lesson 3: gospel spreads to judea and samaria (chapters 8-12) lessons from acts

Lesson 3: Gospel spreads to Judea and Samaria (Chapters 8-12)

Lessons From Acts

Gospel spreads to Judea and Samaria (Chapters 8-12)

• Review of Acts 7– Stephen: one of the 7 that were chosen– Did great signs and wonders• Jewish leaders could not resist him• Set up false witnesses

– Covered the full Jewish history and brought it home to them.

– Stoned with the consent of Saul– What Stephen saw


• Preview of Saul– 7:58 – witnesses laid their coats at the feet of

young man named Saul– 8:1 – Saul consented to the death of Stephen– Persecution begins and scatters disciples

throughout Judea and Samaria– Saul at the forefront of this persecution


Philip (one of the 7 chosen) went down to Samaria


• Philip preached Christ to them (8:5-8)– ‘Seeing the miracles’ which Philip did– They heeded the things spoken by Philip– Great joy in the city

• Simon the Sorcerer (8:9-13)– Previously well known and was thought a man

with the power of God– He believed and was also baptized


• Peter and John sent to Samaria (8:14-25)– Laid hands on those there so they could receive

the Holy Spirit– Simon saw this and tried to buy the same ability

and was rebuked by Peter

• Philip sent by the an angel of the Lord to the road from Jerusalem to Gaza (8:26)


• Philip met an Ethiopian eunuch of great authority under Queen Candace of Ethiopia (8:27-34)– He was returning from worshipping in Jerusalem– He likely had seen or heard of the great things

happening there– He was reading in Isaiah 53 (9:32-33)

• Philip taught him Christ from that scripture forward (8:35)


• Ethiopian man said “see, here is water…”– Where did Philip mention baptism?

• “If you believe, you may”• The good confession: “I believe that Jesus

Christ is the Son of God” (8:37)• Eunuch baptized and went on his way

rejoicing.• Philip “caught up” by the Spirit and found in

Azotus (miles away)

Saul goes to Damascus


• Going there with letters from the high priest to bind and bring those of “the Way” to Jerusalem (9:1-2)

• Jesus had a different plan (9:3-16)– Bright light, Jesus speaks to him and gives him

instructions– Paul led (blind) to Damascus– Ananias fearful but obedient to his vision– Saul a “chosen vessel” to the Gentiles, kings and

Israel.


• Ananias meets Saul (9:17-25)– Saul fasting and praying for 3 days before they

meet– Ananias speaks to and touches him and his vision

returns– Immediately he was baptized and begins

preaching, proving Jesus was the Christ– Disciples skeptical at first, Jews eventually plot to

kill him but he escapes with help


• Saul comes to Jerusalem (9:26-31)– Disciples would not receive him– Barnabas took Saul to the apostles– He spoke boldly in the name of Jesus

• Brethren sent him to Caesarea and on to Tarsus for his safety

• Churches throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified


• Peter’s ministry in the areas surrounding Jerusalem (9:32-43)– Went to Lydda, healed Aeneas– Then called to Joppa where Dorcas had died,

raised her– Many believed on the Lord– Peter stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a

tanner


• Vision of Cornelius (10:1-8)– Vision to a Gentile– Devout, generous, God-fearing man and

household– Prayers heard and answered– Told to send for Peter which he did

• Peter’s vision (10:9-20)– Vision of lawfully “unclean” animals– Peter told to kill and eat


• Peter’s vision (cont’d)– Peter refuses saying they are unclean but is told

God has cleansed them and not to call them “unclean”. Repeated 3 times

• Servants of Cornelius arrive and Paul leaves with them (10:17, 21-24)

• Upon meeting Peter, Cornelius bows and worships him but Peter quickly corrects him


• Peter explained his hesitance based on the law, but also what he learned from his vision

• Peter preached “the Message” but used “they killed Him” here

• While preaching, Holy Spirit came on all of them. The Jewish among them were amazed at this

• Peter commanded they be baptized and they were


• Peter has now truly learned that “the Message” is for both Jew and Gentile

• Now others need to learn this.• Jews in Jerusalem confronted him about

associating with these Gentiles (11:2-3)• Peter recounts his vision and what happened

there (11:4-15)• “Then he remembered” (11:16)• “…who was I that I could withstand God?”


• Gospel continues to spread now to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch (to Jews mostly) and great numbers are believing

• Barnabas is sent to Antioch (11:22-24)–He encourages the brethren

• Barnabas goes to Tarsus to get Saul and brings him to Antioch (11:25)

• Disciples called Christians first at Antioch (11:26)


• Agabus, from Jerusalem, comes to Antioch and prophesies about the famine to come.

• Saul and Barnabas chosen to take collected “relief” to Judea–Pattern• Each gave of their own ability• Sent via trusted messengers• Given to the elders


• Herod caused trouble with the church– Kills James the brother of John– Seized Peter and put him in prison with 16 soldiers

to keep him until after the Passover

• Constant prayer offered for Peter by the church (12:5, 12)

• Angel of the Lord woke Peter, the chains fell off and he was led out of the prison

• Peter thought it was a vision until he was out


• Lessons/Patterns– Evangelism• Not for selfish gain (Simon)• Opportunity (Ethiopian eunuch)

– Zeal• Can be misplaced (Paul) if not of truth

–Gospel is for all (Jew, Gentile…everyone)• Peter and Jewish Christians in Jerusalem

–Giving• Pattern for financial relief collection and

delivery (Judea)

Gospel spreads to Judea and Samaria (Chapters 8-12)–Prayer• Church earnestly/constantly praying for Paul• Many gathered for the purpose of prayer

lesson 3: gospel spreads to judea and samaria (chapters 8-12) lessons from acts

Documents

samaria chapters

damascusgospel spreads

persecutiongospel spreads

actsgospel spreads

edifiedgospel spreads

baptizedgospel spreads

samariagospel spreads

helpgospel spreads