Acts, Lessons 13-24
Lesson 13, Acts 11 & 12
Persecution causes Christians to spread out from Jerusalem and share the gospel with Gentiles. Barnabas reaches out to Paul to come to Antioch and preach and disciple believers there. Back in Jerusalem, the apostle James, brother to John, is killed by Herod Agrippa and, subsequently, Peter is arrested and imprisoned. Fearful Peter will suffer the same outcome as James, the church gathers to pray.
Lesson 14, Acts 13
How did God prepare the Roman world for the evangelistic spread of Christianity? Twelve ways are discussed. Has God continued to prepare various people groups to receive the gospel? Paul and Barnabas are sent out by the Antioch church as missionaries. Their journey begins on the island of Cyprus where they go first to speak in Jewish synagogues. On the island they encounter a Jewish sorcerer as they attempt to share the gospel with the island's proconsul.
Lesson 15, Acts 13 & 14
The account of Paul's first missionary journey is introduced with the typical worship service found in a Jewish synagogue, including the calendar for scripture readings. A video clip with the personal testimony of a Messianic Jew is shared. Paul and Barnabas go to Pisidian Antioch where Paul teaches of Jesus in the synagogue. Following much teaching, they are forced to move on to Iconium, then Lystra where Paul is stoned, and finally Derbe where many people believe and become disciples.
Lesson 16, Acts 15
As an introduction to the church's first major doctrinal challenge, little known facts about early Islam are shared. Talmudic teachings show why it was so difficult for the Jews to accept that salvation was also for Gentiles. The question debated within the Jerusalem church in Acts 15 is whether we are saved by faith alone or saved by faith AND keeping the Mosaic law. What is faith alone? Is it simply uttering words found in what became known as "the sinner's prayer"?
Lesson 17, Acts 15 & 16
Who made decisions for the body of believers in the early church? How were disagreements handled? As Paul's second missionary journey begins, he and Barnabas resolve to go different directions, and Paul takes Silas while Barnabas takes John Mark. We are introduced to Timothy as Paul returns to Derbe. Paul is guided by the Holy Spirit to Philippi where Lydia, a woman who traded in purple cloth or dye, is baptized. In light of her conversion, we take a look at baptism.
Lesson 18, Acts 16:16-40
This lesson picks up in the middle of Paul's second missionary journey and follows the narrative of Paul and Silas being jailed in Philippi. Their stay in prison results in the conversion of the jailer and his family following an earthquake. The church is born in Philippi, and Paul maintains contact with the Christians there.
Lesson 19, Acts 17
Archaeology supports Bible places and locations, including cities named on Paul's missionary journeys. Paul teaches less than a month in Thessalonica, and many people come to Christ, but Paul and Silas are driven out by Jewish opposition. In Berea they have a positive reception. If the Bereans studied to see if what Paul was teaching were true, should we test Christian teachers today? Paul moves on to Athens, leaving Silas and Timothy in Berea, and is able to share Christ's resurrection with philosophers at the Areopagus.
Paul leaves Athens and goes to Corinth, so this lesson begins with geographical and historical information about ancient Corinth. Here Paul meets a couple who are Jewish converts to Christianity with whom he shares the trade of tent-making. Paul remains in Corinth 18 months, teaching publicly which results in many believers. Paul heads to Jerusalem, stopping at Ephesus en route, and completes his second missionary tour by returning to Antioch.
Lesson 20, Acts 18 & 19
Lesson 21, Acts 19-21
Paul's third missionary trip takes him back to churches in the region of Galatia. In Ephesus Paul stays for over two years to teach. Extraordinary miracles abound, and so many people become believers that it negatively impacts sales of the idol merchants. After time in Greece, Paul heads back home, stopping at Troas where he preaches past midnight and raises a man from the dead who fell from a window. Here practical application is made regarding weekly communion. Paul arranges to meet one last time with the Ephesian elders and exhorts them to remain faithful. After arriving home, Paul receives warnings in Caesarea about the chains that await him in Jerusalem.
Lesson 22, Acts 21-24
Paul finds himself the object of fake news once he reaches Jerusalem. What are the practical implications for not causing offense to another Christian? Background is given on the structure and layout of the Jewish temple to better understand the accusations made by the Jews against Paul, who finds himself the center of a riot and is rescued by Roman guards. He is given permission to speak to the Jewish crowd, but his mention of Gentiles again starts an uproar. When Paul states his case before the Sanhedrin, there is another scene, so he is remanded to the Roman jail. A plot by Jews to kill him causes Paul to be transferred to the prison in Caesarea.
Lesson 23, Acts 24
This lecture opens with a look at Felix, the Roman governor responsible for trying Paul's case, and asks Who was Felix and how did he achieve his position? Paul makes his defense before the ruler but is repeatedly called back for personal conversations in which Paul addresses righteousness, self-control, and coming judgment. Felix's famous comeback, "That's enough for now--when it's convenient, I'll send for you," leads into a discussion of practical applications of righteousness, self-control, and coming judgment that Christians should take seriously today.
Lesson 24, Acts 25-28
The opening question is how the Nazi regime was able to get public participation in its atrocities. Do we need to be wary of believing comforting lies rather than unpleasant truths? Felix holds Paul in prison until the governor is replaced by Festus. Paul's defense before Festus, his appeal to have his case heard by Caesar, and his testimony before King Agrippa and his wife Bernice are reviewed as well as Paul's disrupted voyage to Rome. This prompts a discussion of how we should handle hardships and disappointments. Acts concludes with Paul's arrival in Rome where he is held under house arrest.