(1) What happened to the thousands of newly converted disciples of the first church?
(2) How severe was the persecution? How would you expect them to respond to such a severe persecution, given the fact that most of them were really fairly new believers?
(3) Contrast these lay-disciples with the apostles. Why did the apostles stay in Jerusalem? How did the action of these lay-disciples serve to accomplish the Great Commission of 1:8?
(4) What do you know about the city of Samaria (see Jn. 4:9)? Why was it the first “foreign” city to be evangelized?
(5) Philip was one of the seven deacons chosen to serve food in chapter 6. Based on how God used him in Samaria, what can you learn about the roles of the apostles and that of the lay disciples?
(6) Why did the church in Jerusalem feel the need to send Peter and John to Samaria?
(7) Why hadn't these new Samaritan believers received the Holy Spirit yet, though they had truly believed and were baptized in the name of Jesus?
(8) But when Peter and John laid hands on them, they received the Holy Spirit (presumably in a form that could be attested to). How did this fact speak to the believers in Jerusalem (including Peter and John)?
(9) What can you learn about the work of the Holy Spirit?
(10) What is the main message to you today?
(1) The people of Samaria were of mixed ethnicity, being partly Jewish and they worshipped God in a syncretized way, using their own version of the Pentateuch (it was called the Samaritan Pentateuch; in it were changes made to fit Samaritan theology). From the way they responded to Simon, how would you describe their religion and attitude toward God?
(2) If Simon was “full of bitterness and captive to sin”, what might be his motive in believing and receiving baptism?
(3) Do you think Simon was saved? Why or why not?
(4) What is your motive in believing and receiving baptism?
(5) Simon was fascinated with the ability to bestow the Holy Spirit on people through the laying of hands which was a spiritual ministry. How then can an aspiration to serve become something not pleasing to God? Reflect on your own heart for ministry. Do you think it is “right before God”?
(6) It appeared that the people of Samaria responded readily to the gospel. Can you think of some of the reasons?
(7) What is the main message to you today?
(1) The gospel’s breakthrough beyond Jerusalem continued with the story of Philip, reaching now to an Ethiopian (an East African). Why did God choose Philip to achieve such a breakthrough? The angel of the Lord could have easily appeared to Peter and John?
(2) Where did the angel of the Lord tell Philip to go? Did it make any sense to Philip? What can you learn from Philip, next time the Lord gives you instructions that may not make a lot of sense?
(3) Why did this important official from Ethiopia go all the way to Jerusalem? How would he be treated in the temple? To what extent was he able to truly “worship” God there?
(4) Together with the fact that he was reading the book of Isaiah in the chariot, how would you describe this seeker? How did God reward his seeking heart? (See Matt. 7:7)
(5) The Jewish rabbis mostly interpreted Isaiah 53:7-8 to refer to the entire people of Israel and they do so even today. How may you help them to understand it as a foretelling of Jesus Christ?
(6) The Ethiopian said he could not understand what he read, unless someone explained it to him. So the ability to understand scripture is very important to the sharing of the gospel. How and where can you gain this ability to explain the scripture in your role to fulfill the Great Commission?
(7) Philip had baptized many in Samaria who had waited for the apostles to lay hands on them before they could receive the Holy Spirit (v. 17). Do you think this Ethiopian received the Holy Spirit upon his belief and baptism? (See Acts 2:38)
(8) What marks the life of new believers? (v. 8 and v. 39)
(9) What is the main message to you today?
(1) As the gospel was reaching beyond Jerusalem, so was the persecution. The one who appeared to be the champion of the latter was Saul. According to v.1, what kind of power was accorded to Saul? What was his motive or motivation (see Gal. 1:13-14)?
(2) Have you met or do you know of anyone who zealously objects to the gospel? What might be his or her motive or motivation?
(3) Since Saul literally had blood in his hands, why would Jesus choose to speak to him?
(4) True, this encounter was a miracle, but does such a miraculous encounter guarantee a conversion or change of heart? Why or why not? Many people in the Bible experienced miraculous encounters and were spoken to directly from God. Can you remember a case where the person immediately obeyed, and another case in which a person disobeyed? Even in a miraculous encounter, what might be the key to obedience or conversion?
(5) Why did Jesus choose to blind Saul for three days? What might Saul be doing in the three days — given his firm conviction of traditions, his hatred for Christians, and his reputation among the Pharisees? What would you have done in his case during the 3 days?
(6) Reflect on the words that the Lord spoke to Saul, how special were they? — How had He Himself addressed him and how He had He looked at Saul’s action towards Him?
(7) What is the main message today, and how would you act on it?
(1) V. 11 tells us what Saul was doing during the three days. What might he be praying about?
(2) It appears that the Christians in Damascus were well aware of the coming persecution by Saul. What might they be doing in preparation for Saul’s arrival? Why then was Ananias reluctant to help Saul?
(3) V. 15 gives us the commission of Saul and how God would use him and his fate as well. Do you yearn to be chosen like Saul, why or why not?
(4) At the time, there were twelve apostles already named and Saul did not fit the profile of 1:21-22. Why then would the Lord choose Saul instead to take on, perhaps, the most important role in the furtherance, if not fulfillment, of the Great Commission He had given to the apostles in Acts 1:8?
(5) This was Saul’s first friendly encounter with a Christian. Imagine that you were the blind Saul. How special was this encounter of being received and accepted by those who saw you as enemies?
(6) Pause and reflect on your “conversion” experience. How special was it? Give thanks to the Lord now.
(7) Do you have a sense of your calling, i.e. what God expected of you as He called you?
(8) What is the main message to you today?
Luke is summarizing the immediate post-conversion years of Saul here. It is therefore needful to read Galatians 1:17-21 and 2 Corinthians 11:32-33 to get a more detailed chronicle of these ensuing years. To start with, after his conversion, Saul left Damascus for Arabia and for three years, he likely spent time meditating and reading the word of God in the desert; then he returned to Damascus and afterwards left for Jerusalem. He had to escape to Tarsus, his hometown, going through Caesarea. Here in Acts 9:30 is where the first account of Saul stops; it will resume in Acts 11:25.
(1) Saul obviously knew full well his calling, as he “at once” began to preach. Apart from his academic excellence and skills in rhetoric, what might distinguish Saul from the rest of the disciples in his role as witness to the gospel (or how unique was he in the furtherance of God’s kingdom)?
(2) What might be your uniqueness as God has called you too to be His witness in His Kingdom?
(3) Were Jews known to be a people with a violent history or were they victims of violence? Why then would they seek to kill people like Saul, whether in Damascus or in Jerusalem? What then should distinguish a religious zealot (whether in Judaism or Muslim) from a zealous Christian?
(4) As a former champion of Christian persecution, what kind of a dilemma did Saul face right away? What did he need most at the time? Of all people in Jerusalem, why would Barnabas dare risk to believe in and receive Saul? (See Acts 4:36-37.) What lesson can you learn from Barnabas, and how can you emulate him?
(5) Why did Luke mention that Saul debated with the “Grecian Jews”?
(6) According to Saul’s own recollection, he spent three years in the Arabian Desert after his conversion. Why was it necessary? What then does it say about our preparation for ministry?
(7) What is the main message to you today?
(2) Peter now was taking on a pastoral role of visiting established Christian communities (Lydda is 25 miles northwest of Jerusalem). What did Luke call these Christian communities in v. 32? What does it mean to you, especially in light of the fact that this term is always used in the plural in the NT?
(3) Since Peter called the paralytic by name, it appears that the setting was in a home and Aeneas was probably a believer already, but the healing resulted in more people turning to the Lord. How did this miracle serve to “strengthen and encourage” the church?
(4) How does the description of Tabitha touch you? Do you know of a Christian who might resemble her in your church community? What is your own attitude towards helping the poor (and in this case, widows in particular)?
(5) What part of the story of Tabitha impacts you most?
– Her character
– The church’s response to her death
– The presence of many widows with robes made by her
– Her resurrection
– The impact of her resurrection which brought many to Christ?
Why?
(6) Tanning was one of the most despised professions as the Babylonian Talmud states that “Woe to him who is a tanner by trade”, because tanning at the time involved the handling of dead animals. Why do you think Luke cared to mention Simon’s trade and the fact that Peter stayed with him for some time at this juncture of time?
(7) What is the main message to you today?