Week. Acts 14:8-23, 16:1-5 Lystra: Timothy Sermon Date: October 11/12

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1 WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK Paul and the Cities He Knew of October 5-11 Acts 14:8-2, 16:1-5 Lystra: Timothy Sermon Date: October 11/12 Etching thought to depict Timothy and Paul Getting started: Read Acts 14:1 7 Paul and Barnabas are espousing opinions that people vehemently disagree with, to the point that they are physically threatened. Despite the opposition and threats, they continue with their program. What is your own tendency when your ideas are not accepted? How have you reacted when you ve made a suggestion or a presentation that is rejected? What does it take to persevere in the face of opposition? Page 1

2 WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK Find Lystra on the map. Read Acts 14:8 2 Notes: Today the site of ancient Lystra looks like a grassy hill from a distance, for there is no longer a town there, and the ancient city has been reclaimed by nature. Lystra has never been excavated for archaeological research. Though clearly mentioned in The Acts among Paul s travels, some think Lystra was not originally intended as a destination for Barnabas and Paul when they planned the itinerary for the First Missionary Journey. Rather, they were driven there to seek refuge after being threatened at Iconium (Acts 14:1-6). (International Standard Bible Dictionary, vol., p.19) Lycaonia (v.11) the region in which Lystra is found, in southern central Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), south of Galatia. There is also a town called Lycaonia, which along with the other towns mentioned in this chapter, Iconium and Derbe, are situated in this region of Lycaonia, which had its own regional language or dialect. Page 2

3 WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK 1. (v.8) - Why do you think Luke is so thorough in his description of the lame man s malady? (He basically describes it in ways.) 2. (v.9) - What is it about Paul looking directly at the man that gives him the ability to recognize the man has faith to be healed? And what role does our faith play in unleashing God s healing power?. (v.10) - What does this healing mean for Paul s credibility? 4. (v.11) - What significance do you see in the detail that the crowds were speaking in the local (Lycaonian) language? 5. (vv.12-1) - Put yourself in the place of the crowds watching divine blessing coming through Paul and Barnabas. Why are you calling them Zeus and Hermes? The text tells us why Paul is Hermes; why is Barnabas called Zeus? Page

4 WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK Example of Greek temples to Zeus (v.1), though Lystra s would not have been this elaborate. 6. (vv.14-19) - What clues about different cultural perspectives can you find in these verses, related to the audience of Barnabas and Paul? 7. (vv.20-2) - Paul goes back into the town after having been stoned and left for dead. He also returns to Lystra later. What do you think about his courage and commitment? Read Acts 16: (v.1) - Why does Luke tell us about Timothy s mixed heritage, and what implications do you suppose this had for Timothy? Page 4

5 WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK 9. (v.) - How does Paul s action with Timothy here compare with his other teachings on circumcision, where he seems to say that circumcision is not crucial for non-jews? (Since Timothy s father was Greek, society would have considered Timothy Greek.) 10. (v.5) - So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers. Why? What is this referring to? The message from Jerusalem? Timothy s circumcision or his participation in the ministry, as a local boy? The follow-up visits of the apostles? 11. Applying it to your own life - As Barnabas had taken Paul under his wing, now Paul begins to mentor Timothy. Are you in a position to mentor someone encourage them and help them along the way God is moving them? What do you have to offer, and have you made it available to God? Why or why not? Extra! Read 2 Timothy 1:1-14. What additional information about Timothy can you glean from this later letter from Paul to Timothy? Page 5