Stephen
READ Acts 6:1-5
What was the problem that the growth of
the Church created?
Where did the Apostles choose to focus
their time and why?
What solution was created to deal with
the temporal and business issues of the Church?
READ Acts 6:8-15
Why were the learned Jews in the
synagogue not able to resist the wisdom and spirit by which Stephen spoke?
What were the leaders doing by arranging
for false witnesses?
In his trial, Stephen gives a very
interesting account of Moses’ call to deliver Israel, including the fact that
he was told by God long before the Burning Bush that he would deliver Israel
from Egypt and he decided to take matters into his own hands and killed a slave
master but the Israelites didn’t believe that he could deliver them and
rejected him, so he left for the desert for 40 more years, seemingly having
failed in his attempt to garner support to free Israel. Anyway, Stephen shares this story to show
that despite the miracles, the temple, and mercy of the Lord toward them, how
disobedient and disbelieving the children of Israel had always been from the
leaders on down, and that it was no different today
READ Acts 7:51-54
Why do the High Priests “gnash their
teeth” at Stephen and turn to violence when he calls them to repentance?
READ Acts 7:55-60
What kind of Spirit must Stephen have
been filled with to intercede with God on behalf of those who stoned him to
death, as they were doing it?
What was happening to Stephen when he saw
God and Christ?
Simon the Sorcerer
READ Acts 8:9-24
What is Simon doing?
Is his power real?
Why was Simon baptized?
What is implied by the fact that when
Peter and John laid on hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost, that people were
immediately filled with it?
What was Simon’s interest – to receive
the Gift of the Holy Ghost or to receive the Priesthood power to administer it
with the sealing power?
What does the fact that Simon’s heart was
not right before God imply about his baptism?
Did Simon have a chance to repent?
The Redemption and Calling of
Saul/Paul
Who was Saul?
READ Acts 8:1-3 and Acts 9:1-2
What was Saul’s current mission/job for
the Sanhedrin?
Why did Saul do this?
READ Acts 9:3-9 (including JST)
Why would the resurrected Christ Himself
appear to this enemy?
What does it mean that Saul was “kicking
against the pricks”?
If he was 3 days blind, what does it mean
“when his eyes were opened”?
READ Acts 9:10-18
What does Ananias’ response to the Lord
in vision tell us about the Lord?
What does it tell us about Ananias – who
was “just a disciple” (i.e. not a Church leader) in Damascus?
What is Saul’s mission for the Lord to
be?
What is Saul’s first act after being
healed from blindness?
READ Acts 9:19-30
What is Saul’s first act after being
baptized?
Why did the Jews so quickly try to kill
Saul?
Why were the Apostles and disciples in
Jerusalem so afraid of Saul?
What do the Apostles do with Saul?
