Acts of the Apostles Session Four Chapters 6-9 Stephen, Saul, Peter and the power of forgiveness Quiz me! 1. What was the wise counsel of the Jewish leader concerning this new “Jesus movement” and what does it tell us about how God has been working in His Church? 2. At what hour did Peter and John heal the beggar at the entrance to the Temple? What is the significance of that hour for us today? 3. What did Ananias and his wife Saphira lie about that led to their dramac deaths? *answers given at the end. Chapters 6-9, brief overview: • Growth of the Church • Divergence among language groups • Discernment by apostles and disciples, calling and ordaining of first deacons • Stephen’s ministry and accusaons against him • Stephen’s trial and exposion of the story of salvaon (7:1-53) • Stephen’s martyrdom • Scaering of the Church (“…in Judea and Samaria…”) and furtherance of the mission. • Simon the Magician: a cauonary tale. • Saul: persecutor who encounters the Risen Lord, on the road and in Damascus • Saul: new follower of Jesus, always srring up trouble • Miracles of Peter Deacon Mike Theobald (and Deacon Wilson): reflecons on St. Stephen • Centrality of service: the “dusty ones” • Charity • Martyr: Greek word for “witness”. We are all called to bear witness to Jesus in our daily lives • Stephen: model of forgiveness Acts 7: 1-53-Stephen’s Discourse: model of how to read the Bible (typology) • Luke 24:25-27 • 6:12-14…they brought him before the Sanhedrin. They presented false witnesses who tesfied, “this man never stops saying things against [this] holy place and the law…Jesus the Nazorean will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.” • “face was like the face of an angel” (Transfiguraon) • Is Stephen against the Temple? • A connuaon of Luke’s account of Jesus’ trial • Martyrs and in persona Chris • Abraham and the promise of God • (7:9-16) Jesus the New Joseph. “Although the Joseph story (Genesis 37-50) is menoned only rarely in the New Testament, Joseph is one of the most striking biblical types of Jesus.” (Kurz, 120). Beloved son, rejected by brothers, sold for silver, stripped of his robe, cast down, taken off in chains, conspired against, falsely accused, his “death” brings life (to Israel, to Egypt and to the world), ransoms his people, raised to High honor, forgives his brothers. The savior of the Sons of Israel. • The two rejecons of Moses o Moses as a “prophec savior who is twice disowned by his people…Stephen’s account emphasizes the biblical theme of the rejecon of prophets by God’s people.” (Kurz) o Cleaned up version of the Moses story o First Rejecon-7:27 “who appointed you ruler and judge over us?” o 7:30 “Forty years later, an angel appeared to him in the desert near Mount Sinai in the flame of the burning bush…” ▪ Angels, spirits, and the Resurrecon of the Dead o Second rejecon: 7:39—Take Israelites out of Egypt, but not Egypt out of them (Idolatry) o “Our ancestors…our ancestors…You sff necked people…You received the law as transmied by angels, but you did not observe it.” The Vision of the Son of Man: Daniel • Acts 7: 56; Luke 22:69-67, Daniel 7: 13-14 Power of Forgiveness- Acts 7:60 Scaered Church • Philip goes to Samaria, “…there was great joy in that city.” • Simon the Magician (Acts 8:9-13, 18-24) • Peter and John: Confirmaon. 8:17-“Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.” • Model of evangelizaon: Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch (8:26-40) o Open to the prompngs of the Holy Spirit (Lord, give me an opportunity to evangelize) o Runs along side o Starts with quesons o Answers queson the eunuch is actually asking o Familiarity with Scripture and the “great story” and can share it in words he can understand (like Jesus on road to Emmaus, like Stephen) o Leads to Bapsm and joy Saul the persecutor: account of Conversion will be relayed three mes in Acts • “why are you persecung me?” • The Church as the body of Christ • Ananias: another model of Evangelizaon o “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Genles, kings and Israelites, and I will show him what he will suffer for my name.” • Saul’s eyes are opened—Remember Emmaus and Genesis! o Jesus to Jesus. o Bapzed and eats (Sacramental life) • Saul’s preaching and escape • The Church at peace (9:31) Peter’s miracles • Aeneas-“all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they returned to the Lord.” • Tabitha/Dorcas raised to life • leading to next week… Answers to Quiz! For next Week, read Acts 10-12 and Galaans 1:11-17 Small Group Discussion Quesons 1. What is one aspect of today’s lesson that stands out to you? 2. What does Stephen accuse his listeners of in Acts 7:51-53? 3. How is Stephen’s death reminiscent of Jesus’ death? 4. Stephen forgives: how has forgiveness played a role in your life? Where have you experienced being forgiven? Where has God called you to forgive someone else? 5. Why was Simon wrong in his request of Peter? Where can we be tempted to treat God in a “magical” way? 6. How can you model the evangelizaon of Philip to the Ethiopian this upcoming week? (go back through the notes and see the outline of his “model”).