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ACTS: LESSON 7

VII. THE PROBLEM OF NEGLECTING THE HELLENIST WIDOWS AND STEPHEN'S DEFENSE BEFORE         THE COUNCIL (6:1-8:1).

A. Apostles command church to appoint seven qualified men to see after needs of Grecian widows (6:1-6).

B. The word increases - priests are obedient to the faith (6:7).

C. Various Hellenist groups dispute with Stephen and bring false accusations against him before the council (6:7-15).

D. Stephen defends self with history lesson for Jews showing their history of rejecting the Holy Spirit (7:1-53).

E. Stephen stoned to death as a consenting young man named Saul looks on (7:54-8:1).

QUESTIONS:

1. What two groups were involved in an internal dissension in the church?

2. What THREE qualifications were given for the seven?

3. To what did the apostles intend to give themselves?

4. Many of the ___________ were ___________ to the faith?

5. From what places did Stephen's opponents come?

6. What charges were made against Stephen?

7. How were the events surrounding Joseph, Moses, and the prophets relevant to Stephen's audience?

8. How did Stephen defend himself on the charge of blaspheming the temple?

9. Did Stephen make a mistake in giving the number of Jacob's family at seventy-five whereas Gen.46:27 gives it as seventy?

10. With what prayer did Stephen die?

11. Who kept the coats of those who stoned Stephen?  What would indicate that he was also on the council?

ACTS: LESSON 8

VIII. THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM SCATTERED AND PHILIP PREACHES

CHRIST (8:1-40).

A. Saul leads great persecution against the church in Jerusalem (8:1-4).

1. The scattered members preach the word in the surrounding regions of Jerusalem.

B. Philip preaches in Samaria (8:5-24).

1. Multitudes give heed to Philip's miraculously confirmed preaching of Christ (v.5-8).

2. Simon the practitioner of sorcery believes the gospel and is baptized (v.9-13).

3. Simon sins in trying to buy the apostles' ability to give miraculous gifts of the Spirit to others (v.14-24).

C. Peter and John return to Jerusalem and preach the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans (8:25).

D. Philip sent toward Gaza and preaches Jesus to a eunuch of Ethiopia (8:26-39).

1. Eunuch is baptized and joyously goes on his way.

E. Philip preaches on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean on his way to Caesarea (8:40).

QUESTIONS:

1. What phase of the spreading of the Gospel takes place in chapter 8?

2. Who went about preaching the word?

3. What did Philip preach in Samaria?

4. What caused the Samaritans to give heed to Philip?

5. Who was manifested as some "great one"?

6. What did the Samaritans and Simon do when they believed the gospel of  Christ?

7. What assistance did Peter and John give?

8. What sin did Simon commit?  What did he have to do?

9. What did Peter and John do on their return from Samaria?

10. Where was Philip directed to go from Samaria?

11. Whom did he convert?

12. What was the eunuch reading?  To whom was the prophecy referring?

13. How did the eunuch respond to Philip's preaching of Jesus?

14. Trace Philip's steps after the Eunuch's conversion?