Queen's Road Cell

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 ...

 1. The episode on the Damascus road was a profound learning experience for Saul. What did he learn about …  who Jesus is (see 9:4-5,20,22; 22:14)?  9:4-5, "Lord", the one he was persecuting 9: 20,22 "Son of God" 22:14 "the Righteous One" ((cf. Is 53:11)   'threats'. He had been going about saying what he would do to the Christians if they did not cease their activities, namely that he would murder them (although the legality of this is uncertain)   what his own mission was going to be (see 9:15-16,20-30; 22:14-16; 26:16-18)? 9:15-16 a chosen instrument of God's to carry His name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. will suffer much for the name of Christ. There would be witness, at personal cost. He who had once caused Christians to suffer would himself suffer. 9:20-30; proclaimed Jesus, confounding the jews and proving Jesus was the Christ, disputing against the Hellenists. 22:14-16 To know God's will, see and hea...

5. Keep question 1 in mind as you answer these questions.  a. Who accepted the gospel in 8:26-40?   An Ethiopian eunuch. If the man was a physical eunuch ihe could not have been a proselyte. He would have been a 'god-fearer' However, the term could also be used to refer simply to a court official.   The church did not simply ‘stumble upon’ the idea of evangelizing the Gentiles; it did so in accordance with God’s deliberate purpose (Marshall) A desert road 'at noon' (8:26, alternate reading) would be not well-travelled. Philip required specific divine direction for an improbable effort.   And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” - there was specific direction again.   God obviously does not reveal himself to all men equally. b. What status did this kind of person have with the Jews (see Deuteronomy 23:1)? Considered unfit to join the assembly of the Lord, to be a full part of God's people. c. How was this person’s conversion signific...

1. Questions 1 and 5 will help you compare the two episodes in 8:4-25 and 8:26-40.  a. In 8:4-25, who is evangelized, convinced, and baptized?    The Samaritans, and Simon Magus   b. What do the Jews think of these people (see John 4:9)? Jews "have no dealings" with them c. How is this group’s conversion significant to the progress of the gospel? (Recall who has been converted up to now.)  Only Jews and proselytes (2:11). The conversion of the  Samaritans is both a fulfilment of prophecy (1:8) as well as the start of the church's mission to the world.  "the story may be seen as a step towards the greater problem of bringing Jews and Gentiles together" (Marshall) d. What convinces this group to become believers (see 8:6-8,12)? e. What is the apostles’ role in bringing this group into the church (see 8:14-17)? The crowds "heard" Philip and "saw the signs that he did": the casting out of demons and the healing of the sick.   The apostles sen...