Sunday School Lessons: Acts 15

Lesson 18

The First Missionary Journey, continued

Acts 14

Read vs. 1-7
As we’ve noted in the past, they take the Gospel “to the Jew first.”  Both Jews and Gentiles believed.  That’s when the trouble began.  Unbelieving Jews stirred things up against them and “poisoned their minds against the brothers.  This didn’t bother Paul and Barnabbas.  They remained there for a long time, preaching and teaching and doing signs and miracles in the power of the Holy Spirit.  They were not afraid of troubles or persecution.  The city was divided.  Remember, this is a Gentile city.  Paul and Barnabbas are on one side and they are both Jewish believers.  The other side, stirring up trouble, are unbelieving Jews.  It was only when the city, along with the rulers joined forces to mistreat and stone them that they left town and headed for Lystra and Derbe.  Where ever they went, they preached the Gospel.  As during the time of persecution in Jerusalem, persecution usually causes the Gospel to spread into new areas.
Read vs. 6-18
They went to Lystra.  (see map) Paul and Barnabbas were able to do signs and miracles in the power of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes these are called the apostolic gifts?  Why do you think that is?  Why were the apostles able to perform miracles?
Read vs. 9.  Why did Paul heal the man?  Why was this miracle so amazing?
What was the reaction of the people when they saw what Paul had done?  Remember, these people were Gentiles, but more than that, they worshipped the Greek gods.  They tried to worship Paul and Barnabbas and even make sacrifices to them. Why did this upset Paul and Barnabbas so much?  
When they heard of it, they tore their clothes. Why?  How did they respond?
First, they told them that they were just men like themselves.  They wanted to turn their attention away from such false worship so that they would turn to the living God.  Even so, they could hardly prevent them from worshipping them and sacrificing to them. (Remember back in Chapter 9 when Peter had to warn Cornelius not to worship him, telling him that he was a man, just like himself)
Read vs.19-20
19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.
Antioch is 100 miles from Lystra!  Unbelieving Jews from Antioch and Iconium came all that way to stir up trouble against Paul.  This time, they stoned Paul and carried him out of the city, supposing he was dead.  Some Bible commentators believe that Paul WAS dead but that God raised him from the dead.  They think this because of what Paul later wrote in 2 Corinthians 2:2-4.  We don’t know for sure, but we do know for sure that it was a miraculous thing that Paul was stoned and yet lived, and was able to get up and go back into the city (that had just thrown him out!) and that he was able to travel to Derbe the next day!
Read vs. 21-23

21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

They went to Derbe and preached there.  They must’ve had more success there because they made many disciples.  Then they returned to Lystra and Iconium—both places where they had not had a good reception.  Why did they return?  What did they do while they were there?  Why was that important?
Read vs. 24-28 (follow their path on map)

24 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, 26 and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. 27 And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they remained no little time with the disciples.

They returned to the church in Antioch to tell them all that God had done through them and especially that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.  They remained there for some time.
Remember that the church, at first, was made up of believing Jews, then it was taken to Jewish communities and to the synagogues some Gentiles believed.  Now the Gospel is going out into wholly Gentile areas.  This ends the first missionary journey.

We’ll meet again on April 9th.  Please read chapter 15 to prepare for our next class.

*These lessons are written for use with elementary aged students.  You can find lessons for previous chapters here. 

Sunday School Lessons: Acts 13

Lesson 17

Paul's First Missionary Journey
Acts 13

Read Acts 1:8
This is the last major division of the book of Acts.  During the first division, the Gospel went “to the Jew first.”  The church was entirely composed of Jewish believers.  In the second division, Peter took the Gospel to Samaria. Now the Gospel is going into all the world through Saul.  In this section, Saul’s name changes to Paul and Paul becomes the leader of the church.

Map Summary:
Barnabas and Paul’s first stop is Cyprus, Barnabas’ home.  They cross the island and then sail from Paphos to Perga in Pamphylia.  Then they leave the ship and travel into Asia Minor and into Galatia.  They visit Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe.  They return through Attalia and sail back to Antioch.

Read verses 1-4
The chapter begins by listing the five leaders of the church in Antioch:  Barnabas, Simon, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, and Saul.  The leaders were fasting together and the Holy Spirit called Barnabas and Saul for a special work.  Notice, Barnabas’ name comes first.  Before long, this will change and Paul’s name will come first because he will become the chief spokesman.

The men fasted and prayed and then laid their hands on Barnabas and Saul before sending them away.  The laying on of hands is a way of identifying with the two missionaries. They are in partnership with them and sending them out as their representatives.  Even so, notice that vs. 4 says that they were sent by the Holy Spirit.

Read vs. 5
Here you see the method that is always used:  the Gospel is taken to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile. (Acts 1:8; Romans 1:16)  The Gospel was always preached first in the synagogue and then to the community at large.

Read vs. 6-12
In Paphos they came across a sorcerer (Bar-Jesus/Elymas).  He is also called a false prophet.  He was a companion of Sergius Paulus, the deputy of the country.  Paulus is called an intelligent man.  He calls for the missionaries to teach him about the word of God.  Elymas tried to influence Paulus from believing what Barnabas and Saul were teaching.  Paul, as he is called for the first time, was filled with the Holy Spirit and recognized him as a child of the devil and enemy.  The Spirit enables Paul to strike him blind.  Sergius Paulus was astonished by this miracle and believed.

Re: Saul/Paul’s name
Saul was his Jewish name, Paul was his Roman name.  Paul was both a Jew and a Roman citizen.  He is now moving away from addressing only Jews and is here beginning to take up his calling as the Apostle to the Gentiles.  This may account for the name change.

Paul had the sign gifts of the apostles.  Do you remember why the apostles were able to perform miracles?  Remember, the New Testament had not yet been written and the church was moving away from the Mosaic Law which had authority over the Jews to the new life and liberty in Christ.  This was a big shift in thinking, and the miracles were proof of their authority, given to them by God.  How are we to judge today whether teachings have the authority of God? 

Vs 13 Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, 14 but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia.

John Mark leaves them here.  Luke doesn’t give us any details, but later we will learn that John Mark deserted them.  Paul later refuses to take John Mark on another missionary journey and Barnabas and Paul disagree so much that they go their separate ways.  But later on at the end of his life, Paul asks for John Mark to come to him (2 Tim 4:11)  John Mark is given a second chance and Paul accepts him.  This is the same John Mark who wrote the Gospel of Mark.  God is a God of second chances.

Read vs 14-16
When they get to Antioch the went to the synagogue on the Sabbath.  After the service, it was customary to invite vistors to say something.  Paul stood up to preach.  He addresses his sermon to “Men of Israel and you who fear God.”  That tells us that there must have been Gentile proselytes there.

Read vs. 17-39
Paul’s sermon is a lot like Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost and Stephen’s sermon before the Sanhedrin.  He starts by reviewing Israel’s history as a nation, reminds them of the ministry of John the Baptist and then brings it up to the Gospel—the Person and the Work of Jesus Christ.  Central to his message is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  He confirms that Jesus is the Messiah by referring to the Old Covenant scriptures and compares David’s death to Jesus’ and ends by declaring that all who believe are justified and that they could never be justified by the law of Moses!  This must have been shocking to them!  He then goes on and exhorts them not to reject the message. (vs. 40-41)

Read vs. 42-49
When the service was over the Gentiles asked Paul to preach to them the next Sabbath!  Some of the Jews and proselytes and some Gentiles followed after Paul and were encouraged to “continue in the grace of God.”

Vs. 44 next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.

People must’ve been talking about what Paul had said in the synagogue because the whole city gathered to hear him speak!

45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.

The Jews were jealous and started causing trouble.  But notice what Paul says:  “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you.”  That has been and will continue to be the pattern.  The Gospel goes first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles.  Sadly, there is a pattern of rejection by the Jews.

Vs 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,
‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.
The Word of God spread throughout the whole region, but Paul and Barnabas were run out of town by the Jews.
Vs. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Shaking the dust off the feet was a Jewish sign of rejection. (Read Matthew 10:14)  They go on to Iconium, and the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

*These lessons are written for use with elementary aged students.  You can find lessons for previous chapters here.

Sunday School Lessons: Acts 11 and 12

Lesson 16
Acts 11 and 12

Read Acts 11:1-15   This section will serve as a review of Chapter 10.  

Why were the other Jewish believers criticizing him?  Why is Peter telling them everything that happened?  Do you think Peter understands why they are upset?

Read Acts 11:16-17
Peter begins remind them about what Jesus had said to them right before He ascended into heaven Acts 1:

1:4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with  the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

These Jewish believers knew exactly what Peter was talking about.  They had either experienced the happenings on the Day of Pentecost for themselves or had heard about what happened.

Read Acts 11:18
When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
When they heard what Peter had to say, they fell silent.  Not only didn’t they argue with Peter, they glorified God!  They understood without a shadow of a doubt that God had accepted the Gentiles and given them salvation.  

Ephesians 2:11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Read Acts 11:19-24

Notice that the preaching up to this time has been to the Jews alone.  The Hellenists were Jews who spoke Greek and observed Greek customs.

So many people were being converted by faith in Christ that word got back to the church in Jerusalem.  They sent Barnabas to Antioch to see what was going on!  The first time the believers were called “Christians” was in Antioch. Do you remember what they were sometimes called before that?  With this mention of Antioch, we’re going to begin to notice that Antioch is an important center of Christianity, along with Jerusalem.

Barnabas became the pastor of the church in Antioch.  How is he described?  Do you remember when we first heard the description “full of the Holy Spirit and of faith?”  The church grew quickly so Barnabas went to Tarsus to bring Paul back to work with him in Antioch.  They stayed there a whole year and the church grew and many people were taught.

Acts 11:27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). 29 So the disciples determined, everyone according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. 30 And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

The prophet Agabus, like all true prophets, spoke by the Spirit.  He brought news that there was going to be a famine.  So the church in Antioch sent gifts to the believers in Judea.  Notice who they selected to carry the gifts to Jerusalem; Saul!  The same man who “breathed out threats” and persecuted the church is now bringing help to the church in its time of need.

Chapter 12

Chapter 12 brings us back to persecution in the church, this time through King Herod.  King Herod Agrippa was the grandson of Herod the Great, who was the King who killed the boys who were born at the time that Christ was in an attempt to kill him.

Matthew 2: 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

This King Herod was against God and the people of God, too.  This marks a change in the persecutions of the early church.  Always before, the persecution of the church had been at the hands of the religious leaders (Sadducees).  The Jews were persecuting the believers.  Now the government joins in.

Herod killed James, the brother of John, with a sword.  This is not the James who wrote the book of James and was the leader of the believers in Jerusalem.  James is the second recorded martyr.

Read Acts 12:3-4

The Jews were pleased with the death of James, so Herod decided to go after Peter next.  They captured him and put him in jail.  It was the time of the Passover, so they were holding him until after Passover.  Peter was heavily guarded during this time.

Read Acts 12:5-12

The church in Jerusalem knew that Peter was in jail.  They prayed for him earnestly.
The night before he was to have been brought to Herod, Peter was chained to two men and there were guards outside his door.  He must have been asleep because the angel had to poke him in the side!  The angel raised him to his feet and the chains fell off.  The scripture doesn’t say that the men who had been chained to him were asleep, but there is no evidence that they were aware of what was happening.  The angel told him to get dressed and follow him.  Peter did, but he thought it was a vision.  He didn’t understand that he was really leaving the jail!
Read verse 10.  Think about how far they had to walk together, and yet no one followed after them.  As soon as they got out of the gates, the angel left him.  As soon as the angel left him, Peter “came to himself.”  Immediately, he understood what had happened! He knew that God had delivered him from the hand of Herod.
Peter went to Mary’s house, the mother of John Mark.  They were gathered there for prayer.

Read Acts 12:13-15 

They are gathered together, praying for Peter’s delivery from Herod but when he comes to them, they are shocked!  The servant girl leaves him standing at the gate.  When she tells them Peter is there, they think it’s his ghost!  But God heard their prayers and answered them.

Read Acts 16-17  Peter went in to them and told them what had happened.  He relieved their fears, but then he left.

Acts 12:18 Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19 And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.

When Luke says there was no little disturbance, he is really saying “there was an unbelievably HUGE disturbance!”  Herod questioned the guards and then had them killed.  Then he left town.  He went to Caesarea, which we learned already was a Roman city, full of government officials.

Read Acts 12:19-23.

Why do you think the angel of the Lord struck him down?

Isaiah 42:8 I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other.

Read Acts 12:25. 

Barnabas and Saul finished their ministry in Jerusalem and returned to Antioch.  They took John Mark with them.

Next week we will start the missionary journeys of Paul, when the Gospel goes out into all the world.  Read Chapter 13 and 14 for next week.

*These lessons are written for use with elementary aged students.  You can find lessons for previous chapters here.