served, and congregationally ruled?  Why is each role so important?  How can you contribute more faithfully to the role that God has place you in?