For Further Study:
a. Why did the Christ have to die and rise (see Acts 17:3)? See Leviticus 16:15-17, 20-23; Isaiah 53:1-12; Romans 6:1-14; Hebrews 9:11–10:18.
Leviticus 16:15-17, Blood/death alone atones for sin (cf. Gen 9:4)
20-23; the scapegoat expiated sin, the sacrificial goat propitiated sin
Isaiah 53:1-12; to fulfil this very specific prophecy: that it was God's will to kill him and to have him bear the sin of many. He must die.
Romans 6:1-14; we are united in Christ in his death and in his life.
Hebrews 9:11–10:18. He completely and forever fulfils the requirement of the Law.
With no substitutionary death, there is no life. And without Resurrection, there is no evidence that the atonement was accepted
It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,
who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (Ro 4:25)
b. Why did the Jews find the idea of a killed and raised Christ so repugnant?
It did not fit their mental image of a conquering Messiah. Besides, Christ had been crucified (5:30, 10:39), and was therefore cursed.
Thought and Discussion: Compare the way the apostles dealt with
persecution in 13:46-51, 16:37, and 17:10. How were the circumstances
different? Why do you think each response was appropriate to each
circumstance?
13:46-51, they turned away from those who persistently rejected the gospel message (cf Mt 7:6)
16:37, they demanded earthly justice when the reputation of the gospel was at stake, not for personal reputation
17:10 they complied when there was no longer any reputational issue. In general, we are to obey civil authority (1 Pet 2:13)
9.
In response to the gospel, Lydia and Jason both invited the
missionaries to stay in their homes (see 16:15; 17:7). They welcomed at
least four virtual strangers for indefinite periods of weeks or months.
What kinds of trouble and expense were they risking by doing this (see
16:20-22; 17:5-9)?
Financial risk, social ostracization/persecution/physical danger
10. What can Lydia and Jason teach us about Christian fellowship/partnership?
It involves sacrifice - it is not cheap
Those who do not directly preach the gospel can also support those who do. V
11. How did the Berean Jews respond differently to Paul’s message than the Thessalonian Jews did (see 17:5,11)?
1. They received God's word 'with all eagerness'
2. They examined the Scriptures daily to check if what was preached was in accord with God's revelation
12. Why was the Bereans’ reaction the best way to deal with new and startling teaching?
They (and we) should have an attitude of eagerness to listen to truth about God
They (and we) should be making effort to integrate this truth with what is already known about God's word.
For Further Study:
What charges were made against the evangelists in Philippi and Thessalonica (see 16:20-21; 17:7)?
1. They were Jews
2. They were disturbing the city
3. They were advocating alien, unacceptable customs to Romans
4. They acted contrary to civil authority
5,. They proclaimed another king
6. They had 'turned the world upside down' -seditious behaviour, upsetting the natural order of things
What were the real reasons each group objected to the missionaries?
They lost financial gain.
They were jealous (17:5)
They had lost influence, they had lost adnerents
They were not concerned with truth, only with superficial appearances and worldly consideration.
How are those reasons like and unlike modern people’s reasons for protesting against and suppressing Christianity?
People have things to lose if they receive Christ
Their lives are also turned upside down and need fully to to reorineted. This is often a painful process.
Christianity is a western religion.
Christianity causes loss of face, loss of money.
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