Acts 25-28

Before what King does Paul appear? Who is with the King?

Paul appears before King Agrippa. His wife is with him.

What does the King think Paul is trying to do?

He thinks Paul is trying to persuade him to become a Christian

In his 'I told you so' address aboard the boat to Italy, what did Paul urge them to do?

Paul urged them to keep their courage.

What would be the outcome? How did Paul know?

The ship would be lost but they would not lose their life. An angel of God appeared to Paul and revealed all of his to him.

How many people were on board the ship? What plan did the soldiers have for the prisoners? Upon what island did they safely arrive?

There were 276 people on board. The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners so they would not get away. They found themselves shipwrecked on eh island of Malta.

What caused the island natives to think Paul was a god?

When Paul got bit by a snake and did not die they though he was a god. Notice that at first they thought he was some murderer since he got bit. They assumed he as getting what he deserved after being spared from death on the ship. People sure are fickle aren’t they. Their thoughts are quite unstable!

Where is Paul located at the end of Acts? How long was he there? What did he do there?

The book of Acts ends with Paul in Rome. He stays there two years and "Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ."

Acts 21-24

Who stirred up the crowd against Paul? What were their charges against Paul? Were they true?

Some Jews from the province of Asia who were in Jerusalem stirred up the crowd. They charged Paul with teaching against people following the law and that Paul had brought Greeks (Gentiles) into the Temple. From the previous discussion with James and the Elders it appears that Paul had instructed those who were Jews and lived among the gentiles that they did not have to live under or follow the law.

Paul did not bring a gentile into the temple and Paul did not teach that people should not follow the law. I think he taught them that it was up to them. What was necessary was that, "...they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality."

How does Paul get out of being flogged?

Paul claims his Roman citizenship and is not flogged.

How did Paul arouse a clamor among the chief priests and council?

He pitted them against each other. The Sadducees (who did not believe in the resurrection) versus the Pharisees (who did believe in the resurrection). Paul claimed he was being arrested because of his belief in the resurrection

How were the Jewish leaders going to do away with Paul?

They were going to assassinate him while he was being transported to be questioned further.

What did Felix do with Paul'?

Felix kept Paul in jail waiting for Paul to offer a bribe. No bribe so Paul remained in prison for 2 years until Felix as no longer in control.

Acts 17-20

When Paul entered a city where did he go first? For what purpose?

Paul would first go to the Synagogue to reason with them from the scriptures. Again this points to the importance of having a foundation from which to speak. The folks in the synagogue had a "history." They knew about Jehovah God, and God’s plan and purpose for the world. Any converts from the Synagogue would serve as a core group for Paul’s work with the gentiles, who had no such background.

In what city had the citizens set up an altar to 'an unknown god'? How did Paul make use of the 'unknown god'?

Athens. He basically commended them for their insight in recognizing an unknown god. Paul then proceeds to inform them of who this unknown God is.

What couple explained the Way of God more accurately to Apollos?

Priscilla & Aquila

What/Who stirred up a riot in Ephesus? How was it stilled? By whom?

Demetrius stirred up the riot over the economic impact following Jesus would have on his ability to make a living. (Making silver shrines of Artemis).

You can write this on a rock. While we may have many reasons for our actions, the number one motivator in how we respond to the call of God in our life is financial (economics).
We determine what we will do for God based on the effect it has on us economically.

After taking the financial options into consideration some follow God’s call others ignore or explain away God’s call.

The bottom line is that where our treasure is.... our heart follows.

The controversy quieted down when the city clerk appealed to their right to sue in the courts!

What happened to Eutychus? What did Paul do?

As Paul talked on and on... Eutychius fell asleep and fell out of the window and died. Paul raised him back to life...and continued preaching.

What did Paul say he did with his own hands? For what reason?

With his own hands, he raised his own support to supply the needs of himself and his companions. He did this in order to be able to give (money) to those in need. Or, at least have the resources available to help those in need whom Paul describes as weaker. For it truly is "more blessed to give than receive."

Is it? How are we practicing giving more than we receive?

Acts 13-16

What happened to Elymas the magician for opposing Saul and Barnabas?

Elymas was blinded. It appears to be similar to what happened to Paul before he became a believer. Interesting note here is that as a result of Elymas’ blinding the proconsul believed. And we are left to surmise that Elymas’ blindness was
only temporary.

After healing a lame man in Lystra whom did the locals think Paul was?

Gods - Silas was Zeus. Zeus, in Greek mythology had supreme authority on earth and Mt. Olympus.

Paul was Hermes. In Greek mythology Hermes was the son of Zeus and was considered the messenger of the gods.

In reality Jehovah God is the authority on earth and heaven. And, in reality, Paul was the messenger of Jehovah God.

EXTRA CREDIT: Why were elders appointed and not elected by the congregation? Since this was the practice then, should this be the practice now?

Acts 14:23 23Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

What did some of the Jerusalem Christians say was needed to be saved?

Circumcision. That is, that one had to become a Jew in order to be saved.

Paul and Silas' chains were loosed. Why didn't they leave the prison?

They were concerned for the well being of their jailer. As a result of their trust in God for their safety and security they were able to connect with the Jailer.

When we are able to trust God with our present and future as God wants us to trust Him, we become less concerned about our well-being and our own interests because we know that God has "our back." This frees us to take advantage of opportunities that God presents.

If Paul and Silas were concerned about saving themselves the jailer would never have accepted Jesus.

Acts 9-12

Saul was after those who belonged to a group called by what name?

The Way

What happened to Saul on the way to Damascus?

He was struck down blind by God. God got his attention.

Peter raised a woman from death in Joppa. What names did she have?

Tabbitha and Dorcas

What was the purpose of Peter's vision of the sheet full of food?

10:34 34Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.

Where is the name 'Christian' first used?

Antioch (11:26)

How did Peter get out of prison?

He walked out. The Church had been praying for him and God acted miraculously.

Acts 5-8

What happened to Ananias and Sapphira? Why?

Ananias and Sapphira were killed dead by God for selling a piece of property, keeping part of the proceeds, but reporting that they had donated the total price to the care of the saints in Jerusalem.

It wasn’t that they kept part of the money but that they were not truthful in telling what they did. It was like they wanted the glory without paying the price. This sort of thing happens today I am sure. When we are not quite honest about what we give, or take credit for giving more than we do. While the result may not be as dranmatic, struck down dead, God views it the same way.

I think the reason why there was such a dramatic response by God is that this was to serve as an example and foundation of the right way to do things, as Christianity begins.

What happens to an undertaking of human origin? What if it is of God?

Undertakings of human origin do not last. If it is of God it cannot be stopped. I think that is true today as Walnut Street Baptist Church undertakes relocating.

For what task were the seven men 'of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, chosen?

They were chosen to wait on the tables of the widows. Their task was to serve so that the apostles could continue to study, pray, and preach the gospel. This group to some extent serves as the first deacons. The word “serve” is a form of the word from which we get the word “deacon.” (GR: Diakonos).

The biblical role of the deacons in the church today follows this example. They are to partner with the pastor in ministry to the congregation, such as, in visiting shut ins and caring for church families.

Ken Hemphill, the Southern Baptist Convention's National Strategist for Empowering Kingdom Growth, expands and expounds on this view of the deacons biblical role in today's church.

"The Ministry of Deacons." Click here to read the article.

What connection was there between Stephen and Saul?

As Stephen was being stoned, Saul was holding their coats. I think they call that aiding and abetting. The inclusion of this tidbit of information gives us a picture of what Saul (Pail) was like before his conversion. His past did not keep him from serving God in the fullest sense.

What did the Ethiopian eunuch ask Philip to do?

The Ethiopian Eunuch invited Philip into his chariot to explain the scriptures to him. Then he wanted to know what should keep him from being baptized.

The scene here is of Philip being ready, in the right place, and willing to share the gospel. However, he waits upon the invitation of the one who is lost (The Ethiopian).

This is a great model for us to follow as we seek to reach those who neeed to know Jesus in a personal way. We must be prepared and ready and wait for the opportunity to present itself.

Too often we are very prepared. In fact, we are spending much time in preparation. In fact, we are actually over prepared, but we are not ready. We are not seeking out those opportunities.

As we wait for Spring to approach, and the beginning of baseball season, allow me to offer this illustration. It is like we are in perpetual Spring training, getting ready for the major league season to begin, working on our fundamentals, game plan, and going over all possible scenarios, but we never move north to begin the season. We are never ready…. we are alwasy in Spring training...

Acts 1-4

The beginning of Acts refers to a first book. It has the same name as the author of Acts. What book is it?

The book of Luke

Who is to know the time when the Kingdom will be restored?

Only the father

Who replaced Judas and how was he chosen? By whom was he chosen?

Matthias ; by lot (throwing dice - casting lots) He was chosen by the remaining Apostles.

• Whatever happened to Matthias?


• Who are the apostles today?


• Has their been a succession of Apostles through the years with each genereation appointing the next generation of Apostles?


• We hear nothing more of Matthias. His addition to the group seems to be unimportant.
  

What happened on Pentecost?

The Holy Spirit descends on the group. The presence of the Holy Spirit finds the focus not on the Holy Spirit but on the Jesus. The gospel is preached. The Holy Spirit always points away from Self and towards Jesus.

What did those who heard the disciples speaking think about them?

They thought they were drunk when they heard their utterances which was not
unintelliogible tongues but differnt languiages.

What happened to the lame man at the Beautiful Gate?

He was healed Peter took him by the hand and ... 8He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.

Who is the stone whom the builders rejected? What has he become?

Jesus is the stone the Jews rejected. and Jesus has become the chief stone, the capstone.