BOOK OF ACTS

North Christian Church Bible Study
The Book of Acts

Topic
The Book of Acts – Overview

Background

• Author:  Luke (same as writer of Gospel of Luke), a physician
• Audience:  addressed to Theophilus; applicable to all
• Date of Writing:  ≥ 63 AD
• Theme:  Acts 1:8 “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
• Purpose:  the progress of the Gospel from Jewish roots to Gentiles; an historical account of the early Church; defense against Jewish and Gentile opposition
• Key Characters:  The Apostles Peter and Paul
• Critical Thinking Questions
• Since the same writer of the Gospel of Luke wrote Acts, is there evidence of a transition? (cp. Acts 1:1-3)
• What was Luke’s relationship to Paul? (cp. “we” in Acts 16:10-17; 20:5-21:18; 27:1-28:16)
• How might Luke’s personal presence with Paul lend credibility to either or both Apostles?
• In what way(s) does Acts provide background or substance to Paul’s letters?
• Were any other books in the Bible written during the span of time covered in Acts?  Why would this be important to know?
• Is this book historical or theological overall?  Why does that matter?
• How does Luke use speeches in Acts to move the book along?  What do speeches add to the narrative?
• Does Acts record successes or failures in the early Church, or both?
• Why has this book been called “The Acts of the Holy Spirit” by some?
• How often is the Holy Spirit mentioned in this book?
• How does this book differ in style, length, purpose from the Gospels and/or the epistles?

• Read the entire Book of Acts
• Do NOT stop for doctrinal contemplation
• If you do not understand a verse, just press on through
• Look for style, purpose, “big-picture” themes, sweeping thoughts
• Remember that there are no chapter breaks in the original language (those have been placed by man)

• Have FUN while reading and do not get frustrated…EVER!
• ALWAYS keep the Gospel reality at the forefront of your mind (eg: remember God’s ultimate purpose for authoring the Bible – to reveal His Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ)

• Have you ever read straight through the Book of Acts before?
• Why is the Book of Acts so lengthy?
• How has this exercise proved different?
• Were you able to “see” the big-picture?
• Were you able to “see” the Messiah by keeping the Gospel at the forefront of your mind?
• Were you able to see the ministry of the Holy Spirit come alive in the early Church?
• What common struggles did you notice?...specifics aside.
• Would you agree that the Book of Acts is the “bridge” between the Gospels and the epistles?
• If you were to recommend to a friend that they read this book, how would you state your case and what would be the primary things you’d say to convince them to do so?

• Maps:  Paul’s, Philip’s, and Peter’s journeys; geographic reach of Acts
• Timelines:  harmony of the Gospels, Acts, and remaining books of NT; Paul’s life
• Pictures:  of places mentioned in Acts (eg: Rome)

North Christian Church Bible Study
The Book of Acts

Topic
The Book of Acts – Chapters 1-3

Background

• See 9/18/13 Self-Guided Study outline for additional details
• Casting Lots:  is similar to throwing dice or drawing straws today; it was meant to leave control over choice to God who is perfectly impartial 
• Day of Pentecost:  the 50th day after the Sabbath of Passover week (Lev 23:15-16)
• Prophecy:  a message given to an individual from the Holy Spirit; may be a prediction (Acts 11:28) or to impart the will of God (Acts 13:1-2; 14:1-5; 29-30)
• The Beautiful Gate (graphic available upon request):  the main gate into the Women’s Court; was called the Beautiful Gate because of its rich decoration
• Critical Thinking Questions
• What were the common attributes of the Apostles that God “chose” (v1:2; 1:21-22)?  How did their contemporaries perceive them? (cp Acts 4:13)
• How fundamental to the storyline is the advent of the giving of the Holy Spirit?
• Can God use something terribly evil to progress His good plan?  Do you see that in the first 3 chapters?
• How much of the Jewish vernacular do the apostles use in order to connect with other Jews?  How often do they quote OT scripture?  Why?
• How is water baptism portrayed in Acts versus the baptism of the Spirit?
• What was the purpose of God giving the apostles the power to perform miracles? (v3:1-10)
• What is the significance of the Jews being “first” (v3:26)?  Is this consistent throughout the Bible? 

• Read the first 3 chapters in the Book of Acts
• Read more deliberately, but never stalling, than you would if you were reading the whole book for big-picture
• Don’t lose sight of the overall purpose of the book, the “big-picture” themes, and any sweeping concepts
• Have FUN while reading and do not get frustrated…EVER!
• ALWAYS keep the Gospel reality at the forefront of your mind (eg: remember God’s ultimate purpose for authoring the Bible – to reveal His Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ)

• v1:3 – Is there a difference between the “Kingdom of God” that Luke mentions and the “Kingdom of Heaven” that Matthew writes about? (cp Mat 3:2; 5:3; ff)
• v1:7, 11 – Is this proof that no one can ever say when the Rapture of the Church is going to occur?
• v1:16-17 – In the end, how was Judas Iscariot actually used by God, even though his heart was evil?  Is it uncommon for God to use something evil for good? (cp v2:23; 3:17-18)
• v2:13 – How typical is it for the flesh to dismiss supernatural things?
• v2:21 – How often is the full, proper Gospel definition stated in the Bible?  Might we argue that the Gospel is actually the collective of all verses in the Bible?
• v2:38, 41 – Is Luke writing about water or spiritual baptism?  How significant is this to your own concept of baptism in the Church-Age?
• v2:42-47 – How concerned were the new converts with money and/or possessions?  Can we learn something from them?
• v3:1 – Why would Peter and John continue to attend temple prayer?  Are you surprised to learn this?  If so, why?  Did you assume that the apostles would’ve rejected the temple immediately after conversion?  Why?
• v3:12 – Why does man seem prone to attribute supernatural gifts to the person rather than to God?  Does this help them cling to false doctrines?  How so?

• Maps:  Paul’s, Philip’s, and Peter’s journeys; geographic reach of Acts
• Timelines:  harmony of the Gospels, Acts, and remaining books of NT; Paul’s life
• Pictures:  of places mentioned in Acts (eg: Rome); the Temple at Jerusalem

North Christian Church Bible Study
The Book of Acts

Topic
The Book of Acts - Chapters 4-6

Background

• See previous Self-Guided Study outlines for additional details
• Herod:  reference to Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and Perea (cp. Luke 23:7-15)
• Pontius Pilate:  the Roman governor of Judea (cp. Luke 3:1)
• Sanhedrin:  the supreme Jewish court, consisting of 70-100 men (71 being the proper number)
• The Pharisee Gamaliel:  the most famous Jewish teacher of his time; Paul was a star pupil
• Freedmen:  individuals who had been freed from slavery that came from different Hellenistic areas

• Why were the Jewish leaders “disturbed” by Peter and John?
• Where did the apostles draw their strength? Do you think their brand of boldness was offensive to the Jewish leaders? Why? Where did the Jewish leaders derive their “strength?”
• Does a person need to be formerly educated in a seminary-type environment to know God? What might be the benefits and/or drawbacks of seminary?
• Does the Bible give us the right to side-step authority? If so, under what circumstances? (cp. Col 3:22)
• Is it possible that the Jewish leaders were actually the “real” slaves to those they were trying to enslave? (cp. 2Pe 2:18-19)
• If we all lived in unadulterated grace, how would modern-day social programs change? Would there be a need for them?
• How can being flogged bring joy to a person’s soul?
• Do you see God turning evil into good continuously throughout these chapters?

• Read chapters 4-6 in the Book of Acts
• Read more deliberately, but never stalling, than you would if you were reading the whole book for big-picture
• Don’t lose sight of the overall purpose of the book, the “big-picture” themes, and any sweeping concepts
• Have FUN while reading and do not get frustrated…EVER!
• ALWAYS keep the Gospel reality at the forefront of your mind (eg: remember God’s ultimate purpose for authoring the Bible – to reveal His Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ)

• v4:7 – how critical is it that we understand the question posed here? Is there a lesson here for all of us? (cp. v8-10)
• v4:13 – courage is just another name for what? Should intellect be our primary cause for courage, or should we draw from a different well? (cp. v4:29; v6:10)
• v4:17 – why were the Jewish leaders threatened by a true miracle being performed in the name of Christ?
• v4:19 – How did the apostles turn the tables? Does false doctrine implode upon itself? (cp. Mark 7:6-13)
• v4:21-22 – who were the Jewish leaders actually slaves to?...God or man?
• v4:28 – does God ever use evil for good?
• v4:33-34 – when grace is completely uninhibited through man, does anyone go hungry? How does this compare to socialism today?
• v4:36-37 – is this the same Barnabas that accompanied Paul on his missionary journey? (cp. Acts 9:27; Gal 2:9)
• v5:3 – how can Satan “fill” a believer’s heart? (cp. Eph 5:18)
• v5:13 – why might this be the case?
• v5:17 – why “jealousy” and not rejoicing over so many being healed? What might be going on in the souls of such people?
• v5:29 – how might this statement relate to our own good consciences before God?
• v5:34 – is this Gamaliel the same person who had taken Paul under his wing before his conversion? (cp. Acts 22:3)
• v5:40 – how was Gamaliel able to convince the Jewish leaders to avoid putting the apostles to death? What did he appeal to - Mercy or self-preservation?
• v5:41 – how awesome is this verse, huh? (cp. Jam 1:2-5)
• v6:1 – is it possible that prejudices still existed, even in the churches?
• v6:5 – why do you think the Spirit gave Stephen a greater description? (cp. Acts 6:8; 7:59-60)
• v6:11-14 – might we conclude that Stephen is a type of Christ? (cp. Acts 7:54-60)
• v6:15 – what do you think they saw in Stephen’s face?

• Maps:  Paul’s, Philip’s, and Peter’s journeys; geographic reach of Acts
• Timelines:  harmony of the Gospels, Acts, and remaining books of NT; Paul’s life
• Pictures:  of places mentioned in Acts (eg: Rome); the Temple at Jerusalem

North Christian Church Bible Study
The Book of Acts

Topic
The Book of Acts – Chapters 7-9

Background

• See previous Self-Guided Study outlines for additional details
• Stephen: one of first 7 deacons; given a unique designation (Acts 6:5,8)
• Molek: an Ammonite god; associated with a propitiatory child sacrifice by parents; Phoenician and Canaanite idol
• Rephan: a heathen idol/god
• Eunich: a castrated man; celibate
• Hellenistic Jews: Jews of Greek culture Critical Thinking Questions
• Why was Stephen described as having a “face like an angel” in Acts 6:15? Angel (angelos in the Greek = messenger) (cp Acts 7)
• Why were the religious powers (eg: the Sanhedrin) so offended by Stephen’s message? (Acts 7) Wasn’t he telling the truth?
• Was Stephen a type of Christ? How so? What did he have in common with other types of Christ (eg: Adam, David, Jonah, etc.)?
• What is the significance of Paul’s background before his conversion? How might this assist or detract from his commission?
• Was water baptism a regular occurrence? Why might some nowadays choose not to celebrate water baptism?
• How important is encouragement in the Bible?...in our own lives?
• How were miracles used? What did they establish? How were the receivers and the onlookers effected?
  

• Read chapters 7-9 in the Book of Acts
• Read more deliberately, but never stalling, than you would if you were reading the whole book for big-picture
• Don’t lose sight of the overall purpose of the book, the “big-picture” themes, and any sweeping concepts
• Have FUN while reading and do not get frustrated...EVER!
• ALWAYS keep the Gospel reality at the forefront of your mind (eg: remember God’s ultimate purpose for authoring the Bible – to reveal His Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ)
  

• v7:1 – is it possible that the priest already had his mind made up? How much integrity can we see in the religious leaders in view?
• v7:2-50 – how well versed was Stephen in the OT? Might we consider this passage as “cliff notes”? Might we be impressed with Stephen’s recount of events?
• v7:22 – re: “action”, how telling is this word for one of God’s greatest instruments? How does this compare to our own lessons from the pulpit lately?
• v7:26-29 – did Moses have a different heart for his brethren than for the Egyptians? How so? Why did he flee?
• v7:30 – is 40 years a long time? How might we compare in our own callings? Might we consider this time an example of patience/rest? If “yes”, is the patience attributed to Moses or God?
• v7:51 – what did Stephen mean by “resisting the Holy Spirit”? How was the Holy Spirit’s ministry different in the OT than the NT?
• v7:53 – how might the religious leaders receive this accusation?
• v7:59-60 – is this a type of Christ? (cp Luke 23:46)
• v8:1-3 – who is this Saul? (cp Acts 9, 13:9)
• v8:6-8 – why was Philip commissioned and enabled to perform miracles? How might we consider the reaction of the people? Where was their joy
  placed?
• v8:9-11 – is Simon’s boasting consistent with true miracle workers from God? How might we consider those with spiritual gifts that boast even
  today? Might we suspect something awry?
• v8:12-13 – was Simon’s baptism legitimate? (cp v8:20-23) What arguments are there to support it or are there against it being legitimate?
• v8:14-17 – is this separation of baptism and the receiving of the Holy Spirit a solid basis for water baptism even today? How so? (cp v8:38)
• v8:24 – what does this mean? Why does Simon ask this in this way?
• v9:1 – how vigorous was Paul? Do you think his personality is an attribute that the Lord used in the future?
• v9:5 – what is the significance that Paul responded, “Lord”?
• v9:9 – how does Paul’s 3 days compare to other 3-day intervals in the Bible (eg: Jonah, Jesus)?
• v9:15 – how significant is this account of Paul’s choosing (compared to say a self-elected individual, such as Joseph Smith (Mormons))?
• v9:26 – is this to be expected?
• v9:27 – might this be the start of a long and fruitful relationship? Useful
• Resources (furnished upon request)
• Maps: Paul’s, Philip’s, and Peter’s journeys; geographic reach of Acts
• Timelines: harmony of the Gospels, Acts, and remaining books of NT; Paul’s life
• Pictures: of places mentioned in Acts (eg: Rome); the Temple at Jerusalem 

North Christian Church Bible Study
The Book of Acts

Topic
The Book of Acts – Chapters 10-12

Background

• See previous Self-Guided Study outlines for additional details
• Centurion: a high-ranking, carefully selected Roman military officer, typically commanded 100 men (1/6 of a regiment)
• Agabus: a prophet that foretold of famine and also of Paul’s imprisonment (cp. v21:10)
• Mary (v12:2): Barnabas’ aunt (cp. Col 4:10)

• How much of the Jewish customs were still resident in the souls of the Apostles? Was that ever problematic?
• Does God abide by man’s expectations? Or is He intent on revealing the hearts of men, regardless of race? (cp. 1Co 12:13)
• What kind of pressures did the Apostles (all Jewish) receive from other Jews when they evangelized Gentiles, ate with them, fellowshipped with them? What was the core issue? How did God foresee this and counter it?
• What is meant by “the persecution” after Stephen’s death? What were the implications in the early Church?
• How significant is it that the Bible records antagonism towards the Gospel? How significant is it that persecution is recorded?
• Why were the political leaders during the early church so intent on persecuting Christians?
• Reading Outline
• Read chapters 10-12 in the Book of Acts
• Read more deliberately, but never stalling, than you would if you were reading the whole book for big-picture
• Don’t lose sight of the overall purpose of the book, the “big-picture” themes, and any sweeping concepts
• Have FUN while reading and do not get frustrated…EVER!
• ALWAYS keep the Gospel reality at the forefront of your mind (eg: remember God’s ultimate purpose for authoring the Bible – to reveal His Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ)

• v10:1 – how significant is it that Cornelius was a Roman centurion (vs. say, just a soldier)?
• v10:2 – was Cornelius saved at this point? Why or why not? What evidence do you have in support of your answer?
• v10:4 – what is the significance of Cornelius addressing the angel of God as “Lord”? If he was unsaved, how was it that his prayers and gifts were like “memorial offerings” to the Lord?
• v10:10-13 – what is the significance of Peter’s hunger and the Lord telling him to, “Kill and eat”? Is the Lord’s timing something to consider? Why?
• v10:14 - what were Peter’s reservations?
• v10:16 – why 3 times? Are “3’s” common in the Bible? If so, how so?
• v10:20 – why would Peter hesitate?
• v10:23-24 – what’s the deal with Peter’s entourage of believers? Did Cornelius have his own entourage?
• v10:26 – what do you see in Peter’s response to Cornelius’ reverence?
• v10:28 – do you see how Peter makes mention of THEIR predisposition to Jewish customs, but yet there he stands? What is the significance of that dynamic?
• v10:34-35 – WOW!!! How big of a revelation is this?
• v10:37 – what’s the difference between John the Baptist’s baptism and the Church’s?
• v10:39-41 – why does Peter make an issue of “witnessing”?
• v10:43 – is Peter speaking the “Jewish language” here?
• v10:45 – Why?
• v10:47-48 – how does this passage support or refute water baptism in the Church-Age?
• v11:1 – what kind of ripple effect do you think this had amongst the Jews?
• v11:4-17 – how does this compare to 1 Co 1:22?
• v11:18 – what is the nature of this conclusion? What is it based on?
• v11:19 – why did they scatter?
• v11:23-24 – what kind of eulogy does Stephen get and why?
• v11:27 – what is a “prophet”? Do they exist today or not? What evidence do you have to support your conclusion?
• v11:29 – cp 2Co 8:3
• v12:2 – how does this compare to Jesus’ warning in Mat 20:20-23?
• v12:5 – what is the significance of this?
• v12:7 – is it obvious that Peter wasn’t expecting this? If not, why not? How powerful is the angel of the Lord wrt the chains?
• v12:15 – why would they be so adamant?
• v12:22-23 – what is meant by this passage? Why was Herod stricken as a result of this cause, specifically?
• v12:24 – what is the significance of this verse in scripture? How does it compare to the previous few verses?

• Maps: Paul’s, Philip’s, and Peter’s journeys; geographic reach of Acts
• Timelines: harmony of the Gospels, Acts, and remaining books of NT; Paul’s life
• Pictures: of places mentioned in Acts (eg: Rome); the Temple at Jerusalem

North Christian Church Bible Study
The Book of Acts

Topic
The Book of Acts – Chapters 13-15

Background

• See previous Self-Guided Study outlines for additional details
• Paul’s “First Missionary Journey”: AD 46-48 (Acts 13:4 – 14:28) (see available diagrams)
• Zeus: considered the “king” of the Greek Gods; Hermes: considered the “messenger” of the gods
• “Bar-jesus”: translates “son of” + “Joshua”; was a false prophet
• “Elders”: presbuteros (Gr.); are pastors in the NT; there’s an OT analog that the early church would’ve been comfortable with in understanding/adopting the NT office
• John (not the apostle, aka “Mark”): friend of Barnabas, took Paul some time to fully appreciate him (Acts 15:37 vs. 2Ti 4:11); he also wrote the Gospel of Mark

• Why were missionaries typically sent out in twos, at least, and sometimes even more? (cp Ecc 4:12)
• How critical was the presence of encouragement in the early church? Who needed to be encouraged, and how? Was playing “second fiddle” a less honorable post?
• Who were consistently the main antagonists to the spreading of the Gospel? (cp Acts 14:2)
• How significant is it that Paul’s first missionary journey was ~1600 miles long and took ~2 years to complete? Can we sometimes forget about such context? If so, what are the negative repercussions?
• Where was the center of Christianity and what’s the significance of its location and who was leading the charge? Is there a “center” today?
• Was everything “perfectly” ironed out in the early church? If not, why not? Are there remnants of this issue even today? If so, why?
• How strong might the convictions of those leading the early church have been? How were leaders chosen? How does that compare to today?
• Reading Outline
• Read chapters 13-15 in the Book of Acts
• Read more deliberately, but never stalling, than you would if you were reading the whole book for big-picture
• Don’t lose sight of the overall purpose of the book, the “big-picture” themes, and any sweeping concepts
• Have FUN while reading and do not get frustrated…EVER!
• ALWAYS keep the Gospel reality at the forefront of your mind (eg: remember God’s ultimate purpose for authoring the Bible – to reveal His Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ)

• v12:25 (for context) - who is “Mark” and how qualified might he have been to actually pen the Gospel after his name? What is the significance of his being a first-hand partaker in Paul’s First Missionary journey (at least part of it)?
• v13:2 – what is the significance of WHO chooses missionaries (cp v4)? Is it a local church that chooses or the Holy Spirit? How does this relate to spiritual gifts, in general (1Co 12)? Is there a general case of application for ALL spiritual gifts here? If so, what is it?
• v13:3 – what do we call the “laying on of hands” today? What is the significance of it?
• v13:5 – who did the missionaries go to first with the Gospel (cp Rom 1:16)? Is this a pattern that we see in the Bible? (cp Rom 2:9-11)
• v13:7 – what is the significance of the “intelligent” proconsul wanting to “hear” the word of God? Why does the Bible describe him as intelligent?
• v13:8-12 – how might this display of power have established Paul’s authority and apostleship?
• v13:13a – following the scene in v8-12, do you notice a change in the way the Bible refers to the group? (cp v13:2)
• v13:13b – why might John (aka Mark) have decided to leave them? Does this act go over well with Paul and Barnabas? (cp v15:37-38) Do such things occur in the ministry even today?
• v13:14 – what is the significance of the day they chose to sit in the synagogues of the Jews? What might the Jews’ perspective of these men be at the time? How might Jews even today receive a Gospel-bearing Christian into their synagogues on the Sabbath? Would they be inclined to as such visitors to speak freely?
• v13:16 – why did Paul make a point of addressing both Jews and Gentiles?
• v13:20 – do you ever take the time to REALLY think about the timeframes in which the Lord God chooses to work? What portion of righteous perspective might we lose by not considering such things?
• v13:23 – how significant is the phrase, “as he promised”, to the Jews who were waiting for their Messiah? (cp v27) Is it possible, also, that the Jews knew of Paul’s former prominence as a Pharisee under the “great” Gamaliel? Why would that have mattered in context here?
• v13:26 – what do you see in Paul’s addresses to the crowds? How does he address the Jews versus the Gentiles? Why not clump them together?
• v13:32-36 – how appropriate and powerful is it to have Paul (formerly Saul the “Pharisee of Pharisees” – Acts 23:6) quoting OT scripture in the presence of the Jews? How does this differ from his greater dissertation with the Gentile Corinthians in 1Co 15? Is there a different tact Paul uses, depending on audience? (cp 1Co 9:22; 1Co 10:32-33)
• v13:38-41 – how might the Gospel message been confusing to the Jews? Would it be somehow less of a stumbling block to the Gentiles, or did they have their own obstacles to overcome? (cp 1Co 1:22-24)
• v13:43 – how is the “grace” message different than what devout Jews at the time would’ve been familiar with? (cp 2:15-21; 5:2-11)
• v13:44-45 – what do you see here? Why are the Jews “filled with jealousy”? Is this jealousy warranted? Is it blinding? Have you ever tried to give the gospel truth to a religious person, only to be attacked and discredited?
• v13:46-48 – might this be a clear indication of Paul’s change of policy in his mission?...from “Jews first” to Gentile focus?
• v13:49-50 – do we see this kind of strategy played out even today? Is this politics, essentially, being used to accomplish a religious agenda? Was the Jewish way of life political? (cp v14:2)
• v13:51-14:1 – how encouraged ought we be by this even today?
• v14:3 – what is the significance of signs here? (cp 1Co 1:22)
• v14:9 – how might you explain Paul’s ability to “see” the lame man’s faith? Are we able to “see” such things or is this a function of a spiritual gift? Is if feasible that certain spiritual gifts are given supernatural discernment even today?
• v14:11-13 – Yowza! – what happened here? How might Paul and his companions received this response?
• v14:16-17 – what is Paul saying here? How does this amplifiy the “gentile perspective” that the Spirit has taught us in the past from the pulpit? (cp Rom 1:20; Rom 2:14-16)
• v14:19-20 – is it ironic that Paul suffers the same fate as Stephen (v7:54-60)? Did the Jews typically stone people inside the city or was there another place? Was Paul really dead? If so, was there a miracle witnessed here? How powerful was this scene to others…even today?
• v14:22a – why do you think there needed to be persistent encouragement in the early church? As our own society spirals away from Christ, might we expect the need for increased encouragement also? Where might we find it? (cp Heb 10:25)
• v14:23 – who are these “elders”? What is their function in the Church?
• v14:27 – how important/edifying would Paul’s ~2 year debriefing to the disciples in Antioch been at the time? What about the news of his policy change to focus on the Gentiles?
• v14:28 – what might the benefit of staying a “long time” had been to Paul and his companions?
• v15:1 - how relentless are religious people? Do we still have to deal with such things even today? Have you dealt with “salvation by works” with others? Was this a one-time issue or something that Paul had to deal with throughout his lifetime? (cp Gal 5:7-15)
• v15:2 – what is the significance of their special trip back to the “Jewish hub” of Jerusalem? Is this a show of humility? (cp 1Co 15:9; 2Co 11:5)
• v15:3 – how did Paul and Barnabas “make the most of their time”, even while traveling? What might WE learn from their actions?
• v15:5 – given that these believers are wrong about works, what might we say about believers even today? Is it possible to be saved and then adopt a false doctrine on salvation itself? How does this relate to the doctrine of eternal security?
• v15:7-9 – how critical are Peter’s statements here?
• v15:10 – how does this statement compare to Gal 5:1?
• v15:11 – cp Eph 2:8-9
• v15:12 – who might be perceived here as encouraging the group? Who is stated first, Barnabas or Paul? What was Barnabas’ nickname (Acts 4:36)?
• v15:13-18 – how significant is it that James, Jesus’ brother, added to Peter’s previous words, adding specifically OT scripture? What kind of “street credibility” did James have in the early church?
• v15:19-21 – what is the purpose of James’ final judgment? If Gentiles weren’t under the Law, proper, then why suggest they follow a portion of it? Could this have something to do with living side by side with Jewish unbelievers who they might be trying to evangelize?
• v15:31 – is this the reaction that you would have expected?
• v15:35 – why might Paul and Barnabas have chosen to stay in Antioch?
• v15:36-41 – what is Paul’s heart here? How about Barnabas’? Is it possible that God used something unpleasant for His own glory? Does this happen even today in the churches? How does grace “save the day” here? Does the church take sides or do they leave it in the hands of the Lord? How might this be a lesson for churches today who suffer such contentions and split up? (cp 1Co9:6; Gal 2:11-13; Col 4:10; Phm 24; 2Ti 4:11; 1Pe 5:13)

• Maps: Paul’s, Philip’s, and Peter’s journeys; geographic reach of Acts
• Timelines: harmony of the Gospels, Acts, and remaining books of NT; Paul’s life
• Pictures: of places mentioned in Acts (eg: Rome); the Temple at Jerusalem

North Christian Church Bible Study
The Book of Acts

Topic The Book of Acts – Chapters 16-18

Background

• See previous Self-Guided Study outlines for additional details
• Paul’s “Second Missionary Journey”: AD 49-52 (Acts 15:39-18:22) (see available diagrams)

• Why were missionaries typically sent out in twos, at least, and sometimes even more? (cp Ecc 4:12)
• How critical was the presence of encouragement in the early church? Who needed to be encouraged, and how? Was playing “second fiddle” a less honorable post?
• Who were consistently the main antagonists to the spreading of the Gospel? (cp Acts 14:2, 16:3, 17:5,13)
• How involved was money, and the loss of it, in creating attacks against Paul and his companions?
• How significant is it that Paul’s second missionary journey took 2700+ miles and 3+ years to complete? Can we sometimes forget about such context? If so, what are the negative repercussions?
• How did Paul choose his companions? How careful was he to not put stumbling blocks before the Jews?
• How did Paul decide where to travel, and where not? What/Who did God use to guide him, and even shut him down?
• How strong might the convictions of those leading the early church have been? How boldly did they preach? What was their consistent point of focus in debates?

• Read chapters 16-18 in the Book of Acts
• Read more deliberately, but never stalling, than you would if you were reading the whole book for big-picture
• Don’t lose sight of the overall purpose of the book, the “big-picture” themes, and any sweeping concepts
• Have FUN while reading and do not get frustrated…EVER!
• ALWAYS keep the Gospel reality at the forefront of your mind (eg: remember God’s ultimate purpose for authoring the Bible – to reveal His Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ)

• 15:36,40-41 - What do you think the impetus was for Paul's second missionary journey? What multiple purposes might there be for missionary journeys like this? How about today?
• 16:1-2 - Why do you think Paul might have been drawn to Timothy as a traveling companion? Was there evidence/fruit revealing to Paul that Timothy was ready for this, even at his young age?
• 16:3 - If circumcision no longer mattered as Christians, why do you think Paul circumcised Timothy?? Do you think this was a compromise of biblical truth, now that Christ has set them free from the Law? Why might Paul have been so concerned about the Jews?
• 16:4-5 - What do you think about the church's response to the guidelines passed on to them by the apostles and elders? Why do you think the growth of the churches is mentioned in connection with this?
• 16:6-10 - How would you describe the involvement of the Holy Spirit in directing Paul's travels? Whose Spirit was this anyway? How did God speak to them? In what ways does He speak to us/convict us today? Do you think the entire Trinity was involved in directing this missionary trip? Why? Do you find anything interesting in the order of events? (God is not a God of confusion, 1Co 14:33)
• 16:13 - How might this passage reveal our need to be flexible, especially when people are involved? How should we react if we don't get what we want/need, even spiritually?
• 16:14-15 - How might you describe Lydia's faith, before and after her encounter with Paul's message? Does this remind you of anyone else in the book of Acts? (Act 10:1-2, 43-44)
• Who do you think the true Evangelist is here? And how is the heart involved in saving faith?
• 16:16-18 - What kind of 'spirit' do you think was in this female slave? If this was an evil spirit, why might she have been announcing the truth about Paul and the Gospel? Why do you think Paul interrupted her supportive message?
• 16:19 - How often do you think people make life-changing decisions because of money? Even justifying what's wrong as right?
• 16:20-21 - How might the love of money affect one's nobility?
• 16:22 - What can we see here about human nature? Should we ever be surprised at the sinful nature in man? (Joh 2:23-25)
• 16:25 - What wisdom might we gain from Paul and Silas' faith? Ever 'wonder' at another's faith? How might their faith have affected others in their periphery?
• 16:26 - Do you think this miracle was at all associated with the active faith of Paul and Silas? (Mat 21:21) How often does God wait for us to step out in faith, before redeeming us?
• 16:29-30 - Who is the Author of crisis evangelism? How effective is it, and how might we as messengers of Christ look out for it?
• 16:31 - Even though faith is the way of salvation, do you think this the only way to give the Gospel? What ways/messages might lead people to saving faith in Christ? (Acts 2,3,7,10,17)
• 16:32-34 - What evidence/fruit do you see that the jailer truly surrendered to Christ for eternal life? Do you think the fruit of saving faith needs to be visible to others?
• 16:37 - Why do you think Paul insisted on the magistrates escorting them out of town? Why didn't he just accept this as unfair treatment for the Gospel, and move on?
• 17:1 - Do you think it was strange to find a Jewish synagogue in Thessalonica, a city in Greece?
• 17:2 - Why might Paul have started in the synagogue, when there were plenty of other people to evangelize?
• 17:4 - What can we say about the stages of conversion here? How long might it take someone to come to Christ, in humility? Should we assume people are 'saved' because they acknowledge God?
• 17:5 - What do you think the fruit is of self-preservation and religion? Does it look anything like the good fruit we can produce as believers? What is the motivation of the Jews here?
• 17:6 - Do we see possible affects here from Paul's first missionary trip? Might other believers have been living in the Great Commission?
• 17:7-9 - Do you think Jason is suffering by association with Christ here? Did Jason really do anything "wrong"? How might we be prepared to suffer, simply for association with Christ and His people? (cp 14:22)
• 17:11 - What makes for "noble character", according to this verse? Do you think God holds each of us accountable for what we believe, in the end?
• 17:12 - Here we see Jews and Gentiles believing Paul's message. Do you think it was customary for God-fearing Gentiles to be in attendance at Jewish synagogues? Why do you think "prominent" Greek women are mentioned again here? (cp vs. 4)
• 17:13 - What do you think is motivating the Jews here?! Why might they be traveling from city to city to cause dissension, rather than tending to their own synagogue in Thessalonica? Might you describe this as the fruit of religion? Are we as Christians called to interrupt the belief systems of others? If so, how?
• 17:14-15 - Why do you think Paul was so urgently moved at times, when his companions were not? (cp vs. 10) And yet, they left Paul in Athens alone?
• 17:16- What might we say about Paul's heart here? Why might he have been so "distressed"?
• 17:18- How many times do we see Paul including Jesus' resurrection in his message? (cp 17:3, 13:26-39) Why? When we share the Gospel, should we remember THAT is the proof and validation of Jesus as the God-man, not just a prophet or good teacher? Are you ready to be laughed at and scoffed by others when you include this?
• 17:21 - Do you think we should be wary of those who just want to increase their knowledge? Why do you think Paul preached to them, regardless?
• 17:22 - Do you think Paul was being complementary so that he could gain a hearing, even though he knew their religion was of false gods? How might we apply that when approaching others with the Gospel, without compromising Truth?
• 17:24-26 - Why do you think Paul started his Gospel message with God as the Creator? Why not just cut to the chase and preach Jesus and His resurrection? (remember our series on the Creator and Redeemer?) (cp Act 20:21)
• 17:28 - Why do you think Paul quoted the Greek poets? What possible benefit is this to his message?
• 17:30 - Why does Paul mention repentance, and judgment, before giving the good news? Do you think this is part of the Gospel Proper, the fullness of the Gospel? If so, how might we include this in our own witnessing?
• 17:34 - Do you find it interesting some "believed" without being given the command to believe, or have faith?
• 18:1-4 - What do you get out of Paul's relationship with Aquila and Priscilla? Why might Paul have been drawn to them? Why do you think scripture tells us about Paul's tent-making, and his working with them? Why do you think he only preached in the synagogue on the Sabbaths in Corinth, at least at first? (cp vs. 5)
• 18:6 - What might we say about the timing of Paul's "protest" against the Jews? (cp. Act 13:45-46, 19:9) When do you think is the right time to persist with people, and when is the right time to move on and "shake out your clothes"? (cp. Mat 10:14, Act 13:51) When might we be casting our pearls before swine? (Mat 7:6)
• 18:8 - How encouraging is it that, in spite of rejection by many, the synagogue leader and many other Corinthians believed in the Lord and were baptized? What lesson might we learn from this?
• 18:9 - Here's yet another way the Lord encouraged and guided Paul. What might we take from this? Can you share any unique ways the Lord "spoke" to you, to direct you, or confirm a decision?
• 18:14-16 - How ironic is it that a Gentile leader rescued Paul from his own people, the Jews? Is this similar to how Pilate tried to rescue Jesus from his own people? (cp. Luk 23:13-24) Would you rather be at the mercy of unbelievers, or religious people?
• 18:18 - Why do you think Paul took a vow and shaved his head? Isn't he under grace now, and no longer under the Law? (see NIV notes about Nazarite vow) If we say he was wrong to do this, would we be speculating? What does the passage say?
• 18:20- Why do you think Paul left the Jews at Ephesus, when they were receptive to his reasoning, and asked him to stay??
• 18:24-26 - What might we say about the humility of both Apollos, and Priscilla and Aquila, when they showed Apollos, a learned preacher, the way of God "more adequately"?
• 18:27-28 - In what ways do you think Apollos filled in the gap, as a "great help". What types of encouragement did he offer to those who had believed?

North Christian Church Bible Study
The Book of Acts

Topic
The Book of Acts – Chapters 19-21

Background

• See previous Self-Guided Study outlines for additional details
• Paul’s “Third Missionary Journey”: AD 53-57 (Acts 18:23-21:17) (see available diagrams)

• Why were missionaries typically sent out in twos, at least, and sometimes even more? (cp Ecc 4:12)
• How critical was the presence of encouragement in the early church? Who needed to be encouraged, and how? Was playing “second fiddle” a less honorable post?
• Who were consistently the main antagonists to the spreading of the Gospel? (cp Acts 14:2, 16:3, 17:5,13)
• How involved was money, and the loss of it, in creating attacks against Paul and his companions?
• How significant is it that Paul’s third missionary journey took 2500+ miles (1190 by sea, 1325 by land), and 4+ years to complete? Can we sometimes forget about such context? If so, what are the negative repercussions?
• How did Paul choose his companions? How careful was he to not put stumbling blocks before the Jews?
• How did Paul decide where to travel, and where not? What/Who did God use to guide him, and even shut him down?
• How strong might the convictions of those leading the early church have been? How boldly did they preach? What was their consistent point of focus in debates?

• Read chapters 19-21 in the Book of Acts
• Read more deliberately, but never stalling, than you would if you were reading the whole book for big-picture
• Don’t lose sight of the overall purpose of the book, the “big-picture” themes, and any sweeping concepts
• Have FUN while reading and do not get frustrated…EVER!
• ALWAYS keep the Gospel reality at the forefront of your mind (eg: remember God’s ultimate purpose for authoring the Bible – to reveal His Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ)

• 18:23 - Paul once again "regroups" at Antioch, after his second missionary journey is complete. After some time there, he then heads out again to strengthen the churches. See the map of Paul's third missionary journey in your Bible to gain some perspective.
• 19:1-3 - Paul arrives at Ephesus a year or more later, even after Apollos was there previously. Some believers were still under John's baptism, which Apollos taught, and apparently wasn't able to correct for all the believers there (Act 18:24-26). What lessons can we learn from this series of events?
• 19:8-10 - Paul follows the same pattern by first going to the synagogue, directly to the Jews, and upon their rejection goes to the Gentiles in the hall of Tyrannus. The Jews could only "take" him for 3 months, then maligned him and the Way. The Gentiles listened daily to his teaching for 2 years. What does this show us, if anything??
• Paul previously planted the church in Ephesus, and now uses it as a hub to spread the Gospel from. How can we use this missionary strategy of Paul's to spread the Gospel in OUR lives/ministries? (we've all been given our own pulpits, remember)
• 19:11-16 - The Lord continues to validate this new message to the Jews, so as Paul represents Him, he's given power to perform miracles. Some Jews try to drive out demons, thinking they can copy Paul, but without being granted that power from the Lord Himself. What do the results teach us? Are heart issues involved here?
• 19:17-20 - See what the proper fear of the Lord produces! The people properly now REVERED the name of the Lord Jesus, so much that even believers were now being honest about their sins and sorcery, and willingly burned very valuable items. This is how their hearts should have been to begin with, but it took the public shaming and discipline of the sons of Sceva to wake people up. What lessons can we take from this?
• Is how we view our money and valuables a sign of our faith, or where our heart is? If yes, how so? And how might this be a witness for the Lord (vs.20)?
• 19:23-27 - How does Demetrius use religion to sway people and save his business? Does that go on today?
• How might we avoid falling into such pitfalls ourselves?? Have you ever used God's Name to gain more business? Is that appropriate/good motivation?
• 19:28-29 - How do people use religion to spike people's emotions and cause irrational actions? Satan uses religion to control mobs; how can we be aware of that tactic?
• Is this something we have to deal with in our own spiritual walks? How about in other countries, or in missionary work?
• 19:32-34 - How irrational does religion make people?!! What can we do as believers if caught in that type of situation?
• 19:35-41 - Does this passage make you appreciate good leadership in authority positions? Maybe this is one reason the Word tells us to pray for those in authority.
• 20:4 - Paul was accompanied by believers from all different places. Was this his "harvest" from his first missions? How can we use this as motivation in our own ministries/pulpits we've been assigned?
• 20:7 - The first day of the week is thought to be Sunday, and 'breaking bread' is thought to be a reference to the Lord's Supper. Do we have the attitude of the early church, who considered it a privilege to gather together for communion? How do we avoid becoming familiar with these things in our souls?
• 20:9 - Can anyone relate to Eutychus here? :) What's the grace perspective on this young man, that we should have towards him, and ourselves?
• 20:11 - Paul spoke to the people all night, 'til daylight! What's our attitude when our Pastor runs long in a message? How can we avoid setting up mental blocks/expectations, and instead be flexible to the Spirit's leading for the day?
• 20:17 - Paul calls the elders of Ephesus down to meet him (revisit the map for perspective). Paul then gives these leaders (a Pastors conference?) a lengthy message of truth and encouragement.
• 20:18-20 - Is Paul boasting here? Or is there a proper time to remind fellow believers of the evidence of your heart (humility in your life)?
• 20:21 - What do you think of this verse as a summary statement of how to preach the Gospel properly?
• How has your personal Gospel explanation changed?
• 20:24 - Do you consider your life worth nothing to you?
• What is your overall aim with your life? Does your big picture agree with Paul's?
• Notice what Paul's big picture task is... sound like the Great Commission?
• 20:26-27 - Can we say we are innocent of anyone else's blood in our periphery, because we haven't hesitated to be honest with others about the whole will of God (the whole of the Gospel)?! (No one's perfect, and there is divine timing in our relationships, as a balance statement. Remember, Paul was leaving them for the last time, and was now taking an accounting of his work for them)
• 20:28-31 - As Paul faces imminent death in going to Jerusalem, how would you describe his main concern for the elders of Ephesus?
• Does this sound like the Lord before He ascended into heaven? (John 21:16-17)
• 20:32-35 - What does a heart of grace reveal itself as?
• What results from a changed heart, as we've been learning?
• 20:36-38 -What a farewell! How would you describe such a bond? Is this evidence of unity in Christ/being in the family of God?
• 21:4 - How do we reconcile the Spirit guiding the disciples to warn Paul not to go to Jerusalem with Paul's conviction by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem (20:22-23)?
• 21:5 - This is the second time Paul knelt and prayed with the disciples before departing (20:36). What should/can we take from this?
• 21:8-9 - Philip had 4 unmarried daughters who prophesied. It was unusual for a woman to be unmarried in that day, never mind 4 of them in one family. Was this to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord? Maybe Paul had these 4 women in mind when he wrote 1Co 7:32-35. (let this be encouragement to single people, if you can bear it, Mat 19:10-12)
• Is it just a coincidence that Philip, the father of these unmarried daughters, had one of his first evangelistic encounters with a eunuch?! (Act 8:27-39)
• 21:10-14 - Once again, the Spirit tells a prophet to warn Paul of coming suffering in Jerusalem, and yet Paul accepts it as part of his plan. Is anyone out of line here, or being disobedient to the Spirit? What does the scripture give us?
• Was this possibly a test for Paul?
• 21:20-24 - The disciples in Jerusalem, including James, suggested Paul take a vow to encourage the thousands of Jews who had believed in Christ. Was this a compromise, or was this being "all things to all men" (1Co 9:22)?
• Paul had taken a vow before, and had Timothy circumcised in the past. Yet scripture doesn't express disagreement with what he did. Were these obediences to the Law fine, so long as it didn't violate Christian truths? Was it needed because it was such a dramatic transitional period for the Jews?
• 21:27-29 - Did Jews from Asia follow him all the way back to Jerusalem? If not, they at least heard of this man Paul previously disturbing their lands/people.
• Do we see more false accusations here against Paul? Or are they at least based on exaggerations and/or assumptions?
• 21:30-32 - Once again, God uses Gentile unbelievers and competent leadership to save the lives of believers. Should we ever be surprised at the mysterious ways God works? (We can never have God and His ways figured out, He has ENDLESS solutions to our problems in this life)
• 21:35 - Once again, religion spurs on uncontrollable violence and mobs. What examples of this do we see in our world today? (don't forget the religion of atheism)
• Do you look forward to the means God might use to spare your life in such a situation in the future? :)
• 21:39 - If we are alert, we will have opportunities within the attacks. Paul used the protection of the Roman guards as a chance to speak to the very people trying to kill him. Are we ready to show grace to our enemies when given the opportunity? ("Father forgive them, they know not what they do" Luk 23:34)

North Christian Church Bible Study
The Book of Acts

Topic
The Book of Acts – Chapters 22-24

Background

• See previous Self-Guided Study outlines for additional details
• Paul’s arrest and trials: (Acts 21:37-26:32)

• Why were missionaries typically sent out in twos, at least, and sometimes even more? (cp Ecc 4:12)
• How critical was the presence of encouragement in the early church? Who needed to be encouraged, and how? Was playing “second fiddle” a less honorable post?
• Who were consistently the main antagonists to the spreading of the Gospel? (cp Acts 14:2, 16:3, 17:5,13)
• How involved was money, and the loss of it, in creating attacks against Paul and his companions?
• How significant is it that Paul’s third missionary journey took 2500+ miles (1190 by sea, 1325 by land), and 4+ years to complete? Can we sometimes forget about such context? If so, what are the negative repercussions?
• How did Paul choose his companions? How careful was he to not put stumbling blocks before the Jews?
• How did Paul decide where to travel, and where not? What/Who did God use to guide him, and even shut him down?
• How strong might the convictions of those leading the early church have been? How boldly did they preach? What was their consistent point of focus in debates?

• Read chapters 22-24 in the Book of Acts
• Read more deliberately, but never stalling, than you would if you were reading the whole book for big-picture
• Don’t lose sight of the overall purpose of the book, the “big-picture” themes, and any sweeping concepts
• Have FUN while reading and do not get frustrated…EVER!
• ALWAYS keep the Gospel reality at the forefront of your mind (eg: remember God’s ultimate purpose for authoring the Bible – to reveal His Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ)

• 21:37-40 - Look how Paul's constant respect for authority gave him opportunities for the Gospel. Humility is valuable in all of life's situations, especially because it beckons the grace of God to answer favorably, regardless of circumstances, (Jam 4:6). How can humility towards/respect for authority lead to God's good in our lives? (let's count the ways:)
• 22:1 - What can we learn from the way Paul addressed his enemies here? How can we apply this to our lives? (i.e. what's your attitude towards your fellow countrymen, who are all under the same deceptions of American culture?)
• 22:3-21 - What's the value of telling others your story? And how does this relate to "telling the whole story" of the Gospel?
• 22:3-5 - Why does Paul share with them his religious history and his zealousness for God, even against the Way? Can sharing our past sins get us a "seat at the table"?
• 22:10 - Notice the concern of the new believer, whose heart has changed towards the Lord... he wants to know what God wants him to DO. That's the humble attitude (fruit) in a true believer. Being saved daily, how can we continue to ask our Lord this question, to discover our personal "assignment"? (see the Lord's words to Paul)
• 22:12 - What do you think of this statement about Ananias? Since he's now a believer in Christ, a follower of the Way, why is this important enough to be recorded here in Holy Scripture?
• 22:14 - God has "chosen" you to know His will, just like he did Paul. How does that affect your daily life? or does it?
• 22:16 - What important truths about water baptism can we take from this statement made by Ananias to the new believer Paul? Do you see repentance and faith being "lived out" here, in the act of water baptism??
• 22:17-20 - Does this remind you that "a prophet is not without honor except in his hometown" (Mat 13:57)? And why is Paul sharing that he was "one of them", so to speak?
• 22:21-22 - The Jews cut Paul's story short when he mentions going to the Gentiles. Why such a violent reaction here? Is it just because the Jews were being jealous, acting like an "exclusive" club?
• 22:24-29 - Notice how God prepared Paul for his personal assignment, even when he was an unbeliever (being well-educated in the Law, being a Roman citizen, etc...). Can you think of ways God personally prepared you, before you became a believer, so that you would be better prepared for your personal assignment in His army?
• How do you think Paul's Roman citizenship bought him a "seat at the table" with some? And how did it protect him to be able to do God's work?
• 23:1-5 - Notice again, both Paul's address to his enemies, and his honor for God-ordained authority (ALL authority is God-ordained, even those living in evil). Are we seeing a humble pattern here, to live by? How can we do this?!!
• We are never better than anyone else, just because we've now "seen the light" (Paul didn't see himself as the "great apostle", but as a servant of all). How does remembering where we've come from help us in evangelism/obeying the Great Commission?
• 23:6-10 - What do you think of Paul's strategy here? Why did he take this approach?
• 23:6 - Do you think Paul mentioned "the hope of the resurrection from the dead" to subtly sway some Pharisees to Christ?? (he even got them to consider an angel has spoken to him! vs. 9)
• 23:11 - The Lord spoke to Paul and encouraged him, even though he was in a prison situation. Do you believe/have you ever had the Lord do that for you, personally? Aren't all things possible with God? (why do we limit Him?)
• What are the first words the Lord said to Paul? Why? (Mat 10:17-31, Act 27:23-25) (Consider a concordance search of "do not be afraid" in your own personal studies)
• 23:12-15 - Do you see how "anything goes" in religion? What types of evil do we see here, all in the name of meeting the end goal (in the name of God!)?
• True religion (see James) in the name of the true God doesn't involve violence or conspiracy, but acts of grace, even towards enemies.
• 23:16-24 - God often uses people to deliver us, as extension of His grace. What types of people does God use in this passage??
• We see how God orchestrates things behind the scenes, bringing grace to the humble (Paul). When/how has he done that for you, or for us as a church?
• 23:25-30 - Notice anything strange or inaccurate in the commander's letter to Governor Felix?
• 23:31-33 - We see more privileges/protection granted to a Roman citizen, which God designed from eternity past as a protection for His spokesman. By faith, can we look forward to God providing us a "bodyguard" when we are persecuted maybe even protection from an enemy? (Gen 50:20)
• 23:26,34 - Governor Felix is mentioned as the Governor of Judea during the time of Paul's trial. How encouraging is the historical accuracy of this claim (see footnote for vs. 34)?? And what other key historical accuracies are recorded in the Bible as proof of the perfection of God's Word? (i.e. footnote of 24:1)
• 24:5 - Causing dissension in the Roman Empire was considered treason against Caesar (see footnote). Does this remind you of another time the Jews changed their accusation; from someone breaking their own law to someone committing treason against Caesar, so that the Romans will punish their accused? What does this say about how religion operates and their priorities?
• 24:10-16 - How would you describe Paul's rebuttal? What was his approach to the Governor (another authority figure)? What was his overall attitude?
• 24:17-21 - When you do the right thing, your conscience is clean, and you might be able to plainly state your case one day, without hesitation, because it's true and honest! What's better in this life than being right before God? How would you describe the blessing of being able to live life this way (without the need to cover up unrighteousness)?
• 24:22 - Why do you think Felix was well acquainted with "the Way", Christianity itself?
• 24:23 - Paul was provided protection from the Jews, and at the same time given freedom by the authorities. Is this God's grace following Paul again? Even though Paul had a very difficult commission on his life, God provided enough grace at all times, taking care of His own. (1Co 12:7-10)
• 24:24-25 - Have you ever witnessed to someone and had them become afraid, putting you off until "next time"? How can we avoid that, or should we?
• 24:26 - We never know the motivation of others, and maybe it's good that we don't (and it's none of our business what others think of us!) How does God use the bad motivation of man to His glory in the end?
• 24:27 - The devil's world... should we be surprised? Remember Joseph being forgotten in prison as well (Gen 40:23)? Are you ready to get stuck in prison one day, unjustly, for His Name sake (Rev 2:10)?