5/26/12

The stranger... the better!!!


What a strange thing this is!!!  I can't imagine why someone would make such a thing, except perhaps as a curiosity.  And if that is the case... it has succeeded!!! Humans are naturally such curious creatures.  We have to know the "why" of things or it just bugs us without end.  This sort of mind set began with Sophocles about four hundred years before Christ and Athens is where this thinking came from. Then the apostle Paul arrives...

Acts, Chapter 17

  16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw the city full of idols.  17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who met him.  18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also were conversing with him. Some said, “What does this babbler want to say?”

Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign deities,” because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.

  19 They took hold of him, and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by you?  20 For you bring certain strange things to our ears. We want to know therefore what these things mean.”  21 Now all the Athenians and the strangers living there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.

  22 Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus, and said, “You men of Athens, I perceive that you are very religious in all things.  23 For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I announce to you. 

Paul knows what the Athenians are like and uses that to his advantage.  By pointing out their tendency to want to "cover all the bases", he refers to the unknown God statue to arouse their interest in his message.  Clever and oh, so effective!!!  We should all be so talented.  Use whatever talents God has given you to spread his message of Grace and you will ultimately be doing a GREAT WORK!!!  And, even if it means doing something as weird as the arch in the picture... Go ahead... you just might get someones attention!!!

May 26 Judges 9, 10


May 26
Judges 9, 10

Jdg 9:1 Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's brothers, and spoke with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,
Jdg 9:2 Please speak in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are seventy persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you? Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.
Jdg 9:3 His mother's brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.
Jdg 9:4 They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal Berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and light fellows, who followed him.
Jdg 9:5 He went to his father's house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one stone: but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.
Jdg 9:6 All the men of Shechem assembled themselves together, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem.
Jdg 9:7 When they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said to them, Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you.
Jdg 9:8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive tree, Reign over us.
Jdg 9:9 But the olive tree said to them, Should I leave my fatness, with which by me they honor God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?
Jdg 9:10 The trees said to the fig tree, Come and reign over us.
Jdg 9:11 But the fig tree said to them, Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?
Jdg 9:12 The trees said to the vine, Come and reign over us.
Jdg 9:13 The vine said to them, Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?
Jdg 9:14 Then said all the trees to the bramble, Come and reign over us.
Jdg 9:15 The bramble said to the trees, If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
Jdg 9:16 Now therefore, if you have dealt truly and righteously, in that you have made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him according to the deserving of his hands
Jdg 9:17 (for my father fought for you, and risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:
Jdg 9:18 and you have risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, seventy persons, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother);
Jdg 9:19 if you then have dealt truly and righteously with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:
Jdg 9:20 but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.
Jdg 9:21 Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and lived there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
Jdg 9:22 Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.
Jdg 9:23 God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
Jdg 9:24 that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.
Jdg 9:25 The men of Shechem set an ambush for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.
Jdg 9:26 Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers, and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.
Jdg 9:27 They went out into the field, and gathered their vineyards, and trod the grapes, and held festival, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.
Jdg 9:28 Gaal the son of Ebed said, "Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Isn't he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: but why should we serve him?
Jdg 9:29 Would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech." He said to Abimelech, Increase your army, and come out.
Jdg 9:30 When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
Jdg 9:31 He sent messengers to Abimelech craftily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers are come to Shechem; and behold, they constrain the city to take part against you.
Jdg 9:32 Now therefore, go up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field:
Jdg 9:33 and it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early, and rush on the city; and behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, then may you do to them as you shall find occasion.
Jdg 9:34 Abimelech rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
Jdg 9:35 Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people who were with him, from the ambush.
Jdg 9:36 When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the tops of the mountains. Zebul said to him, You see the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.
Jdg 9:37 Gaal spoke again and said, Behold, there come people down by the middle of the land, and one company comes by the way of the oak of Meonenim.
Jdg 9:38 Then said Zebul to him, Where is now your mouth, that you said, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that you have despised? go out now, I pray, and fight with them.
Jdg 9:39 Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
Jdg 9:40 Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and there fell many wounded, even to the entrance of the gate.
Jdg 9:41 Abimelech lived at Arumah: and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
Jdg 9:42 It happened on the next day, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
Jdg 9:43 He took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and behold, the people came forth out of the city; He rose up against them, and struck them.
Jdg 9:44 Abimelech, and the companies that were with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and the two companies rushed on all who were in the field, and struck them.
Jdg 9:45 Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and killed the people who were therein: and he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
Jdg 9:46 When all the men of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith.
Jdg 9:47 It was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
Jdg 9:48 Abimelech got him up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder: and he said to the people who were with him, What you have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.
Jdg 9:49 All the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire on them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
Jdg 9:50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
Jdg 9:51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and there fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut themselves in, and got them up to the roof of the tower.
Jdg 9:52 Abimelech came to the tower, and fought against it, and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
Jdg 9:53 A certain woman cast an upper millstone on Abimelech's head, and broke his skull.
Jdg 9:54 Then he called hastily to the young man his armor bearer, and said to him, Draw your sword, and kill me, that men not say of me, A woman killed him. His young man thrust him through, and he died.
Jdg 9:55 When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man to his place.
Jdg 9:56 Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father, in killing his seventy brothers;
Jdg 9:57 and all the wickedness of the men of Shechem did God requite on their heads: and on them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
Jdg 10:1 After Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he lived in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim.
Jdg 10:2 He judged Israel twenty-three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.
Jdg 10:3 After him arose Jair, the Gileadite; and he judged Israel twenty-two years.
Jdg 10:4 He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkey colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havvoth Jair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead.
Jdg 10:5 Jair died, and was buried in Kamon.
Jdg 10:6 The children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and served the Baals, and the Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Sidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; and they forsook Yahweh, and didn't serve him.
Jdg 10:7 The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the children of Ammon.
Jdg 10:8 They troubled and oppressed the children of Israel that year: eighteen years oppressed they all the children of Israel that were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.
Jdg 10:9 The children of Ammon passed over the Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.
Jdg 10:10 The children of Israel cried to Yahweh, saying, We have sinned against you, even because we have forsaken our God, and have served the Baals.
Jdg 10:11 Yahweh said to the children of Israel, Didn't I save you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?
Jdg 10:12 The Sidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and you cried to me, and I saved you out of their hand.
Jdg 10:13 Yet you have forsaken me, and served other gods: therefore I will save you no more.
Jdg 10:14 Go and cry to the gods which you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress.
Jdg 10:15 The children of Israel said to Yahweh, We have sinned: do you to us whatever seems good to you; only deliver us, we pray you, this day.
Jdg 10:16 They put away the foreign gods from among them, and served Yahweh; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
Jdg 10:17 Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. The children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpah.
Jdg 10:18 The people, the princes of Gilead, said one to another, What man is he who will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

May 26, 27 John 6


May 26, 27
John 6

Joh 6:1 After these things, Jesus went away to the other side of the sea of Galilee, which is also called the Sea of Tiberias.
Joh 6:2 A great multitude followed him, because they saw his signs which he did on those who were sick.
Joh 6:3 Jesus went up into the mountain, and he sat there with his disciples.
Joh 6:4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.
Joh 6:5 Jesus therefore lifting up his eyes, and seeing that a great multitude was coming to him, said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, that these may eat?"
Joh 6:6 This he said to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.
Joh 6:7 Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that everyone of them may receive a little."
Joh 6:8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him,
Joh 6:9 "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these among so many?"
Joh 6:10 Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in that place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
Joh 6:11 Jesus took the loaves; and having given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to those who were sitting down; likewise also of the fish as much as they desired.
Joh 6:12 When they were filled, he said to his disciples, "Gather up the broken pieces which are left over, that nothing be lost."
Joh 6:13 So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves, which were left over by those who had eaten.
Joh 6:14 When therefore the people saw the sign which Jesus did, they said, "This is truly the prophet who comes into the world."
Joh 6:15 Jesus therefore, perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force, to make him king, withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
Joh 6:16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea,
Joh 6:17 and they entered into the boat, and were going over the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not come to them.
Joh 6:18 The sea was tossed by a great wind blowing.
Joh 6:19 When therefore they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing near to the boat; and they were afraid.
Joh 6:20 But he said to them, "It is I. Don't be afraid."
Joh 6:21 They were willing therefore to receive him into the boat. Immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.
Joh 6:22 On the next day, the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except the one in which his disciples had embarked, and that Jesus hadn't entered with his disciples into the boat, but his disciples had gone away alone.
Joh 6:23 However boats from Tiberias came near to the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks.
Joh 6:24 When the multitude therefore saw that Jesus wasn't there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats, and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
Joh 6:25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?"
Joh 6:26 Jesus answered them, "Most certainly I tell you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves, and were filled.
Joh 6:27 Don't work for the food which perishes, but for the food which remains to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has sealed him."
Joh 6:28 They said therefore to him, "What must we do, that we may work the works of God?"
Joh 6:29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."
Joh 6:30 They said therefore to him, "What then do you do for a sign, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you do?
Joh 6:31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness. As it is written, 'He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.' "
Joh 6:32 Jesus therefore said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, it wasn't Moses who gave you the bread out of heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread out of heaven.
Joh 6:33 For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world."
Joh 6:34 They said therefore to him, "Lord, always give us this bread."
Joh 6:35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will not be hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
Joh 6:36 But I told you that you have seen me, and yet you don't believe.
Joh 6:37 All those who the Father gives me will come to me. Him who comes to me I will in no way throw out.
Joh 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.
Joh 6:39 This is the will of my Father who sent me, that of all he has given to me I should lose nothing, but should raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:40 This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son, and believes in him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."
Joh 6:41 The Jews therefore murmured concerning him, because he said, "I am the bread which came down out of heaven."
Joh 6:42 They said, "Isn't this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then does he say, 'I have come down out of heaven?' "
Joh 6:43 Therefore Jesus answered them, "Don't murmur among yourselves.
Joh 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up in the last day.
Joh 6:45 It is written in the prophets, 'They will all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who hears from the Father, and has learned, comes to me.
Joh 6:46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except he who is from God. He has seen the Father.
Joh 6:47 Most certainly, I tell you, he who believes in me has eternal life.
Joh 6:48 I am the bread of life.
Joh 6:49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.
Joh 6:50 This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, that anyone may eat of it and not die.
Joh 6:51 I am the living bread which came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. Yes, the bread which I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."
Joh 6:52 The Jews therefore contended with one another, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
Joh 6:53 Jesus therefore said to them, "Most certainly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you don't have life in yourselves.
Joh 6:54 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
Joh 6:56 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I in him.
Joh 6:57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he who feeds on me, he will also live because of me.
Joh 6:58 This is the bread which came down out of heaven-not as our fathers ate the manna, and died. He who eats this bread will live forever."
Joh 6:59 He said these things in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
Joh 6:60 Therefore many of his disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying! Who can listen to it?"
Joh 6:61 But Jesus knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at this, said to them, "Does this cause you to stumble?
Joh 6:62 Then what if you would see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?
Joh 6:63 It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.
Joh 6:64 But there are some of you who don't believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who didn't believe, and who it was who would betray him.
Joh 6:65 He said, "For this cause have I said to you that no one can come to me, unless it is given to him by my Father."
Joh 6:66 At this, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
Joh 6:67 Jesus said therefore to the twelve, "You don't also want to go away, do you?"
Joh 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.
Joh 6:69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Joh 6:70 Jesus answered them, "Didn't I choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?"
Joh 6:71 Now he spoke of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for it was he who would betray him, being one of the twelve.

"ACTS OF THE APOSTLES" Chapter Nine by Mark Copeland


                         "ACTS OF THE APOSTLES"

                              Chapter Nine

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To study the conversion of Saul, comparing Luke's account in this
   chapter with Saul's own words recorded later on in chapters 22 and 26

2) To note two miracles by Peter, and the affect they had on many people
   who heard about them

SUMMARY

Not content with persecuting Christians in Jerusalem, Saul received
permission from the high priest to seek out those of the Way in Damascus
and bring them bound to Jerusalem.  It was near Damascus that Saul was
blinded by a vision of the risen Jesus.  Told to go into Damascus for
further instructions, Saul was led blind into the city where he waited
for three days, neither eating nor drinking (1-9).

The Lord then appeared to a disciple named Ananias and sent him to
restore Saul's sight and tell him what he would do as a chosen vessel
for Christ.  With his sight restored, Saul was baptized and resumed
eating.  For some days Saul remained in Damascus and began immediately
preaching in the synagogues that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God,
to the amazement of those who knew that he had come to the city to
arrest Christians (10-19).

After many days had passed (during which Saul apparently spent about 3
years in Arabia, cf. Ga 1:17-18), Saul barely escaped a plot to kill him
by the Jews in Damascus (cf. 2Co 11:32-33).  He went to Jerusalem where
after Barnabas spoke in his behalf he was accepted by the brethren.
Another plot by the Jews to kill Saul prompted the brethren to bring him
to Caesarea and send him on to Tarsus.  The churches in Judea, Galilee,
and Samaria then enjoyed peace and grew as they walked in the fear of
the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit (20-31).

Luke then records two miracles performed by Peter.  The first in Lydda,
where Peter healed Aeneas, a man paralyzed and bedridden for eight
years.  This led many in Lydda and Sharon to turn to the Lord.  In
nearby Joppa, a disciple named Tabitha (Dorcas) became sick and died.
Having heard that Peter was in Lydda, the disciples sent for him to come
without delay.  Peter raised Tabitha from the dead,  leading many people
in Joppa to believe on the Lord.  Peter then remained in Joppa for many
days, staying with Simon, a tanner (32-43).

OUTLINE

I. CONVERSION OF SAUL (1-31)

   A. THE APPEARANCE ON THE ROAD (1-9)
      1. Saul granted authority by the high priest
         a. While aggressive in persecuting disciples of the Lord
         b. With letters to the synagogues in Damascus
         c. To find those of "the Way" and bring them bound to Jerusalem
      2. The Lord's appearance on the road to Damascus
         a. Approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven shone
            around him
         b. Falling to the ground, he hears a voice:  "Saul, Saul, why
            are you persecuting Me?"
         c. When he asks, "Who are you, Lord?", he is told:
            1) "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting."
            2) "It is hard for you to kick against the goads."
         d. When asked what to, he is told:
            1) "Arise, go into the city."
            2) "You will be told what you must do."
         e. His companions stand speechless, hearing a voice but seeing
            no one
      3. Saul's arrival in Damascus
         a. Getting up, he sees no one
         b. His companions lead him by the hand into the city
         c. There he waits for three days, without sight, neither eating
            or drinking

   B. THE ARRIVAL OF ANANIAS (9-19)
      1. The Lord appears in a vision to Ananias, a disciple in Damascus
         a. Instructed to go to house of Judas on the street called
            Straight
            1) Where Saul is praying and has seen a vision in which
               Ananias restores his sight
            2) Ananias is reluctant, knowing of Saul's persecution of
               the saints
         b. Ananias is commanded to go, for Saul is a chosen vessel
            1) Who will bear the Lord's name before Gentiles, kings, and
               the children of Israel
            2) Who will be shown how many things he must suffer for His
               name's sake
      2. Ananias goes to Saul
         a. Laying hands on Saul as he explains his purpose in coming
            1) That Saul might receive his sight
            2) And be filled with the Holy Spirit
         b. Saul's sight is immediately restored, and is baptized
         c. He resumes eating and spends some days with the disciples

   C. THE MINISTRY IN DAMASCUS (20-25)
      1. Saul immediately preaches Christ as the Son of God in the
         synagogues
         a. To the amazement of all who heard and knew his background
            1) How he destroyed those in Jerusalem who called on His
               name
            2) How he came to Damascus to bring them bound to the chief
               priests
         b. He increases in strength
            1) Confounding the Jews who dwelt in Damascus
            2) Proving that Jesus is the Christ
      2. Saul is forced to leave Damascus
         a. After many days, the Jews plot to kill him
         b. When the plot is revealed, they watch the gates day and
            night to kill him
         c. The disciples help Saul escape at night by letting him over
            a wall in a basket

   D. THE VISIT TO JERUSALEM (26-31)
      1. Saul joins himself to the disciples
         a. Though at first they were afraid and did not believe him
         b. Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them:
            1) How he had seen the Lord on the road, who spoke to him
            2) Of his bold preaching in Damascus
         c. Saul is accepted and circulates freely among the disciples
            in Jerusalem
      2. Saul is forced to leave Jerusalem
         a. He speaks boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus
            1) Disputing against the Hellenists
            2) Who attempt to kill him
         b. The brethren learn of the attempt to kill Saul
            1) They bring him down to Caesarea
            2) They send him to Tarsus

II. MIRACLES OF PETER (32-43)

   A. THE HEALING OF AENEAS (32-35)
      1. Peter comes to the saints in Lydda
      2. He meets Aeneas, paralyzed and bedridden for eight years
      3. Peter tells him that Jesus Christ heals him, and he arose
         immediately
      4. All who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the
         Lord

   B. THE RAISING OF DORCAS (36-43)
      1. At Joppa, a certain disciple named Tabitha (Dorcas) dies
         a. A woman full of good works and charitable deeds
         b. Her body was washed and laid in an upper room
         c. Two men were sent to Peter in nearby Lydda
      2. Peter raises Dorcas from the dead
         a. He is brought to the upper room, where weeping widows showed
            garments by Dorcas
         b. Sending the widows out, Peter kneels down and prays
         c. Telling her "Tabitha, arise", she opened her eyes and sat up
         d. Peter presents her alive to the saints and widows
         e. As it became known throughout Joppa, many believed on the
            Lord
      3. Peter remains in Joppa with Simon, a tanner

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Conversion of Saul (1-31)
   - Miracles of Peter (32-43)

2) What was Saul doing when he went to the high priest? (1)
   - Breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord

3) What did Saul get from the high priest? (2)
   - Letters to the synagogues of Damascus, authorizing him to arrest
     and bring those of "The Way" to Jerusalem

4) As Saul came near Damascus, what happened?  What did he hear?  (3-4)
   - Suddenly a light shone around him from heaven
   - Falling down, he heard a voice saying, "Saul, Saul, why are you
     persecuting Me?"

5) When he asked "Who are You, Lord?", what was he told? (5)
   - "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting."

6) What did Jesus tell Saul to do? (6)
   - To go to the city, where he would be told what to do

7) How did the men with him respond to what was happening? (7)
   - They stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one

8) How was Saul led into the city?  What did he do for three days? (8-9)
   - By the hand, for he was blind when he arose from the ground
   - He did not eat or drink, and remained without sight

9) To whom did the Lord appear in a vision? (10)
   - A disciple at Damascus named Ananias

10) What did Jesus tell him to do? (11)
   - To go to the street called Straight
   - To inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul

11) What had Saul been doing during this time?  What had he seen in a
    vision? (11-12)
   - Praying; a man named Ananias laying hands on him that he might
     receive his sight

12) Why was Ananias hesitant to go? (13-14)
   - He had heard what Saul had done to the saints in Jerusalem, and why
     he had come to Damascus

13) What did the Lord say about Saul to reassure Ananias to go to him?
    (15-16)
   - Saul is His chosen vessel to bear His name before Gentiles, kings,
     and the children of Israel
   - He will be shown how many things he must suffer for the Lord's sake

14) When Ananias laid his hands on Saul, what did he say as to why the
    Lord sent him? (17)
   - That Saul might receive his sight
   - That Saul might be filled with the Holy Spirit

15) What happened immediately thereafter? (18)
   - Something like scales fell from his eyes and his sight returned
   - He arose and was baptized
   - He was strengthened when he ate

16) What did Saul then do? (19-20)
   - He received food and was strengthened
   - He spent some days with the disciples at Damascus
   - He immediately began preaching in the synagogues Christ as the Son
     of God

17) What was the reaction of those who heard him?  (21)
   - They were amazed, for they knew what he had done in Jerusalem and
     why he came to Damascus

18) As Saul increased in strength, what did he do? (22)
   - He confounded the Jews in Damascus, proving that Jesus was the
     Christ

19) After many days had passed, who plotted to kill Saul?  How did he
    escape? (23-25)
   - The Jews, who watched the gates day and night
   - The disciples let him down through the wall in a large basket

20) When Saul came to Jerusalem, what did he try to do?  What was the
    reaction? (26)
   - To join the disciples; they were afraid of him, for they did not
     believe he was a disciple

21) Who brought him before the apostles?  What did he tell them about
    Saul? (27)
   - Barnabas; how Saul had seen the Lord who spoke to him, and how Saul
     preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus

22) What was Saul then permitted to do? (28)
   - To be with the disciples, coming in and going out

23) What did Saul do while at Jerusalem?  What then happened? (29-30)
   - He spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed with the
     Hellenists
   - An attempt was made to kill him, but the brethren took him to
     Caesarea and sent him on to Tarsus

24) What was the condition of the churches in Judea, Galilee, and
    Samaria at that time? (31)
   - They had peace and were edified
   - Walking in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit,
     they were multiplied

25) Where did Peter go and what did he find there? (32-33)
   - He went to Lydda where he found Aeneas, paralyzed and bedridden for
     eight years

26) What did Peter do and what was the result? (34-35)
   - He healed him in the name of Jesus, all in Lydda and Sharon turned
     to the Lord

27) Who died at Joppa, and what did the disciples there do? (36-38)
   - A disciple named Tabitha (Dorcas), a woman full of good works and
     charitable deeds
   - They washed her body, laid her in an upper room, and sent two men
     for Peter

28) When Peter arrived, what did he see and what did he do? (39-41)
   - Widows weeping in the upper room, showing the garments Dorcas made
   - He sent the widows out, knelt and prayed, and then said "Tabitha,
     arise"
   - After she opened her eyes and sat up, Peter called the saints and
     widows back into the room and presented her alive

29) What happened when this became known throughout all Joppa? (42)
   - Many believed on the Lord

30) What did Peter then do? (43)
   - Stayed in Joppa for many days with Simon, a tanner