Study Guide Questions Flashcards
Which are the TRUE statements regarding the book of Acts?
(A) Acts was first gathered into the collection of the Pauline epistles.
(B) The book of Acts was the second volume of a history of Christian origins, the first volume of which is the Gospel of Luke.
(C) Acts became separated from Luke when the Gospels were gathered together to form one collection.
(D) Acts played an important role in attesting to the validity of the Gospels and Pauline letters during Marcion’s heretical challenge in the mid-second century. Acts presented proof of Paul’s apostleship and evidence for the apostleship of the other apostles.
B, C, D
Most Popular 2 Outlines of Acts (based on places & then People)
Jerusalem (1:1-8:1)
Judea-Samaria (8:1-11:18)
the world (11:19-28:31)
Peter (1:1-12:25)
Paul (13:1-28:31)
Which statements about the author of Acts are indicated from Scripture itself?
(A) The Scriptures show him to be from Jerusalem and a Jew.
(B) Although his name never occurs in Acts, his presence is indicated throughout the first 15 chapters.
(C) He was a traveling companion of Paul.
(D) He would have had the time and opportunity to research Jesus’ ministry and the church’s origins in Jerusalem during Paul’s two-year imprisonment in Caesarea, Syria.
C, D
Two events that occurred in the 7th century AD are not reflected in the history or mood of Luke-Acts. What are these events?
AD 64 - the fire of Rome, which Nero blamed on the Christians
AD 70 - the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the Romans
Which statement is most likely to be TRUE?
(A) Acts was written before AD 64 because the internal evidences and mood within the NT and Acts support such a view.
(B) Acts was written before AD 64 because that is the date Luke wrote down.
(C) Acts was written before AD 64 because no other date is possible.
(D) Acts had to be written in the 2nd century because it took time for the theology of the early church to fully develop.
A
Choose which is TRUE.
(1) Luke writes history as one who gives day-by-day detailed chronological descriptions.
(2) Luke writes history as a photographer who takes a series of pictures and from this portrays the great moments and personalities of the period.
2
Choose which is TRUE.
(1) Luke tells the story of how the gospel spread through the ministry of each of the 12 apostles.
(2) Luke tells the story of how the gospel spread primarily through the ministry of Peter and Paul.
2
Choose which is TRUE.
(1) Luke tells how the gospel came to each country of the Mediterranean world of the first century.
(2) Luke tells how the gospel went beyond its Jerusalem and Palestinian setting to the Roman provinces of Galatia, Achaia, Macedonia, Asia, and ultimately to Rome itself.
2
Choose which is TRUE.
(1) The 2 leading centers in Acts for the expansion of the gospel are Jerusalem and Antioch of Syria.
(2) The 2 leading centers in Acts for the expansion of the gospel are Jerusalem and Athens.
1
Choose which is TRUE.
(1) Luke records many speeches and sermons in Acts, a few of which are given by non-Christians.
(2) Luke writes the type of history that never finds him quoting what others have said.
1
Choose which is TRUE.
(1) Luke presents the Holy Spirit as the key to the success of the gospel.
(2) Luke shows that if good people use good strategy, the gospel will inevitably succeed.
1
One major aspect of the Lord’s postresurrection teaching ministry involved speaking “about the kingdom of God.” Key gospel passages relating to the kingdom of God speak of it as the reign of Christ in which of the following?
(A) only the future age
(B) only the present age
(C) spiritually present now in the lives of those who receive Him, and physically present over all the world in the age to come
(D) Only applies to the Jewish people
C
What are the 3 baptisms?
In each, who baptizes & into what is the baptized one placed?
Baptism of John
- John baptizes into water
Baptism into the Body
- The Spirit baptizes into Jesus.
Baptism in the Holy Spirit
- Jesus baptizes into the Spirit.
Which statements accurately describe the significance of the Ascension?
(A) The ministry of our Lord on earth, in His physical form, was complete until His return.
(B) The disciples would need to depend on something for direction other than the physical presence and direct face-to-face conversation with our Lord.
(C) Jesus’ return from heaven would be similar to His ascension into heaven.
all of these are true
circle the letter preceding each member of or group in the Christian community who gathered in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost.
A Judas
B the 11 apostles
C the high priest
D Paul
E the women
F Jesus’ mothers and brothers
B, E, F
How many days did the 120 wait together before the Ascension and Pentecost?
10 days
3 elements of Jesus’ postresurrection ministry to His disciples…
- He continued to present Himself alive to His chosen apostles by many infallible proofs for 40 days.
- He continued teaching on the kingdom of God and charged the disciples to wait in Jerusalem to be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
- He spoke about His ascension.
4 Qualities of the Post-Ascension Community before Pentecost
- Obedience to the Lord’s command to remain in Jerusalem
- Unity
- Prayer
- the study and application of the Scriptures (OT) for the purpose of choosing a replacement for Judas
How long after Christ’s passion was the Day of Pentecost?
the end of the 7th week following His passion
Acts 2 literally begins, “As the day of Pentecost was being fulfilled.” What 3 deductions can be made from the opening statement?
(1) The prophetic purpose in the OT for the Feast of Pentecost was now to be fulfilled.
(2) The disciples experienced the promised baptism with the Spirit on the literal Day of Pentecost. Pentecost itself means “fifty” (the number of days from Passover to Pentecost).
(3) The Day of Pentecost only began to be fulfilled on the literal day described in Acts 2. The Day of Pentecost is the era of the Spirit who is at work in believers until the return of Christ. The fulfillment of Pentecost that began in Acts 2 continues to the present moment.
Which OT feasts occur in a group during the 1st 2 months of the biblical calendar (April-May)?
(each of these is fulfilled through Christ)
Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Weeks or Pentecost
Which OT feasts occur in a group during the 7th month of the biblical calendar (Oct-Nov)?
Trumpets, Atonement, Booths or Tabernacles
How does Paul state the fulfillment of Passover?
Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed
How does Paul state the fulfillment of the Feast of Unleavened Bread by portraying its significance for the cleansing of the Christian life?
celebrate with sincerity and truth
The Feast of Firstfruits is fulfilled through what event?
the resurrection of Christ
Which statements best represent a Christian theology of Pentecost?
(A) The firstfruits represents the resurrection of Christ, while pentecost represents the product of Christ’s work, the church.
(B) Pentecost cannot be limited to a twenty-four-hour day any more than Paul’s application of the Feast of Unleavened Bread can be limited to a twenty-four-hour day.
(C) Pentecost began on the Day of Pentecost and is still continuing because Christ’s harvest of souls is not yet completed. The Day of Pentecost is complete when the Lord returns.
A, C
In addition to signifying the completion of the spring barley harvest in later Judaism, Pentecost was reckoned to be the anniversary of the…
giving of the law of Moses at Sinai
Which of these (multiple) are TRUE?
(A) Speaking with other tongues that the listeners clearly understand is mentioned only in reference to the first bestowal of the Spirit.
(B) Speaking with other tongues as a consequence of being filled with the Spirit occurs elsewhere in Acts, even though the listeners do not recognize the tongues as a definite language.
(C) In Acts, speaking with other tongues is never described as occurring before a person is filled with the Spirit.
(D) Speaking in other tongues is not the only evidence of the Spirit-filled life.
ALL are true.
What were the 3 major festivals drawing Jewish pilgrims to the temple in Jerusalem from their dispersion?
Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles
2 symbolisms apparent from the many languages spoken at Pentecost
- God’s judgment in making communication divisive at Babel provides a strong contrast. At Pentecost, the languages are used as a means to praise Him!
- The many languages spoken foreshadow the multinationality of the Christian Church.
There are times to share one’s testimony, but Christian proclamation begins with ________, not ourselves. Peter’s opening words focus on the ____________ __________ of his audience (the behavior of the 120) rather than the central concern he wants to share (Jesus is Lord and Christ).
Christ
immediate concern
Characteristics of Peter’s Message on Pentecost
- corporate (the 11 stand with him as he preaches)
- authority
- preparation (he knew Scripture well)
- knowledge of the Scriptures
How many were filled on Pentecost?
120
Identify the 2 main acts of the Lord prophesied for the last days in Peter’s quotation from Joel on Pentecost?
pour out His Spirit & do wonders
What is the time period of the last days?
the last days include the period of time from the Day of Pentecost until the coming of the Lord.
What follows the last days?
the Day of the Lord
Which statement best describes the last days and the Day of the Lord?
(A) the last days are marked by a singular hopeful movement: the pouring out of God’s Spirit on all flesh. Then the Day of the Lord comes.
(B) The last days are marked by a singular pessimistic pattern of events: the growing violence and moral depravity on earth coupled with the terrors of disturbing phenomena in nature. Then the Day of the Lord comes.
(C) The Day of the Lord is inaugurated not by the return of the Lord but by the success of Christ’s church in becoming totally dominant on the earth and thereby causing a world of peace and prosperity.
(D) The last days are marked by 2 movements going in opposite directions. First, God’s Spirit is poured out. Second, social and natural disorders occur at an intensity never before experienced. Then the Day of the Lord comes.
D
Define each:
- miracles
- wonders
- signs
“miracles” - emphasize the powerful nature of Christ’s supernatural activity
“wonders” - emphasize the effect produced by the miracles
“signs” - indicate the purpose of the miracles as a pointer to Jesus’ deity
What are the 2 causes for Jesus’ death?
God delivered Him up according to His plan.
Wicked men crucified Him.
In 2:42, we see believers in the early church devoted themselves to 4 things. What are they?
the apostles’ teaching, the fellowship, the breaking of bread, prayer
What is Peter and John’s response to the lame man in Acts 3?
They have faith for him to be healed; thus, Peter commands him in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth to walk.
How is Peter’s 2nd sermon similar to his first?
(A) Peter’s preparation while a disciple in the Lord’s school is evident from his memory, understanding, interpretation, and application of the OT to the person and work of Jesus.
(B) Peter ignores the immediate interest of the crowd - the healing of the lame man - and launches instead into what he wants to prove.
(C) Once again Peter’s sermon shows that the Holy Spirit can best use the preacher who ignores serious study and simply stands up and speaks whatever comes out.
(D) In each sermon, Peter speaks in the native languages of the people.
A
In Peter’s sermons, he builds a relationship between what 2 things?
their interest and his goal
What are the 2 central thoughts in Peter’s 2nd sermon (after healing the lame man)?
the reason for the healing Is Jesus whom you killed but whom God raised from the dead and glorified
The proof that Jesus is Christ should cause you to turn to Him.
Give 3 examples of this statement: “In Peter’s first sermons, he demonstrates the method the Lord used to explain His identity and mission on the basis of the OT.”
Jesus explained His life and work from (1) the Law of Moses, (2) the Prophets, (3) the Psalms. Peter references all of these.
The call of salvation to those implicated in Christ’s death
v
the call of salvation to those not implicated in His physical death
(& what’s the difference of the charge)
“repent because you have sinned in crucifying Christ, and God has raised Him from the dead”
…. changed to…
“repent for you have sinned and God has raised Jesus from the dead”
charge was crucifixion… then it was unbelief
How do we see Jesus’ statement of John 14:12 fulfilled - greater works in quantity or quality?
quantity
2 differences between Sadducees and Pharisees
Sadducees say there is no resurrection; Pharisees say there is.
Sadducees say there aren’t angels or spirits; Pharisees say there are.
Who was the Sanhedrin?
the council of 71 members whom the high priest presided over and who served as the Supreme Court on all Jewish affairs permitted them by the Roman government
Choose the TRUE one in Luke 4:9-13:
(A) Jesus refused this temptation and thereby declined to begin His ministry with a spectacular sign of His divinity that could not be doubted.
(B) Jesus jumped from the pinnacle of the temple in full view of the watching multitude and thereby proved before their eyes, when the angels caught Him, that He was the Messiah.
A
Choose the TRUE one in Mark 4:24-25:
(A) Jesus presented His endorsement of an economic system in which the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
(B) Jesus presented a principle of learning that describes how He and His Word are received. The more one acts on what is learned, the more he or she can be taught.
B
Choose the TRUE one in Matt 16:1-4:
(A) Jesus could not give the Pharisees and Sadducees a sign (spectacular supernatural event dispelling all doubt) because He did not have the power.
(B) Jesus did not give the Pharisees and Sadducees a sign, for they had not acted on or received the evidence of His words and works already presented as confirmations of His messiahship.
B
Choose the TRUE one in John 11:45-53:
(A) The chief priests and Pharisees did not believe in the resurrection of Lazarus because it had not happened.
(B) The chief priests and Pharisees did not believe because they had steadily rejected and disbelieved all the other evidences Christ had presented, and therefore they could not accept the fact of the most marvelous miracle of all Christ’s ministry.
B
Choose the TRUE one of Matt 28:11-15:
(A) The chief priests knew intellectually from the guards’ testimony that Jesus had risen from the dead; but in their hearts they disbelieved, for their hearts were sinful
(B) The chief priests knew the disciples had stolen Jesus’ body from the grave.
A
Continued rejection of Jesus leads to…
deeper rejection
Choose each TRUE statement (multiple):
(A) Jesus’ method of self-revelation was consistent from beginning to end. He, not others, determined the way He would disclose Himself. After His resurrection He granted appearances only to those who had believed on Him prior to His crucifixion, thereby adhering to His word: “To him who has, more will be given.”
(B) The disciples believed Jesus to be the Messiah on the basis of faith in the credentials He presented of Himself. The multitudes saved in the church’s early days received by faith the evidences presented them through the apostles’ words and works and the Holy Spirit’s activity. The Lord shows no partiality; the chief priests could not come to Him without faith.
(C) Those who say, “show me a miracle and I will believe” ignore the abundant evidences now available of Christ’s reality and are in the dangerous position of tempting God.
(D) Jesus’ refusal to come down from the cross and convince a throng He was the King and Messiah was the climax of the decision He had made 3 years earlier. At that time He turned down Satan’s offer to do a spectacular deed to prove He was the Christ.
(E) Jesus wanted a change in individuals’ hearts, not just belief in their heads. The fact that the chief priests knew He was risen yet did not believe in Him vindicates Christ’s refusal to appear to them. It also shows that those who willfully reject Christ do so not because they lack evidence, but because their hearts are sinful.
(F) Had Jesus appeared after His resurrection to the Sanhedrin, the same council that condemned Him to death, He would have surrendered to their long-held demand that He show Himself to be the Messiah who matched their expectations. Such an appearance by Christ would have completely contradicted the basic principles of His ministry.
ALL
Which are TRUE concerning the background of the Sanhedrin and Annas and Caiaphas (multiple)?
(A) The Sanhedrin may also be called the Council or Senate. It was comprised of 71 persons. The high priest was its president. The Sanhedrin regulated the internal affairs of the Jewish nation.
(B) The Sanhedrin was the ruling group in the early Christian church.
(C) Both Sadducees and Pharisees were in the Sanhedrin, with the Sadducees being in the majority.
(D) Both Sadducees and Pharisees were in the Sanhedrin, with the Pharisees being in the majority.
(E) Annas, the high priest, continued to be called high priest even though his son-in-law Caiaphas served officially as high priest during the time of Jesus and the first years of the church.
(F) Annas, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander were all brothers who successively became high priests.
A, C, E
What does Luke mean by stating that Peter was “filled with the Holy Spirit”? (multiple are true)
(A) He evidently had lost some of the Spirit he had received at Pentecost and needed to be replenished with the Holy Spirit.
(B) He did not speak in tongues; therefore, he could not be filled with the Spirit.
(C) To be “filled with the Spirit” refers to the initial experience of the promise of the Father, the baptism of the Spirit, and continual later fillings of the Spirit.
(D) In the natural, Peter had larger fears than ever before. He needed the Holy Spirit to fill his expanded spiritual “wineskin” that had been stretched by the tension of this event. The Spirit fills us to the level of our capacity and need, and Peter had more capacity and need than ever.
C & D
Peter responds to the Sanhedrin’s threats with _______ & ______. What do these terms both mean?
Deference - respect for authority
Defiance - human law yields to God’s in this 1 area, when humans forbid belief in and propagation of the gospel
the 4 leading segments of Acts 3:1-4:31
- healing of a lame man
- Peter’s second sermon
- Peter & John’s arraignment
- the prayers of believers following Peter & John’s release
The first summary Luke uses serves as a bridge or link between what events? (4:32-35)
a prayer meeting and the offering from Joseph of Cyprus (renamed Barnabas)
Based on study of Acts 4:32-35, which statements are TRUE? (multiple)
(A) the early church attempted to grow too fast, and its doctrine was being diluted by the multitudes being saved.
(B) the growth from 120 to 3000 and the addition of others day by day until 5000 men believed did not diminish the quality of Christian life experienced by all.
(C) the more the church grew, the less personal it became.
(D) God wanted the church to stay small because believers would not be comfortable with a large influx of strangers.
(E) the whole church was growing without losing the earlier quality of closeness, camaraderie (friendly good fellowship), the sense of belonging, and right doctrine.
B, E
Regarding the believers being of one heart and mind, which statements are TRUE on the basis of the summaries in 2:42-47 and 4:32-35?
(A) they all met together once a week for an hour to hear Peter preach.
(B) they met together regularly in their homes (small groups) and at the temple (public meetings).
(C) their unity was solely doctrinal, and they felt that one’s Christian obligation began and ended with assent to a creed.
(D) They were united in the doctrine of the apostles that was taught by either the apostles themselves or approved teachers, but their unity was also one in relationships.
B, D
what are the 4 qualities of Christian experience present in the church after the conversion of the 5000?
- unity of heart and soul; demonstrated by generosity towards each other
- the apostles’ witness to the resurrection given in great power
- care for the needy among them
- money given to the apostles for distribution
What can we conclude from the account of the money being laid at the apostles’ feet?
(A) the early church practiced tithing.
(B) people decided themselves where, when, and to whom their money was to go.
(C) they gave, in effect, to a central fund entrusted to the apostles to administer and disburse.
(D) they gave to Matthias, the person chosen by lot to take Judas Iscariot’s place as apostle and group treasurer.
C
What is one of the most remarkable qualities of the primitive Christian community?
generosity; they gave 100%
Which statements (multiple) are TRUE about the gifts of Barnabas, Ananias, and Sapphira?
(A) the early church had a finance campaign in which each church member was asked for contributions.
(B) their giving appears to have been done without any solicitation.
(C) a requirement for all believers was that they sell everything and give the proceeds to the church.
(D) giving was voluntary
B, D
Which statements illustrate principles from the giving of Barnabas, Ananias, and Sapphira that we may apply to our own giving?
(A) one should give only cash to the Lord’s work, never properties.
(B) one should give because he or she wants to.
(C) when some are giving, it becomes an inspiration and example for others.
(D) it does not matter how you give, only how much.
(E) it is better not to give than to give with the wrong motive
(F) it does not matter whether or not we give. the needs will still be met.
B, C, E
2 major reasons for the severe judgment of Ananias and Sapphira are what?
credibility - through this judgment, others would know the Holy Spirit’s attitude toward lying; this testifies to the truthfulness of the apostles’ witness of the resurrection
Holy Spirit’s knowledge of the soul’s condition - He knew they would not voluntarily confess so He brought immediate judgment here
What are the TRUE statements (multiple) concerning Ananias and Sapphira?
(A) we are not told whether or not they were true believers, and we are not told that they went to hell for their sin.
(B) we are told they were believers, but they lost their salvation because of their sin.
(C) we are not told they were believers, but they could not have been believers int he first place or they would not have sinned so grievously.
(D) Luke indicates that Ananias and Sapphira were part of the Christian community.
A, D
Not everything in Acts was designed by the Holy Spirit to have continuing usage in the church. Give an example…
Day of Pentecost - the sound of wind and tongues of fire are not repeated but speaking in other tongues is
What’s the discipline procedure in the Bible for someone living in sin?
if someone is clearly living in sin and refuses to repent, they should be excommunicated.
If he comes to a place of repentance, then welcome him back in.
(when repent, allow restoration)
What do you think was the internal response of the other 11 apostles to the supernatural power evident in Peter’s ministry?
(A) they rejoiced and praised God more than ever.
(B) the 11 became discouraged because their ministry was not as great as Peter’s.
(C) each of the 11 tried to imitate Peter to show the people how supernaturally powerful he was
(D) Peter’s ministry was so phenomenal in comparison to theirs that they left off their own ministries and assumed that God had not given them much to begin with
A
A divine rest comes to a person who…
accepts what God has given yet hungers for more
(no jealousy!)
Was there a supernatural release from the imprisonment of Peter & John in Acts 3-4?
no
Which statement is a valid principle?
(A) it was the Lord’s will to grant supernatural release on each occasion, but the release did not come because those imprisoned or punished lacked faith.
(B) Divine intervention or the lack of it was in God’s hands. He knew best what would advance the gospel most.
(C) NT acts of divine intervention were simply demonstrations of power on a once-for-all-time basis.
(D) with the growth of the church, God needed more angels in heaven to work with the church; martyred saints became these needed angels.
B
How does the high priest’s opening statement in 5:28 differ from the opening question in 4:7?
it began with a charge against them instead of questions.
the arraignment in 5:28 is more severe than that in 4:7. Why is this?
their anger is aroused by the repeated apostolic charge against the Sanhedrin: killing the Son of God
The apostles’ response to the Sanhedrin is characterized by which of these? (multiple)
(A) as in Peter & John’s arraignment, the apostles’ response is to declare Christ to the Sanhedrin and to compare its treatment of Jesus with God’s.
(B) the apostles feel badly that they have been so controversial and promise they will be more discreet in their preaching by avoiding any implication of the Sanhedrin in Christ’s death.
(C) the apostles repeat the charge directly to the Sanhedrin that they have declared many times publicly: the Sanhedrin had killed Jesus whom God raised and exalted.
(D) the apostles repeated the words of Jesus to the Sanhedrin: “you belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire”
A, C
Who were the principle enemies of Christ in the Gospels? in Acts?
in the Gospels, the Pharisees
in Acts, the Sadducees
What 2 examples does Gamaliel, a Pharisee of the Sanhedrin, give in ch 5 to illustrate his pharisaical belief in God’s sovereignty?
Theudas
Judas the Galilean
What are Satan’s 3 strategies against the church?
(note, every time, the Holy Spirit launches a counterattack!)
- Defeat the church (or individual) by causing doubt, fear, despair, or sin. Satan also tries to cause the Christian to blame God or others. It’s an attack against the spirit of the church or individual.
(attack on their spirit) - Defeat the church by promoting division. often this is due to the functioning of selfishness, and many times it is doctrinal.
(attack of division) - Defeat the church or individual through persecution or seduction. The seduction of material gain often weakens a Christian’s faith, whereas persecution often increases his or her faith.
(attack via physical persecution)
Arrange in order the 5 main topics or events in Acts 4:32-5:42
the sharing of all things in common.
Barnabas’ gift.
Ananias and Sapphira.
Apostolic ministry at Solomon’s Portico.
the apostles before the Sanhedrin.
What was the main cause of the church problem in Acts 6:1? and the result?
the Hellenist widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food
complaining/murmering
According to Bruce, Hellenists and Hebrews were marked by certain qualities. Circle the letter preceding each TRUE statement.
(A) The Hellenists were Palestinian Jews
(B) The term Hellenist described those influenced by Greek language and culture.
(C) The Hellenists were Jews who had resided in other parts of the Mediterranean world. They had made Greek their principal language, and they had adopted some elements of Greek culture.
(D) The Hebrews were Jews who had lived in Palestine; used Aramaic as their language; and had been influenced very little by Greek culture, ideas,
and language.
(E) Many Hellenists had migrated back to their homeland. The tensions that existed between the Hebrews and Hellenists became apparent even in the church.
B, C, D, E
What did the apostles do when they learned about the first church problem? Circle the letter preceding each TRUE statement.
(A) They were angry and decided to excommunicate the Hebrews.
(B) They recognized the problem existed and took intelligent steps to solve it.
(C) They ignored the problem, hoping it would go away in time.
(D) They realized that ignoring the problem would only compound it, so they dealt with the issue at once.
(E) The apostles rebuked the Hellenists for giving major importance to such minor matters. They told them they should spend their time praising God for all the victories instead of concentrating on real or imagined discrimination.
(F) The apostles’ reply was noticeably free from condemnation toward either the Hellenists or Hebrews.
(G) The apostles used self-pity in appealing to the contending parties. They pointed out their busyness, their imprisonments and beatings, and their weariness. They
implied that the church was ungrateful for its leaders, and if it kept up that spirit, they would find people in another town or church who would appreciate their labors.
(H) They honestly faced the fact that they did not have time to do everything they had been doing. The solution was not for them to try to do the work better. Instead, they must arrange their priorities and involve others in ministry for which they did not have time.
(I) The apostles were discouraged and threatened to quit and return to Galilee where
they could work at their old occupations.
(J) Their decisive action and wise handling of a potentially explosive problem allowed their ministries to have even greater impact in the days that followed.
B, D, F, H, J
Which statement best accounts for the apostles’ decision of Acts 6:2?
(A) Their preeminent responsibility as witnesses (1:8, 22; 2:32; 3:15; 4:20, 33; 5:32) required them to reevaluate their ministry and to concentrate on those aspects vital to the advance of the gospel and pastoral care for the whole church, namely prayer and the preaching of the Word.
(B) They did not enjoy waiting on tables and so happily gave the responsibility to others.
(C) The word apostle in the original language means the same as missionary. An
apostle or missionary should evangelize, disciple, and train people in the gospel. He or she should not become involved in the material needs of the people.
(D) The apostles did not have professional training in financial accounting and
distribution of food
A
The seven people delegated to serve tables were chosen by…
(A) the apostles.
(B) the whole multitude of believers.
(C) a committee appointed by the apostles.
(D) the Grecian Jews as a culturally separated group
B
The number and qualifications for those chosen to serve tables were specified by…
(A) a committee appointed by the apostles.
(B) the whole multitude of believers.
(C) the Grecian Jews as a cultural protest group.
(D) the apostles.
D
Who confirmed the choice of the seven through prayer and the laying on of hands?
(A) The apostles
(B) The whole multitude of believers
(C) The early church board or presbyters
(D) Peter, James, John, and Jesus’ half brothers, James and Jude
A
Luke’s account of continued growth adds a description of the significant number of
persons from one particular group. What was that group? Based on 2:46; 3:1–4:4;
5:12–16, 21, and 42, what may help explain their conversion?
priests
the continual perseverance of believers at the temple left a profound impact on them
Because of church trouble the ____ were elected.
7
Because a need existed for deacons, ____, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, was chosen.
Stephen
Because Stephen was elected as a deacon, his ministry soon broadened to that of the apostles. His preaching and martyrdom resulted in ____ hearing the implications of the gospel and the church being scattered.
Saul
If the church had not been scattered, ____ would not have gone to ____, and the people there would not have heard the gospel; nor would the _____ have received the witness of _____.
Philip
Samaria
Eunuch
Philip
In the persecution occurring because of Stephen, believers were scattered and the major town of _____ in Syria heard the gospel.
Antioch
Because a church grew in ____ due to the persecution of Saul, where believers were first called _____, relief was sent back to the church in _____.
Because a church grew in _____, the first missionary team of ____, _____, and ____ went out.
Antioch
Christians
Jerusalem
Antioch
Saul, Barnabas, & John Mark
Because Paul went out, churches were established at _____, ______, _____, and _____; _____, _____, ______, ____, ____, and _____
Derbe, Lystra, Iconium & Antioch of Pisidia
Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, and Ephesus
The fact that Stephen did great signs and wonders indicates which of these?
(A) Gentile God-fearing Christians had priority over Hebraic Christians in being
able to exercise greater faith for the miraculous.
(B) Stephen quickly exceeded the authority originally delegated to him (6:2–4).
(C) Luke indicates that each of the seven had ministries similar to Stephen’s.
(D) A miraculous ministry was not limited exclusively to the apostles.
D
How does the setting for Stephen’s preaching ministry differ from the setting of the apostles’ preaching?
Stephen’s ministry occurred in the synagogue; the apostles was in the temple.
Based on the knowledge you have already gained from Acts, compare the temple with the synagogue. Which statements below are correct?
(A) There were many Jewish temples, but only one synagogue.
(B) There were many synagogues, but only one temple.
(C) Local elders presided over the synagogue, and it did not have animal sacrifices.
(D) Priests and Levites presided over the temple, which was the only Jewish
institution where sacrifices took place.
B, C, D
What 2 charges did false witnesses bring against Stephen?
that Stephen spoke against Moses and against God, his alleged claim that Jesus would destroy the temple
This was the fourth time the issue of Jesus was before the Sanhedrin. Compare the
charges against the defendants on each occasion; then circle the letter preceding
each TRUE statement.
(A) The indictment each time was that Jesus, the apostles, and Stephen predicted the
destruction of the temple.
(B) Jesus had been charged with predicting that He would destroy the temple, but
the charge was not proven.
(C) Only Jesus and Stephen faced the charge of predicting the destruction of the temple.
(D) Stephen was indicted on charges not used previously against the apostles.
(E) Stephen faced the unique charge that he spoke against Moses or the Law.
B, C, D, E
From what you have already observed in Acts, circle the letter preceding each TRUE statement below.
(A) In Acts, Stephen appears to be the first of the believers to see and point out the relative unimportance of race, place (even the temple), or religious ceremony as
compared to the acceptance of God’s Word and obedience to Him.
(B) Acts 3:1 shows that the apostles Peter and John attended the temple in time for the evening sacrifice even after the Day of Pentecost.
(C) The conversion of many priests (6:7) served to strengthen the believers’
involvement with the temple and its ordinances.
(D) The apostles preached regularly that since Christ was the perfect sacrifice for sin, the sacrifices in the temple were worthless and should not be participated in.
A, B, C
Look through Stephen’s sermon (called his “apology,” from the Greek word apologia, which could imply a reasoned defense of one’s faith, 1 Peter 3:15). Which of these statements would you say are TRUE?
(A) Stephen was primarily concerned with his own legal defense and designed his arguments in the way best suited to gain him an acquittal.
(B) Stephen was more concerned to advance the claims of the gospel than to secure his own safety.
(C) Stephen probably had many quiet hours to prepare beforehand what he was to say to the Sanhedrin.
(D) Stephen’s words represented a fulfillment of the Lord’s words in
Matthew 10:19–20.
(E) Although Stephen’s apology was extemporaneous, his address showed he was
thoroughly versed in the Old Testament and had committed its message deeply to his mind. On this occasion the Holy Spirit simply selected which scriptural teaching should be recalled and applied.
B, D, E
Summarize the 4 parts of Stephen’s sermon
God’s relationship to the patriarchs, esp Abraham and Joseph, in creating and preserving a posterity for Abraham
the calling of Moses and the giving of the Law. Moses was refused, and the Law was spurned for idols.
Israel worshipped God before a temple existed. When the temple was completed, it was recognized that it was not the dwelling place of God.
Stephen comes to the conclusion that the Sanhedrin’s rejection of Jesus was consistent with Israel’s perpetual rejection of God’s call
Which statement in each of
the following sets is TRUE and reflects Stephen’s major emphases in relating God’s relationship with the patriarchs?
(A) At the beginning, Stephen disassociated himself from his identity as a Jew.
(B) Stephen’s introduction immediately implied a continuity between the God who revealed himself to Abraham and the revelation of God in Christ.
B
Choose which is True
(A) After their first refusal of Moses, the children of Israel never repeated
their mistake.
(B) Not only was Moses rejected at his first revelation, but he was also spurned after he led Israel forth with signs and wonders from Egypt, through the Red Sea, and in the wilderness.
(C) Moses was granted an angelic visitation at Sinai along with the giving of the
living oracles (the Law); yet Israel refused obedience to him, demanded return
to Egypt, and practiced idolatry.
B,C
According to Bruce, the method of stoning involved which of these?
(A) Everyone threw a barrage of stones at once.
(B) The victim was stripped and pushed off a cliff twice his height. If the fall did not
kill him, a stone was dropped on him from above, and stones continued to fall until he was pronounced dead.
(C) Only witnesses of the victim’s blasphemy could throw stones, and they all threw them at the same time.
(D) Sufficient stones were thrown at the victim until no part of his body was visible.
B
Which statements are TRUE regarding the revelation of Jesus Christ given to Stephen when he gazed into the heavens?
(A) In Luke’s record Stephen was the first to see the Lord in His exaltation at the
Father’s right hand.
(B) His testimony is in harmony with the testimony Jesus brought of himself when tried by the Sanhedrin (Mark 14:62).
(C) Stephen used the term Son of Man, used in the Gospels by Jesus (but never
by the apostles) to describe himself, and the context of the term confirmed the
nature of the Son of Man as seen in Daniel 7:13–14.
(D) This revelation agrees basically with Paul’s description of Jesus’ place of authority at the right hand of God in heaven (Ephesians 1:20).
all
Whose conversion undoubtedly resulted from Stephen’s prayer?
Saul
According to Acts 8:1, 4, the gospel was carried beyond Jerusalem for what reason?
(A) Persecution motivated the church to carry the gospel beyond Jerusalem.
(B) The Jerusalem church formally decided to fulfill Acts 1:8 and therefore sent out the first missionaries.
(C) People throughout the Roman Empire asked for missionaries and evangelists to come to their cities, especially people who had been in Jerusalem on the Day
of Pentecost.
(D) The church in Jerusalem ran out of money to support and keep the many pilgrims who had come to Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost and had
become Christians.
A
Circle the letter preceding each TRUE statement.
(A) The persecution against the church began because the apostles continued to
preach Christ as raised from the dead.
(B) The persecution against the church began because of Stephen’s interpretation
of the effect Christ’s life and work had on the Law and temple. In addition, the Sanhedrin violently repudiated his charge that Israel’s rejection of Jesus was consistent with a pattern of spiritual rebellion throughout its history.
(C) Even before Stephen’s martyrdom, the majority element in the Sanhedrin
showed its desire to persecute the church (5:33). Stephen’s preaching was the catalyst that finally aroused the full expression of its hatred.
(D) The persecution against the church began because Peter and six other Jewish
Christians had entered the home of Cornelius, a Roman centurion.
B, C
Circle the letter preceding each TRUE statement regarding Saul as portrayed by Luke.
(A) He was a young man.
(B) Saul himself does not seem to have stoned Stephen; nevertheless, his approval of the act is evident as he watches over the garments of those who stripped for Stephen’s stoning.
(C) He was a major instigator of Stephen’s death.
(D) Since Saul is from Tarsus in Cilicia (22:3) and since Stephen preached in the synagogue attended by Jews from Cilicia (6:9), it is plausible to assume that
Saul heard Stephen preach.
(E) Saul played a major role in the persecution resulting from Stephen’s death.
(F) Saul was pictured as a ruthless and persistent persecutor of the church. He was also portrayed as a figure in the whole system of persecution.
all EXCEPT C
Why might the apostles have stayed in Jerusalem with Saul’s persecution?
they did not want to abandon the believers in Jerusalem or those imprisoned.
they may have felt like it was a sign of cowardice.
Circle the letter preceding each TRUE statement that describes the emerging
character of Philip’s ministry.
(A) He began his ministry by serving tables and proceeded to a ministry of preaching and miracles.
(B) He decided that serving tables was beneath his dignity, so he started
preaching instead.
(C) Philip needed signs from the Lord occurring in his ministry before he was
willing to risk preaching.
(D) As Philip proclaimed Christ, confirming signs accompanied his message.
A, D
Based on your reading of Bruce (Reading 2), which statements are TRUE?
The Samaritans…
(A) were a sect within Judaism.
(B) were racially mixed people, resulting ultimately from the intermarriage of
invading Assyrians after 722 BC with those from the ten northern tribes
of Israel.
(C) had their own temple and were regarded as racial and theological “half-breeds” by the Jews.
(D) were the direct descendants of the Canaanites who lived in the land prior to Joshua.
B, C
What is the most likely reason for the Lord’s earlier prohibition to the disciples regarding ministry in Samaria (Matthew 10:5) and His later command to witness in Samaria (Acts 1:8), now being fulfilled by Philip?
a) The Lord changed His mind.
b) Samaritans were not worth saving.
c) Matthew 10 records the first preaching mission of the Twelve. Jesus knew they were so racially biased that He could not start them off in Samaria
(Luke 9:51–56).
C
Is Philip’s casting out of evil spirits the first mention of exorcism in Acts?
no; 5:16
Circle the letter preceding each TRUE statement
that describes how the New Testament church leaders understood the
Samaritan experience.
(A) Philip actually baptized unbelievers. They had not been born of the Spirit
(John 3:5), received the Spirit in the application of Christ’s own resurrection life (John 20:22), or had the Spirit of God dwelling in them as a necessary condition for belonging to Christ (Romans 8:9).
(B) Like the apostles (John 3:5, 22), the Samaritans indeed received the Spirit at salvation. Without the Spirit’s regenerating activity in bringing one Christ’s
resurrection life, one cannot be saved.
(C) Because Peter and John knew Philip’s Samaritan converts were not saved, they told them to receive the Holy Spirit and meant by it the same thing as Christ breathed on them (John 20:22).
(D) Peter and John did not confuse the reception of the Holy Spirit at salvation
(John 20:22) with the receiving of the promise of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
(Acts 2:4). They recognized and accepted the salvation of the Samaritans; thus,
they did not say, “Receive Christ,” but “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
B, D
Which statements are TRUE in explaining why the Samaritans had not
received the baptism with the Spirit under Philip’s ministry?
(A) Philip did not have enough faith.
(B) In His sovereignty, Jesus waited to pour forth the Holy Spirit until the apostles Peter and John arrived so that both the Samaritans and the Jerusalem church
would have no doubt that their experience and position in Christ were equal.
(C) Peter and John’s confirmation of the Spirit’s work in the Samaritans probably had greater credibility with the Jerusalem church than the witness of the Hellenist, Philip.
B, C
We know something observable happened because of Simon the sorcerer’s response. Which of these inferences are probably TRUE?
(A) Simon saw that the Christians had happier faces than ever before; therefore, he wanted to buy the power to bestow the Holy Spirit.
(B) The believers all said that the “falling” of the Holy Spirit was the same thing
they had experienced at salvation. Therefore, Simon wanted to buy what he had
neglected previously.
(C) A supernatural event occurred that caught Simon’s fascination, and he wanted the power to bestow it.
(D) Since Simon had not previously offered to buy the gift of preaching (8:5, 12), healing (8:7), or the power of exorcism (8:7), it is logical to assume that what he now wanted was different from what he had seen previously.
C, D
One thing occurs at Samaria in the pouring forth of the Spirit that had not happened at Pentecost. What was it?
the laying on of hands
Why did Simon prefer to buy the authority to bestow the Holy Spirit rather than to heal, preach, or exorcise? Circle the letter preceding each plausible (TRUE) explanation.
(A) Through having this authority, he saw a chance to regain his place of leadership among the people.
(B) He could use the power to maintain his stature and leadership by using the
Holy Spirit as a means of reward or withholding the Holy Spirit as a means of
discrimination.
(C) Since Philip had not bestowed the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands as Peter and John did, Simon saw this as his opportunity to achieve the same rank as the apostles in the people’s eyes; that is, a step higher than Philip.
(D) It is common practice worldwide for sorcerers to buy secrets or occult
knowledge from each other, and Simon thought Peter and John were the head sorcerers in the early church with the greatest occult knowledge.
all
Peter’s response to Simon’s bribe was characterized by which of these? (Choose
more than one response.)
(A) Peter assured Simon that this sin had no effect on his standing with God and that his salvation was sure.
(B) Peter told him he had never been saved in the first place or he would not have committed such a sin.
(C) In strong and clear language, Peter told Simon he would perish with his money unless he repented of his wickedness.
(D) Peter saw that Simon was full of and captive to the old life: bitterness and sin.
C,D
Compare Acts 1:8; 8:5, 14, and 25. Circle the letter preceding each TRUE deduction.
(A) Peter remembered the Lord’s mandate of Acts 1:8 and decided on his own to
take John with him on a missionary trip to Samaria.
(B) Samaria was reached, not because the apostles deliberately set out on a
missionary journey, but because persecution resulted in Philip’s going there.
(C) The Jerusalem church sent Peter and John to Samaria; however, on the way to and from seeing Philip, Peter and John preached in the Samaritan villages.
(D) Luke portrays Peter and John as coming at the apostles’ direction to the converts in Samaria won by Philip. Their task appeared to be more investigatory than evangelistic. However, if they were reluctant to evangelize on their trip to
Samaria, it had disappeared by the time they began their journey home to Jerusalem.
B, D
what two types of evangelism are represented in
Philip’s ministry?
mass evangelism or ministry to the masses
&
personal evangelism or ministry to the one
Read Acts 8:26–29. Then circle the letter preceding each TRUE statement.
(A) When the angel of the Lord called Philip away from the tremendous ministry to the crowds in Samaria, Philip asked for the reason, and it was given to him.
(B) Philip obeyed the angel’s command without question, even though it meant leaving a fruitful ministry in Samaria.
(C) Philip walked the hundred miles from Samaria on the road south of Jerusalem to Gaza, complaining about the abruptness of the change in his ministry and the
desert heat.
(D) Philip walked until the Spirit told him to go up to an Ethiopian eunuch who was returning to his home from Jerusalem.
(E) When Philip saw that the Lord wanted him to preach to one man only, Philip refused. He believed he should preach only to large crowds.
B, D
What five characteristics did Luke give of the man to whom the angel of the Lord sent Philip?
Ethiopian
eunuch
treasurer for Kandake, queen of the Ethiopians.
he had come as a pilgrim to Jerusalem and was going home.
he was reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
If the eunuch were not a convert of Judaism, could he have entered past the outer
court of the temple anyway?
no
Consider the effect of Philip’s witness to the eunuch. Which statement best describes its results?
(A) The eunuch believed and wanted to be baptized, but Philip said he could not be baptized until the apostles in Jerusalem approved it.
(B) The man believed, but in answer to his question, “Why prevents me from being baptized?” Philip responds that the eunuch has not yet gone through a waiting period to test the genuineness of his faith.
(C) Philip invited the eunuch to wait for water baptism until there were enough baptismal candidates together to make a nice ceremony.
(D) Both the eunuch’s desire to be baptized and Philip’s baptism of him attested to the genuineness of the eunuch’s faith in Christ.
D
the three phases of the church’s expansion?
Jerusalem phase (Acts 1:1-8:1)
Judea-Samaria to Antioch (8:1-12:25)
the gospel to the world (13-28)
Paul’s nationality and the place from which he came
Tarsus in Cilicia
Jew
As Saul neared the end of his long journey and approached Damascus, what two supernatural events stopped him?
a light from heaven brighter than the sun & a voice spoke to him by name
circle the letter preceding each TRUE statement.
(A) Never does Acts indicate that Paul saw, touched, or ate with the resurrected Christ (John 20:27; Luke 24:43). The Lord’s revelation to Saul was limited to a visible manifestation of light accompanied by oral communication.
(B) Saul’s companions could not attest to the content of his conversation with Jesus (Acts 22:9); therefore, it was Paul’s testimony alone, substantiated by no one
else (in comparison to 1:3), that the living Christ had appeared to him.
(C) The Lord gave three days of blindness to Saul in which he had time to doubt the revelation and reject it before the Lord sent Saul a witness who could verify his story (9:12, 17).
(D) Prior to his Damascus Road experience, Paul was thoroughly convinced that
Jesus was a false messiah. After his confrontation with the bright light, Paul was thoroughly convinced that Jesus was the Messiah; however, he still had to
express faith in Jesus by calling Him Lord.
all
What one command did the Lord give Saul, and how did Saul respond to it?
wait in Damascus for further instructions.
Saul waited and also showed repentance.
Look at 9:15–16 and note the three purposes for Saul’s life revealed to Ananias and
the process Saul would go through in achieving them.
Paul would carry the Lord’s name to the Gentiles, kings, and sons of Israel.
He would suffer much for Christ.
With Saul, what is represented by Ananias’ laying on of hands?
(A) It demonstrated that Saul was fully received by the church.
(B) It was a presumptuous act on the part of Ananias. Such an important decision as receiving and baptizing Saul should have been left to the apostles in Jerusalem.
(C) The laying on of hands conveyed the Lord’s healing power.
(D) With the laying on of hands, Paul was filled with the Spirit.
C, D
In light of the above discussion and references in Acts to the filling with the Holy Spirit, which statements are TRUE and express what we might expect to have happened in Saul when Ananias laid hands on him and told him to receive the Holy Spirit?
(A) Saul was saved at that moment.
(B) Ananias laid hands on him that Saul might receive the Holy Spirit (also called
the baptism in the Holy Spirit or the promise of the Father), an experience
distinct from salvation itself.
(C) It is reasonable to expect that a sound like the blowing of violent wind filled the room, that tongues of fire rested on Saul, and that he spoke in other tongues.
(D) It is reasonable to assume that Saul would receive the same experience from
Pentecost that was repeated at Cornelius’ home (10:44–46), Ephesus (19:6), and no doubt Samaria (8:17–18).
(E) Saul’s experience with the Holy Spirit as Ananias laid hands on him would be the same as the experience of the Ephesian believers on whom he himself laid hands that they might receive the Spirit (19:6).
(F) Unlike the other apostles, Saul never had the experience of speaking with other tongues.
B, D, E
Which statement characterizes Saul’s new attitude toward the Jerusalem church?
(A) He had come to Christ on his own and did not need the church.
(B) He felt the uniqueness of his experience qualified him to start a
new denomination.
(C) He wanted to have fellowship with the body of Christ, for he had come into the same faith and relationship with Jesus.
C
Based on Acts 9:28–31 and what you know of Stephen’s ministry, which statements do you think are TRUE and best explain why Saul was not safe in Jerusalem, but the other believers were?
(A) The church was not pictured as having peace as long as Saul was around, either as persecutor or Christian.
(B) Saul’s disputation against the Hellenists revived memories in Stephen’s adversaries (6:9). They saw the doctrine Stephen preached resurrected, the one
that had so aroused their wrath.
(C) That Saul was later accused of the same charges as Stephen may be applied to Saul’s first turmoil in Jerusalem. The church could be safe, but not Saul—not because one preached the resurrection and the other did not, but because Saul, like Stephen, saw the implications of Christ’s life and work: the Law and temple were immaterial to faith because Christ had come.
all
Until Acts 8:14, Peter had not left Jerusalem after the Day of Pentecost. How does 8:14, 25 differ from 9:32? Choose the best answer or answers.
(A) Peter performed no ministry on his own initiative. He traveled outside Jerusalem
only when sent by the church or other apostles.
(B) Peter first traveled outside Jerusalem at the apostles’ direction. This ministry was so rewarding that he continued on his own, proclaiming the gospel in many other
Samaritan villages on his return to Jerusalem.
(C) Peter’s itinerant ministry continued through his travel outside Jerusalem in what
appears to be apostolic pastoral care visitation for the believers in many places. Nothing is said of his being sent in 9:32.
B, C
In Lydda, Peter finds Aeneas. Compare with the healing of the paralytic by Jesus. Based on the above comparison, circle the letter preceding each TRUE statement.
(A) Aeneas is the only paralytic to be mentioned by name.
(B) Only in Jesus’ miracle is the healing associated with the paralytic’s receiving
forgiveness of sins.
(C) All the healings had an effect that extended beyond the healing itself.
(D) The healing of the man at the Beautiful Gate was a greater miracle than that
of Aeneas.
A, B, C
Which statement best characterizes the ministry of Dorcas?
(A) She felt God was not using her because she did not have any supernatural gifts or a preaching ministry.
(B) She had little time for others because her days and nights were spent alone with God.
(C) Her life was filled with serving others.
C
Think through the miracles in Acts thus far and indicate which statement is TRUE.
(A) The raising of Dorcas is the first miracle in Acts where the person to whom the miracle occurs is clearly identified as a believer beforehand.
(B) Most of the miracles in Acts thus far have occurred to those who were
already believers
A
How many deaths other than those of Ananias and Sapphira have been mentioned in
Acts before the raising of Dorcas?
only 1 - Stephen
Why was Dorcas raised from the dead but Stephen was not? (Choose more than one response.)
(A) Dorcas died at home, where it was easier for Peter to pray for her.
(B) Peter did not have enough faith to raise Stephen or the others killed in
Saul’s persecution.
(C) In God’s sovereignty, Peter was given the gift of faith for the resurrection of
Dorcas but not for Stephen or the others.
(D) We must leave to God’s infinite wisdom the matter of why one was raised and
another was not (Romans 8:33–36).
C, D
Peter’s presence in the home of Simon the
tanner indicates that… (multiple)
(A) he was not strictly observing all Jewish regulations.
(B) his behavior in associating with a social outcast is like that of the Lord (Luke 15:1; 19:1–10).
(C) he had dropped all observance of Jewish regulations.
A, B
5 characteristics of Cornelius in Acts 10
centurion in the Italian regiment.
devout.
God-fearing.
gave alms liberally.
prayed constantly to God.
Based on your study of Bruce (Reading 1) and your Study Guide, a God-fearer…
(A) included anyone who gave God reverence.
(B) included any Gentile convert to the church who studied the catechism developed by the apostles.
(C) included any Gentile who had previously worshiped Zeus.
(D) was a technical term that described a Gentile who was attracted to the Jewish concepts of monotheism, high ethical standards, and a promised coming Messiah-Deliverer.
D
Cornelius (Acts 10:3) and Peter (10:17) experience visions as a means of guidance. Compare these with the incident in which an angel directed Philip to the eunuch (8:26) and Ananias’ vision directing him to Saul (9:10). From your comparison, which of the following statements are TRUE?
(A) Without exception, God granted visions to anyone who desired them as a means of guidance.
(B) Cornelius, Peter, Philip, and Ananias could not have taken the particular action they took without the supernatural intervention of either visions or the angel.
(C) Cornelius, Peter, Philip, and Ananias all demanded a vision or an angel from
God so they might know what to do next.
(D) Philip would not have gone to the eunuch, nor Ananias to Saul, nor Peter to Cornelius on their own initiative. The angel and the visions became sources of
direction for action determined by God, not by humans
B, D
Compare Peter’s protest (10:14) with Leviticus 11:1–47 and Mark 7:14–23. Circle the letter preceding each TRUE statement.
(A) Peter regularly ate whatever he wanted regardless of its cleanness or uncleanness, because the Lord taught that all things were clean.
(B) Peter manifested obedience to the Old Testament Law and his Jewish customs throughout his life to the time of the vision.
(C) Peter understood the “clean” implication of Christ’s teaching in Mark 7 before he had the vision.
(D) Peter needed the experience of the vision before he actually understood the
implication of Jesus’ statement in Mark 7.
(E) In light of Mark 7 and Acts 10, believers should faithfully keep Old Testament dietary laws and abstain from eating meat, particularly pork
B, D
Select the True statements:
(A) The angel was to Philip what the vision was to Peter: They prepared Philip and Peter for events they could not fully comprehend the significance of.
(B) The Spirit completed what the angel and vision left unfinished. It was the Spirit who directed Philip and Peter at precisely the right time.
(C) The function of the Spirit is not seen as different from the function of the angel or the vision.
A, B
Fill in the main events of the time sequence between Cornelius’ vision and Peter’s arrival. Remember that Caesarea was thirty miles north of Joppa, which was a journey of a day and a half.
Day 1: Cornelius received the vision and sent 3 messengers.
Day 2: Peter had a vision as Cornelius’ messengers arrived at Joppa. Peter took them as his guests.
Day 3: Peter, 6 of his fellow believers, and Cornelius’ 3 men traveled north to Caesarea.
Day 4: They arrived at Cornelius’ home the 4th day. Cornelius had properly estimated their arrival time, for he had gathered an audience of relatives and friends.
Which statement is most likely to be correct in regard to Peter’s question to Cornelius, “May I ask why you sent for me?”
(A) He had no idea why he had been called.
(B) He himself knew his purpose for being there, but he waited tactfully and
courteously for Cornelius to extend the opportunity for witness.
B
Which comparisons between Peter’s previous sermons and this one to Cornelius are TRUE?
(A) All of the sermons were to Gentile audiences.
(B) Cornelius, his family, and friends were the first Gentiles to whom
Peter preached.
(C) Like his sermons to Jewish audiences, Peter made extensive use of the Old Testament in proving to Cornelius that Jesus is the Christ.
(D) In all his sermons Peter contrasted humans’ treatment of Jesus with God’s
B, D
Carefully reread Peter’s rehearsal of going to Cornelius (11:1–18). Which sequence accurately describes the order in which Peter came to the experiential knowledge of
this truth: “God has even granted the Gentiles repentance unto life”?
(A) God gave Peter the experience, and then Peter was able to see the purpose for it in the Word of God.
(B) Peter first saw the inclusion of the Gentiles as a fundamental teaching of the Word of God. Once convinced of that, he was open to having the experience.
A
According to Acts 11:19, scattered believers first preached the gospel in the areas of Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch to…
(A) all persons regardless of race, color, or religion
(B) Jews only
B
Who was responsible for initially bringing the gospel to the Gentiles (Greeks) at
Antioch?
(A) Missionaries sent out by the Jerusalem church to carry forth Christ’s mandate of Acts 1:8
(B) Travelers from Cyrene (North Africa) and the island of Cyprus
(C) Christians from the neighboring region of Galilee
B
In order to reach Greeks, the believers at Antioch who preached to them…
(A) spoke Aramaic so that only the Greeks really interested in the gospel message would take the trouble to find out what it meant.
(B) spoke only to the Greeks who came to them and asked how they also could be saved.
(C) conveyed the gospel message in thought forms understandable to the Greeks; from the evidence it appears that the requirements for proselyting to the Jewish
faith were not laid on them.
C
Suppose you wanted to witness to a group of average high school students through
a music concert. What kind of music could you use to convey the gospel most
effectively in a way they would readily understand and receive?
(A) Use only the music to which older people in the church are accustomed.
(B) Use music forms that appeal to the young but violate no clear biblical teaching.
(C) Rely heavily on the use of traditional music, such as the great hymns of
the church.
(D) Teach the high school students your concept of good music, and then convey the gospel to them using that concept.
B
Suppose you are the pastor of a church in a college community. What approach would best speak to that audience?
(A) Explain that higher education presents an unavoidable challenge to a continued walk of faith.
(B) Present a message that includes authoritative statements that touch on various fields but does not include statements that emphasize truth.
(C) Use church language, such as religious idioms, to familiarize the listeners with common Christian language.
(D) Preach the gospel clearly and powerfully. Give an explanation for the hope that lies within you. Be aware of the intellectual problems the college community faces and show how Christ is the answer by effectively relating Him to
the issues.
D
Based on our description of Antioch, which opinion is most accurate in successfully applying principles from the founding of the Antioch church to modern church
planting or pioneering?
(A) The city or urban areas are difficult to reach with the gospel.
(B) The church should concentrate its efforts on reaching small towns and rural areas, for people are more receptive there.
(C) Believers should concentrate on reaching major population centers with the gospel, but they should not neglect evangelism to small towns and rural areas.
(D) Urban areas have too much religious, racial, and cultural diversity for the gospel to have any great impact.
(E) Moral wickedness prevents the gospel from penetrating in urban areas.
C
three characteristics that the Antioch and Jerusalem churches had in common.
persons in both churches believed in the Lord.
both were growing.
they both showed concern for those in need.
Circle the letter preceding each TRUE statement that presents a definite contrast
between the Jerusalem church and the Antioch church in terms of Luke’s report on their beginnings and their growth.
(A) One church was more spiritual than the other.
(B) The founding and growth of the Jerusalem church included descriptions of many signs and wonders. Luke mentions no signs and wonders in connection with the Antioch church.
(C) The Antioch church had many Gentiles in its membership; apparently the Jerusalem church had only Jews.
(D) Members of the Jerusalem church were baptized with water and with the Holy Spirit. Members of the Antioch church experienced neither baptism.
(E) The church at Jerusalem had practiced community living. The church at Antioch apparently did not.
(F) Members of the believing community at Antioch were called Christians, but at Jerusalem they were called followers of the Way, believers, disciples, or Nazarenes.
B, C, E, F
“Christian” began to be used when?
AD 45
3 reasons Barnabas was a good choice to visit the church at Antioch
He was from Cyprus and a Jew.
He was a generous person & called “the son of encouragement.”
He has a willingness to believe the best about a person.
The Jerusalem church was not directly responsible for funding the church at Antioch or other Gentile churches. Why? Circle the letter preceding each TRUE statement.
(A) There were far more Gentiles in the world than Jews.
(B) Jews could be more successfully reached by a church that taught the Gentile way of life was best.
(C) Jews could be reached more successfully by other Jews who had come to believe in Jesus as Messiah and who permitted Jewish believers to continue Jewish customs that did not contradict Christian faith.
(D) Gentiles could be reached more successfully by a church that taught the Jewish way of life was best.
(E) Gentiles could more readily accept Jesus as Lord when the gospel was separated from the Jewish way of life, that is, from the customs that were not required of believers in Christ
A, C, E
In 1 Corinthians 14:1, 24–33, Paul describes the nature of the ministry of prophecy in the early church. Based on the Corinthian references and Acts 11:27–30, which of
these statements would you say are TRUE?
(A) A prophet’s main audience was the crowd of unbelievers wherever he or she prophesied.
(B) The main audience of the prophet was the church; however, sometimes unbelievers might be in a meeting of believers.
(C) Prophecy was a function limited to a few.
(D) All believers were urged to desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
B, D
3 positive gains that came to the Jerusalem and Antioch churches because of Agabus’ prophecy
the Antioch believers were blessed because they gave.
Their gift confirmed their love.
The Jerusalem believers were blessed by the financial help.
Mark 3:14–15 records three purposes for Jesus’ appointing the Twelve as apostles. List these three purposes or responsibilities and indicate which one cannot be interrupted or affected by death.
that they may be with Him, that they might preach, and that they might have authority over demons.
“to be with Him” is an eternal call
How did each of
the brothers, James and John, “drink the cup”?
James was the 1st of the apostles to die as a martyr.
John lived longer than any of the other apostles.
the growth of the church between AD 46 and AD 58 was More OR Less astounding than the growth from AD 30 to AD 45
more
In Acts 1–12 the seeds were planted that enabled the geographically extensive evangelism of Acts 13–20. Which of the following were important factors in making Paul’s missionary ventures possible?
(A) The persecution of Saul that initially spread believers to new territories
(B) The salvation of Saul
(C) The salvation of Cornelius, his family, and friends
(D) The founding of the church at Antioch
(E) The ministry of Barnabas
all
Name the five prophets and teachers at Antioch mentioned in 13:1 and give any description that Scripture applies to them personally
Barnabas
Simeon called Niger
Lucius of Cyrene
Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch)
Saul
dates of Saul’s conversion and his first missionary journey beginning
conversion AD 34
first journey began AD 46-47
A fourth principle of missionary activity may be seen in Acts 13:6. Which statement demonstrates that principle? The missionaries…
(A) concentrated on the principal cities of the empire and did not waste their time on the smaller towns and villages where the potential was not as great.
(B) settled down for a long stay in each place they visited.
(C) moved frequently, staying for a length of time only at the key population centers (which for Cyprus were Salamis and Paphos).
C
(More than one answer is possible.) In light of the fact that Christ never performed a miracle imposing sickness or loss on a person, how do you account for Saul’s miracle against Elymas, the sorcerer?
(A) This was Saul’s first miracle as recorded by Luke, and he was inexperienced.
(B) Saul was a vindictive person.
(C) Saul, being filled afresh with the Holy Spirit and remembering perhaps the
blindness that had brought him spiritual sight (9:8; 26:18), was led by the Holy
Spirit in pronouncing blindness on Elymas.
(D) The Gospel writers do not describe any confrontation between Jesus and sorcerers, but Acts describes Jesus’ confrontation with sorcerers through
the apostles.
C, D
What is the seventh principle of missionary activity reflected in Barnabas and Saul’s
experience at Cyprus?
(A) When the gospel is faithfully declared in truth and power, individuals come to believe in the Lord.
(B) We should not expect people to be saved simply because missionary or
evangelistic efforts have been made.
(C) One should not be concerned if there are no results from his or her ministry. The response to God’s call is the important thing; results are relatively unimportant.
A
kerygma meaning
the proclamation or announcement of God’s saving activity in calling and
sustaining His chosen people
Circle the letter preceding each TRUE statement regarding Paul’s review of
Israel’s history.
(A) Such a review would have bored his audience; they were more concerned with contemporary problems and philosophical movements.
(B) Nothing could have been more central in gaining the attention of the synagogue audience than for Paul to link God’s past activity in Israel’s history with His most recent act in bringing to Israel a savior.
(C) Paul’s purpose was to show how God’s actions of sovereignty occur only when people create the conditions for God to work.
(D) Paul showed how God moved repeatedly in Israel’s history in His sovereign acts. Israel knew God’s character because He had acted so decisively in their behalf.
B, D
Compare the preaching of Peter (Acts 2:17–36; 3:12–26) and Stephen (7:1–53) with that of Paul. For the next two study questions, circle the letter preceding the TRUE statement in each set.
(A) Only Peter and Stephen used the Old Testament in showing how Christ
fulfilled prophecy.
(B) Paul illustrated how God had worked in sovereignly calling and sustaining Israel, a theme advanced by Stephen. However, Paul did not stress the theme of
rejection as Stephen did. In describing how Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament,
Paul used an approach similar to Peter’s.
B
Which is True?
(A) Paul’s audience had been far removed from the events associated with Christ’s death. Rather than calling his audience to receive forgiveness for killing Christ, he summoned them to receive forgiveness for sins that Moses’ law had no
power to forgive.
(B) Paul, like Peter and Stephen, accused his audience of the crucifixion of Christ.
A
What theological argument would the Jewish leadership have used to cloak their real motive of jealousy in resisting Paul’s words to the Jewish community?
(A) Including in the community of God Gentiles who had not been circumcised or disciplined in obedience to Jewish customs and laws would destroy the Jewish way of life.
(B) The wholesale inclusion of Gentiles into the synagogue simply because they believed in Jesus as the Messiah was unthinkable. Such an acceptance could result only in a corruption and dilution of practices the Law demanded.
(C) The leadership would have offered alternative explanations to counter Paul’s interpretation of Old Testament prophecies related to Jesus.
all
When the Jews of Pisidian Antioch rejected the gospel message, Paul employed an additional missionary strategy that involved…
(A) leaving and going to another town.
(B) beginning to preach directly to Gentiles outside the synagogue setting.
b
Compare the following verses with Acts 13:48: Matthew 10:32; Ephesians 1:5–6; 2 Peter 3:9; Revelation 3:20; 22:17. Based on your comparison, circle the letter preceding each TRUE statement below.
(A) If God has already determined that we will be saved, there is nothing we can do about it. We will be saved.
(B) God will not save me unless I ask to be saved.
(C) Because God chose me, I chose Him.
(D) Because I chose God, God chose me.
(E) Like the nature of the Trinity and that of Jesus Christ, who is both man and God, the relationship of divine sovereignty (or election) and humanity’s freedom (or choice) is a mystery reconciled in God’s mind but not in ours, this side of heaven
B, C, D, E
6 major principles that demonstrate the reflexes Christians show towards difficulty and the good God accomplishes in difficulty
- Expect opposition and testing.
- Avoid blame, complaint, bitterness, or self-pity. Be filled with the Holy Spirit and with joy.
- Be adaptable. Learn to sense what the Holy Spirit may require in a given situation.
- The worst battles often occur after the greatest victories.
- Do not become passive. Fight the good fight of faith. Struggle against setbacks.
- Look at what God is growing through your adversity. The fruit of the Spirit springs from the soil of one’s struggle.
Acts 14:22–23 lists four ways Paul and Barnabas followed through in establishing the new converts in the faith. What were these four ways?
- strengthening the disciples
- encouraging them to remain true to the faith in hardship
- appointing elders in every place for indigenous churches
- committing the believers to the Lord with prayer and fasting
which is true?
(A) From the beginning, the church of Jerusalem had set out to consciously fulfill
the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19–20 and the Lord’s command of
Acts 1:8.
(B) Acts 1–14 does not record a single example in which the Jerusalem church planned missionary activity outside its own immediate area.
B
which is true?
(A) Believers in the Jerusalem church viewed the revelation of Jesus as Messiah as completing their ancestral faith rather than changing it in any respect.
(B) The early church in Jerusalem made a clean break with Jewish customs and the Jewish way of life. It grasped the significance that Christ’s work rendered the temple ordinances and the Law of no importance to Christian practice
A
which is true?
(A) Samaritans were evangelized because the Jerusalem church did not see their alien theology and ethnic background as obstacles to the gospel message. The Jerusalem church sent missionaries to the Samaritans because of the church’s love for lost souls.
(B) The gospel came to the Samaritans through Philip because the church had been scattered as a result of Saul’s persecution.
B
which is true?
(A) From its beginning, the Jerusalem church saw that Christ had fulfilled, in
His own Person, the Law’s requirements. Therefore, preachers like Stephen
and theology like that of Paul and the book of Hebrews were dominant in the early days.
(B) The early church saw Christ as the fulfillment of prophecy, but it still taught
and practiced that believers must fulfill the requirements of the Law.
B
which is true?
(A) The Antioch of Syria church was founded because of the ministry of traveling believers from Cyprus and Cyrene who spoke the message to Jews and Greeks.
(B) The Jerusalem church recognized that the world’s third largest city was only
three hundred miles away and that it would prove to be an ideal base for the
spread of the gospel to the Roman world. Thus, it commissioned Barnabas and Saul to found a church there.
A
Which statement most accurately reflects the attitude of Jerusalem believers toward the mission of the church?
(A) By the time of the Jerusalem Council (around AD 49), or nearly twenty years after the beginning of the church, a strong “nonmissionary” sentiment existed among Jerusalem believers.
(B) Within nearly twenty years of its existence, the Jerusalem church had become known throughout the world for its missionary endeavors, which were directed toward the Gentiles.
(C) It is unfair to characterize the Jerusalem church as “nonmissionary,” for it did believe in spreading the gospel. The so-called “nonmissionary” sentiment was actually an attitude that said Gentiles should not be accepted into the church until they became practicing Jews.
C
The Lord had not used the Jerusalem church in bringing the gospel to the Gentiles because the church members…
(A) had not witnessed God work in miraculous ways.
(B) were untested in trial and could not survive the rigors of persecution.
(C) lacked love for each other.
(D) held to a theology that stood in the way.
d
What specific event led to calling the Jerusalem Council?
(A) Members of the circumcision party came from Judea to Antioch, teaching the Gentile believers that they could not be saved unless they were circumcised.
(B) Barnabas and Paul were uncertain about the nature of their ministry to the
Gentiles. Before continuing, they came to the apostles and elders for approval and advice.
A
Circle the letter preceding each TRUE statement concerning the circumcision
party’s approach to Gentile believers.
(A) The circumcision party could quote much Old Testament Scripture to
substantiate its position.
(B) The circumcision party was sincere in its belief.
(C) The circumcision party could say that a substantial number of believers in the
Jerusalem church, including possibly some of the leaders, supported its position.
all
Which statement best characterizes the nature of the visit to Antioch by certain members of the circumcision party?
(A) They appear to have been sent officially by the Jerusalem church.
(B) They appear to have acted on their own in coming.
B
When Paul and Barnabas reported about the Gentiles’ conversion, how did the response they received in Phoenicia (Tyre & Sidon) and Samaria differ from the response they
received in Jerusalem?
There was joy in Phoenicia and Samaria. There was conflict in Jerusalem because the Pharisees challenged it.
the 6 steps the Jerusalem Council followed that show us how to resolve problems that arise among believers
- Define the problem.
- Have a full and open discussion of the problem.
- Listen to the experiences of godly people whose past walk with God gives them insight into the situation.
- Test experiences by Scripture.
- Separate the major issues from the minor issues.
- Clearly communicate the decision.
Acts 9-15 records 3 visits of Paul to Jerusalem. What are they each for?
- After his conversion (9)
- as a bearer of famine relief funds (11)
- as a representative from Antioch to the Jerusalem Council (15)
How did the beginning of the second missionary journey (Acts 15:36) differ from that of the first (13:2)?
the 1st was initiated by Holy Spirit; the 2nd by Paul.
on the 1st, they didn’t know the destination; on the 2nd, they did.
Which statements below about Timothy are TRUE?
(A) His conversion can probably be dated from the first missionary journey.
(B) He was the first of Paul’s companions to have no ties with the Jerusalem church.
(C) He was the first Gentile traveling companion of Paul.
A, B
Which statements best explain why Paul had Timothy circumcised?
(A) Paul had second thoughts about his earlier opposition to the circumcision party and was in the process of reevaluating his theology.
(B) Paul believed fully in these principles: (1) Circumcision is unnecessary for salvation, and (2) advocating that Jews not be circumcised only hinders them from coming to the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:19–23).
(C) Because Timothy was the product of a mixed marriage, his status as a Jew needed to be regularized in order for him to have an opportunity to minister to Jews.
(D) Paul wanted to demonstrate that it was better to be a Jew than a Greek
B, C
Assuming that our lives morally and spiritually are in God’s will, how does He
guide us? List the five principles given in the preceding statements that show how Paul experienced God’s leading
- by direct revelation, such as a vision or voice
- by the counsel, direction, or confirmation of other believers
- through worship experiences
- through circumstances
- through personal choice
A more probable explanation for the identity of the man of Macedonia is that he
(A) was the Lord Jesus.
(B) was an angel. (Angels are described as men in Acts 1:10; 10:30.)
(C) may have been an angel or an unknown “representative” Macedonian man.
C
(More than one response is correct.) Based on your knowledge of Paul’s missionary strategy, why does he apparently bypass ministry at Amphipolis and Apollonia and come directly on to Thessalonica?
(A) These towns were not major urban centers like Philippi and Thessalonica.
(B) No Jewish synagogue could be located in the towns.
(C) Paul knew that if he founded churches at Philippi and Thessalonica, he could rely on these churches to spread the word of the gospel to the cities in between.
(D) He was in a hurry to get to Rome
A, C
What 2 philosophical groups did Paul meet in Athens?
Stoics & Epicurean philosophers
Acts contains how many of Paul’s evangelistic sermons? and where were they preached?
2
Pisidian Antioch & Athens
For Jews, Paul’s starting point was _____.
For Gentiles, his starting point was _____.
For both, his summation is _____.
revelation
reason
the resurrection of Jesus
Circle the letter preceding each TRUE comparison of Paul’s preaching at Pisidian
Antioch and Mars Hill.
(A) In Pisidian Antioch, Paul’s sermon was directed to Jews. At Athens, Paul
preached to Greeks.
(B) No matter where Paul preached, as the Antioch and Athens sermons show, he used the same sermon format.
(C) In preaching to Jews, Paul cited the Old Testament Scriptures. In preaching to the intellectual Greeks, Paul abstained from referring to the Old Testament.
(D) As Luke’s account of Paul’s Pisidian Antioch sermon was no doubt a
condensation, so also is his record of Paul’s sermon in Athens a condensation of
his major themes.
(E) Paul’s sermon at Antioch of Pisidia included an appeal for the audience to recognize the revelation God had made of himself in Israel’s history. At Athens
he appealed to his audience to use the reason with which God had equipped them for understanding His essential nature
A, C, D, E
According to Bruce, what are the likely reasons for Claudius’ action against Jews at Rome?
(A) Claudius had likely forbidden the Jews in Rome to practice their ancestral customs, and for them this was equivalent to expulsion.
(B) Suetonius, the Roman historian, indicated that riots in the Jewish community had
broken out at the instigation of one, Chrestus (Latin spelling).
(C) The uproar in the Jewish community at Rome may have been the result of
Christos, the Christ, Messiah (Greek spelling). Believers who proclaimed
Christos to the Jewish community of Rome faced situations like that of the
proclaimers in Thessalonica (17:5–9).
B, C
Where did Paul go after Athens? and who did he meet there?
Corinth
Priscilla & Aquilla
According to requirements given for vows in Numbers 6:1–21, what was the nature of Paul’s experience while he was under the vow?
(A) He did not cut his hair from the time the vow was made until the vow had
been fulfilled.
(B) He refrained from eating meat and any product of the grapevine.
(C) He avoided contact with anything dead.
(D) He did all of the above.
D
we see one practice or aspect of Paul’s
ministry that is apparent in each setting. What important characteristic of his work as an apostle is demonstrated?
He followed up with the churches begun under his ministry, strengthening and encouraging them.
The beginning of the third missionary journey differed from those of the first and second in that Paul…
(A) appeared to have no companion as the journey began.
(B) left from Jerusalem rather than Antioch.
(C) took the largest team of ministers he had ever taken on a missionary journey
A
With an understanding of geography, one can more fully appreciate why Paul had been delayed from reaching Ephesus. Look at the map of Paul’s third missionary journey found in this lesson, then select the TRUE statement.
(A) Ephesus was to the west of the churches Paul founded on the first and second missionary journeys.
(B) Ephesus was to the east of the churches Paul established on the first and second missionary journeys.
(C) Ephesus was in the center between the churches Paul planted on the first and second missionary journeys.
C
Why was the delay in Paul’s coming to Ephesus an ideal strategy of the Holy Spirit? Circle the letter preceding each TRUE statement.
(A) Paul was located centrally in his field in relation to the churches he had founded on the first and second missionary journeys. Therefore, he was more readily accessible to all of them for counsel, pastoral care, and oversight.
(B) At Ephesus, Paul could effectively deploy fellow workers to the churches with instructions and messages, and they could more readily report back to him.
(C) From Ephesus in the center, Paul could more effectively arrange to gather an offering from the churches established on the first and second missionary journeys for the needy saints in Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 16:14; 2 Corinthians 8 and 9; Acts 20:4–5).
(D) Since Ephesus was centrally located between the churches of South Galatia and Greece, believers traveling to Ephesus from east and west added impact to Paul’s ministry there. In military language, the Holy Spirit caused Paul to secure the eastern and western flanks of territory before launching the attack on the strategic stronghold of population and the occult, Ephesus.
all
Upon arriving at Ephesus, what believers did Paul find?
(A) Apollos and his Christian congregation
(B) Aquila and Priscilla
(C) Some disciples who had not heard of the Holy Spirit
C
How did Paul’s experience and strategy in Ephesus differ compared to what he had found and done previously in other towns?
(A) He first sought out Jews and ministered in the synagogue.
(B) After seeking out Jews and finding none, he began preaching to the Gentiles.
(C) He encountered disciples and began ministering to their needs.
C
What three baptisms have already been identified in the book of Acts?
John’s baptism
water baptism in the name of Jesus
baptism in the Holy Spirit by Jesus
list the activities Paul engaged in at Ephesus
taught daily in the hall of Tyrannus.
worked as a tent maker.
taught from house to house
dispatched and received messengers from other churches founded previously.
Based on your study of Acts and reading of Romans 15:17–29; 1 Corinthians 16:14; and 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, which of these factors are TRUE and led Paul to develop the travel plans stated in Acts 19:21?
(A) He felt that the church of Ephesus had grown to the point where it could safely be left to continue its work of fellowship and witness without him.
(B) He wanted to go through Macedonia and Achaia not only to strengthen the faith of believers in churches there but also to receive their offerings for the Jerusalem saints.
(C) He was determined to go to Jerusalem to take a relief offering from the Gentile churches he had founded to the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.
(D) After his trip to Jerusalem, he intended to go to Rome. His purpose in visiting Rome was to see the work there, enjoy the fellowship of Roman Christians, and be assisted by Roman believers in further church planting. He felt his pioneer ministry to the east of Rome was completed, and his missionary task was now to
take the gospel further west, even to Spain.
all
What places in Macedonia would Paul have visited after leaving Ephesus?
the churches founded in Macedonia on the 2nd journey: Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea
Their final day in Troas was Sunday. What is significant about Luke’s mention that
on the first day of the week they were gathered together to break bread?
this is the first reference in Acts to Christians meeting on the 1st day of the week rather than the Sabbath
Compare Paul’s address in Acts 13, 17, and 20
13: Paul proclaimed the gospel to a Jewish synagogue audience.
17: Paul proclaimed the gospel to a pagan intellectual audience.
20: Paul’s address is to believers; it shows his commitment to the work of the Lord and his love for the people.
What two sources of attack did Paul see as coming against the Ephesian church in the future?
fierce wolves would come in to prey on the flock.
members from the flock itself would arise with false teaching.
What outward manifestation of the first love of Christ had the Ephesian church forsaken (Revelation 2:4)?
(A) Through Paul’s ministry, the Ephesian church had begun a crusade to free and liberate all the slaves in Asia. This crusade was stopped through the efforts of Demetrius the silversmith.
(B) The elders of the Ephesian church had attempted to provide food and relief to all the poor in Ephesus and to eliminate temple prostitution, but they discontinued this effort when Paul left Ephesus.
(C) The Ephesian church had strongly petitioned for new legislation giving equality to women and requiring the public education of all children. This endeavor gradually ended within five years after Paul left Ephesus.
(D) Paul’s students from the hall of Tyrannus went out all over Asia, winning people to Jesus and starting new churches.
D
From your analysis of the above, what patterns of growth should we expect to see in the church today if we have the willingness to work (Matthew 9:37–38), the openness to be led, and the faith to believe?
(A) We should realize that only a few will be saved.
(B) We should expect the gospel to have a powerful effect on the population of our area, and we should expect masses of people to be saved.
B
Circle the letter preceding each TRUE statement that accurately describes the nature of Paul’s trip to Jerusalem.
(A) He had decided on his own to go to Jerusalem; therefore, the Holy Spirit warned him not to carry out his plans.
(B) Paul described his trip to Jerusalem as being undertaken by resolve, later indicating that he was going to Jerusalem bound in the Spirit.
(C) At Tyre, as in every other city where believers had prophesied to Paul, the warning through the Spirit was that he should not go.
(D) Only at Tyre did the believers say through the Spirit that he should not go to Jerusalem. In other cities, believers prophesied the consequences that awaited him but did not tell him the Spirit forbade him.
B, D
In the early days of the church, what significant event occurred at Caesarea that demonstrated conclusively to the church that the community of Jesus Christ was not
limited to those of the Jewish way of life?
the salvation of Cornelius, his family, and friends
Agabus, known among believers as a prophet, came from Judea while Paul was in Caesarea. On what previous occasion was Agabus mentioned in Acts?
he came in Acts 11 to the Antioch church from Jerusalem. While there, he prophesied of a famine that would occur, which caused the Antioch church to send financial assistance to the church at Jerusalem.
Acts 21:16 gives what two descriptions of Mnason?
a man from Cyprus; one of the early disciples
Paul met with the Jerusalem church leaders the next day. Which of these statements are TRUE of that meeting?
(A) The apostles were not in the meeting because they did not feel Paul’s presence was significant.
(B) None of the apostles were in Jerusalem. Only James, the brother of the Lord, was there, and he was not one of the Twelve. The apostles had evidently all dispersed to various places of ministry, with the exception of James the son of Zebedee, who was martyred.
(C) Paul met with a governing body at Jerusalem called apostles. Their name derived from the fact that as vacancies occurred in the original apostolate of twelve, new replacements were elected.
(D) Paul met with James and the elders. Since the term elders is also used of
the ruling Jewish Sanhedrin (Luke 22:66), it is reasonable to suppose that the format of the Christian community’s governance paralleled that of the
Jewish community.
B, D
Who accused Paul of bringing Greeks into the temple and defiling the Holy Place?
(A) Fellow Jewish believers in Christ
(B) The Sanhedrin
(C) Jews from Asia who had seen him in the city with Trophimus, the Ephesian
C
Compare Acts 21:28 with 6:13. Which statements are correct based on
this comparison?
(A) The same charges brought against Stephen were brought against Paul some twenty-five years later.
(B) The fact that Paul was identified with the same issues that had marked Stephen indicates that Paul’s understanding of the implications of the gospel was more in keeping with Stephen’s than that of the vast majority of believers and leaders in the Jerusalem church.
(C) As with Stephen, the charges against Paul reflected a distortion of what he had actually taught, but it is easy to see how the Jews had made such a distortion.
all
It is interesting to compare the facts Paul revealed about himself according to the needs of the given situation. Compare Acts 21:39 with 22:25. Which statements are TRUE?
(A) In 21:39, Paul appealed to his Roman citizenship in an effort to secure the
tribune’s permission to address the crowd.
(B) In 22:25, Paul appealed to the fact that he was a Jew in order to escape
the flagellation.
(C) Paul’s claim to Roman citizenship in 21:39 was immaterial to his request, but it was crucial in 22:25 to escape an undeserved flagellation.
(D) In 21:39, Paul simply wanted to speak to the crowd as a fellow Jew.
C, D
When Ananias ordered Paul struck for his statement, Paul hotly responded. Yet, upon hearing that he had spoken against the high priest, Paul moderated his words by saying, “I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’” Which of these are plausible explanations for Paul’s comment that he did not realize Ananias was the high priest?
(A) The order to strike him may have risen from an area of the room where certain members of the Sanhedrin were closely seated together, and Paul had not identified the person in the group that spoke.
(B) Paul’s visits to Jerusalem had been infrequent over the past twenty-five years, and therefore he might not have known the high priest by sight.
(C) Paul had recognized Ananias to hold the office of high priest, but his statement reflected his tongue-in-cheek opinion that Ananias was unqualified for that
office. What Paul actually may have been saying, for those who had ears to hear, was this: “When a rogue like Ananias holds the office of high priest, there is no high priest. Had he, in fact, been the high priest, I would not have spoken evil of him.”
all
Paul received 4 supernatural visitations after his conversion. What were they?
- 3 years after his conversion, while in a state of ecstasy in the temple, he received orders to leave jerusalem and go to the Gentiles.
- during his 2nd missionary journey, Paul’s call to Europe came through the vision of a Macedonian man.
- The Lord appeared to Paul in a vision at Corinth and told him he would be free from harm while there.
- Paul was assured by the Lord (at the outset of his imprisonment) that he would see Rome.
Which statements are True?
(A) Paul’s visit to Jerusalem came at the right time. Since the apostles were no
longer at Jerusalem, the Lord sent Paul there to become the apostle in charge.
(B) After more than twenty years of missionary expansion, the Jerusalem church still thought of the gospel as best expressed within their cultural walls. By going to Jerusalem, Paul was able to confront the nationalistic* interests in the church with the internationalism of the gospel. This was clearly demonstrated in the
delegation he brought.
(C) When Paul arrived in Jerusalem in about AD 58, the city and the temple had
only twelve more years before the Romans destroyed them. The ill treatment the Jews in Jerusalem gave Paul, the first such persecution directed against believers
in about twenty-five years (since Saul’s conversion), might have been a catalyst
the Lord used to help the Jerusalem church emotionally move away from its commitment to Judaic institutions.
(D) The Lord and Paul loved the believers at Jerusalem, no matter what narrow theological limitations they had. Paul’s willingness to come to them at the risk of
his own life was a tangible display of his love. Also, perhaps Paul always felt a
special obligation to the Jerusalem church for the way he had persecuted it. The faith and love he had seen expressed in the believers he had dragged to prison and had executed had made a profound impression on his life.
B, C, D
name those who came to Caesarea to press charges against Paul.
high priest Ananias
spokesman Tertullus
some elders
What 3 specific charges did Tertullus bring against Paul?
- he stirs up riots among the Jews.
- he is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes
- he tried to profane the temple.
(More than one answer is correct.) Why would the accusation that Paul was a
troublemaker who stirred up riots among the Jews all over the world be difficult to prove in Felix’s court?
(A) Tertullus did not have witnesses from the riot centers available at Caesarea to testify against Paul.
(B) Paul could successfully argue that he had been brought before the bar of Roman justice at Corinth for inciting trouble among Jews, and the consul, Gallio, had thrown the case out of his court.
(C) Paul could successfully argue that in no town in the world had he been found guilty by Roman justice for inciting riots.
(D) Paul could point out that wherever he went preaching the gospel, revival, not riot, resulted
B, C, D
The second charge was that Paul was a ringleader of the Nazarene sect. This charge likewise had little value before Felix’s court because
(A) Roman authorities had declared the Nazarene sect to be an illegal and seditious group due to the repeated revolts Christians caused in Judea.
(B) according to Bruce, the meaning of Tertullus’ use of the term Nazarene was
unclear. Regardless of his intended meaning, the Nazarenes were not a sect or heresy outlawed by Roman law at this time.
B
(More than one answer is correct.) Tertullus’ most serious accusation against Paul was that he had attempted to profane the temple. A successful prosecution on this charge would result in capital punishment. A variant reading for the text of Acts
24:6–8 adds this after Tertullus’ words: “So we seized him and wanted to judge him according to our law. But the commander, Lysias, came and with the use of much force snatched him from our hands and ordered his accusers to come before you.” While the variant reading does not have the better manuscript support, it may well reflect what Tertullus actually said. In either case, Tertullus’ description of Paul’s seizure in the temple omitted the fact that
(A) the mob tried to kill Paul on the spot for the supposed profaning of the temple.
(B) Lysias’ soldiers intervened to prevent Paul’s being killed.
(C) Roman soldiers violently swept into the temple to interrupt a peaceful dispute between Paul and the Jewish authorities.
(D) the temple authorities were lawfully leading Paul away for detainment to await proper trial by the Sanhedrin when the Roman soldiers violently interrupted the peaceful exercise of justice.
A, B
Paul had been treated fairly and impartially in his three previous appearances before Roman authorities. Note where and before whom
Paul appeared in each.
before Sergius Paulus at Paphos, Cyprus.
before the magistrates at Philippi
before Gallio at Corinth
Which of these reasons are TRUE and help explain why Felix adjourned the proceedings against Paul to another day?
(A) Although Tertullus’ indictment of Paul was poorly conceived and
unsubstantiated by the facts presented, Felix did not want to offend the Jewish leadership by dismissing the case immediately.
(B) Since Paul’s initial defense had neutralized the charges against him, it was simply a matter of Paul’s word against his accusers’ word. The testimony of the Roman arresting officer, Lysias, was needed.
(C) Felix had no interest in continuing a civil hearing when the discussion centered on matters of theological concern.
(D) Felix could not decide whether or not to release Paul because he was confused about the case. Being unsaved, he postponed making a final decision.
A, B, C
Luke summarizes the three major themes that dominated Paul’s evangelistic witness to Felix and Drusilla. What were these three themes, and in light of the above historical background, why were they particularly appropriate for Felix and
Drusilla?
righteousness - because both lacked it
self-control - because their marital behavior demonstrated its absence
the judgment to come - both were living for this life alone
Analyze Acts 24:25–27 carefully. Circle the letter preceding each TRUE statement that describes the various ways Felix responded to Paul’s witness.
(A) Felix was a proud and contemptuous person, and he heard Paul merely as an
amusement.
(B) He was frightened (perhaps at the prospect that he, a judge, would be judged by God).
(C) Felix procrastinated and postponed making a final decision, becoming an
example of the tragedy of those who neglect accepting Christ.
(D) Felix demonstrated keen insight into the Way and gave evidence of a
transformed life as a result of Paul’s witness.
(E) Felix was a corrupt man who secretly hinted that money (bribery) could effect Paul’s release.
(F) Felix demonstrated a tendency to intellectualize the gospel message. He listened repeatedly, but all the conversations produced no moral or spiritual change.
(G) Felix showed the telltale marks of expediency. He left Paul in prison for two
years without legally charging him with an indictable crime and without a fair and impartial trial. He did this simply to satisfy or appease a strong Jewish element that he had alienated on many previous occasions.
B, C, E, F, G
Upon Festus’ arrival in Jerusalem, the chief priests and Jewish leaders attempted to have him transfer Paul back to Jerusalem for trial. Luke clearly shows their motive
for such a request: to have another opportunity to assassinate Paul. Throughout Acts, the only weapons used against believers were lies and violence. Never was the action predicated on truth or justice. Which statements are TRUE and help to explain why the Jewish leadership asked Festus at the very outset of his administration for Paul’s transfer to Jerusalem?
(A) He might be willing to agree to their request to get his administration off to a good start in his dealings with the Jewish leadership.
(B) Festus was violently anti-Christian and could be counted on for assistance.
(C) As a new procurator, he lacked experience in Judean administrative affairs. That inexperience might cause him to take steps his predecessor, Felix, had refused.
(D) Felix’s recall by Rome had resulted from his intervention in a civil disturbance in which he had brutally killed many Jewish leaders. Festus might be counted on
for indulgence to some Jewish requests in order not to perpetuate the tension that characterized Felix’s administration.
A, C
Which of these reasons are TRUE and help explain why Paul appealed his case to Caesar, exercising his right as a Roman citizen to appeal at any point in
the proceedings?
(A) To follow Festus’ proposed course of action in having his case tried in Jerusalem meant almost certain death for him.
(B) Other than Felix, Paul had always found Roman administrators to be extremely fair in their dealings with him. He could have felt that Rome itself would hold the same prospect for fairness and impartiality he had experienced before
with Gallio.
(C) He thought a trial before the corrupt Emperor Nero would be even more impartial than one in Jerusalem.
A, B
Consistently throughout his defense, Paul maintained the Jewishness of his beliefs. He held to the mainstream of his theological tradition: belief in the resurrection. This issue was the root of his legal problems. How many times and to whom did
Paul raise this central matter that his real “crime” was belief in the resurrection?
4 - with the Sanhedrin, then Felix, then Festus, then Agrippa
Circle the letter preceding each TRUE statement regarding the resurrection.
(A) Faithful Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead and saw no fulfillment of Israel’s ancient hope apart from it.
(B) Sadducees, who were the majority in the Sanhedrin, strongly supported belief in resurrection.
(C) Resurrection had given hope to the Jewish people that God would keep the
promises He had made to the fathers of the nation long before.
(D) Paul’s point was that this belief in God’s promise to the fathers had now been validated, since God had already raised up one man from the dead. By this fact God had demonstrated that the Man was Israel’s long-expected Messiah
A, C, D
The account of Paul’s conversion is told three times in Acts: once by Luke (9:1–19) and twice by Paul (22:1–21; 26:12–18). As you compare these accounts, what new details come out during his address to Agrippa? Why might Paul have given this different account with the new details? Select the appropriate responses below to these questions.
(A) The statement “It is hard for you to kick against the goads,” was new and
probably reflected Paul’s inner conflict over his fierce denial of Christ and
persecution of the saints.
(B) The new details concerning the Lord’s words to Paul on the Damascus Road related to the statement “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
(C) The details of Paul’s “kicking against the goads” were probably recorded here to show the inner conflict he experienced over his treatment of Stephen and others
whom he had wrongfully persecuted. Just as goads were used to prod a stubborn ox who was rebelling against the plow, so Paul’s conscience may have been continually prodded by the memories of his brutal repression of Christians.
(D) In recounting the Lord’s commission to him in 26:16–18, Paul gave an
abbreviated version, not a chronological unfolding of the details related to his
commission, conversation with Ananias, and vision in the temple.
(E) Unlike the account in Acts 26, the accounts in Acts 9 and Acts 22 indicate that Paul’s commission came through Ananias and a vision in the temple.
(F) The logical reason for the difference in the Acts 26 account is that as he stood before Agrippa, Paul was keenly aware of his need for brevity. To relate all the details of his experiences in Christ would have been tedious and irrelevant to a
non-Christian audience.
all EXCEPT B
Which of these conclusions can we draw?
(A) Saul was educated in Jerusalem at the feet of Gamaliel, the greatest teacher of the day.
(B) God especially commissioned Paul for his ministry, which included witness before Gentiles, kings, and the sons of Israel.
(C) Saul, the pupil of the illustrious Gamaliel, had been much like his teacher in terms of moderation and tolerance, characteristics that were required as a result
of his education and experience.
(D) In zeal for his religious beliefs, Saul had come behind none of his peers, and this zeal was expressed in harrying the infant Christian community (because his zeal was not at this time “based on knowledge,” Romans 10:2).
(E) Paul was a chosen vessel, specially prepared for the role of witnessing before people from all social levels. His great talent was totally devoted to the service of his Master.
all EXCEPT C
In Lesson 1 we suggested that a possible reason for Luke’s writing of Acts was
apologetic. That is, his purpose may have been to prepare a background history of Christianity, showing particularly that it was a nonseditious faith. In this sense it was suited for use in the Roman world as an apologetic for Christianity (and possibly even as material for Paul’s defense before Caesar). In light of this assumption, which statements truly reflect how the material of Acts 23:31–26:32 would have furthered Luke’s purpose?
(A) Both Felix and Festus suffered by comparison with the earlier example of
Sergius Paulus and Gallio in their treatment of Paul.
(B) In spite of hearings over a two-year period before Felix, Festus, and Agrippa,
Paul was being sent to Rome without a concrete indictable charge against him.
(C) The issues that resulted in Paul’s arrest and detainment were matters of theology, not matters relating to Roman concerns.
(D) At the end of his stay in Caesarea, both the procurator and the Jewish king agreed that Paul deserved to be set free. They would have released him had it not been for his appeal to Caesar, which they were required to honor.
all
Winter was rapidly approaching. Sailing on the Mediterranean was dangerous from mid-September to early November. From mid-November to February, there was no sailing at all on the open sea. Luke notes the dangers of the weather by indicating that “now it was after the Fast.” According to Bruce, what was the Fast, and how does Luke’s mention of it help us determine an exact date for the chronology of events? The Fast
(A) was the Feast of Pentecost, held in late August.
(B) was associated with the Day of Atonement, which in AD 59 fell on October 5.
(C) marked the Festival of Lights, held in December, to mark the victory of the
Maccabeans over Syria.
B
The third precautionary step was taken because of fear of running onto the Syrtis.
What was the Syrtis?
the banks of quicksand west of Cyrene off the N African coast… dreaded by sailors
How many times and under what circumstances had Paul been given divine
assurance that he would get to Rome?
(A) Paul was informed on the Damascus Road (9:1–19) that he would preach in
Rome. He heard this confirmed later in Caesarea.
(B) Paul was twice assured by the Lord that he would get to Rome: once after
his beating in Lystra (Acts 14), and once again as he returned to Jerusalem to
worship (21:17).
(C) Twice Paul was given divine assurances that he would get to Rome: once in
Jerusalem at the beginning of his captivity (23:11), and again in the latter days of
the frightful storm at sea (27:23–24).
C
Paul was likely encouraged not only by the presence of other believers upon his
arrival in Rome but also by the considerable improvement in his imprisonment circumstances. How was his imprisonment here different than what he experienced in Caesarea?
he was permitted to stay in his own place with a soldier guarding him via shackles.
Three days after his arrival in Rome, Paul met with what group?
Jewish leadership
(first for the Jew)
What were the two themes of Paul’s house preaching and teaching?
the kingdom of God and the Lord Jesus Christ
Compare the circumstances of Paul’s imprisonment in Acts 28:30–31 with those of his imprisonment recorded in 2 Timothy 1:16–17 and 4:9–18. Circle the letter preceding each TRUE statement.
(A) The conditions of the two imprisonments were identical.
(B) The Acts 28 imprisonment shows that Paul had considerable freedom and company. The 2 Timothy imprisonment shows him alone, stripped of good warm clothing (thus, his need for a cloak) and reading material.
(C) Acts 28 shows Paul facing trial, whereas 2 Timothy indicates that Paul had already had one hearing and was now facing another (which probably portended
his death).
B, C
