Bible Discussion — Acts 13-14

October 1, 2008, 1:30 pm; posted by
Filed under Bible, Connie, David, Josh J, Steve  | No Comments

This week, Bweinh.com moves on to the next two chapters of Acts.

PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS:
Genesis: 1-4 | 5-9 | 10-14 | 15-18 | 19-22 | 23-26
27-29 | 30-32 | 33-36 | 37-39 | 40-43 | 44-46 | 47-50
Exodus: 1-4 | 5-8 | 9-11 | 12-14 | 15-18
19-22 | 23-26 | 27-30 | 31-34 | 35-40
Romans: Ch. 1 | Ch. 2 | Ch. 3 | Ch. 4 | Ch. 5 | Ch. 6 | Ch. 7 | Ch. 8 (I)
Ch. 8 (II) | Ch. 9 | Ch. 10 | Ch. 11 | Ch. 12 | Ch. 13 | Ch. 14 | Ch. 15-16
Luke: 1:1-38 | 1:39-2:40 | 2:41-3:38 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
11 | 12 | 13 | 14-15 | 16-17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24
Esther: 1-2 | 3-5 | 6-8 | 9-10
Acts: 1 | 2 | 3-4 | 5 | 6-7 | 8 | 9-10 | 11-12

 
INTRODUCTION:
David:
These two chapters contain the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas. John Mark, author of the Gospel that bears his (second) name, began that journey with them, but left abruptly after a confrontation with a sorcerer. This would later cause much contention between his uncle Barnabas and Paul.

Connie:
The Gospel has been preached faithfully by the Jerusalem church across many cultures, in all Judea and Samaria. Now, through Paul and Barnabas, it will begin to fulfill the “ends of the earth” phase of the Great Commission.

 
SOMETHING YOU’D NEVER NOTICED BEFORE:
Connie:
Paul’s amazing recovery after being stoned, dragged out, and left for dead. The account says that the disciples gathered around him and he rose up, walked into the city, and — the very next day — left on another long trip.

I don’t know the recovery rate after being stoned and left for dead, but it sure isn’t normal to jump up and go on your merry way as soon as the mob leaves. This was real life, not TV. There was healing here.

Steve:
After healing a crippled man, Paul and Barnabas had to keep the crowd from sacrificing bulls to them. Sounds like a slapstick scene: two men running around, mobbed by frenzied admirers, grabbing sword-wielding arms and setting cattle free.

 
BEST BAND NAME FROM THE PASSAGE:
Steve: Proconsul; A Plot Afoot
Josh: Not Quite Dead; Marvel and Perish
Connie: Derbe Dudes
David: Devout & Honorable Women

 
STORY IT REMINDS YOU OF:
Josh:
Paul and Barnabas found themselves in a situation reminiscent of Herod’s just two chapters earlier, receiving praise intended for God alone. Of course, they handled things much differently.

Steve:
Bush 41 didn’t work any miracles, but his rapid fall from an 89% approval rating in January 1992 to a defeat at the polls that November reminds me of the way the crowd treated Paul and Barnabas. One second they’re killing bulls in your honor; the next they’re stoning you and leaving you for dead.

David:
When Paul finished his address in Antioch of Pisidia, the Gentiles “begged” him to come and preach to them. It reminded me of the hunger we found once when we were witnessing “door to door” in New York, and one girl made us go up to another apartment where her relatives lived, then called all the family together to hear what we had to say.

 
WHERE IS JESUS IN THIS PASSAGE?:
David:
He is being preached to the Gentiles as forgiver of sins and justifier: the only way to be reconciled with God.

 
DEEP THEOLOGICAL MEANING:
Josh:
Paul and Barnabas pointed out that those who rejected God’s word judge themselves unworthy of eternal life (13:46). One day we will all sit before God\’s judgment, but our fate for eternity is decided by the choices we make now.

David:
In Acts 10:35, the disciples discovered that God will reveal Himself to all who fear him, Jew or Gentile. Paul made his first missionary address at the synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia to “men of Israel” and “ye that fear God.” Those men of Israel rejected the message, but the Gentiles who feared God received it with great joy, opening the door of faith to you and me.

 
RANDOM THOUGHT:
Connie:
This was the first missionary trip, and when it was time to choose the missionaries, God went straight to the top of the leadership. It reminds of me of what the Wal-Mart locksmith said the last time I had keys made: when you use the original, you get a better end product.

David:
Elymas the sorcerer used the name Bar-Jesus. “Bar” means “Son of” (as in Barnabas, the “son of consolation” [Acts 4:36]), so his name actually means “Son of Jesus.” That\’s a pretty wild claim if he was claiming to be the offspring of the Nazarene.

Josh:
Paul condemned Elymas to a fate similar to the one that he himself suffered. Despite his strong words, perhaps his own experience led him to hope that this man too could be saved through the harsher path.

 
VERSE TO REMEMBER:
Steve:
13:52 — “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”

Josh:
13:27 — “For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him.”

Connie:
13:47 — “For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

David:
13:39 — “And by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.”

 
PORTION YOU’D MOST LIKE EXPLAINED IN HEAVEN:
Steve:
I want the backstory and the aftermath of Elymas “bar-Jesus,” the newly blinded sorcerer. His master came to faith; what of him?

 
LESSON TO TAKE AWAY:
David:
13:3 — “And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” This is what Paul meant later when he told Timothy, “Lay hands suddenly on no man.” Ordination, as in chapter 6 with the deacons, should only be done after much prayer and fasting.

Josh:
Be bold. Paul was stoned and left for dead, but he got up, shook it off, and soon returned to the city where he was stoned, and the city where there was a plan to stone him, and the city that kicked him out, all to encourage others in the faith.

“We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

But we don\’t have to be intimidated by them.

 
CONCLUSION:
David:
The door is open to the Gentiles now; there\’s nothing left for the Jerusalem Christians to do but try to make their lives miserable.


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