Queen's Road Cell

 1. The Lystrians reacted to the healing of the lame man like typical rural pagans of that time (see 14:8-13). What do you learn from this incident about the religious beliefs of those people—people—the assumptions that Paul and Barnabas had to overcome? (List as many observations as you can.) They believed their gods could do miracles.  They believed that gods could disguise themselves as men. They believed in the Greek gods Zeus and Hermes They believed in sacrificing to their gods The apostles showed their grief and rejection of human worship As with our unbelieving friends, the Lystrans had a framework of belief they were committed to that could not be immediately overcome.   2. Acts 14:15-17 gives us our first example of what Paul and Barnabas preached to purely Gentile audiences, as opposed to Jews, proselytes, and God-fearers. In addition to proclaiming Jesus, what did the apostles have to explain to pagans that they didn’t have to say to Jews and God-fearers? They...

7. What will happen if the Jews believe what Paul claims about Jesus (see 13:38-39)?  Forgiveness of sins was now available through faith in Christ, which was not possible through the Law. but Lev 4:20-35, 5:10, 6:7; Nu 16:25-  True forgiveness of sin was made possible under the Law—but it was conditional, ritualistic, and inherently temporary in its efficacy. Yet it needed continual repetition and could not produce an enduring internal change.    8. What happens when many of the Jews reject Paul’s message (see 13:41-51)?  Paul affirms that it "was necessary" that the gospel be preached first to the Jews (cf. Rom 1:16). Paul then deliberately preached to Gentiles, although he continued to speak at synagogues (14:1) "as many as were appointed to eternal life believed and were "filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit". 9. In Acts 13:47, Paul quotes Isaiah 49:6, which was originally addressed to the Servant of the Lord (see Acts 3:13; Isaiah 49:1-7). Why can...

For Thought and Discussion:  Why can a person be acquitted only by merciful forgiveness, never by justice according to the Law (see 13:38-39)? See Romans 1:18–3:20; 7:7-12.   This idea is expressed in   Gal 3:24: "yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified." Rom 3:20-21: "For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. 21  But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22  the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe." "Frred" (dikaioo) is often translated 'justified' - to be declared innocent.  The Law, though good an perfect (e.g. Psalm 119) in ...

1. What part did the believers in Jerusalem have in Peter’s escape from Herod (see 12:5)?  " but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church". Would Peter have been saved without prayer?   2. God saved Peter from being executed by Herod (see 12:6-11), but He allowed James to die (see 12:2). What conclusions about persecution, prayer, and deliverance can we draw from these facts? God sometimes saves from persecution; sometimes not. God sometimes answers prayer as we wish, sometimes not. God sometimes delivers physically and sometimes not .(cf. Lk 21:18 " But not a hair of your head will perish ").   Angels often act urgently At dawn, angels urged Lot, saying, "Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” (Gen 19:15) Elijah, weary and despondent, was touched by an angel who said, "Arise and eat." Later, the angel returned, saying, "Arise and eat, because the journey is too ...

For Thought and Discussion: What would you say to someone who asked why the resurrected Jesus appeared only to certain witnesses, not the crowds (see 10:41)? God is choosy about who He reveals Himself to, and who is entrusted with the responsibility of witnessing. He reveaols himself to those he can trust. cf. And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12  For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. (Mt 13:11-12)   For Thought and Discussion: Why was it necessary to baptize the Gentiles in water in addition to their experience in 10:44-46? Water baptism was commanded in Mt 28:19. It remains the initiatory rite that signifies the inner baptism of the Spirit. It was and is the visible sign of full inclusion into the people of God. It was the sign of cleansing from sin, and so of forgiveness (2:3...

For Thought and Discussion: Compare Acts 9:32-43 to Luke 4:18-19,38-39 and 8:40-42,51-56. Why do you think it is important for us to know that Peter healed the sick and raised the dead (see John 14:12-14)? (That is, why does Luke keep telling us these miracle stories?) Jesus’ ministry as prophesied by Isaiah was shared by the apostles.  The same Spirit that anointed Jesus was working through Peter. What Peter had experienced with Jesus' ministry he was himself now performing with the same authority to heal and raise the dead. There is continuity between Jesus' work and the work of the apostles.    Peter is going out of Jerusalum to teach and minister. The miracles led to people believing.    "Luke would have disagreed with the common modern suggestion that a faith based on miracles is not a true faith" (Marshall) The Christians in Joppa felt sufficient faith in the possibility of resurrection to send for Peter and bid him come at once.(Marshall)  (Peter...