Queen's Road Cell

Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe were all in the province of Galatia—these were the churches who later received Paul’s letter to the Galatians.   1. Why does Luke repeat in v.22-29 information already given in v.19-21? To record that the decision of the council was accurately recorded in writing and passed on Because of the importance of the matter for the church at large.    2. What steps do the apostles and the elders take to ensure that the decision of the council is well-communicated and that the Gentile Christians are reassured? They chose ‘leading men’ individuals from Jerusalem to follow Paul and Barnabas with a letter to affirm its contents (v.22-23, 25, 27). The personal touch They called the Gentile Christians "brothers" (v.23) They acknowleged that the Gentiles had been "troubled" and their minds "uinsettled" They assured the Gentiles that those troubling and unsettling them did not have the authority of the Jerusalem church. (v.24) ...

Two issues at stake: (1) Does God still require His covenant people to keep the Law of Moses (and the oral tradition)? and (2) Even if the Law is just a cultural preference for Jewish Christians, should Gentile Christians keep it anyway in order to keep peaceful fellowship? 6. How did the church handle this major dispute between some Jewish believers and the Antiochene Christians (see 15:2,6,12,22-30)?  They took it to the highest authorities in the Church. There was a forum to explain their position. This was a decision-making body whose conclusions were binding.   7. Why did Peter support the Antiochene position? List his key reasons in 15:6-11.  He had the experience of Cornelius' household behind him. He had pioneered Gentile minsitry. God knew the heart and had testfied to their inclusion through the giving of the Holy Spirit just as he had to the jews. He made no distinction. Clenasing of the heart was by faith. There was no reason to lay the burden of the Law on th...

 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...

8. What was the relationship between the churches in Jerusalem and Antioch (see 11:22,27-29)? Antioch was under the authority of Jerusalem. On previous occasions (8:14; cf. 9:32) the leaders of the church at Jerusalem had sent representatives to follow up mission work outside the city Antioch was richer  Consider our relationship with those with whom we have a complex relationship - because we are older or higher in secular or spiritual authority, but compared to whom we are disadvantaged in other ways. It takes grace from both sides to navigate this well. 9. What laudable traits do Barnabas and the Christians at Antioch show in 11:19-30?    Barnabas was glad to see the gospel received even though it was unfamiliar territory He prioritized the spiritual well-being of the new converts and exhorted them personally 'a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith'. " no other man is described by Luke as good in Acts, and in his spiritual gifts he stood on a level with Steph...

6. Why is it important for us to think about the early Christians’ willingness to suffer for Jesus’ name (see 5:40-42; 7:59-60; 9:15-16,23-30)? 5:40-42  " they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name" They rejoiced.  7:59-60   "stoning... he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them" -They forgave 9:15-16 " For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." The saw the necessity of testimony, acceptance  9:23-30 " the Jews plotted to kill him ... took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall" They helped one another. They escaped Suffering is normative. Jesus suffered to leave us an example  Their message was true. Their suffering authenticated their message We suffer because of persecution, active and passive We suffer because because of ou...

27 And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” 30 And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him. (Mark 8:27-30)  Mk 6:45 tells us that Jesus had crossed the Sea of Galilee and travelled north from Bethsaida to Caesarea Philippi. This was a city was located at the foothills of Mount Hermon, and was a centre of Baal, Pan and Caesar worship –previously called Paneas.  Perhaps it was the false worship prevalent there that prompted Jesus’ question to His disciples – but perhaps not. Jesus asks many questions in the Gospels – someone has counted 339. Some are to engage people and to begin a conversation. Some are obviously when He actually knows the answer and ...