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Archive for the ‘Books of the Bible’ Category

Read Acts Chapter 12
1. What did Herod do around this time according to Acts 12:1-5?

2. What annual feast was going on at that time? Why is that significant?

3. What was the church doing while Peter was in prison in Acts 12:5?

4. What was about to happen to Peter according to Acts 12:6?

5. What was Peter’s physical situation in Acts 12:6?

6. What happened in Acts 12:7-8?

7. Record what the angel said to Peter.

8. What did Peter think about the events that were happening?

9. Happened in Acts 12:10?

Prayer prompt: Put yourself in Peter’s shoes. How would it feel for you to be awoken from a dead sleep and led out of several locked prison gates? What would that communicate to you about God? About His purposes for your life? His connection or relationship to you?

As you think thru this amazing historical event, ask God to show you the prisons He has led you out of and the locked-impassable doors or barrier He has helped you cross or opened for you.
10. What does Peter say about the situation in Acts 12:11?

11. What does Peter do in Acts 12:12-13?

12. What happened when Peter knocked on the door of the gate in Acts 12:13-14?

13. What is the reaction of those praying in the house? What do they say to her when she tells them Peter is at the door in Acts 12:14-15?

14. What did Peter do according to Acts 12:16?

15. What was the reaction of those who opened the door and saw Peter?

16. What did Peter do according to Acts 12:17?

17. What what was the reaction among the soldiers over Peter? Why?

18. What did Herod do when he learned of Peter’s escape in Acts 12:19?

19. Who came to see Herod in Caesarea according to Acts 12:20? Why?

Going deeper: Where was Tyre? Sidon? Why would they have been coming to Herod?

 

20. Herod delivered a speech to them in Acts 12:21. What was the reaction to the speech according to Acts 12:22?

21. What happened next in Acts 12:23?

Going deeper: Which “Herod” is being described in this story? Who was his father? Brothers?

Look up the following passages in the Apocrapha (sefaria.org) and think about how they might refer or apply to this passage on Herod’s fate: Judith 16:17-18, 2 Maccabees 9:9.

22. Review Ezekiel 28:1-10. What is the fate of those who think themselves a god or worthy to be called one?

23. Copy Acts 12:24 here. Allow this to penetrate your heart. Sit with God and ask Him to show you where you stand with this truth. Do you believe that God does such things? Can God’s word advance by God’s power alone?

24. What did Barnabas and Paul do after they completed their mission? Who was with them?

It is our desire to help you grow in your knowledge of Adonai and His Word. If you are looking for additional information and/or materials, please visit our website at RootedinHisWord.org and our Facebook page. 

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Read Acts Chapter 11
1. What news had spread to the apostles and others according to Acts 11:1?

2. How was Peter treated when he went up to Jerusalem? By whom?

3. What did they say in Acts 11:3?

4. How did Peter respond in Acts 11:4-14?

5. What did the Spirit tell Peter before he left according to Acts 11:12?

6. What does Peter say happened when he began to speak in Acts 11:15?

7. What came to Peter’s memory at that time according to Acts 11:16?

8. What conclusion does Peter draw from these things in Acts 11:17?

9. What was the reaction to Peter in Acts 11:18?

10. To where did those forced to scatter because of the death of Stephen flee according to Acts 11:19?

11. To whom did those scattered speak?

12. Who did the men of Cyprus and Cyrene speak to according to Acts 11:20?

Going deeper: Where was Cyprus? Where was Cyrene? How far were they from Jerusalem?

13. Copy Acts 11:21. Meditate on this. Have you experienced this? What happened? If you haven’t experienced it, do you wish to? Have a conversation with God about this.

14. Why was Barnabas sent to Antioch?

Going deeper: Where was Antioch?

15. What did Barnabas see when he arrived in Antioch? What did he tell them in according to Acts 11:23?

16. How is Barnabas described in Acts 11:24?

17. Why did Barnabas go to Tarsus according to Acts 11:25?

Going deeper: Where was Tarsus?

18. What does Barnabas do when he locates Saul? What did they do in Antioch according to Acts 11:26?

19. According to Acts 11:27, who came down from Jerusalem to Antioch?

20. Who was Agabus? What did he foretell in Acts 11:28 through the Spirit?

21. What did the disciples do as a result of hearing this prophecy in Acts 11:29-30?

It is our desire to help you grow in your knowledge of Adonai and His Word. If you are looking for additional information and/or materials, please visit our website at RootedinHisWord.org and our Facebook page. 

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Read Acts Chapter 10
1. Where does this chapter open?

2. To whom does Luke introduce us in Acts 10:1?

3. How is Cornelius described in Acts 10:1-2?

Going deeper: Where is Caesarea Maritima? Why was it an important port in the first century A.D.?

Going deeper: What was a centurian?

4. What happens to Cornelius in Acts 10:3?

Going deeper: When was the ninth hour?

5. How does Cornelius react in Acts 10:4?

6. What is the response of the angel in Acts 10:4-6?

7. What does Cornelius do after the angel leaves in Acts 10:7-8?

8. What happens around the time Cornelius’ men are approaching Joppa in Acts 10:9?

9. What was going on with Peter according to Acts 10:9-12?

10. What did the voice say to Peter in Acts 10:13?

11. How does Peter respond in Acts 10:14?

12. What did the voice respond in Acts 10:15?

13. What do you learn from Acts 10:16?

14. Describe at least two other places in the scriptures where a voice is heard from heaven. Provide the scripture references as well as a short description of what takes place and who is being spoken to from heaven and what is said.

15. What was Peter’s inner reaction according to Acts 10:17?

16. Describe the events in Acts 10:17-20?

17. What does Peter do in Acts 10:21?

 

18. What do Cornelius’ men tell Peter in Acts 10:22?

19. How does Peter respond to Cornelius’ men?

20. What does Peter do the next day in Acts 10:23?

21. How long does it take them to get to Caesarea?

22. Who was waiting for them in Caesarea? Who did he call?

23. How does Cornelius greet Peter in Acts 10:25?

24. What does Peter say in Acts 10:26?

25. What does Peter tell the large group of people assembled in Acts 10:27-29?

26. What does Cornelius respond when Peter ask him why he called him in Acts 10:30-33?

27. Copy Acts 10:33b. Imagine the scene in Caesarea, a Roman city. It was perhaps one of the most important Roman cities because of the harbor and the trade route connecting the harbor to the interior of Israel and points beyond in the Decapolis. The influence in this city would have been very pagan Roman with temples to the Caesar and other gods. It would have been very different from the atmosphere and focus in Jerusalem or even Judea where the population was mostly Jewish. What courage–or maybe desperation–would lead so many to gather to hear about the God who died on a Roman cross? What would the energy in the room have felt like? What does your heart feel when you think about the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, choosing to meet these gentiles in a pagan city far from the religious center of Judaism.

28. What does Peter tell them in the following verses?
Acts 10:34

Acts 10:35

Acts 10:36

Acts 10:37-38

Acts 10:39

Acts 10:40-41

Acts 10:42

Acts 10:43

29. Review Peter’s message in Acts 10:34-43. What proof or evidence does he provide?

30. What happens while Peter is speaking in Acts 10:44?

31. What is the reaction of the Jews (circumcised believers) present?

32. What manifestation of the Holy Spirit was observed according to Acts 10:46?

33. What does Peter say and do in Acts 10:47-48?

It is our desire to help you grow in your knowledge of Adonai and His Word. If you are looking for additional information and/or materials, please visit our website at RootedinHisWord.org and our Facebook page. 

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My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. (Proverbs 4:20-27 ESV)

Pay Attention
In Proverbs 4:20, we are first called to “be attentive” which is also translated “listen” or “pay attention.” This exhortation suggests that choice, diligence and even self-control are being called for by the teacher. We must choose to listen or pay attention, and we must apply ourselves or employ diligence to continue to be attentive, and we must use self-control to not allow distractions or other desires to pull our attention from what is being taught.

Be Teachable
In the second part of the couplet, we are told “incline your ear” which could be emphasizing or repeating the idea in the first part of the verse, which is not uncommon in Hebrew poetic or wisdom literature. It is also possible, that this phrase is offering a slightly different nuance. One could argue that it might be speaking to teachability. We need to both pay attention to receive information (physically), but also we need to receive information into our thinking, to allow it to change our ideas and behaviors. This speaks of maintaining a teachable heart.

What might interfere with teachability? I generated a short list of some of the attributes often associated with the fool, who is, at best, unteachable.

Unrighteous
Self-reliant
Divided heart
Arrogant
Lazy

Any one or more of these characteristics or patterns of behavior can render us unteachable. Let us examine ourselves to see where we fall short and how we may have allowed such patterns to become ours.

In Proverbs 4:21, we are exhorted not to let the sayings of the teacher escape from our sight–to “keep them within your heart.” The word “heart” here is also translated “mind.” In the ancient world, the heart was seen as the seat of the emotions and thoughts. The idea is that we should keep the scriptures–the words of the Creator before our eyes at all times. This would suggest, daily study, meditation (and memorization), and reminders of scripture throughout the day. This is similar to the teaching in Deuteronomy 6:6-9, “these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” This requires strategy, diligence and effort. It is the “working out” of one’s salvation spoken of by Paul in Philippians 2:12.

But the rewards will outweigh the effort required as we are told in Proverbs 4:22. “For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.” In these sayings (the Torah) is life and physical healing. What more could we desire?

 

It is our desire to help you grow in your knowledge of Adonai and His Word. If you are looking for additional information and/or materials, please visit our website at RootedinHisWord.org and our Facebook page. 

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1. What was the reaction of those who heard him in Acts 9:21?

2. What happened to Saul according to Acts 9:22?

3. After considerable time had passed, what do the Jews in Damascus begin to plot? What action do they take in Acts 9:24?

4. Who found out about the plot?

5. What do the disciples do in Acts 9:25?

6. Where does Saul go in Acts 9:26?

7. What is his reception there according to Acts 9:26?

8. Who brought him to the apostles? What does he tell them of Saul in Acts 9:27?

9. Copy Acts 9:28 here. Meditate on this. How does your heart receive this picture? Is Saul an encouragement? Do you admire his zeal and focus? Or do you fear he is stirring things up? Open yourself to God and ask Him to show you how you react to such situations.

10. Who was seeking to kill Saul in Acts 9:29?

11. Who helps Saul in Acts 9:30? What do they do?

Going deeper: Who were the Hellenists?

12. Where was Caesarea located? Why would they have taken Saul to Caesarea in order to send him off to Tarsus?

13. What do you learn about the church in Acts 9:31?

14. To whose ministry does Luke move his focus in Acts 9:32? What was he doing?

Going deeper: Where was Lydda?

15. According to Acts 9:33, who does Peter visit in Lydda? What was his condition?

16. What does Peter say to him in Acts 9:34? What is the response?

17. What is the reaction among those living in the area in Acts 9:35?

Going deeper: Where was Joppa located? What was the historical significance of Joppa?

18. Who was Tabitha (Dorcas) according to Acts 9:36?

19. What happened to Tabitha in Acts 9:37?

20. What did the disciples do according to Acts 9:38?

21. What was Peter’s response in Acts 9:39? What was he shown when he arrived?

22. What did Peter do in Acts 9:40-41? What was his prayer?

23. What was the effect of the healing on the community in Acts 9:42?

24. With whom does Peter stay in Joppa?

It is our desire to help you grow in your knowledge of Adonai and His Word. If you are looking for additional information and/or materials, please visit our website at RootedinHisWord.org and our Facebook page. 

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Read Acts Chapter 9
1. Who is Saul?

2. What was Saul doing according to Acts 9:1? Why?

3. What does Saul ask of the High Priest in Acts 9:1-3? Why?

Going deeper: Where was Damascus located in the first century? Why would Saul have wanted to go there in search of followers of the Way?

4. What happens as Saul approached Damascus according to Acts 9:3-4? What does the voice ask him?

5. How does Saul respond according to Acts 9:5? Who is the voice?

6. Several things are happening in this scene with Saul which are markers or indicators of Divine appearance. See if you can identify them.
See Ezekiel 1:28 and Daniel 10:9

See Genesis 22:11, 46:2; Exodus 3:4; and 1 Samuel 3:10

See Genesis 12:1, 22:2

7. What does Yeshua tell Saul to do in Acts 9:6-7?

8. What is Saul’s response in Acts 9:8?

9. What was Saul’s physical condition according to Acts 9:8-9?

10. Who was Ananias (Chananyah) according to Acts 9:10? How does the Lord speak to him?

11. Ananias answers the Lord with the phrase “Here I am, Lord,” which echos back to the Hebrew “Hineni.” This has been the response of devout Jews for centuries before Ananias which of course, as a student of Torah, he would have known. Review the following verses and note who else is part of this group.
Genesis 22:1

Exodus 3:4

1 Samuel 3:4-10

Isaiah 6:8

Prayer project. Meditate on these men of faith. Meditate on this Hebrew word “Hineni” (translated “Here I am”) Consider your own life and your response to God. Do you (have you) answered this way? How does your heart react when it hears this? Does it bring fear? What will God ask of me? Will it be too hard? Too scary? Or does your heart embrace the opportunity to serve God with willingness? Consider as you meditate the real reaction of your heart. Ask God to show you what He has for you in this.

12. What is he told to do according to Acts 9:11-12?

13. What is Ananais’ response in Acts 9:13-14?

14. How does the Lord respond in Acts 9:15-16?

Going deeper: “Bat Kol” (voice from heaven) is a familiar phenomenon in scripture and the writing of the sages. See Genesis 1:3, 21:17; Numbers 7:89; Daniel 4:28; Matthew 3:17 and 17:5.

15. What does Ananias do according to Acts 9:17?

16. What happens in Acts 9:18-19?

17. Who was Saul with according to Acts 9:19?

18. What did Saul immediately begin doing in Acts 9:20?

Prayer project: Consider Saul’s conversion. He’s riding along the dusty road headed to Damascus, as he approaches, his life is permanently interrupted. Recall how the details, the light from heaven, flashing around him, his fall to the ground from atop the horse (ouch), the voice calling him by name, asking him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He must have been confused, disoriented, embarrassed, maybe even terrified to have a voice from heaven make such an accusation. What does his experience tell us about God? About human programs worked in the flesh for God? What do we learn from the change in Saul’s life? What was the change? What remained the same? How was he different just within this chapter? How does conversion impact a believer? How did your conversion impact you as a person? Ask God to remind you of the changes He has brought about. What message of instruction, comfort, exhortation or something else does God have for you in this reading of Saul’s conversion?

It is our desire to help you grow in your knowledge of Adonai and His Word. If you are looking for additional information and/or materials, please visit our website at RootedinHisWord.org and our Facebook page. 

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Read Chapter 8
1.What was Saul’s reaction to the stoning of Stephen? Why?

2. What happened right after the stoning of Stephen according to Acts 8:1?

3. What do you learn from Acts 8:2?

4. What was Saul doing according to Acts 8:3?

5. Copy Acts 8:4. How does this impact you? Can you picture them, fleeing persecution, but still being zealous to share the gospel? How does your soul react to this? Would you be afraid and silent? Would you also be preaching the gospel in the midst of your persecution?

6. What does Philip do according to Acts 8:5?

7. What is the reaction of the crowds in Acts 8:6-8?

8. To whom is the reader introduced in Acts 8:9? What is told of him?

9. What was the reaction to Simon the Magician according to Acts 8:10-11?

10. What happens when Philip comes to town according to Acts 8:12-13?

11. Why do Peter and John come to Samaria according to Acts 8:14? What do they do while they are there in Acts 8:15-17?

Going deeper: What is the significance of Samaria and the move of the Holy Spirit there?

12. How does Simon respond in Acts 8:18-19?

13. What is the response of Peter in Acts 8:20-23?

14. What do you learn from the following scriptures? How do they relate to Simon the magician?
Deuteronomy 29:18

Hebrews 12:15

Romans 6:16

Romans 8:8

14. How does Simon respond in Acts 8:24?

15. Copy Acts 8:25. Meditate on this. How does your soul respond to this life the disciples are living? What does it mean to go and preach the good news of God in places that you have historically been an enemy or hated or treated poorly? What would it do to your soul to see God turns the hearts of your enemies before your eyes?

16. Who speaks to Philip in Acts 8:26? What does he say?

Going deeper: Where is Gaza located in Israel? What historical enemy of Israel lived in this area of the land? What is the significance of Gaza to modern Israel?

17. What is Philip’s response in Acts 8:27?

18. Who does Philip meet in Acts 8:27-28? What is he doing?

Going deeper: What is a “eunuch?” What was the function of eunuchs in the ancient near east and other ancient societies?

19. What does the Spirit tell Philip to do in Acts 8:29?

20. When Philip goes over, what does he hear according to Acts 8:30?

21. What does Philip ask the man? What is his response?

22. What passage of scripture was the eunuch reading?

23. What question does he ask Philip about the passage? How does Philip respond according to Acts 8:35?

24. What occurs in Acts 8:36-38?

25. What happens when they came up out of the water according to Acts 8:39-40?

Going deeper: Where was Ashdod located? What was the historical significance of this city? Area of the country?

It is our desire to help you grow in your knowledge of Adonai and His Word. If you are looking for additional information and/or materials, please visit our website at RootedinHisWord.org and our Facebook page. 

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Read Acts Chapter 7
1. What does the high priest ask Stephen in Acts 7:1?

2. Whose story does Stephen begin with in Acts 7:2-8? What is his point in re-telling this story?

3. Whose story does Stephen turn to in Acts 7:9-16? What point is he making in telling this story?

4. Whose story does Stephen turn to in Acts 7:17-29? What is the point of this part of the story?

5. Whose story is being continued in Acts 7:30-34? What is the point of this part of the story?

6. What commentary does Stephen provide about the life and ministry of Moses in Acts 7:35-41? What is the point he is making here?

7. What does Stephen say that God did in Acts 7:42-43?

8. What does Stephen go on to say about the “tent of witness” or Tabernacle in Acts 7:44-47?

9. What does Stephen say about the dwelling place of the Most High in Acts 7:48-50? What passage is he quoting here?

10. How does Stephen address the people in Acts 7:51?

Isaiah 66:1-2

11. What do you learn from the following verses?
Exodus 32:9

Exodus 33:3, 5

Deuteronomy 9:6

Deuteronomy 10:16

Deuteronomy 30:6

Jeremiah 4:4

12. What does he say of their fathers (ancestors) in Acts 7:51-52?

13. Copy Acts 7:53. Meditate on this. Record your thoughts and impressions.

14. What was the reaction of the crowd listening to Stephen according to Acts 7:54?

15. What did Stephen do according to Acts 7:55-56?

16. What happened in Acts 7:57-58?

17. What does Stephen do according to Acts 7:59-60 as he was being stoned?

18. Copy Acts 7:58. What is your heart’s reaction to this scene? Are you sad? Angry? Rejoicing? How might the onlookers who loved Stephen be feeling? What about those who stoned him? How might the scene have impacted Saul?

It is our desire to help you grow in your knowledge of Adonai and His Word. If you are looking for additional information and/or materials, please visit our website at RootedinHisWord.org and our Facebook page. 

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Read Chapter 6
1. According to Acts 6:1, what was going on in Jerusalem in the community of believers?

Going deeper: What do you learn about widows from the following passages? Exodus 22:22; Deuteronomy 10:17-18, 24:17-21, 27:19; Psalm 9:18, 68:5. How might this teaching throughout scripture have impacted these Messianic Jews in the first century?

2. What is the response of the twelve in their statements to the whole community of disciples in the following verses?
Acts 6:2

Acts 6:3

Acts 6:4

3. What was the reaction of the community to these statements according to Acts 6:5?

4. Who did they choose according to Acts 6:5? How is Stephen described in Acts 6:5 and 6:8?

5. What was done with these men according to Acts 6:6?

6. Copy Acts 6:7. Meditate on this, especially how amazing it must have been to see the priests – those whose lives were dedicated to serving God, coming to faith in Yeshua, the Messiah.

7. Who disputed with Stephen according to Acts 6:9?

8. What happened in these disputes according to Acts 6:10?

9. What did these men do as a result according to the following verses?
Acts 6:11

Acts 6:12

Acts 6:13-14

10. What did they observe about Stephen as he sat in the council according to Acts 6:15?

It is our desire to help you grow in your knowledge of Adonai and His Word. If you are looking for additional information and/or materials, please visit our website at RootedinHisWord.org and our Facebook page. 

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1. What happens according to Acts 5:17-18? What was the motivation according to the verses?

2. What happens during the night according to Acts 5:19-20? What is the message the apostles were given?

3. What do they do the next morning according to Acts 5:21? Why? Why at that location?

4. What happens when the temple police go to the prison, at the request of the council and the body of elders under the direction of the high priest, according to Acts 5:21-23?

5. What is the reaction of the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests when they heard according to Acts 5:24?

6. What happens according to Acts 5:25?

7. What do the temple police do? What were they afraid of?

8. What does the high priest say to them according to Acts 5:28?

9. Copy Acts 5:29. Meditate on this. How does this impact your heart? Are you excited? Afraid? Uncertain? Ask God to reveal what is in your heart concerning these things.

10. What are the teachings in spoken in the following verses?
Acts 5:30

Acts 5:31

Acts 5:32

11. What is the reaction of the high priest and those gathered with him according to Acts 5:33?

12. Who is Gamaliel? What does he advise according to Acts 5:35-39?

13. Copy Acts 5:39. Meditate on this. Who else does scripture tell us was fighting against God? What was the result? Open your heart to God. Ask Him to reveal times and situations when you were or are fighting against God. Ask God to re-align your heart and soul to be on God’s side. Confess and turn from your rebellion against God.

14. What was the reaction of the high priest and those gathered to the words of Gamaliel in Acts 5:39?

15. What did they do with the apostles according to Acts 5:40?

16. What was the response of the apostles as they left the council according to Acts 5:41?

Going deeper: “The name” is a reference to the tetragrammaton (Y-H-W-H). This is often substituted for using “HaShem” which literally means “the name” in Hebrew. Other substitutes include “Adonai” and “Yahweh.”

17. Copy Acts 5:42 here. Meditate on this. What do you think this looked like in the first century in Jerusalem? Take some time to describe the scene(s) or draw some images from your mind’s eye. These events were most likely happening in the heat of the summer that year since Pentecost is at the end of the spring (more or less).

Going deeper: This “teach and proclaim Jesus as Messiah” necessarily refers to teaching the Hebrew Scriptures, showing those which point to Messiah and which are fulfilled in the life, ministry and death of Yeshua. What might be some of the scriptures which they were focused on or bringing to light?

It is our desire to help you grow in your knowledge of Adonai and His Word. If you are looking for additional information and/or materials, please visit our website at RootedinHisWord.org and our Facebook page. 

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