 Acts 15 - 22 Questions and Answers |
| Q. What is true about the Law of Moses? |
A. Acts 15:10 = 1) It could never save men 2) v.9 = All men are saved by faith in Jesus' finished work on the cross 3) v.11 = Even before faith, we are saved because Jesus did us a special favor! Note 1 = v.9 = God calls His own 2) v.9 = We hear His voice and by faith, respond to Him 3) v.4 = Not because we dazzled God by our good works, but because we were predestined to join Him in Heaven (v.14). |
| Q. What confirms good mission work? |
A. Acts 15:12 = Miraculous signs and wonders that follow the preaching of the Good News and wherever they are needed. Note: These days, we have more boldness in asking God to move in the miraculous. But God always has done so! Missionaries and ministers are rescued from terrible enemies by God's intervention. They called out when they got in trouble and He simply came. Consider this: God wants us to ask Him to do miracles, especially when the Good News message is afoot. Sometimes miracles break the ice in a particularly skeptical crowd. Don't talk with people until you are exhausted. Ask them what they need, then pray with them for God to do that miracle for them. When the answer comes, all arguments halt and you have a captive audience. Isaiah 61 says it all: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me to preach Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind. To set up liberty to those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." Note: This is a song I played at church when I was 17 years old. Anytime you can learn the Scriptures in song, it is a great way to sing to God! |
| Q. What is the Old Testament for today? |
A. Acts 15:15 = It is filed with prophecies about Messiah and referred to when deciding all kinds of questions like: 1) Who is God? 2) Who is Messiah? 3) What does God have in mind for all people? 4) It lists all the times God forgave men for their foolish sins 5) It acknowledges man's self-destruct tendencies and promises God will restore him 6) It lists all the times God has intervened in man's life to save him 7) It is the history of God and men, and confirms His love for all men 8) In the Old Testament, the Law of Moses is written out. It has been fulfilled by Jesus, who then put in motion the Law of Love, i.e., Love God, love your brother (Matthew 7:12) 9) It shows the kind of people who love God: All of them sinners just like us! 10) It shows who God loves: Sinners! 11) It tells us how to have good hygiene and gives us medical cures. |
| Q. What did Peter say about the Gentiles' obligation to the Law of Moses? |
A. Acts 15:19-20 = 1) All men are free from the rituals of the Law 2) But there is good common sense stuff they should not ignore within it, not kept out of rigidness, but because doing so frees us. |
| Q. Like what? |
A. Acts 15:19-20 = 1) Don't eat meat sacrificed to an idol (this is a slap in Jesus' face, for only He was the perfect sacrifice) 2) Don't be loose sexually ('nuff said) 3) Don't consume blood (not at all nutritious an act) 4) Don't eat the meat of strangled animals. |
| Q. Why abstain from these things? |
A. Acts 15:21 = So as not to upset the Jews in every synagogue where they at least knew these laws. Note: Sometimes you need to adjust your freedoms in order to remove potential obstacles that may hinder the clear Good News message. Whatever you need to do to keep the Good News from turning into controversy is important. We care so much for people that we don't flail our freedom in their doubtful faces (at least not on purpose)! |
| Q. Did the church at Jerusalem establish this rule of thumb officially? | A. Acts 15:22 = Yes. They even sent delegates with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch of Syria and to Cilicia to report on this rule of thumb that all would adopt. |
| Q. So who all were in on deciding this rule of thumb? | A. Acts 15:6 =The apostles and church elders previously established in Jerusalem: Peter, Barnabas, Paul, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Bartholomew, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the Zealot), Judas (son of James), and Matthias. There were also two church leaders, Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas mentioned here. |
| Q. How did they report the new rule of thumb to the church at Antioch of Syria? | A. Acts 15:23 = They took them an official letter from the apostles and elders. |
| Q. Did they speak as having authority over them? |
A. Acts 15:23 = No. They saw themselves as brethren solving a problem for the church as a whole. Note: It si very important that some principles of teaching be established here. The apostles were taught by Jesus, one on one, two by two, and were given power and authority by Jesus to perform miracles and wonders while they spread the Good News. They are basically like the rest of us, except for their personally trained by the Savior. They taught others who also learned and became equal in strength and power. To this day, we have apostles, teachers, all the gifts of the first church, which have never been exclusive to a particular person or persons. God anoints whomever He wishes. The church, in all its splendor of those first days is still our role model. Home churches, school-meeting Sunday churches, all new works of people who are called of God, go when obedience to God is at risk! God has not limited His people in any way. Those who honor His Word will do things His way, as He did on earth. The New Covenant of Love reigns! So let it reign! |
| Q. Why did they need to send this letter? | A. Acts 15:23 = Gentile believers in Antioch of Syria needed to know how not to be stumbling blocks to Jewish unbelievers. They were basically ignorant of Moses and the prophets' teachings. |
| Q. What else was in that letter? | A. Acts 15:24 = The Jews from Jerusalem who traveled to Antioch, Syria and Cilicia were teaching the Gentiles Old Covenant Laws to follow, so that was addressed in the letter. They were assured that these Jews were not sent from the church of Jerusalem. |
| Q. How did the principles about food intake get decided upon? |
A. Acts 15:25 = By unanimous vote. Note: This is a good idea. Everyone gets a say and the answer is formed with much input by people who pray and fast regularly. We should all have friends in fellowship like that! |
| Q. When sending new delegates out with official news, what is also necessary? | A. Acts 15:25 = To send people folks are familiar with; those who have established camaraderie with them in the past so they know they can also trust their new delegates. In this case, the delegates were Paul and Barnabas. |
| Q. Who else was in on the decision-making? | A. Acts 15:28 = The Holy Spirit. |
| Q. So what part of the Old Testament would they be asked to follow? |
A. Acts 15:28-29 =Only a few basic rules for the sake of unity: Abstaining from: 1) Eating food offered to idols 2) Consuming blood 3) Eating the meat of strangled animals 4) Sexual immorality. |
| Q. What is the promise to them if they kept these requirements asked of them? |
A. Acts 15:29 = That they would do well. Note: Remember, this was done for the sake of unity. What do you need to abstain from for the sake of unbelievers in your town? Do whatever it takes to clear the path to God's throne! |
| Q. What did the Gentiles think of this letter? |
A. Acts 15:30-31 = They were filled with great joy throughout the church and were greatly encouraged by it. Note: This letter officially recognized every Gentile as God's own child --by every apostle-- and for the first time in history-- about 3000 years! I think it appropriate that the Aramaic calendar begin with year one with Jesus' coming. Don't you? What God planned to do from the beginning of time had been revealed, and all people were, indeed declared His children! |
| Q. What were Judas and Silas' gifts? | A. Acts 15:32 = They were both prophets. |
| Q. What do prophets do? |
A. Acts 15:32 = 1) They speak extensively to the Christians 2) They encourage their faith 3) They strengthen their faith. Note: Prophets also speak doom on those causing trouble, as Paul did in Paphos. They recognize evil behind satan's puppets and rebuke it. But mainly, prophets encourage people and grow them up in the faith. I like that job! Give the prophet ample time to minister to you when he comes to town. Let God's Holy Spirit have His say in your life. He is so encouraging! |
| Q. Do prophets hang around to encourage and follow up with those they minister to? | A. Acts 15:33 = Yes. |
| Q. When were Judas and Silas finished ministering in Antioch? |
A. Acts 15:33 = When the Antioch church was ready to send them back and not a moment sooner! Note: How wonderful to not be short-cutted for the sake of a schedule to keep! Don't overbook your days. Let God determine your schedule according to His timetable. Your ministry will grow and flourish if you do! |
| Q. Did the Gentile believers appreciate their time? |
A. Acts 15:33 = Yes! They sent their blessings on to the church at Jerusalem when they sent Judas and Silas back home! Note: Before this letter, the Gentile believers felt below and distanced from Jewish believers in the official church. Now they felt as equals in the same mission. Do you realize that we are all equals in the same mission? Always be ready to reestablish your brother as important in God's purposes! |
| Q. Did Paul and Barnabas stay in Antioch while Judas and Silas returned to Jerusalem? | A. Acts 15:35 = Yes. |
| Q. What did they do? |
A. Acts 15:35 = They assisted those who were preaching and teaching the Word of the Lord in Antioch. Note: New pastors and teachers need supervision! It's kind of awkward for the one who must learn, but necessary, especially in correcting any biblical errors that might be revealed in the process. We teachers are more accountable to God than others in our accuracy in teaching others. If we are in error, those we teach will follow suit. One error multiplies beginning with a single teacher! |
| Q. How many were teaching and preaching the Word in Antioch? |
A. Acts 15:35 = Many! |
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Note 1: It is very important that we all have a true, biblical foundation before we teach or preach -- or take God seriously and move forward! Know the attributes of God-- know God's character as spelled out entirely in His Word. Otherwise, we assume God is faulty and limited according to our earthly parents-- we then filter our teaching through our earthly parents. Consider these truths: God is Judge, but God also is Mercy. God is Love, and yet God hates sin. God sends fire and brimstone, and God sends rain. God curses, and God blesses. God rescues, and God lets consequences come. God watches over us, and God turns away from us. God wants us to be generous to the church financially, and God wants us to take care of those who cannot do so for themselves. God blesses, and God withholds blessings. God puts us in the highest places in praise, and God lets us flounder in the valleys of despondency. God loves every person He's ever created, witnessing each one's birth as He created each one special and unique. And God will let each person choose to accept or reject Him. God is Joy, and feels sadness at levels we cannot fathom; a Man of Sorrows (in Jesus) (Isaiah 53:3). God is Mediator and will fight for us, or let us fight to exhaustion because we would rather do it ourselves. God is Holy; Jesus' blood made us holy. God is righteous; Jesus' blood made us righteous. God desires our obedience to His Word, because He knows it brings us true happiness and peace (Acts 10:42). God is Judge, and Advocate (1 John 2:1), defending us. God defends Himself; we need not defend Him. Only God can change people. We pray always with fasting. One Lamb completed the Old Covenant. Man gets confused and thinks he is still under the Old Law. God doesn't need reminders of who He is and man does. God in Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25), and man may spend a lifetime trying to find a less worthy life 1 Peter 2:25 = God is the Shepherd and Bishop of my soul; He holds all the answers I seek for the hurts I feel. Ephesians 5:23 = God is Head of the Church, and man is not, so be alert, pastors and teachers! Matthew 8:19 = God is Master, so go to the Master and He will teach you. Revelation 3:14 = God is faithful; man is faithless. God is True Witness; man is faulty witness. Hebrews 6:20 = God is High Priest; man is a priest under Him. John 10:9 = God is The Door; not one door to Heaven. John 4:10 = God is Living Water; man is dry. John 6:35 = God is Bread of Life; man is hungry for it, no matter what he claims he believes. Revelation 22:13 = God is Alpha and Omega; before and after man to eternity; man is only a breath in his life. John 15:1 = God is the True Vine; man is merely grafted into Him. Ephesians 1:6 = God is the Beloved; loved perfectly by Son Jesus and Holy Spirit. Mark 6:3 = Jesus is a Carpenter, not afraid of hard work, as man can be John 10:11 = Jesus is the Good Shepherd, always guiding and protecting us. John 8:12 = Jesus is the Light of the world; men who eschew Him live in darkness. Colossians 1:15 = Jesus is The Image of the Invisible God, which is why we know who God is. John 1:1 = Jesus is The Word; we apply Jesus to everything we do and thus please God Ephesians 2:20 = Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone; our lives make no sense without Him in the center of it. John 4:42 = Jesus is Savior, and lives to continue saving man until He comes again as King. Matthew 12:18 = Jesus is Servant, and so must we be. Hebrews 12:2 = Jesus is The Author and Finisher of our Faith; there is no other faith. Revelation 1:8 = Jesus is The Almighty. Isaiah 9:6 = Jesus is Everylasting Father, Genesis 49:10 = Shiloh Revelation 5:15 = Lion of the Tribe of Judah. John 8:58 = I AM 1 Timothy 6:59 = King of Kings Isaiah 9:6 = Prince of [real]Peace Matthew 9:15 = Bridegroom ot the Church John 3:16 = The Only Begotten Son Isaiah 9:6 = Wonderful Counselor Matthew 1:23 = Immanuel Matthew 20:18 = Son of Man Luke 1:78 = Day Spring Revelation 3:4 = The Amen Mark 15:26 = King of the Jews (to this day) Matthew 21:11 = Prophet Job 19:25 = Redeemer Hebrews 6:19 = Anchor Revelation 22:16 = Bright Morning Star John 14:6 = The Way, the Truth and the Life John 11:25 = Resurrected to Life John 1:29 = Lamb of God 1 Timothy 6:15 = Lord of Lords Song of Solomon 2:1 = The Rose of Sharon 1 Corinthians 10:4 = Rock Note 2: When someone you know is seeking God, this list of His attributes would be a good place to begin. God speaks for Himself, as always, leaving nothing out about Himself in His Word. Nobody says it better! Hallelujah! |
| Q. Did Paul and Barnabas keep returning to the places they preached and make new believers? | A. Acts 15:36 = Yes. |
| Q. Why? | A. Acts 15:26 = To see how the believers were growing in their faith and minister to those who were now ready to believe. |
| Q. What happened earlier in Pamphylia? | A. Acts 15:38 = John Mark deserted Paul and Barnabas and did not share in their work there. |
| Q. Did John Mark rejoin them at a later date? | A. Acts 15:38 = Yes. |
| Q. What happened when he returned? | A. Acts 15:38 = Paul didn't want John Mark to come with them again on future missionary trips. |
| Q. What about Barnabas? | A. Acts 15:37 = Barnabas wanted him to come along anyway. |
| Q. What resulted? | A. Acts 15:39 = Paul and Barnabas separated and John Mark went with Barnabas. |
| Q. So they revisited the new believers on separate routes? | A. Acts 15:39 - 40 = Yes. Barnabas and John Mark sailed for Cyprus and Paul got a new assistant, Silas, and the believers sent them all off, entrusting them to the Lord's grace. |
| Q. What is important to remember while in a dispute with a brother? | A. Acts 15:41 = Keep your eyes up; the Good News is waiting to be told! |
| Q. Were the lot of them effective despite their dispute? |
A. Acts 15:41 =Yes. Note: It's not about being perfect. It's about doing the work in the midst of whatever circumstances come. |
| Q. Where did Paul and Silas go? | A. Acts 16:1 = To Derbe, then to Lystra. |
| Q. What significant thing happened in Lystra? |
A. Acts 16:1 = Paul met Timothy there. Note: We have the books of 1 and 2 Timothy written by Paul to Timothy in the New Testament. |
| Q. Who was Timothy? | A. Acts 16:1 = A young believer, half Jewish on his mother's side, half Greek on his father's side. |
| Q. Was Timothy well-liked in the believing community? | A. Acts 16:2 = Yes. Both in Lystra and in Iconium. |
| Q. Did Paul like Timothy? | A. Acts 16:3 = Yes. He asked Timothy to join him and Silas on their journey. |
| Q. What did Paul have done to Timothy before they left on their journey? | A. Acts 16:3 = He arranged for Timothy's circumcision. |
| Q. Why was Timothy circumcised? | A. Acts 16:3 = To honor his Jewish heritage before the people they would minister to. |
| Q. What did they preach? | A. Acts 16:4 = They taught the people the four new rules that the church in Jerusalem decided they should all obey as ministers to the people. |
| Q. Did these rules strengthen the churches? |
A. Acts 16:5 = Yes. They strengthened their faith and the church grew daily in numbers. Note: Did you know that when your faith is strengthened, unbelievers will seek you out? Be willing to be there and pass on your faith to those who need it. We have three things the world does not have: Faith, hope and love. This is why nonbelievers come to church. They know they lack something. If they see any or all of those qualities, they'll stick around. If you give them a warm greeting, they'll stay longer. If you are consistent in your peaceful behavior, they'll have hope for themselves because they see that hope motivates you. All three of these qualities are gifts of God and there for our asking. Ask God for a daily filling of faith, hope and love, and especially, to make those qualities mature in you. |
| Q. And they grew in faith as they received the Word of God as it was taught by these ministers? | A. Acts 16:4 = Yes. |
| Q. Where did Paul, Silas and Timothy go next? | A. Acts 16:6 = They traveled through Phrygia and Galatia, avoiding Asia completely. (These are provinces of Turkey). |
| Q. Why didn't they go to Asia? |
A. Acts 16:6 = Because the Holy Spirit told them to avoid Asia at this time. Note: God really does warn us about impending danger. There are always times that I do not listen to the Holy Spirit's voice, and disaster follows. I needed to tune in to God better! If you find yourself arguing with your conscience about going forward in something, that is probably the Holy Spirit warning you away from doing it. God's intervention in the everyday is always for our good. This week, God intervened in this way: 1) A young man was in terrible emotional trouble. He emailed me the gist of it and his story stunned me and I asked God what I should do to minister to him. I waited, then forgot I was waiting for God's answer! I had such a burden for this young man that I asked God to guide me as I replied to his email. I opened a communication door to him and invited him to write me anytime. I was confused as to why I would counsel a stranger in such dire straits. After emailing my letter, I realized that this young man lived very near me and just as far away from his own home, but we were from the same hometown! God is good and will bless our time together. 2) An intercessor's retreat comes at a difficult time. I have company who will stay even longer than planned. I can't just abandon my house guest, who was very vulnerable at the time! I asked God to clarify what I was to do. I made no extra plans for a while. However, my husband planned an event for our house guest during most of the retreat weekend and freed up my time. Meanwhile, another intercessor needed me to be there for support and the leader point blank asked me to commit to the retreat. I did. All aspects of this retreat have worked out to the last detail. Ant it turned out they wanted me to lead worship, which I love to do. Isn't God awesome? Update 1: The retreat was fantastic! Update 2: Our house guest is now saved and feels the call of foreign mission work. She leaves soon! |
| Q. Did Paul, Silas and Timothy run into any problems in Turkey? |
A. Acts 16:7 = Not until they headed for Bithynia. The Holy Spirit did not let them go there. Note: How does the Holy Spirit not let us go into danger? Think about today. I was held back and physically could not drive away from a restaurant toward my mother's house. I did not understand why this happened, but I prayed. My delay was about five minutes. I then left for my mother's house. If I had left five minutes earlier, I would have been involved in a pile up accident on the freeway! Be observant for God's rescues in your life! |
| Q. Where did Paul and company go instead of Bithynia? | A. Acts 16:8 = Through Mysia to the city of Troas. |
| Q. What happened in Troas? | A. Acts 16:9 = Paul had a vision as he slept. |
| Q. Of what? | A. Acts 16:9 = A man from Macedonia in Northern Greece was pleading with him to come help them there. |
| Q. What did Paul and company do? | A. Acts 16:10 = Paul told Silas about his dream and they decided together to go to Macedonia. |
| Q. Why? |
A. Acts 16:10 = They could only conclude that God was calling them there to preach the Good News. Note: The nice thing about being in the ministry is that you know that divine intervention comes for the furtherance of God's work. For the everyday believer, God still speaks to and guides him in dreams, but he needs to tune in! Ask God to speak to you in your dreams and see what happens! Don't stop asking until He answers! |
| Q. Was the trip to Macedonia significant to Paul and company? | A. Acts 16:11-12 = Yes. Philippi was their first stop of this several day journey. We have Paul's letters to the church there in our New Testament. |
| Q. What was Philippi's significance? |
A. Acts 16:12 = 1) Philippi was a major city of the district of Macedonia in Greece. 2) Philippi was a Roman colony. |
| Q. Where did Paul and Silas first speak? | A. Acts 16:13 = On a Sabbath, they went a little way outside of Philippi to a riverbank where they supposed some people met to pray. |
| Q. Who was there? | A. Acts 16:13 = Some women were there together. |
| Q. Were these women believers? | A. Acts 16:14 = Only Lydia from Thyatira was a worshiper of God. |
| Q. But not yet a believer in the Good News? | A. Acts 16:14 = No. She had not heard the Good News about God's Son, Jesus, come to earth. |
| Q. And Paul and company preached to the women there? | A. Acts 16:14 = Yes. |
| Q. How did Lydia respond to the Good News? |
A. Acts 16:14 = God opened her heart and she accepted Paul's words. Note: A true seeker of God seeks and worships God in response to the promptings of her heart. Believers are the mouthpieces of God to the lost and the seeking. A man in a tribe in Africa who had no concept of the true God decided to worship the biggest God of all; the one who made the sun. Weeks later, missionaries came for the first time to his tribe and he was saved. God is bigger than the biggest , pettiest person you know. He is bigger than the loudest boasting, pridful person who merely claims to know Him, though you and I can see right through his act. Don't let someone's pettiness keep you from seeking the true God. Commit to seeking after the heart of the one who made the sun! |
| Q. What happened upon Lydia's salvation? |
A. Acts 16:15 = She and her household were baptized. Note: Baptism came to all Lydia's household. This means that they all believed together. She had her entire household worshiping God. I find this exciting. A Gentile, a Greek, representing the non-Jewish world - God puts the knowledge of Himself in the heart of every person, everything He makes (Romans 1:19), and He has done this since the beginning of time. Awesome God! |
| Q. What else happened in Lydia's house? | A. Acts 16:15 = Lydia invited Paul and company to stay with her family. |
| Q. Did they minister in Philippi while staying there? | A. Acts 16:16 = Yes. There was a place of prayer in Philippi where they would join others. |
| Q. What id Paul and company find on their way there one day? | A. Acts 16:16 = A demon-possessed slave girl. |
| Q. What did this girl do for money? | A. Acts 16:16 = She told fortunes for money. |
| Q. On her own? | A. Acts 16:16 = No. She had masters who made a lot of money through her. |
| Q. Did she avoid Paul and Silas now? | A. Acts 16:17-18 = No. She followed them, shouting to all of who Paul and company were as ministers of God. |
| Q. Did she lie about them? | A. Acts 16:17 = No. She annoyed them with a daily shouting to all of their purpose for being there. |
| Q. How did Paul respond to her shouting? | A. Acts 16:18 = He let it go on daily, until one day he was exasperated with her and rebuked the demon within her. |
| Q. How did he do that? | A. Acts 16:18 = He said, "I command you, in the name of Jesus Christ, to come out of her!" |
| Q. Did the demon leave? |
A. Acts 16:18 = Yes. Note: Why do we wait to deal with oppression? I know I don't mean to wait! But when I finally recognize the oppression, I deal with the demon responsible and rebuke it. A simple rebuke is enough. Do not ever give a demon permission to speak! |
| Q. What happened next? | A. Acts 16:18-19 = She was free and her masters became angry. |
| Q. What did her masters do? | A. Acts 16:19-24 = They falsely accused Paul and company and they were beaten and thrown into prison with hands and feet in stocks. |
| Q. How did Paul and company respond to this treatment? |
A. Acts 16:25 = With singing of hymns and prayers to God before the other prisoners. Note 1: How is your testimony? I just blew mine -- on Sunday! Instead of singing and praying, I complained to a very weak believer. I ended up making myself sick and am determined to will myself to sing and praise God now. I swallowed my pride finally and confessed my behavior as absolutely terrible. What have I got to lose in doing so? Making amends teaches people watching us how to handle bad behavior; so praise God for that! Update: I got my guitar out and sang praises to God with this person I hurt. It was good exposure to praise music and we were by crying in gratitude to God for our lives. Hallelujah! Note 2: When you feel bad or oppressed, face those feelings, name them and sing praises to God for the blessings in your life. Oppression lifts, burdens are lifted as we look up and give everything once again to God. |
| Q. What happened to Paul and company as they worshiped God? |
A. Acts 16:26 = A great earthquake came; the prison was shaken to its foundations, and all the doors flew open. All the chains of every prisoner fell off. Note: You can secure your most valuable things, but God can always get to them. Prison is an ominous place. But never to God. Bullies can beat you and intimidate you, but God is so much bigger than a puny bully! When you are being bullied, picture a big Jesus standing behind you ready to pounce on your enemy. Visualizing is very helpful when dealing with our earthly giants! Remember, Jesus is the Great Shepherd and He clears all our paths and moves us toward our purpose and calling; on a daily basis! |
| Q. Did Paul and company leave the prison at that time? |
A. Acts 16:27-28 = No. Note: All that worship must have had a profound influence on the other prisoners! They all stayed! Don't devalue praise and prayer in your worst circumstances or your best ones! Sing! Pray! Show others by your behavior how to respond to anything! |
| Q. What good was it for staying put this time? |
A. Acts 16:27-34 = It prevented the jailer from committing suicide and profoundly influenced his life. He and his family were saved that night! Note: If God intervenes with a miracle, still listen for His voice. He's not finished with those around you! You are here for them, to shine God's light in this dark world. |
| Q. What followed the salvation of the jailer's household? |
A. Acts 16:32-34 = 1) Paul and company shared God's Word with the jailer and his family in his home 2) v.33 = The jailer washed their wounds 3) The jailer and his family were all baptized 4) He set a meal before them 5) They rejoiced at being with Paul and company, believing in God all together. |
| Q. What did the city officials do? |
A. Acts 16:37 = They ordered the jailer to set Paul and company free. Note 1: Apparently, the jailer took Paul and Silas back to the prison after having taken him home. Note 2: They could have just left from the jailer's house, but they didn't. They looked out for the jailer, who would have been executed had they left. Unlike certain fictional spies, believers should never cause someone to be put in danger that could be avoided. We watch out for one another, especially the weak. Even if it means we are made to look bad to our church leaders, who may not understand why we don't just toe the line now and then when given a directive. Jesus always left the flock in order to rescue the one. He expects us to do the same! |
| Q. Did Paul rejoice at being released? |
A. Acts 16:37 = No. Their arrest, the whole incident, was illegal, and he spoke up about it. Note: We are to obey the authorities over us. But if they break the law themselves, we must call them on it. This goes for the church too. With all due respect, let your leader (s) know when a wrong has been done to you. Our guide is the Word of God, and Roman law was also Paul's guide in dealing with these wrongful authorities. Do we care enough to sound off? Try wriging down your complaint and putting it in the offering basket. Sometimes, the written words of an anonymous person will get through better than face to face with a rushed leader. One page of the written word is equal to four hours of discussion! So one paragraph is worth an hour of discussion. Let God reveal your words an convict the leader to the heart. Be motivated by love and desire to make things right, as Joseph, son of Jacob, made things right for his family in the end, thereby preserving Israel from the day of his decision to now. |
| Q. How was Paul and company's arrest illegal? |
A. Acts 16:37 = 1) Being publicly beaten without first having a trial was illegal for any Roman citizen. 2) Being Jailed without a trial was illegal. 3) These rights were guaranteed to Roman citizens. Both Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. |
| Q. Is this why the authorities asked them to leave town secretly? |
A. Acts 16:37 = Yes. Note: We hear of injustice; we hear protesting about it. But we rarely hear of justice finally coming to a man. However it does happen. God intervenes to save His people. Isn't that cool? |
| Q. What action did Paul take next? |
A. Acts 16:37 = 1) He refused to be released. 2) He asked to see the authorities responsible for his arrest, so they could release him themselves. Note: Authorities and authors of injustice must reconcile themselves to their victims. Otherwise, they will continue in the pattern, oblivious to the negative impact they cause, especially to spectators. |
| Q. Did Paul get his wish? |
A. Acts 16:38-39 = Yes. The officials had no idea Paul and company were Roman citizens. They released them. Note: And they would have left them in prison if God had not intervened! God protects authorities from unknowingly flubbing their jobs! |
| Q. What else did the authorities ask of Paul and company? | A. Acts 16:39 = They begged them to leave the city, which they did. |
| Q. Where did Paul and company go next? | A. Acts 16:40 = Back to Lydia's house. |
| Q. What did they do there? |
A. Acts 16:40 = They encouraged the believers there before leaving town. Note: Did you catch Paul's godly behavior here? After demanding justice, they granted the authorities mercy in agreeing to leave town. This caused the authorities to not get in trouble with Rome for their actions, which may have cost them their jobs and lives. So Paul ended up saving their lives too. Justice with mercy work together. |
| Q. Did they boast about their victory to the believers at Lydia's house? |
A. Acts 16:40 = No. They encouraged them in their faith. Note: Don't boast. Every chance you get to have the floor, tell people about God's love. They need to see believers who trust God so much that the bad things that happen to them cannot touch their faith. And this faith is what all men want for themselves. They wonder if it exists. We show them that it does. |
| Q. Where did Paul, Silas and Timothy go after Philippi? | A. Acts 17:1 = Through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia to Thessalonica. |
| Q. Why did they stop in Thessalonica? | A. Acts 17:1 = There was a Jewish synagogue there. It was Paul's custom to teach in the synagogues of the towns he ministered in. |
| Q. Were many saved in Thessalonica's synagogue? | A. Acts 17:4 =Some were saved, including a large number of godly Greek men and many important women of the city. |
| Q. What did the Jewish leaders in the Thessalonica synagogue think of that? | A. Acts 17:5 = They were jealous and sinned against God. |
| Q. How? | A. Acts 17:5 = They gathered some worthless fellows from the streets to form a mob and start a riot against Paul and company. |
| Q. How did they begin the riot? | A. Acts 17:5 = They attacked a believer's home in search of Paul and company. |
| Q. Who was this unfortunate believer whose home they attacked? | A. Acts 17:5 = Jason. |
| Q. Did they find Paul and company in Jason's home? | A. Acts 17:5 = No. |
| Q. What did the rioters do next? | A. Acts 17:6 = They took Jason along with some other believers and dragged them before the city council, accusing them of disloyalty to Caesar, and therefore, they were accused of treason. They said they were loyal to King Jesus only. |
| Q. How did the citizens and the officials respond to the report? | A. Acts 17:8 = They were thrown into turmoil, but they responded wmuch differently than the officials did in Philippi. |
| Q. How so? |
A. Acts 17:9 = They released them after they posted bail. Note: I bet they were glad that Paul held the other officials accountable, setting an example for other Roman officials to follow! |
| Q. Where did Paul and company go next? | A. Acts 17:10 = The believers in Thessalonica sent Paul and company to Berea. |
| Q. Was there a synagogue in Berea? | A. Acts 17:10 = Yes. |
| Q. How did the Bereans respond to the Good News? | A. Acts 17:11 = They were more open-minded in Berea than in Thessalonica. |
| Q. How so? |
A. Acts 17:11 = 1) The Bereans listened eagerly to Paul's message 2) They searched the Scriptures day after day to check up on Paul and company's teachings. Note: God expects us to hold teachers accountable for their declarations about God. We are to search the Scriptures, not blindly trust everything we hear. |
| Q. What happened to the Bereans as a result of listening and search the Scriptures? |
A. Acts 17:12 = Many Jews believed, as did some of the prominent Greek women and also many men believed. Note: Being female, I appreciate the role of women in the early church. There is no reason to set males and females on different levels in the Kingdom of God's work or anywhere we are called to be. God never did that! |
| Q. Did Paul and company find trouble in Berea? |
A. Acts 17:13 = Yes. Jews from Thessalonica heard Paul was in Berea and traveled there to stir up trouble for him. Note: Why didn't God slam those Jews into the grund and ask them why they were persecuting Him? He did so for Paul! It is simply because their hearts were evil. Paul persecuted Christians, thinking he was righteous in God's eyes. God simply corrected him on that road to Damascus! |
| Q. What happened next? | A. Acts 17:14 = The Berean believers acted at once, sending Paul to the coast. |
| Q. What about Silas and Timothy? | A. Acts 17:14 = They stayed behind in Berea. |
| Q. Did Paul go alone to the coast? | A. Acts 17:15 = No. Believers escorted him to Athens, then returned to Berea with a message for Silas and Timothy to hurry and join Paul in Athens. |
| Q. What was Athens like at that time? | A. Acts 17:16 = Filled with idols, which troubled Paul. |
| Q. Was there a synagogue in Athens? | A. Acts 17:17 = Yes. Paul debated with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles there. |
| Q. Where else did Paul speak in Athens? | A. Acts 17:17 = In the public square to all who happened to be there, like the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers who met in the square daily. |
| Q. How did Paul minister to them? | A. Acts 17:18 = In debate. |
| Q. What did the people conclude about Jesus? |
A. Acts 17:18 = 1) They thought Paul had strange ideas 2) They decided they needed more philosophers to debate with Paul, so they took him to the Council of Philosophers. |
| Q. How did this council respond to Paul? | A. Acts 17:19 = They waited to judge him until they heard all about this new religion he preached. There was alwys some new idea to discuss in Athens! |
| Q. Did Paul accommodate them? |
A. Acts 17:22 = Yes. He addressed them as very religious people, as their idols everywhere proved. Note: The first step in talking religion to unbelievers is to acknowledge their hears' leaning upward toward Heaven, however they may display it in their lives. All people seek God knowingly or not. Missionaries are very aware of this truth! |
| Q. How did Paul use idols to share the Good News in Athens? | A. Acts 17:23 = One altar, one idol, was to an Unknown God. Guess what? |
| Q. What? |
A. Acts 17:23 = They had unknowingly been worshiping God! Note: Every person needs to be found out. Will you take the time to discover an unbeliever's heart? We get through to him by evaluation. |
| Q. What did Paul do next? | A. Acts 17:23-31 = He told them of God's story and intervention with all of mankind throughout history. |
| Q. Did God ever live in a man-made temple? | A. Acts 17:24 = No. |
| Q. Why? | A. Acts 17:24 = God is Lord of Heaven and Earth. |
| Q. Have human hands ever been able to serve God's needs? | A. Acts 17:25 = No. |
| Q. Why? | A. Acts 17:25 = God has no needs! |
| Q. What are two basic truths about God? |
A. Acts 17:25 = 1) He gives life and breath to everything 2) God satisfied every need there ever was. |
| Q. Do we all come from Adam? | A. Acts 17:26 = Yes. Every nation as well! |
| Q. How is the rise and fall of a civilization determined? | A. Acts 17:26 = Through God's decision made before He even created Earth. |
| Q. How are boundaries of nations set? | A. Acts 17:26 = By God's decision for them made before He created the Earth. |
| Q. Why set up man to become nations that rise and fall? | A. Acts 17:27 = That they should all seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward Him and find Him at last. |
| Q. Is God far from anyone? | A. Acts 17:27 = No. We couldn't survive without His constant presence. |
| Q. Why? |
A. Acts 17:28 = In God, we live, move and exist. Note: The Holy Spirit guides all people. |
| Q. Did Paul quote their favorite poets? | A. Acts 17:28 = Yes. Where the poet agrees with Scripture, he quoted him. In this case the quote was "We are his offspring." |
| Q. Why approach these Athenians with the majesty of God? |
A. Acts 17:29 = To show them how ridiculous it was to think of God being an idol. Note: Observe the sinful circumstances surrounding an unbeliever. Tell God's story, emphasizing God's true circumstances by contrast. The truth is unmeasurable in its enormity, when put next to a lie one has accepted. |
| Q. What is true about ignorance of God's truth? | A. Acts 17:30 = God overlooks ignorance about Him. But when they know the truth, He commands everyone everywhere to turn away from idols and turn to Him. |
| Q. What awaits us in Heaven? | A. Acts 17:31 = Judgment by Jesus. |
| Q. How did God prove Jesus was His appointed one to judge? | A. Acts 17:31 = By raising Jesus from the dead. |
| Q. And Paul spoke of all this to the Council of Philosophers in Athens? | A. Acts 17:32 = Yes. Some even wanted to know more. Others laughed. |
| Q. Did any become believers? | A. Acts 17:34 = Yes. After the address Paul gave them. |
| Q. Who believed? |
A. Acts 17:34 = 1) Dionysus, who was a member of the Council 2) A woman named Damaris 3) Others not mentioned by name. |
| Q. Where did Paul go next? | A. Acts 18:1 = To Corinth of the Books of Corinthians. Another Greek city. |
| Q. What was happening in Rome at the time? | A. Acts 18:2 = Claudius Caesar expelled all Jews from Rome. |
| Q. What happened in Corinth as a result? | A. Acts 18:2 = Paul met fellow tent makers, Aquila and his wife, Priscilla. They ended up living together in Corinth. |
| Q. So Paul made a living? | A. Acts 18:3 = Yes. |
| Q. What did Paul do for ministry in Corinth? | A. Acts 18:4-5 = Each Sabbath, he went to the synagogue there, trying to convince the Jews and Greeks about Jesus being Messiah. |
| Q. Did Timothy and Silas finally show up in Corinth? | A. Acts 18:5 = Yes. |
| Q. What did they do to help Paul? | A. Acts 18:5 = They did his tent making so he could preach full time. |
| Q. What happened in Corinth? | A. Acts 18:6 = The Jews in the synagogue opposed and insulted Paul, so he shook the dust from his robe and stopped trying to convert Jews. |
| Q. What would Paul do from now on? | A. Acts 18:6 = Preach to the Gentiles. |
| Q. Who got saved in Corinth? |
A. Acts 18:7 = 1) Titus Justus, a Gentile, who lived next door to the synagogue 2) Crispus, the leader of the synagogue along with all his household 3) Many others not mentioned by name. |
| Q. Were they all baptized too? | A. Acts 18:8 = Yes. |
| Q. What did God think about Paul bringing the Good News to the Gentiles in Corinth? | A. Acts 18:9-10 = God came to Paul in a vision and confirmed it was a good thing, especially in Corinth! |
| Q. Why? | A. Acts 18:10 = Many people in Corinth belonged to God, and God told him so He would be safe there. |
| Q. How long did Paul stay in Corinth? | A. Acts 18:11 = A year and a half. |
| Q. How did he minster to the Corinthians? | A. Acts 18:11 = He taught them the Word of God. |
| Q. What happened after that time? | A. Acts 18:12 = Politics changed, a new governor came to Achain, where Corinth and Athens were situated, and the unbelieving Jews took advantage of the change. |
| Q. How? |
A. Acts 18:12 = They rose in concerted action against Paul and brought him before Governor Gallio for judgment. Note: Politics are the same today: The Conservatives versus the Liberals; whenever an office changes, each side wants his man to win in order to effect change. Good versus evil games can tire one out if played in the flesh. Trust God and pray for good leaders! |
| Q. What did these unbelieving Jews charge Paul with this time? |
A. Acts 18:13 = Persuading people to worship God in ways contrary to the Law. Note: They accused Jesus before Pilate of teaching people to worship God in ways contrary to their own Law of Moses and the Prophets. |
| Q. Did Paul defend himself again? | A. Acts 18:14 = He didn't have to, but he was ready to! |
| Q. What happened instead? |
A. Acts 18:14 = The judge rebuked the unbelieving Jews for bringing a case before him that obviously was a matter of question in Jewish Law. He saw right through them and refused to judge Paul right out. Note: Don't break the law your government has set before you as a citizen. Preach the Good News within the boundaries of civil law. This means we don't blow up abortion clinics or gather a lynch mob to exact justice on our own. Paul did everything within the laws of the land, as did Jesus. |
| Q. What happened next? | A. Acts 18:16 = Governor Gallio drove the unbelieving Jews out of the courtroom. |
| Q. Did they leave peaceably? | A. Acts 18:17 = No. The mob grabbed Sothsenes, who was the leader of the synagogue, and beat him right in the courtroom. |
| Q. What did Gallio do? | A. Acts 18:17 = Nothing. He paid no attention to the fracas. |
| Q. Was Paul able to stay in Corinth after that? | A. Acts 18:18 = Yes, and for a long time. But he finally said good bye to the brethren and sailed away. |
| Q. To where? | A. Acts 18:18 = The coast of Syria (in Asia) and to Ephesus. |
| Q. Who went with him? | A. Acts 18:18 = Aquila and Priscilla. |
| Q. What happened in Ephesus? |
A. Acts 18:19 = Paul left everyone behind and went to the synagogue there to debate with the Jews. Note: This man has such a passion for people! He always filled the synagogues with the Good News, no matter the danger or the negative consequences. But at each synagogue, someone was saved, which eggs him on! |
| Q. How did the Jews receive Paul in Ephesus? | A. Acts 18:20-21 = They asked him to stay longer, but Paul needed to go. He promised to return if God was willing. |
| Q. Where did Paul go next? | A. Acts 18:21-22 = He sailed to the port of Caeserea, about 600 miles southwest of Ephesus, which is about 200 miles north of Jerusalem. |
| Q. Where did he go from the ship? |
A. Acts 18:22 = Up to Jerusalem to visit the church there. Note: "Up" to Jerusalem means up in altitude, though Jerusalem is south of Caeserea. |
| Q. Where did Paul go after he visited the church in Jerusalem? | A. Acts 18:22 = Back to Antioch, 350 miles north of Jerusalem on the same coast. |
| Q. Did Paul stay put for awhile in Antioch? | A. Acts 18:23 = Yes. |
| Q. Where to next? | A. Acts 18:23 = Back to Galatia and Phrygia. |
| Q. What did Paul do in Phrygia? |
A. Acts 18:23 = He visited all the believers, encouraging them and helping them to grow in the Lord. Note: At some point, every believer should be doing this for new believers and old. Are you an encourager? Do you help believers to grow in the Lord? My opportunities to do this come daily. Watch out for the devil, who will try to distract you with the cares of this life so that you don't miss out on the blessing God wants to give others through you. Practice blessing. Write down what you would like someone to have from God, according to His Word. Here are some examples of blessings: 1) To one feeling oppressed, you might say, "May God fill you with new strength, that this oppression would be overwhelmed with His awesome presence." 2) To one persecuted, you might say, "May God fill you with boldness and endurance and give you His words that your persecutors might know Him personally too. May your faith increase with each blow; may your life testimony cause the angels of Heaven to give God glory. May you recover quickly." 3) To one confused, bless him with clarity from Heaven. 4) To one in mourning, bless him with God's comforting arms. 5) To one the subject of vicious rumors, bless with God's peach and trust as he gives it all to God's care. 6) To one heavily burdened, help him to take his burdens to the cross visually and leave them there. Bless him with renewed strength, Jesus' light burden, and spend time with him in the presence of God in prayer. You get the pattern here? Blessings are powerful remedies. Use every opportunity that comes, negative or positive, to bless people. |
| Q. Who else other than the apostles was an enthusiastic teacher of the Scriptures in Ephesus? | A. Acts 18:24 = Apollos. |
| Q. Who was Apollos? | A. Acts 18:24-25 = A Jewish teacher who was eloquent in speech. He came from Alexandria in Egypt, teaching about Jesus with great accuracy and enthusiasm. But he taught only from the teachings about Jesus he learned from John the Baptist. |
| Q. Did Apollos teach in the synagogue? | A. Acts 18:26 = Yes. |
| Q. Who heard Apollos speak there? | A. Acts 18:26 = Priscilla and Aquila. |
| Q. Did they stop him to correct some inaccurate teachings he did not know he was passing on? |
A. Acts 18:26 = Yes, but they waited, then took him aside privately to correct him. Note: There is no need to correct a teacher while he teaches. This only makes his students doubt him in the future. The teacher may not want to listen to you anyway, so trust God to set things right. God will intervene if you pray, just like He did with Paul on the road to Damascus! |
| Q. What was on Apollos' heart in Ephesus? |
A. Acts 19:27 = Visiting Achaia was on his heart. Note: Achaia had within its boundaries Corinth, Athens and Canchrea. |
| Q. Did he share that desire with anyone in Ephesus? |
A. Acts 18:27 = Yes. Note: Share your desires with the brethren. God may confirm your desires in some of them and give you the confidence needed to pursue your desires. |
| Q. How did Apollos go to Achaia? | A. Acts 19:27 = The believers wrote to the Achaian church asking them to welcome Apollos. |
| Q. Was going to Achaia a good choice after all? | A. Acts 18:27 = Yes. Apollos benefited the Gentile believers there tremendously. |
| Q. How? |
A. Acts 18:28 = He continued in Paul's work, refuting all the unbelieving Jews with powerful arguments in public debates. He used the Scriptures to show them Jesus was Messiah. Note 1: Apollos took the debates out of the synagogues and into the public square so that all could hear. Note 2: The Jews spoke publicly against Jesus. So Apollos proved Jesus publicly. When you want to stop confusing teachings, do it publicly. Just make sure the confused teacher is present. If he is stubborn about his false teaching, correcting him in public will emphasize the importance of correction to all, including the teacher. In doing so, you may get shot down as the messenger (kill the messenger), but all will at last hear the truth. Remember, Paul already made this attempt at correcting them in Achaia. Now it was time to do it publicly. |
| Q. Where was Paul while Apollos was ministering in Corinth? | A. Acts 19:1 = Traveling through the interior provinces of Asia and finally back to Ephesus, where he found several believers he had not met before. |
| Q. What happened with them? | A. Acts 19:2 = Paul checked them out. |
| Q. How? | A. Acts 19:2 = Paul made sure they were baptized in the Holy Spirit. |
| Q. Were they already baptized in the Holy Spirit? | A. Acts 19:2 = No. They hadn't even heard of such a thing. |
| Q. But they were baptized once, right? | A. Acts 19:3 = Yes, by John the Baptist. |
| Q. Is there a difference? |
A. Acts 19:4 = Yes. 1) John's baptism was a personal declaration to all that one desired to turn from sin and turn to God 2) Baptism inthe name of Jesus comes with the impartation of the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues and prophesying. |
| Q. Did they get baptized in Jesus' name too? | A. Acts 19:5 = Yes. |
| Q. How many of the Ephesians were there? | A. Acts 19:7 = About twelve. And all received the Holy Spirit. |
| Q. At what point in their second baptism did they receive the Holy Spirit? | A. Acts 19:6 = When Paul laid his hands on them. They all spoke in tongues and prophesied. |
| Q. Did Paul stay in Ephesus? | A. Acts 19:8 = Yes. He taught in the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God. |
| Q. Was he received well by all there? | A. Acts 19:9 = No. Some rejected his message and spoke publicly against him and the church (The Way, as the church in Ephesus was also called). |
| Q. How did Paul respond to them? | A. Acts 19:9 = He left the synagogue with the believers. |
| Q. Did he teach somewhere else in Ephesus? | A. Acts 19:9 = Yes. He taught at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. |
| Q. For how long? | A. Acts 18:10 = Two years. |
| Q. What fruit did that bear? |
A. Acts 19:10 = People throughout the province of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the Good News. Note: Teaching in a neutral place attracts all kinds of people who otherwise won't find their way into a church. I love teaching on the internet. New churches, unusual Christian music groups, people just needing thorough teaching and good application of it from God's Word at sometimes odd hours of the night access the website from the four corners of the world. God has really blessed the work! Hallelujah! |
| Q. What also happened at the lecture hall of Tyrannus? | A. Acts 19:11 - 12 = God intervened with miracles. |
| Q. Which were what? | A. Acts 19:11-12 = Healing through cloths or handkerchiefs that Paul had touched with his skin and placed on sick people. |
| Q. What ailments were healed? | A. Acts 19:12 = Diseases and demon possession. |
| Q. Were any fanfare or speeches added to that? |
A. Acts 19:12 = No. Note: What faith Paul had in God to do anything! God's power was able to flow through Paul freely. Step out of God's way in your life and He will move freely through you, His clean vessel. |
| Q. What new problems arose now that the church was established on earth? |
A. Acts 19:13 = Jews teamed up and tried to do exorcism in Jesus' name though they didn't have salvation themselves. Note: Saying Jesus and knowing Jesus are totally different. Some people like the functions of the church, but don't realize it was established to bring them into a relationship with God. I don't want to know what a man thinks of God. I'm not interested in his clever works for God. And neither is God. The only one qualified to speak for God is God Himself. So sit at the Master's feet and let Him tell you about Himself. Let your ministry be one He leads. |
| Q. Which Jews were causing problems for Paul? | A. Acts 19:14 = Seven sons of Sceva, who was a leading priest. |
| Q. Why can't non-believers cast out demons? | A. Jesus' blood does not cover them and satan can see that (Acts 19:15). |
| Q. Does satan know each believer? | A. Acts 19:15 = Yes. He knows he has to obey orders given by believers in Jesus' name. |
| Q. What is the consequence of trying to cast out demons with just a shallow knowledge of Jesus? |
A. Acts 19:16 = Physical demonic attack! Note: All these movies that come out showing good barely winning out over evil ar so contrary to God's Word. See the contrast between the lie and the truth:: |
| satan's Lie | God's Truth |
| 1. Anyone can cast out a demon. | 1. Prayer and fasting precede talking to anyone being tormented by a demon. |
| 2. We can only cast out demons by special incantations. | 2. Any manifestation of a demon is silenced with a quick rebuke. "Be silent" will suffice. |
| 3. It is hard work to cast out a demon. | 3. Demons cannot talk to you unless given your permission to do so. This is what prolongs their leaving. Never give one permission to speak! |
| 4. I should call a demon to identify himself. | 4. Do not permit a demon to speak under any circumstance. |
| 5. Salvation is unnecessary to prevent being repossessed by a demon. | 5. The one afflicted must understand who it is that rescues him in order to take care of any future harassments by demons. He must be able to silence a demon in Jesus' name, of whom he belongs now. |
| 6. Christians can be possessed. | 6. A Christian feeling afflicted must confess his sins and praise and worship God to make any demon flee in great pain from him. But he cannot be possessed. Demons cannot share space with the Holy Spirit, who never leaves us once we are saved. God's holiness causes him great physical pain. |
| 7. Spirits of ancestors are real. | 7. We must accept God's ways of dealing with demons and repent from all these kinds of foolish false religious beliefs. Our ancestors do not speak to us, but satan can fool us into thinking we can, in order to keep us from seeking God. |
| 8. Once saved, no demon can possess a man. | |
| 9. People saved can be influenced or tormented by Hell, but not possessed. | |
| 10. Spirits of ancestors are actually demons mimicking them. | |
| 11. God does not struggle with satan in any way. When the time comes to deal with him, God will simply dismiss him forever from His presence. Satan knows this very well. |
| Q. What happened as a result of the trouble from these sons of Sceva? |
A. Acts 19:17 = 1). The news of it spread quickly. 2). A solemn fear of God descended on the city of Ephesus 3). Jesus' name was greatly honored. Note: God uses all things for good (Romans 8:28). |
| Q. What brings on confession of sin? | A. Acts 19:18 = Jest becoming a believer shines a bright light on our foolishness. If you face your sin upon salvation, you will not want to continue in it. God has so much better in mind for you! |
| Q. What does our sin reflect? | A. Acts 19:19 = Man's attempt at doing God's job. |
| Q. How so? |
A. Acts 19:19 = Some practice magic. Note 1: I know folks who have practiced magic. Even Disney joined in the evil game via cartoons and movies. But God's ways are perfect. He glorifies Himself in ministry to lost folks through believers that He works alongside with. We have been given the power, in His name, to perform miracles, and He blesses us and them with unlimited enthusiasm. When will we start to really grasp this truth? And move in it? One church in Redding, California that I know of is really doing it. They train and send out regular folks like you and me. Find out all about it. Do a 3 day seminar or commit to their Supernatural School of Ministry for 1 to 3 years. Here's the link: Bethel Church. There are others linked to their website that you should know of as well. Download their iPod casts each week. Get equipped! There are great books available through their websites and at your local Christian book store. I call them Spiritual Cappuccino whose time has come. May God continue to bless them mightily! Note 2: Magic is practiced by petty people who want revenge and want to play God so that things will go their way. I want things to go God's way. Revenge is stealing vengeance from God. Imagine a brand new believer in the bright glory of God's throne room, who discovers for the first time that he need not seek his own revenge. He feels so loved now! That God takes care of the people in our lives, that my job is to worship Him in thankfulness for making that possible by the blood of His Son. Thank you Jesus! |
| Q. How did those formerly practicing magic prove their repentant hearts? |
A. By burning their incantation books in a public bonfire (Acts 19:19). Note: Truly walk away from your sinful practices. Don't sell your sins at garage sales. Burn, tear up, whatever it takes, to rid it from the planet! |
| Q. But what if my sin-filled books are worth a small fortune? Wouldn't it be better to get the money out of them and donate it to God's Kingdom work? | A. Acts 19:19 = No. God is not interested in money, nor is He interested in the influence of sin's instructions via evil guide books! |
| Q. What happened as a result of this bonfire? |
A. Acts 19:20 = The message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect. Note: Silence sin so that God can reveal Himself freely to a lost world! |
| Q. Where did Paul go after Ephesus? | A. Acts 19:21 = The Holy Spirit impelled him to go to Macedonia and to Achaia in Greece, due west, across the Aegean Sea. |
| Q. Who did Paul send before he went? | A. Acts 19:22 = He sent his two assistants, Timothy and Erastus, before him to Macedonia. Paul stayed in Asia a while longer. |
| Q. With such a large revival in Ephesus, what changed in commerce because of it? | A. Acts 19:23-26 = People stopped buying idols and the craftsmen who made them were worried for their livelihoods. |
| Q. What did they do? | A. Acts 19:24-28 = One idol maker, Demetrius, who made idol shrines for the goddess, Diana (Also known as Artemus), gathered his fellow idol makers together to stir the people up, so there was rioting in Ephesus. |
| Q. How did Demetrius manage to create a riot? |
A. Acts 19:25-27 = With an eloquent speech: 1) Demetrius appealed to the Ephesians' love of money. 2) He told the truth about what Paul taught about their idols, agreeing that they were false. 3) He told them that Paul taught this worldwide and that people believed it. 4). He told them that they were bound to lose public respect for their business. Note: All these facts are true thus far. Here's where Demetrius' lies begin: 5) He feigned concern for their idol, Artemus, that she would lose HER influence in her temple and be robbed of her prestige (which came from the giving of costly idols all over Asia). Note: Satan's lie is that he is concerned for the truth. I am also concerned for the lie. Making truth and lie equal is the biggest falsehood there is. It is a twisting of justice and mercy. Justice for what everyone knew already in the Good News message, but pleading mercy for the lie of a false idol for the sake of making a buck. What do you talk yourself into to protect your interests? The love of money is behind every evil thing we do. Our whole world system is influenced not by God, but by money. It is a miracle that anyone can be saved in this system! Yet God knows how to transform hearts. He saves whomever He wishes to save. What will it cost you to walk with God in obedience? What will it take for you to believe every Word God has spoken? Did you know that God will allow you to be greedy and stingy with running your life, though His advice is much the opposite of what you find yourself doing in the everyday? Consider God's Word! Be passionate for it! Don't ignore it! Don't rationalize it away. Start to live according to passion for God. Begin here: 1) Who is teaching what to your children, while you teach them about God at home? Your child is in conflict if he is in public school. 2) What does God say about raising children? Only that fathers should be teaching their children all day long. 3) Who is leading your church? The book of 1 Timothy gives us guidelines to follow. Anything less is compromise. 4) Who knows how to live rightly? Are these leaders held in high esteem or attacked with or without cause? 5). Mother and wife, who is raising your child(ren)? Are you distracted by the cellphone or in daydreaming about where you are not? 6) Father and husband, who provides? God or your wife who is "pitching" in to help you? Have you forgotten that her job at home is ordained by God? All her gifts are released to her from home. She can and will do it all, but from home. Money is no scale of success for a woman. Only a woman at home doing this understands fulfillment in its entirety. But her time is wasted making another master rich. I never met a happy, doing it all, woman. If the devil can keep us women from our calling, he will do it by convincing us that money gives us worth. That career gives us worth. Wives and mothers, let husbands provide, whatever drastic adjustments to your lifestyle is needed. Trust God to provide. It's the only journey worth making to the throne of God! 8) Is your marriage together still because of your vows or for convenience? The world considers what they see in our marriages. If we are happy in them, they will discover it quickly. If we are unhappy in them, they will see no reason to consider your God. Anyone can be unhappy in marriage! 9) Is it really the fault of the public school system that our children fail to their own horror? Or is it our fault for putting them under mostly atheistic or agnostic mentors? 10) Is the problem with public school really the fault of the Christian community for pulling our children out? Or was it doomed to fail because they poo-poo'd biblical truth and teach things opposite and blasphemous to God? 11) Do you want to have strong Christian children? Then be with them. Be strong in the Lord and they will copy your example. 12) Adults, are you passionate for God? Ask God to give you more passion. 13) Do you pray and fast? Start tomorrow. Don't sin by the way your live. Be passionate for God's ways. Believe He is right. He knows how we are to live to bring us peace, hope and love. If our lives are set up opposing God's guidelines, we will suffer the consequences, guaranteed. In conclusion: 1) Fathers, teach your children well. 2) Wives, go home and glorify God in keeping it for Him. 3) Everyone, honor your parents. All other relationships are influenced by your obedience to God in this command. 4) Love God, love your brother as yourself. 5) Feed the poor. 6) Build each other up in love. 7) Stop filling your lives with things and begin filling your lives with relationships. Please God in being humble at all times. |
| Q. How did this lie affect the hearers to which it was directed? | A. Acts 19:28 = Their anger boiled out of control (probably because of somebody finally saying out lout what everyone was thinking: "How dare Paul ruin our pocketbooks!") |
| Q. What did they shout? | A. Acts 19:28 = "Great is Artemus of the Ephesians!" Which was also a promotion for their businesses! |
| Q. Why was it a promotion? | A. Acts 19:29 = It drew a crowd. |
| Q. What resulted? |
A. Acts 19:29 = Confusion. Note: Paul told them that the "unknown god" they worshiped was the Hebrew God. He never said a word about the other gods. One man's false testimony (i.e., gossip) caused a riot (cf. Acts 19:37). |
| Q. Did anyone get hurt? | A. Acts 19:29 = They dragged Paul's traveling companions, Gaius and Aristerchus (who was from Macedonia) to the amphitheater. |
| Q. Where was Paul? | A. Acts 19:30 = Prevented from voluntarily going in with his companions by the believers there. |
| Q. Who else did not want Paul to go in there? | A. Acts 19:31 = Some of the officials actually begged Paul to not go. |
| Q. What happened in the amphitheater? | A. Acts 19:32 = More confusion. Most people didn't know why they were all there. |
| Q. Who was called to account? | A. Acts 19:33 = Alexander, who was a Jew. |
| Q. How did he get caught up in this? | A. Acts 19:33 = Fellow Jews thrust him forward to explain on their behalf. |
| Q. Did Andrew get a chance to speak? | A. Acts 19:34 = No. Once they learned he was Jewish, the promotion for Artemus began again in riot -- for 2 more hours. |
| Q. So Demetrius ended up causing a faction between Jew and Greek? | A. Acts 19:34 = Yes. |
| Q. Who was finally able to quiet them down? | A. Acts 19:35 = The mayor. |
| Q. What did the Ephesians believe about Artemus? | A. Acts 19:35 = That her image fell down to them from Heaven. |
| Q. Did the mayor know who started the riot? |
A. Acts 19:38-39 = Yes. He told them to go through legal channels if he and the other craftsmen had a case against Gauis and Aristarchus, and to not do anything rash. Note: The legal system protects us from lynch mobs and false accusers. Do everything within the boundaries of the laws of the land! |
| Q. What danger were the rioters in? | A. Acts 19:40 = Falling under the wrath of the Roman government for breaking the law in their rioting. |
| Q. What was true of the event? | A. Acts 19:40 = There was no cause for it. Rome would demand an account from them. |
| Q. How did the Ephesians respond? | A. Acts 19:41 = They dispersed when the mayor dismissed them. |
| Q. So no one got hurt? | A. Acts 19:41 = Not one person got hurt! |
| Q. What happened next? |
A. Acts 20:1 = Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. He then left for Macedonia, encouraging all believers along the way. Note: Copy this believer's behavior! Do you realize how much believers need encouragement? Everywhere you go, encourage believers. It is the best gift we can use on one another! Bless, bless, bless! |
| Q. How long did Paul stay in Greece? | A. Acts 20:3 = 3 months. |
| Q. What happened in Greece? | A. Acts 20:3 = Paul was planning to sail back to Syria when he discovered a plot against his life. |
| Q. By whom? | A. Acts 20:3 = Some Jews there. |
| Q. Did Paul change his travel plans? | A. Acts 20:3 = Yes. He would return to Syria via Macedonia instead. |
| Q. Who traveled with Paul now? |
A. Acts 20:4 = Several men and: 1) Sopeter of Berea, who was the son of Pyrrhus 2) Aristarchus from Thessalonica 3) Secundus from Thessalonica 4) Gaius from Derbe 5) Timothy 6) Tychicus from Asia 7) Trophinus from Asia But Tychicus and Trophinus went on ahead of them, waiting from them in Troas. |
| Q. Where did they go from Macedonia? | A. Acts 20:6 = They boarded a ship in Phillippi in Macedonia and sailed to Troas, arriving five days later. |
| Q. How long did they stay in Troas? | A. Acts 20:6 = One week. |
| Q. What happened in Troas? | A. Acts 20:7-12 = As Paul spoke on and on at a gathering for the Lord's Supper (communion), a young man fell asleep while sitting on a window sill and fell to his death. |
| Q. What happened next? | A. Acts 20:10 = Paul went down to him, bent over him and took him into his arms, alive. A miracle! |
| Q. Was the man hurt at all? | A. Acts 20:12 = No. |
| Q. Where did Paul go next? |
A. Acts 20:13-15 = To assos to meet his traveling companions and set sail with them: 1) to Mitylene 2) then to the Island of Kios (where the word 'kiosk' originated) 3) then to the Island of Samos 4) then to Miletus in Asia, just below Ephesus. |
| Q. Did Paul also visit Ephesus? | A. Acts 20:16 = No. He was in a hurry to get back to Jerusalem in time for the Festival of Pentecost. |
| Q. What did Paul do in Miletus? | A. Acts 20:17 = He sent for the elders of the church in Ephesus, for he knew he wouldn't see them again in this life. |
| Q. What was Paul's message to the Ephesian elders? | A. Acts 20:28 = 1) To be sure to feed and shepherd the flockof God -- His church, purchased with Jesus' blood. |
| Q. Why should they? | A. Acts 20:28 = The Holy Spirit appointed them to do it. |
| Q. What else did Paul know was coming for Ephesus? |
A. Acts 20:29 = 1) In his absence from this life, false teachers would come like vicious wolves among them and spare no sheep 2) Some of Ephesus' elders would distort the truth in order to draw a following (faction) 3) To be alert for these things 4) To watch over their church as Paul did the three years he was with them. |
| Q. How does an elder watch over the flock? |
A. Acts 20:31 = 1) Constantly watching night and day 2) Constantly caring night and day 3) Caring for them to the point of tears |
| Q. What else did Paul do? | A. Acts 20:32 = He entrusted thechurch elders of Ephesus to God and His Word of grace, which is able to build them up and give them an inheritance with all the other believers. |
| Q. Did Paul always pay his own way? | A. Acts 20:34 = Yes. And he paid the way of his companions too! |
| Q. How can I help the poor? | A. Acts 20:35 = By working hard on their behalf. |
| Q. What is the truth about giving? | A. Acts 20:35 = As Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." |
| Q. After speaking to the Ephesian elders, what did Paul do? | A. Acts 20:36 = He knelt with them and prayed. They wept aloud as they embraced Paul in farewell. It was very final! |
| Q. What happened next? | A. Acts 20:38 = They accompanied Paul down to the ship for his journey to Jerusalem. |
| Q. Where did they stop along the way? |
A. Acts 21:1 = 1) The Island of Cos 2) then the Island of Rhodes 3) Then the Island of Patara 4) then Cyprus 5) then Tyre in Syria |
| Q. Did they stay in Tyre? | A. Acts 21:4 = Yes. They found the local believers and stayed for a week. |
| Q. Who accompanied Paul back to the ship after that week in Tyre? | A. Acts 21:5 = The entire congregation of believers, including women and children in Tyre. |
| Q. How did they say good bye? | A. Acts 21:5-6 = They knelt and prayed first, then said good bye. |
| Q. Where did they go after Tyre before reaching Paul's boat? |
A. Acts 21:7 = 1) Ptolemais for a day 2) then Caesarea, to stay at Phillip's house. |
| Q. Was Paul married? | A. Acts 21:9 = Yes. He had four unmarried daughters gifted in prophecy. |
| Q. How long did Paul stay in Caesarea? | A. Acts 21:10 = Several days. |
| Q. What happened there? | A. Acts 21:10 = Agabus, a prophet, came to Paul to show him what would happen to him in Jerusalem. |
| Q. Which was what? | A. Acts 21:11 = The Jewish leaders would bind him hand and foot and turn him over to the Romans. |
| Q. How did the believers respond? | A. Acts 21:12 = Begging Paul not to go to Jerusalem, crying for him. |
| Q. How did Paul respond? | A. Acts 21:13 = In sadness for them because they couldn't handle the truth that he was ready to die for Jesus. |
| Q. Did they stop begging him not to go after that? |
A. Acts 21:14 = Yes. And they put him in God's hands. Note: Nothing is out of God's hands. We have to go where God tells us. When we look to God's guidance, it can only further the Kingdom. |
| Q. So Paul left for Jerusalem. Where did he stay? | A. Acts 21:15-16 = In the house of Macson, who was originally from Cyprus, and who was one of the early disciples. |
| Q. Did the church at Jerusalem also welcome Paul? | A. Acts 21:17 = Yes. |
| Q. Where did Paul go in Jerusalem? | A. Acts 21:18 = To meet with James and all the elders of the Jerusalem church. |
| Q. Why? | A. Acts 21:19 = To give a detailed account of the things God had accomplished among the Gentiles through his ministry. |
| Q. How did they respond? | A. Acts 21:20 = Praising God! |
| Q. Did a lot of Jews become believers too? | A. Acts 21:20 = Yes. Thousands! |
| Q. Was there a problem amongst them? | A. Acts 21:21 = Yes. Jewish leaders told them a lie. That Paul was teaching Jews living abroad to turn their backs on the laws of Moses, not to circumcise their children or continue following in other Jewish customs. |
| Q. What was the truth? | A. Acts 21:24 = Paul and the other believing Jews did keep the laws of Moses and would prove it by doing it in Jerusalem to stop the rumors. The Gentiles were told they were to keep the four DO NOTS as given in the earlier letter mentioned in the Book of Acts. |
| Q. What happened when Paul tried to prove himself blameless? |
A. Acts 21:27-28 = He was seen by Jews from Asia who yelled accusations to all in the Temple the lies they heard about Paul abroad. Note: Gosipper, stop your tongue! Look how one false rumor kept reigniting at the hands of fearful, unsaved sheep! |
| Q. What lies did they declare as fact about Paul? |
A. Acts 21:28 = 1) That he told everyone to disobey the Jewish Laws 2)That he taught against the Jews. 3) That he spoke against the Temple 4) That he defiled the Temple in bringing Gentiles in (since Paul was traveling with a Gentile, they assumed he also brought him into the Temple). |
| Q. What resulted? | A. Acts 21:30 = Jerusalem ws rocked and a great riot followed. |
| Q. What happened to Paul? | A. Acts 21:30 = Paul was dragged out of the Temple and immediately the gates were closed behind him. Then they tried to kill him. |
| Q. Did Rome get involved? | A. Acts 21:31 = Yers. The commander of the Roman regiment got word of the uproar and they ran down to the scene. |
| Q. What did the Jews do when they saw the commander and his troops? | A. Acts 21:32 = They stopped beating Paul. |
| Q. What did the commander do? | A. Acts 21:33 = He arrested Paul and put him in chains. |
| Q. Did the commander ask the crowd for an explanation? | A. Acts 21:33 = Yes. |
| Q. Could they give him a straight answer? | A. Acts 21:34 = No. |
| Q. So what did he do? | A. Acts 21:34= He ordered his men to take Paul to the fortress. |
| Q. How did the Jews react to that? | A. Acts 21:35 = With great violence. The mob was so violent that the soldiers had to lift Paul up on their shoulders to protect him from them. |
| Q. What did the mob shout? | A. Acts 21:36 = "Kill him! Kill him!" |
| Q. How did Paul receive all this hostility? |
A. Acts 21:37 = It bounced off him and he was going to use the opportunity to preach if he could. Note: What focus! |
| Q. What did Paul do? | A. Acts 21:37 = He asked the commander for permission to speak to him. |
| Q. What did the commander say in response to Paul's request? | A. Acts 21:37 = He asked Paul of he was the Egyptian who led a rebellion some time ago and took 4,000 members of the Assassins out into the desert. |
| Q. How did Paul answer? | A. Acts 21:39 = With a great "No!" and he identified himself, asking if he could address the Jews. The commander said he could. |
| Q. How did Paul speak to the Jews? | A. Acts 21:40 = In Aramaic. They actually calmed down! |
| Q. What did Paul say to them? |
A. Acts 22: He offered them his defense. He: 1) was born and raised Jewish. 2) was taught by Gamaliel. 3) was zealous for God (as they were now) 4) had persecuted believers along with the other Jewish leaders 5) had an encounter with God 6) was blinded 7) was given his sight back by Ananias 8) was told to tell the world about Jesus 9) continued to pray in the Temple 10) was told to leave Jerusalem because people wouldn't believe the news about Jesus there 11) held the coats for the Jews who stoned Steven to death (v.20) 12) was sent by God to the Gentiles. |
| Q. What did the Jews do when he mentioned Gentiles? | A. Acts 22:22-23 = They refused to listen to another word and threw dust up in the air, throwing off their coats (their way of rejecting a bad message). |
| Q. What did the commander think of this Jewish behavior? | A. Acts 22:24 = He thought Paul must have committed some terrible crime and so ordered him lashed and whipped so he would confess it had been so. |
| Q. Did Paul say anything to stop his beating? | A. Acts 21:25= He declared himself to be a Roman citizen who should be tried before punished. |
| Q. How did the commander respond? | A. Acts 22:27 = With fear, because he had ordered a birthright Roman citizen bound and whipped. He freed Paul the next day. |
| Q. What else did the commander do? | A. Acts 22:30 = He ordered the leading priests into session with the Jewish high council. He had Paul brought in before them to try to find out what the trouble was all about. |