Acts Chapter 12 Study Guide

Family Study Guide for November 23 - November 29, 2006
(Read Acts 12 Online)

Reflections on Acts 12 by Jim Brake, Head Coach

The story of Peter’s second release from prison is filled with humor and irony. Peter is well guarded by soldiers and securely locked up. When an angel comes to loose him he appears to be in a deep sleep. He is so overcome by sleep that the angel has to give him step by step instructions on how to escape. It isn’t until later when he is free that he realizes that he is no longer in prison and he is not merely dreaming. He can hardly believe himself that he is free. All the while he is making his way to John Mark’s mother’s house to let the church know the news of his escape. There they have been praying for his release. They are so wrapped up in prayer that they don’t seem to want to believe that Peter is in fact free. A young woman named Rhoda sees him and in her excitement actually leaves him standing outside the gate. The others when hearing Rhoda’s story don’t even believe it is true. Ironically Peter keeps knocking and when they finally let him in they are all “astonished”. Two things struck me while thinking about this story. It is comforting to me that even at the beginning believers had doubts and did not always pray expecting God to answer their prayers, certainly not as fast as he did in this particular case. Secondly it made me think of the phrase “they are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good”. The Church was so into prayer for Peter that they actually missed the real Peter. They were so wrapped up in praying for something that had already been answered that they almost missed letting him in and the joy that came with answered prayer. Some people find it is easier to pray than act. This week lets pray and not only pray but expect an answer and act upon it. Let’s not miss the opportunity for action because of the opportunity to pray.

Questions to Consider
- When have you prayed about something instead of stepping up and acting to help out yourself?
- Do you pray expecting God to answer?
- How can we ensure a balance between being "heavenly minded" and still useful on Earth?

Bible.Org Outline for Acts 12
D. Herod’s Persecution of the Church at Jerusalem (12:1-23)
1. The Martyrdom of James by Herod (12:1-2)
2. The Arrest of Peter by Herod (12:3-19)
a. The Arrest and Imprisonment (12:3-5)
b. The Angel and Escape (12:6-11)
c. The Response of the Church (12:12-16)
d. The Withdrawal of Peter (12:17)
e. The Reaction of Herod (12:18-19)
3. The Death of Herod (12:20-23)
E. Conclusion of Book Four (12:24)
V. Book Five: The Extension of the Church to Asia Minor (12:25–16:5)
A. The Commission of Barnabas and Saul at Antioch (12:25–13:3)

Acts Chapter 11 Study Guide

Family Study Guide for November 9 - November 15, 2006
(Read Acts 11 Online)

Reflections on Acts 11 by Mark Chesner, Coach

Most of us in the church today are what Jews in Jesus time would have called "Gentiles." We are not Jewish and we do not follow the old Jewish law. We do not do sacrifices, we do not keep kosher in our eating, we do not wear a yarmulke while worshiping, and we do not celebrate Passover.

At the same time, we call ourselves Christians which means "followers of Christ" (a term which was invented in this chapter at Antioch). And Jesus Christ was absolutely Jewish in his life! He kept the Sabbath, He followed kosher eating laws, He worshiped God in the Temple which involved sacrifices, and He celebrated Passover (that was what He was doing at the Last Supper!).

Hasn't this stuck you as odd? How can be trying to be "like Christ" when we are avoiding so many rituals and laws that He observed every day of His life?!

The answer was given in Acts 10, and is seconded in Acts 11. Acts 11 opens with the circumcised believers (which means both those born Jewish and those who converted to Judaism in order to follow Christ) calling Peter onto the carpet for having preached to Cornelius and the other gentiles in his house, and having brought salvation to them. They criticize Peter's actions, and force him to recount everything that happened before they are willing to believe that this could be how God is working in the present time.

Does this seem weird to you? Are you asking yourself, "Why should the Jewish believers care how God works with Gentiles?" Think about how hard it is to try and keep the Law! We find it hard enough to get up every Sunday morning for church, but in the Jewish world the Sabbath was only one day of a fully ritualized week! They had to watch what they ate, watch what they said, watch how they prayed, watch how they dressed, keep doing sacrifices (which meant buying an animal if you did not happen to own one), etc. That costs time, money, effort, and leaves no time off! And now, God is offering the same salvation to a people who don't have to bother with any of that. No different from the last time you had to spent hours studying for a big test in order to get a B or a C, and found out the kid who got the A didn’t study at all. It seems unfair.

But God does not leave off "proving" to everyone that His New Deal is in effect! After Cornelius, God works the same way with the disciples who fled from the persecution that sprang up around the killing of Stephen. We will see that even after this, not all "circumcised believers" are as willing to accept the change of affairs as those in Acts 11. But for now, God is teaching the same lesson over and over again: "I accept both Jews and Gentiles into the Kingdom of God."


Questions to Consider
- When has life seemed unfair, when God gave someone something for free that you had to work very hard to achieve?
- Why is God changing the deal for salvation, after Jesus? Or is it really the same "deal"?
- Why did the first Christians assume that Christianity was for Jews only?



Bible.Org Outline for Acts 11
1. The Accusation of the Jewish Believers (11:1-3)
2. The Explanation of Peter (11:4-17)
a. Recounting of Peter’s Vision in Joppa (11:4-10)
b. Recounting of Peter’s Visit to Cornelius in Caesarea (11:11-16)
c. Recognition of the Legitimacy of the Gentile Mission by Peter (11:17)
d. Response of the Jewish Believers (11:18)
C. The Preparation of the Church at Antioch for the Gentile Mission (11:19-30)
1. The Birth of the Church in Antioch (11:19-21)
2. The Response of Jerusalem to Antioch: The Sending of Barnabas (11:22-24)
3. Barnabas and Saul at Antioch (11:25-26)
4. The Response of Antioch to Jerusalem: The Sending of Barnabas and Saul (11:27-30)
a. The prophecy of Agabus: Worldwide Famine (11:27-28)
b. The Poverty of the Judean Churches: A Collection Taken (11:29-30)

Acts Chapter 10 Study Guide

Family Study Guide for November 2 - November 8, 2006
(Read Acts 10 Online)

Reflections on Acts 10 by Michelina Buchino, Coach

In Acts 10 God again teaches us that His blessings are poured out in our obedience. More than just a lesson, the obedience here helped fulfill an old promise and crossed a threshold into a new dimension for the church. Until this time repentance unto life through Jesus as the Messiah was considered fulfilled prophecy to the Jews only.

Cornelius was not a Jew but he was God-fearing and faithful to practice what he knew about. This included helping the needy and a consistent prayer life. When Cornelius has his vision he obeys exactly as the angel says sending other men and not going himself. In his daily life he has sought God and God keeps his promise of Jeremiah 29:13 and will let Cornelius “find” Him. Such is his faith and confidence that God will bring Peter with an important message that he gathers his family and friends in time to be there when Peter arrives so they won’t miss anything.

Peter arriving in Joppa also receives a vision. But the vision and direction to eat of traditionally unclear animals is hard for Peter to accept and obey. Once again it takes Peter three times to catch the lesson. We see his behavior change as he invites the arriving men from Cornelius to be his guests. This type of association with Gentiles was against Jewish law. Peter accepts the timing of these two visions as God’s design. Perhaps he even remembers, as we have recorded in John 21, that Jesus asked him three times to feed His sheep. In any case Peter clearly states the truth that God does not show favoritism but accepts all men from every nation who fear Him and do what is right. Later in the presence of Cornelius and his guests Peter tells them that this forgiveness of sins comes to everyone who believes in Jesus.

While Peter is speaking, the Holy Spirit comes on all who are listening. This time the Holy Spirit was given before they were baptized. This event confirmed that Peter’s understanding of the vision was correct and God’s will. The promise to bless all the families of the earth through Abraham’s line was fulfilled. (See Gen. 12:3 and Matt 1:1-16) The church of Jesus Christ and repentance unto eternal life included the Gentiles.


Questions to Consider
- What is Cornelius’ relationship like with God? With others?
- Why does Peter struggle with the vision’s meaning?
- How does Cornelius show his faith beyond sending the men to Joppa?
- Track the faith of each and the effects of each: Cornelius, 3 men, Peter
- What is the significance of the Holy Spirit coming on them before being baptized with water? Does this still have meaning for us today?
- Was it important that some other believers came with Peter to Cornelius’s home and not just Peter?
- Have you ever been judged by someone that didn’t really know you or your circumstances? How did it feel?


Bible.Org Outline for Acts 10

2. Peter in Caesarea: With Cornelius (10:1-48)

a. Cornelius’ Vision: Send for Peter (10:1-7)

b. Peter’s Vision: Receive the Gentiles (10:8-23a)

c. Peter at Cornelius’ House (10:23b-48)
1) Setting (10:23b-27)
2) Recounting of Peter’s Vision (10:28-29a)
3) Recounting of Cornelius’ Vision (10:29b-33)
4) Peter’s Message (10:34-43)
5) The Gentiles’ Response (10:44-48)
a) Gift of the Spirit (10:44-46)
b) Water Baptism (10:47-48a)
c) Fellowship (10:48b)