Wed Aug 31 2022Acts 08Acts 8
Acts 7 - ends with Stephen being stoned, Saul minding the coats
Acts 8:1 - Saul approved of this killing. See details in Ch 7
Acts 8:1b-3
There had been some persecution and attack
eg Pete and John jailed and told not to preach but released
Now, Stephen’s death.
- What happens?
- What’s the effect on the church? On Saul?
Acts 8:4-8
- did the persecution/scattering stop the spread of the word?
- Whose plans are working here?
- Where is Samaria? How did Jews and Samaritans relate?
- Why did people pay close attention to Philip?
- What was the impact on the city/region?
Acts 8:9-25
Simon: a Jewish/Samaritan name
Sorcery, “practicing magic” A magician
- How had he affected the people?
- What did they think of him?
- What did they call him?
- How long had he been there?
- Did he claim supernatural powers?
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See Acts 13:6
- What was this sorcerer called?
See Acts 19:13-16
- What’s the risk for sorcerers?
- did Simon become a believer? (13)
- Did he really understand? (18)
- Did he show “Christian virtues”, fruit of the Spirit?
- What was Peter’s response to Simon’s request? (20-23)
- Is there a warning to “faith healers” here?
- How should they respond? (24)
Acts 8:14-17
- Should it have surprised the apostles that Samaritans were converted? (Acts 1:8)
- What kind of baptism had these new believers been given?
- How did Peter and John add to this?
- Can baptised believers ask to receive the Holy Spirit?
- Who from?
- Was Philip a gifted, Spirit-filled Christian? (Acts 6:5)
- Had he not told them about the Holy Spirit?
Acts 8:26-40
- Why did Philip move on? (26)
- Who did he encounter? (27)
- What was the eunuch reading? (28)
- Who was in charge here? (29)
- Is the response to Philip’s question surprising? (30, 31)
- Who is the quote from Isaiah about? (32-33. Is 53:7,8)
- Could you explain the good news about Jesus only from the Old Testament? Or this passage?
- How did the explanation affect the eunuch? (36-38)
- What happened to Philip next? (39,40)
- What happened to the eunuch?
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