Bible Stories for Adults

Philip

Acts 8

Next Week - The Ministry of Peter (Acts 9:32-11:18)
Bible Words to Remember:
God our Savior ... wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4

What mission did Jesus give to His church before He ascended?
Matthew 28:19
How could this small group of only 120 accomplish such a huge task?
Acts 1:8

Where did this group begin their ministry and why?
Acts 1:4, 12; 2:1, 4
How effective were they in Jerusalem?
Acts 2:46-47; 4:4, 16; 6:7
Did the Good News move out into Judea as Jesus had said?
Acts 5:12, 16

What problem provided a reminder that Christ came for everyone, not just those in Jerusalem?
Acts 6:1
How might the solution to this problem have been a gentle reminder to look outward?
Acts 6:3-5, 9
What did Stephen say that should have also reminded the Christians of moving past Jerusalem?
Acts 7:48-50

Of what did Stephen accuse the Jews that could warn a church focused only on its home town?
Acts 7:51
How did the Sanhedrin respond to this accusation?
Acts 7:57-58
Did killing Stephen satisfy the Jews who were trying to protect their faith?
Acts 8:1, 3
Usually only men were held in jail before a trial. Why did Saul even put women in jail?
Galatians 1:13-14
How did God use this evil act to help His need for the church to move beyond Jerusalem?
Acts 8:4

How did the church stay together if they all ran from the dangers in Jerusalem?
Acts 8:1b-2
Dying unburied was a great dishonor. It was illegal to publicly mourn for a criminal.
How did the central church in Jerusalem stay in touch with the scattered Christians?
Acts 8:5

Did Philip go to preach to the scattered Christians or to witness to Samaritans?
Acts 8:6
Why is this a significant step for the early Christians?
John 4:9
How would Samaritans feel about rumors that Christians spoke against venerating the temple?
John 4:19-20
What would Jesus have thought about this teaching?
John 4:21-24

With the Pentateuch as their Scriptures, would the Samaritans accept a Messiah from the Jews?
Deuteronomy 18:17-19
How likely is it that Philip would have reminded the Samaritans of this?
Acts 3:22-23; 7:37

How effective was Philip, a Greek-speaking Jew, in Samaria?
Acts 8:7-8
Had these Samaritans seen great powers before?
Acts 8:9
Was Simon ignored because of his great ego?
Acts 8:10-11
Did the Samaritans view Philip as another great magician like Simon?
Acts 8:12
Did Simon get mad about this new competition and try to discredit Philip?
Acts 8:13

What did the church in Jerusalem think when they heard about Philip's activities in Samaria?
Acts 8:14
What did Peter and John find?
Acts 8:15-17
Why would God have withheld the Spirit from the Samaritans until Peter and John arrived?
Acts 11:1-3, 15-18
Couldn't they have learned from the evening news? Why did Peter have to go bring the Spirit?
Matthew 16:17-19

What did Simon the magician think when he saw the Spirit being given to the new Christians?
Acts 8:18-19
What did Peter think of this opportunity to fund some great new church programs?
Acts 8:20-23
But verse 13 says Simon believed and was baptized. How could Peter accuse him of scheming?
Matthew 7:15-20

But Simon believed that Jesus was the Messiah. Doesn't that mean that he was a Christian?
Matthew 7:21-23
So what was Simon missing?
Romans 10:9-11
What are the three elements of an adult faith?
Notitia
Assensus
Fiducia

Was Simon rebuked for not developing his faith beyond mere assent?
Ephesians 2:8-9
Did Simon see the error of his ways, repent of his sin and ask for this saving faith?
Acts 8:24

Did this experience in Samaria effectively open the church to inclusion of these half-brothers?
Acts 8:25
Did Philip focus his ministry on witnessing to the Samaritans?
Acts 8:26
Why would the Spirit send a great evangelist like Philip out into the desert?
Acts 8:27-29

Proselyte - A Gentile who believed in God, was baptized and circumcised
God-fearer - A Gentile who believed in god and was baptized, but not circumcised
Why would this man likely be a God-fearer and not a full proselyte?
Deuteronomy 23:1
Why might he be so interested in the book of Isaiah to have a copy?
Isaiah 56:3-5

Ethiopia - South of Egypt, north of current Ethiopia between Aswan & Khartoum
Ruled by the queen mother (title of Candace)
The king was the child of the sun and was too holy for government
The eunuch was a very important official - "Secretary of the Treasury"
Only important and rich could get a copy of a book of Scripture

What did Philip do with this opportunity to witness to this Ethiopian?
Acts 8:30-31
What section had the Ethiopian so confused and why?
Acts 8:32-34
How did Philip respond to this great lead-in?
Acts 8:35

How effective was Philip's witness?
Acts 8:36-38
Was it difficult for Philip to provide this witness to the Ethiopian?
1 Peter 3:15
Was Philip able to respond so well because he had a carefully prepared witness speech?
Luke 21:15

How else do we see the Spirit's hand besides the desert meeting and the Scripture selection?
Acts 8:39
Note: Simon would have loved this one!
How did Philip react to this strange and amazing experience?
Acts 8:40