Tag: Acts
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Questions for Reflection and Discussion (Acts 9 36-43)
The text we’re studying* for Sunday, February 18 is Acts 9:36-43. Here are a few questions that might be worth reflecting on and discussing in class: Why do the disciples in Joppa send for Peter? Why do we think that – from something in the text (what?), from something in our experience, from other readings…
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Exegetical Exercise (Acts 9 36-43)
The Uniform Series text for Sunday, February 18 is Acts 9:36-43, the story of Tabitha / Dorcas raised from the dead. Here are my notes on that text: First Impressions: although this isn’t a very familiar text, it is one that has come up in the lectionary before; a miracle story, one of the stories…
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Questions for Reflection and Discussion (Acts 14 8-11, 19-23)
On Sunday, December 17, we’ll be studying and discussing the Uniform Series text Acts 14:8-11, 19-23. The text includes the first part of a story about a healing miracle performed while Barnabas and Paul are preaching in Lystra, a city in Asia Minor; it then jumps to the conclusion of the story of Barnabas’ and…
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Exegetical Exercise (Acts 14 8-11, 19-23)
The Uniform Series text for Sunday, December 17 is Acts 14:8-11, 19-23 (so, skipping most of the story where the people of Lystra mistake Barnabas and Paul for Zeus and Hermes, and are “scarcely restrained” from offering sacrifices to them, even after Paul preaches a sermon urging them to turn to the living God who…
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Second Sunday in Advent
I learned a few things this morning. That the word “comfort” originates in the word for “strengthen.” That in the Bible verse “I know the plans I have for you, plans for good and not for evil” (Jeremiah 29:11) which is quoted everywhere and shows up that way in about 1,000 memes, the word translated…
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Questions for Acts 13 1-12
Here are some questions we might consider in class when we look at Acts 13:1-12, the Uniform Series text for this coming Sunday, and reflect on what it might mean for us: Acts 13:1 names five individual “prophets and teachers” “in” the church at Antioch. Is this a similarity to our church “at” wherever we…
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Exegetical Notes (Acts 13 1-12)
The Uniform Series (“International Bible Lessons for Christian Teaching”) text for Sunday, December 10 is Acts 13:1-12. In brief, the Holy Spirit sends Barnabas and Saul on a mission trip to Cyprus and points beyond; the first event reported in detail is a conflict with the Jewish false prophet/magician Bar Jesus/Elymas, in which Paul wins,…
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Violent Demonstrations in the Book of Acts
The book of Acts contains several accounts of violent or near-violent crowd episodes, which begin in response to the disciples’ preaching. Here’s the list (I think): 7:57 ff – Stephen’s preaching incites a mob, which stones him to death 14:8-20 – first, crowds in Lystra want to sacrifice to Paul & Barnabas; later, they stone…
Matters of Interpretation 