Acts Chapter 8

The Apostles In Samaria, vs 1-3:

1.  Who is this Saul, and why do you think he was worth mentioning?

2.  How do you feel this persecution fulfills prophecy?  (see Acts 1)

3.  Has there ever been a time when you felt persecuted for your faith?

4.  Do you feel these Christians deserved their treatment?

5.  Considering the prophecy from Jesus in Acts 1, will this persecution end up serving God or His enemies?

6.  When bad things happen to you, do you wonder what you did wrong?  Why? Why not?

7.  When you're persecuted, do you look for how God can be served or feel sorry for yourself? 

1.  Who is this Saul, and why do you think he was worth mentioning?

Saul was the one who went around persecuting the church and putting many to death. He was in agreement for the death of Stephen. Who prayed while he was being martyred,  "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." (Acts7:60)

Saul later became Paul, who never forgot the way Stephen died..or the prayer he prayed. Even though Paul (as Saul) was struggling against the work of the early church and the church was experiencing its worst persecution up to that time, it was this struggle that would eventually lead Paul, the man who wrote at least half of the New Testament, to eternal life. 

2.  How do you feel this persecution fulfills prophecy?  (see Acts 1)

Jesus had told His disciples not to depart from Jerusalem until they received the Promise of the Father...which means until they were baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Which means in my estimation that they could not handle the job in their own strength they needed the power of the Holy Spirit to be able to do the things God wanted them to do...which was to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, , Samaria and the ends of the earth.

Jesus knew they would be persecuted and they needed His power to be His witnesses...and do the things He wanted them to do. It is still the same for us...we need His power to do what He wants us to do which means be His witnesses where ever we are at.

3.  Has there ever been a time when you felt persecuted for your faith?

Yes there have been times ..not persecution as far as the early church went through..but opposition would probably be a better word.

4.  Do you feel these Christians deserved their treatment?

Of course not..neither did Jesus deserve the treatment He received by dying for our sins. But He did it so we might have life. The same with the early church...they could have denied the faith and been spared persecution..but they stayed faithful..not only so they would have eternal life..but also so they could be witnesses and other could find Jesus and receive eternal life.

5.  Considering the prophecy from Jesus in Acts 1, will this persecution end up serving God or His enemies?

Anytime some one is persecuted for their faith...God will receive glory. God is able to work in the hearts of the onlookers..that these faithful to the end believers...must have something wonderful to look forward..why else would someone stay faithful till the end. The Holy Spirit has , does, and can do much in the hearts of not only the persecutors..but also those onlookers.

6.  When bad things happen to you, do you wonder what you did wrong?  Why? Why not?

Sometimes!! And sometimes not. What I mean is I would examine my heart to see if there is anything which I need to confess to the Lord...things I may have done..or even things I may not have done that I should have.

Other times I know the things that happened to me..is only because of the enemy's opposition...and I have nothing to fear...as long as I keep my faith and trust in Him.

7.  When you're persecuted, do you look for how God can be served or feel sorry for yourself? 

Well I might start out feeling sorry for myself...but when I turn to the Lord...and talk to Him about it...I just ask Him to just have His way in the whole situation...because He knows what lies ahead...and I always remember that His plan for me is for good and not for evil. In fact His plan for everyone is for good and not for evil...that also means those who may oppose us.

Simon The Sorcerer, vs 4-25:

1. Why do you feel we hear so little about people healed of demons, and illnesses? Do you think it would capture the attention it did then?

2. What "power" was behind Simon's sorcery?

3. What happened to Simon's followers as they believed about Jesus?

4. What happened to Simon in vs 13?

5. Is it possible to believe, be baptized and not have the Holy Spirit?

6. Do you feel Simon's request to buy the Spirit was a natural one, given who he was before he met these people?

7. Some say Simon hadn't truly received Jesus or he would never have asked to buy the Holy Spirit…what do you think?

8. Do you feel Simon's prayer indicates repentance? Why/why not?

1. Why do you feel we hear so little about people healed of demons, and illnesses? Do you think it would capture the attention it did then?

It could be that there is a falling away from the faith, as the Bible predicts for the latter days. Yes it would definitely capture the attention of folks when they hear of people being set free from demons, and healed of illnesses. But today there is a lot of attack against godly men and women who are being used in deliverance ministries..that some may be fearful to use their God given gift.