Lessons of the Book of Acts

Transcription

1 Lessons of the Book of Acts Acts Chapter 14 Q14.1 What did the unbelieving Jews do? Correct. The Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. Q14.2 Why did Paul and Barnabas move onto Lystra? Correct. Paul and Barnabas moved on to Lystra because they found out that there was a plot afoot among the Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. Q14.3 What did they want to do to please these "gods"? Correct. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them. Q14.4 How did Paul describe the true God to these idol-worshippers? Correct. Paul described the true God as "the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them". He said that God "has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy." Q14.5 With God's help, what did Paul do after he had been stoned? Correct. After he had been stoned the disciples and the disciples had gathered around him, and he got up and went back into the city. Q14.6 What did they do when they returned to Antioch at the end of their first missionary journey? Correct. There was more than one city named Antioch. One of the cities that Paul and Barnabas preached in on their first missionary journey was Antioch in the Roman province of Pisidia (See Acts 13:4). The city from which they began and to which they returned at the end of that journey was Antioch in the Roman province of Syria. This city was generally referred to simply as "Antioch" because it was closer to Jerusalem than the Antioch in Pisidia. When they arrived back there they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. And they stayed there a long time with the disciples. Acts Chapter 15 Q15.1 Who was the first person told to be circumcised? (Read Genesis 17:9-27). Correct. Abraham and Ishmael were among the first persons to be circumcised, with all the other males in his household.

2 Q15.2 What was to happen to anyone not circumcised? (Genesis 17:14) Correct. God said that "any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant." Q15.3 Write out verse 11. Correct. Acts 15:11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are." Q15.4 What did Paul and Barnabas tell the people? Correct. Verse 12 says that Paul and Barnabas told the people about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. Q15.5 Which verses list the 4 things the Gentiles should keep from the Law of Moses? Correct. Verse 20 lists the four things that the Gentiles should keep from the Law of Moses: Acts 15:20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from - food polluted by idols, - from sexual immorality, - from the meat of strangled animals - and from blood. Q15.6 What does verse 18 show? Correct. Acts 15:18 "Known to God from eternity are all His works." In the two verses before verse 18 James quoted from the prophet Amos 9:11: Acts 15:16 "'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, 17 that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things' Amos prophesied by the spirit of God 800 years before the time of the apostles. So God knew long before that he was going to offer the Good News of the kingdom to Gentiles, and not to Jews only. Q15.7 What did Paul and Barnabas quarrel about? Correct. Paul and Barnabas quarreled about Mark. Barnabas wanted to take Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work (see Acts 15:37-39). Q15.8 Verse 40 is the start of Paul's 2nd missionary journey. Who went with him? Correct. Silas went with Paul on his second missionary journey. Acts Chapter 16 Q16.1 In chapter 15 the Apostles and elders of the early church decided circumcision was not necessary for salvation, so why did Paul circumcise Timothy? Correct. Paul circumcised Timothy because of the Jews who lived

3 3 at Lystra and Iconium because they all knew that his father was a Greek. Q16.2 What was Paul told in a vision? Correct. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." Q16.3 Who was Lydia? Correct. Lydia was from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. She was a dealer in purple cloth. Q16.4 What did she do? Correct. Lydia paid attention to Paul's preaching, and was baptised with her household. Q16.5 Why were Paul and Silas brought to the magistrates? Correct. Paul and Silas were brought to the magistrates by the owner of a slave girl who had a mental illness. They called it "the spirit of Python" because they thought she was possessed by the Greek idol called Python. The owners charged money when the girl told people what would happen to them in the future (it was false). It was what is now called "fortune telling". When Paul asked God, he cured the girl of her illness. She was now in her right mind, and her owners could see that they could not use her to make money any more. They were angry with the apostles, but they could not have the magistrate punish them for healing the sick! So they made up a false charge against Paul and Silas. Q16.6 What did Paul and Silas do while in prison? Correct. Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God. Q16.7 Why did the jailor want to kill himself? Correct. The jailor wanted to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. Q16.8 What did the jailor have to do to be saved? Correct. The apostles told the jailor that to be saved he had to "Believe in the Lord Jesus". Q16.9 What did Paul and Silas do before the jailor had even washed their wounds? (verse 32). Correct. Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to the jailor and to all the others in his house, before he had even washed their wounds. Acts chapter 17 Q17.1 Lookup these passages and make a list of what the scriptures prophesied about the death of Jesus. Psalms 22:1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? Jesus said this after he had been crucified (Matthew 27:46).

4 4 Psalms 22:7 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: 8 "He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him." People said this while Jesus was on the cross (see Luke 23:35). Psalms 31:5 Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth. Correct. Jesus said this just before he died (Luke 23:46). Psalms 22:18 They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing. Correct. The soldiers who crucified Jesus did this (Matthew 27:35). Isaiah 53:4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. Correct. Verse 4 was fulfilled when Jesus healed the sick; verse 5 when he was crucified. Isaiah 50:6 I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. Correct. This happened to Jesus after he was arrested (Matthew 26:67). Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. Correct. This was fulfilled when Jesus was arrested and crucified (Mark 15:4-5) Psalms 69:21 They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst. Correct. This happened while Jesus was on the cross (Matthew 27:34). Q17.2 What did these Jews say that Paul and his friends had been doing? Correct. The Jews said that Paul and his friends had "caused trouble all over the world" and that "they are all defying Caesar's decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus." Q17.3 Why were the Jews at Berea "more noble" than those of Thessalonica? Correct. The Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Q17.4 Why did Paul leave Berea? Correct. Paul left Berea because when the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, they

5 5 went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. Q17.5 List the things Paul said about the true God in verses 24 and 25. Paul said about the true God in verses 24-25: - God made the world and everything in it - He is the Lord of heaven and earth - He does not live in temples built by hands. - He is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, - He himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. Q17.6 From whom do all nations come? Correct. All nations come from Adam, who was created by God. Q17.7 What, according to verse 27, should men do when they know about God? Correct. Men should seek God and reach out for him and find him. In other words, people ought to be willing to take the time and effort to learn about God. Q17.8 What does verse 29 mean? Acts 17:29 "Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone - an image made by man's design and skill." Paul is saying that it is foolish to worship an image that has been made by men. Q17.9 What has God commanded all men everywhere? (This includes you and me). Correct. God now commands all people everywhere to repent. Q17.10 Verse 31 - God will judge the world (see also Romans 2:16) - (a) Does this judgement take place when a person dies? If not, when? Correct. The judgement does not happen when a person dies, but after Jesus returns and the resurrection. (b) What word is used to describe HOW the world will be judged? Correct. Christ will judge the world with justice. (c) Who will be the judge? Correct. Jesus will be the judge on behalf of God: "he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." (d) What did God do for the man who will be judge (to prove he was without sin and could therefore make righteous judgements)? Correct. To prove that Jesus was without sin, and could make righteous judgements, God raised Jesus from death. Acts Chapter 18 Q18.1 What was Paul's trade (his job)? Correct. Paul's trade was a tentmaker.

6 6 Q18.2 Paul went to the synagogue each sabbath to teach the Jews the truth about Jesus. (a) Did they accept Paul's teaching? Correct. Most of the Jews did not accept Paul's teaching. (b) What did Paul say about these Jews? Correct. Paul told the Jews, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility." In other words, the Jews could not say on Judgement Day that they had not heard the evidence that Jesus is the Messiah (Christ). Q18.3 What did Crispus and the Corinthians do before they were baptised? Correct. Crispus and the other Corinthians believed what Paul preached before they were baptized. Q18.4 When Paul left Corinth he went to Ephesus but wouldn't stay there long. Why not? Correct. Paul did not stay in Ephesus (verses 20-21) because he had evidently decided to end his second missionary journey, and, as you answered, he wanted to go to Jerusalem. Q18.5 Why did Aquila and Priscilla need to help Apollos? Correct. Aquila and Priscilla needed to help Apollos because he knew only the baptism of John. In other words, he did not have a full understanding of how Jesus had fulfilled the Scriptures. Q18.6 Apollos was a good speaker ("eloquent") but he also had another important qualification. What was it? Correct. Verse 24 says of Apollos that "he was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures." It is a pleasure to see how you are growing in your knowledge of God's Truth. May the Lord God bless your efforts to know and obey Him. By now you should have received the next Lessons. Yours Sincerely, Arthur Bull.