Week of August 5, 2018 (Covers Readings from July 29-August 4) Overview The following information is provided as a basic orientation to reading the Bible. Feel free to add to it and use it in any way that is helpful for your group. Also, feel free to make copies of these pages for members of your group! Acts 8:26-40 | Philip, the Evangelist, sent by an angel of the Lord left Jerusalem and headed toward Gaza. Now the text does not seem to give Philip an explanation of why he was to go or what he was to do, but Philip was obedient and went as instructed. While traveling along the road the Spirit prompted him again to go over to the chariot where an Ethiopian eunuch was reading aloud from the prophet Isaiah. A eunuch was a man who may have been castrated, and according to Deuteronomy 23:1, was excluded from participation in Temple rituals; admittance into the assembly of the Lord. Yet Philip, led by the Spirit, proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus to the eunuch, who is only identified by his ethnicity and possibly physical description—not by name—and baptizes him. Acts 10-11:18 | Cornelius, a devout God-fearing, Roman citizen and commander of soldiers and Peter, an apostle both prompted by the Spirit of God, were obedient to the Lord’s directions. As a result of their obedience, Peter traveled to Cornelius’ home in Caesarea and proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus to a house of Gentiles who then received the Holy Spirit, accepted the word of God and were baptized. Peter said, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane- the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it did us at the beginning.” Acts 9:1-31 | Saul is converted from a persecutor to a follower of Jesus Christ who proclaims him as risen Savior. Acts 13-14 | Chapter 13: After prayer and fasting and the laying on of hands Barnabas and Saul were sent out as the Holy Spirit had set them apart. They traveled to spread the Good News; they reminded the Israelites of what God had done for their ancestors. Around verse 9, Saul is now referred to as Paul. They proclaimed the Word of God to both Jews and Gentiles before they were driven out of the region by angry Jews. Chapter 14: Paul and Barnabas continued to travel and spread the Good News, and along the way many Jews and Greeks became believers. Paul healed the man who had been crippled since birth and he began to walk. Paul preaches a message of Jesus as the fulfillment of OT promises and linking Jesus to the line of David. Chapter 14 is a continuation of Paul and Barnabas’ missionary journey. They travel to new places and circle back around to strengthen the disciples and appoint leaders of churches they already formed. 1 | Page Acts 15 | This chapter focuses on an important decision in the life of the early church. This text suggests that individuals came from Judea to Antioch teaching that one must be circumcised, following the law of Moses, to be saved. Paul and Barnabas disagreed and went back to Jerusalem to discuss this matter with the apostles and elders. After much discussion they decided that by the grace of God, through the sacrifice of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, Jews and Gentiles can all be saved. Paul, Barnabas, Judas, and Silas were then sent back to Antioch to deliver a letter to the believers with this message and a list of things to abstain from. At the end of the chapter Paul and Barnabas argue and go their separate ways. Acts 16-20 | These chapters describe Paul’s missionary journeys with Silas and Timothy. Paul had Timothy circumcised, probably because of his Jewish heritage, and as one commentary suggest, in order to maintain good working relations between faithful Jews and Gentiles in the churches he founded. They are led by the Holy Spirit to many unexpected places and forbidden to travel to others; Asia (16:6), Bithynia (16:7). Guided by the Spirit the number of believers continue grows, Lydia and her family are baptized, Paul casts out an evil spirit from a slave girl, when they were beaten and prisoned it was their prayers and singing that releases them- as a result the jailer and his family are baptized. Paul’s message was a disruption in Thessalonica as many Jews were upset by his message (though some believed) so he was sent to Beorea where the Jews were more receptive to the message of Jesus as the Messiah. Along this journey Paul continued to receive visions, went where the Spirit led them, performed unusual miracles and receive mixed responses from audiences but remained faithful even when it was difficult and dangerous. Acts 25-28 | Paul has been in prison for two years. Felix the Governor has been succeeded by Festus. The chief priests and leaders of the Jews were still plotting against Paul. Festus wanted to find favor with the Jews but could find no fault with Paul. So when King Agrippa came to Caesarea Paul was brought before him hoping to figure out some charges. King Agrippa saw no reason for Paul’s death or imprisonment. Paul sails to Rome as God said in 23:11 (also said in 19:21), but still as a prisoner. The trip by sea proved to be dangerous as Paul predicted but he encouraged them as an angel of the Lord had encouraged him the night before (27:22-25). Once they made it to land, Paul survived a viper bite so the locals thought he was a god. They then brought others who were healed of fever and other diseases. After another long boat ride they made it to Rome where Paul continued to preach and teach boldly under house arrest. Discussion Questions Use any or all of the following questions, depending how much time you have: • How familiar were you with this week’s readings? Was there anything that surprised you? • What do you learn about God from these readings? What do you learn about humanity, or about human nature? • How did the authors of these writings understand their relationship with God? • What passages or aspects of these readings give you comfort or assurance? What passages or aspects of these readings do you find difficult to accept? • Are there any particular passages that you want to study in-depth? 2 | Page This Week’s Discussion Questions Philip and the eunuch | In Chapter 8 Philip the evangelist does something out of the ordinary. What did you find unusual about this passage? What was the significance of the scripture the eunuch was reading? What did you find encouraging about this text? How do the events of chapter 8 speak to events in the remainder of the book of Acts? How does this text speak to you personally? Paul | In Isaiah 43:19, God says, “Behold I am doing a new thing...” The book of Acts is the record of the teaching, preaching, transformation and forming of the church through the power of the Holy Spirit sent by Jesus after his resurrection and ascension. What stood out to you through these readings as new things God was doing? What impressed you about Paul’s character? What other biblical characters experienced a name change? Why? Look at Acts 13:1- 14. Why do you think Paul’s name was changed? What made Paul’s missionary journeys so successful? What was the “secret” to Paul’s strength? How is that same strength available to you during the difficulty you face? Closing Prayer Gracious and loving God, it was prophesied that you would do a new thing. Through the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ indeed new things were happening. You were teaching us how to love you, how to love others and how the grace of Jesus was now drawing all people unto you and breaking down walls that divide. Help us to keep our eyes, ears, and hearts open to the new things you are doing around us and the courage to go and proclaim your peace and Good News. Amen. 3 | Page .