THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST

SPREADING THE SOUL-SAVING MESSAGE OF JESUs

Acts Lesson 2

(Chapters 8-15)

Introduction by narrator accompanied by a cappella singing:

THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. Spreading the soul-saving message of Jesus. And now, Timothy Sparks and Ben Bailey.

Ben Bailey:

“Those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). I’m Ben Bailey.

Timothy Sparks:

And I’m Timothy Sparks. Welcome to our study of the Book of Acts. We are happy that you have tuned in to our broadcast today. This lesson is brought to you by individuals and congregations of the churches of Christ. We hope that you will visit the churches of Christ in your area and let them know how much you appreciate their support of this broadcast. If you have a Bible question or a spiritual concern, they would be happy to help you with it. If you would like to request a Bible study, they also would be glad to help you with that. We, too, would like to be of service in any way that we can. You may visit us on our website at www.thegospelofchrist.com, where you can download streaming audio and video lessons for use in your study of God’s Word. And, as always, we will be happy to send you a free copy of this broadcast, or any of our other lessons, on a DVD or a CD. All of our lessons are available free of charge. We even pay the postage. E-mail us to let us know which lessons you would like, and we will be more than happy to send those to you.

Ben Bailey:

In Acts 8, we read of a man by the name of Saul who was wreaking havoc on the church. He was dragging men and women from their homes and taking them to prison. You might think that this would cause Christians to stop their preaching and teaching. In actuality, it had exactly the opposite effect, as Acts 8:4 makes clear: “Those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.” These first-century Christians were truly committed. They were going to spread the Gospel, even if it meant that they might be put in prison or killed. One of the people mentioned specifically in Acts 8 is a man by the name of Philip, who goes down into Samaria. There, Philip meets an interesting fellow by the name of Simon who is engaged in the practice of sorcery and “black magic.” Yet when Simon hears the Gospel, he obeys it and is baptized (vss. 12-13). He is encouraged by the message, and becomes a faithful child of God. But he then does something that puts his soul in danger, and provides us with a clear example of the fact that a person can fall from grace.

Timothy Sparks:

It has been suggested by some in the religious world that perhaps Simon wasn’t actually a Christian. Yet Acts 8:13 makes it clear that he was. Simon observed miracles being performed. He, too, wanted to be able to perform miracles. So, he offered to buy the “gift of the Sprit” with money (vss.18-19). Peter told Simon, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!” Then Peter said to Simon, “Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you” (vss. 20,22). Peter told Simon that he was in the bond of iniquity and the gall of bitterness, and that he needed to pray for forgiveness. This is what has been called “the second law of pardon.” When a person has done what the Bible commands him to do to become a Christian (hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized), but then sins, in order to be forgiven of his sin(s), he needs to repent and pray for forgiveness. Peter’s rebuke of Simon had the desired effect. Simon said to Peter, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.” This teaches us that when a person sins after becoming a Christian repentance and prayer need to take place. Fortunately, as we learn from 1 John 2:1, we have “an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

Ben Bailey:

Simon was a Christian. He sinned. And as a result of that sin, he was in danger of being lost. Here is an example of someone who had been baptized and thus was a Christian. Yet he was told by an apostle that he was going to “perish.” This teaches us that people can be saved at one point in their lives, and then be lost later. I don’t know who originated the idea of “once saved, always saved,” but it’s certainly not taught in the Bible. We must be constantly on guard, so that we are not lost.

In Acts 8, we also learn of an Ethiopian nobleman—an excellent example of yet another conversion in the Book of Acts. Philip is told by the Spirit to go toward Gaza, and to overtake a chariot (vs. 29). There is a man in the chariot who is reading from Isaiah 53:7-8. Philip asks him, “Do you understand what you are reading?” (vs. 30). The nobleman responds, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” He invites Philip to join him in the chariot, where Philip then begins teaching him about Jesus. As they were traveling, the Bible says that they “came to some water,” and the Ethiopian asked Philip, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Philip said: “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The man realized that he needed to be baptized. He said, “I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” (vs. 37). The chariot stopped, both men got out of the chariot and went down into the water, and Philip baptized the nobleman, who then went on his way rejoicing (vss. 38-39). We see here an example of what a person has to do to be saved. He heard the Word of God. He believed in Jesus. He repented. He confessed that he believed with all his heart that Jesus is the Son of God. Then he was baptized to wash away his sins. We learn an important lesson about what baptism is for, and about the mode of baptism. Both men went down into the water, and came up out of the water. In this example, and in every other example you see in the New Testament, baptism is seen as immersion. There are other examples of conversion in the Book of Acts, too, of course. Probably the most memorable is the conversion of Saul, as recorded in Acts 9.

Timothy Sparks:

Saul of Tarsus is heavily involved in the persecution of Christians. Acts 9:1 tell us that Saul was “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.” Saul even “asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem” (vs. 2). As he is traveling on the road to Damascus, the Lord appears to him in a bright light and says, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (vs. 4). Saul asks, “Who are You, Lord?” The reply comes, “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads” (vs. 5). Saul then asks, “Lord what will you have me to do?” He is told to go on into Damascus, and there he will be told what he must do. Some have suggested that Saul was converted on the road to Damascus. Yet the text indicates that Saul was going to have to do exactly what everyone else in the Book of Acts had to do to become a Christian. As Peter said in Acts 2:38, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” Later in the Book of Acts (22:16), we will see where Saul called on the name of the Lord and was baptized. Saul then becomes the man we know as Paul.

Ben Bailey:

As we enter chapter 10, we are introduced to a Gentile by the name of Cornelius. The interesting thing about Cornelius is that is was already a very good person. We are told the he gave offerings, he prayed, he gave alms liberally to the poor and those in need. He was what we might think of as a moral, upright individual. But being “good” isn’t all that God requires. He had to hear the message whereby he might be saved. Cornelius has a vision of a man coming to him. He sends for Peter, who is staying in Joppa with Simon the tanner. Peter also has a vision. He sees clean and unclean animals dropping down from the sky as if in a sheet. But the vision isn’t about animals; it’s about men. God tells Peter to eat, but Peter says that he cannot because some of the animals are unclean. God then says, “What God has cleansed you must not call common” (vs. 15). God’s point was that all people, including the Gentiles, have a right to hear the Gospel. Cornelius thus becomes the first example we have of a non-Jew being converted. In Acts 10:44, we read, “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.” This baptism of the Holy Spirit was a sign of the Gentiles’ entrance into the kingdom of God. Peter states that God is no respecter of persons (vs. 34) Peter preaches the Gospel to Cornelius and his household, they receive the message, and they are baptized in water for the remission of their sins. There are many of us today who are Christians who ought to be thankful for the events of Acts 10—because we are Gentiles, too! There is a valuable lesson here about how all people are welcome in the kingdom of God. Truly, the “middle wall of separation” had been broken down as both Jew and Gentile were brought into one body—the church (Eph. 2:14-16).

Timothy Sparks:

In Acts 10:34-35, Peter says, “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.” All those—Jew or Gentile—who conform their will to God’s will are acceptable to God. Apparently, even Peter did not fully comprehend all that had happened in Acts 10. We learn from Galatians 2 that, later, Paul had to publicly correct Peter because he acted hypocritically by siding with Jewish Christians against the Gentiles. Isn’t it wonderful that today, those of all nations who are willing to be obedient to the Gospel may be saved? From Acts 10:47-48, we learn that the Gentiles were offered, and received, salvation. Peter said, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.” Those in Cornelius’ household who believed, repented, confessed, and were baptized into Christ. They were thus clothed with Christ (Gal. 3:27). Isaiah had prophesied these very events (Isa. 62:1-5), and had foretold that there was going to be a new name given.

Ben Bailey:

In Acts 11:26, we read, “And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” They weren’t called “Paulites” or “Cepasites” or by any person’s name. They were called simply “Christians.” The Bible only, makes Christians only, and the only Christians. You cannot use the Bible to justify being a member of many religious groups today, because they aren’t found in the Bible! People who follow Christ, and Him only, are just “Christians.” In Acts 12, we see that Christians are having to endure much persecution. James had been beheaded, and Peter is in prison. Herod saw that these things pleased the people. Yet God has other plans for Peter, and so He intervenes. An angel opens the doors to the prison and tells Peter to arise and depart. Peter goes to a house of one of the Christians, and the girl who comes to the door doesn’t even recognize him and thus won’t let him enter. Finally, however, they realize that it’s Peter and they let him in. God took care of Peter, but God is also going to take care of Herod, who was an evil king. He had been upset with the people of Sidon, and so he made a speech. It was a marvelous oration, to which the people shouted, “The voice of a god, not the voice of a man!” Herod accepted praise that should have gone only to God, so God caused Herod to be eaten of worms and die. We read in Acts 12:24 that “the word of God grew and multiplied.” It looked like, when Peter was taken captive, that Christianity was on the verge of being stomped out. It appeared as if Herod was going to put immense pressure on the church, that people were going to die, and that all was going to be lost. Yet just the opposite occurred. God freed Peter, killed Herod, and allowed the Word to spread mightily! If you are a faithful Christian, you can know assuredly that God will take care of you, and that He will right the wrongs. We must remember the teaching of Romans 12:19, “‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay’ says the Lord.” We thus see in Acts 12 that Christianity prevails, not the evil of the world. If we are going to be winners in the end, we must be on Christ’s side. Even if the outlook appears bleak and dim, we still must remain faithful to God. We will overcome as faithful Christians.

Timothy Sparks:

“Overcoming” as Christians is an important part of books like Acts and Revelation. John wrote, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them’” (Rev. 14:13). Even when the enemies of the Gospel persecute Christians, and try to snuff out the Word of God, that Word will prevail. The Word of God is like an anvil. The hammers of infidelity have attacked it throughout the ages, yet it is the hammers that lie in ruins, while the anvil remains unharmed.

In Acts 13, we meet a sorcerer by the name of Elymas. Peter says to him, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?” That’s very strong language—to call someone a “son of the devil.” Elymas, however, apparently deserved the designation because he was a false prophet and a false teacher.

Ben Bailey:

The application for us is clear. We have to stop the mouths of false teachers. Passages such as Titus 1:9-11 teach us that it is the duty of elders to stop the mouths of those who contradict sound doctrine. When it comes to the teaching of error, Christians must take the command of Jude 3 seriously. We are to “contend earnestly for the faith.” Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:11, “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” We are to reprove false teaching because of the damage it can do and because it is not God’s Word. Peter withstood Elymas, and we today must oppose modern-day false teachers. We shouldn’t make our opposition to error a matter of a personal attack on someone, but we must oppose that which is false. The Bible says in Ephesians 4:15 that we must “speak the truth in love.” We withstand error because we love people’s souls. When we preach or teach against error, however, we must do it with love in our hearts. We have no right to be mean, vindictive, or vengeful. That’s not what opposing error is all about. We are concerned about souls. When error is taught, we must preach the truth so that we can counteract the winds of false doctrine, and so that people can go to Heaven. Acts 13:38-39 helps us oppose one particular false doctrine—the idea that we are still under the Law of Moses. We are not justified by the Law of Moses. Rather, we are justified by obedience to the Gospel of Christ.

Timothy Sparks:

From Acts 4:12 we learn, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (Jn. 14:6). In Acts 13, we see that the Gospel is being preached, signs and miracles are being performed to confirm the Word (Mk. 16:20), and that people are obeying the Gospel. From Acts 13 and 14, we learn that the disciples continued to preach the Gospel and do the Lord’s will.

Ben Bailey:

We see in Acts 14 that Paul was on a mission for the Lord, and was using his own time to go to places like Lystra, Iconium, and elsewhere. The Bible tells us that the people received him gladly. In fact, as a result of the miracles that he and Barnabas were able to perform, and the good they were able to do, the people wanted to call them gods, and name them Zeus and Hermes. Paul and Barnabas refused such adoration. They tore their clothes, and told the people not to worship them, since they were mere men. The people were excited about accepting the Gospel. Yet, just a few verses later, we see them trying to stone Paul! These people appeared to be quite fickle. One minute, they are wanting to call Paul a god; the next, they are stoning him and leaving him outside the city for dead. Paul had told them the truth, and had urged them not to involve themselves in idol worship. In verse 17, he said about God, “Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” Paul wanted them to see the blessings that come from Heaven as evidence of God’s existence. It was this type of message—given to idolatrous people—that caused them to stone Paul. As Paul put it, “We, through many tribulations, must enter in to the kingdom of God” (vs. 22). In Acts 14, we see some people who believed the Gospel, and some people who were angered by the Gospel. If people are angry at the message, they shouldn’t take it out on the messenger. Paul asked in Galatians 4:16, “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” The message is God’s. If people don’t like the message, they are mad at God, not us. If we’ve taught what the Bible says, then we’ve done the will of the heavenly Father. From Acts 14, we learn about suffering for the sake of the Gospel. We all may have to suffer for the Gospel. Paul’s suffering certainly did not end in Acts 14.

Timothy Sparks:

Paul wrote to Timothy, “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). Here, we find a promise of persecution for faithful Christians. If we are not being persecuted for being a Christian, perhaps we should ask ourselves why? Peter wrote, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” (1 Pet. 2:21). We have been “called” for something. Called for what? To be persecuted and to walk in the steps of Jesus. Again, if we are not being persecuted, perhaps we are not doing all that we should for Christ. Before the devil flees from us (Jas. 4:7), he may offer fierce resistance. In Acts 15, we encounter some people who contend that Christians had to submit to the Old Testament rite of circumcision.

Ben Bailey:

Some in that day (like the Pharisees) were taking a matter of custom and making it a matter of salvation. In Acts 15:1-3, we read,

“And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.’ Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question. So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.”

There is nothing wrong with circumcision. Under Christianity, circumcision was optional. Under the Old Law, Jews were commanded to be circumcised to exhibit their faith in God (Gen. 15-17). When Christ came, however, He did away with the Old Law. Paul makes it clear that circumcision is not something we must do today. We are not under the law of circumcision. We are under the law of Christ. If you want to be saved, you do not have to be circumcised. We must follow the Gospel and the teachings of Jesus Christ. Have you obeyed the Gospel? Are you a child of God? Or, are you caught up in the doctrines and teachings of men, which cannot be trusted? Today, you can become a Christian. Jesus said that you can know the truth, and that the truth will make you free (Jn. 8:32). Here’s what the Bible says a person must do to be saved. Jesus said, “If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (Jn. 8:24). We also must repent. Jesus said, “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Lk. 13:3). Then we must confess. Romans 10:10 instructs us, “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Last, we must be baptized for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38). If you have not done those things, why wait? Do them today.

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Narrator accompanied by a cappella singing:

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STUDY QUESTIONS FOR acts lesson 2 (Chapters 8-15)

  1. Acts 8 introduces us to a man who was “wreaking havoc on the church.” Who was this man, and who was he destined to become?

  2. Acts 8 also introduces us to a pagan sorcerer who heard the Gospel and became a Christian. What was his name, and what sin did he commit after becoming a Christian?

  3. What is the relationship between Galatians 5:4 and Acts 8:20?

  4. In Acts 8, we read of an Ethiopian nobleman who was reading a passage from the Book of Isaiah. What passage was he reading, and what was its significance?

  5. After the Ethiopian nobleman heard Philip talk about Christ, what question did he ask?

  6. What did Philip tell the nobleman in response to his question?

  7. What is the significance for us today of the urgency expressed in Philip’s response to the nobleman’s question?

  8. In Acts 9, we find Saul being struck blind on one of his travels. What was the purpose of this miracle? What effect did it have on Saul?

  9. A servant of God by the name of Ananias was commanded by God to go talk to Saul. What did Ananias command Saul to do?

10. What is the significance of the conversion of Cornelius in Acts 10?

11. In Acts 10, we read of a vision that Peter experienced. What was the purpose of this particular vision?

12. What did Peter mean when he said (Acts 10:34) that God “shows no partiality”? What is the significance of such a statement for us today?

13. What sin did Peter commit (Gal. 2) that caused Paul to rebuke him publicly?

14. Where were people first called Christians? Support your answer with Scripture.

15. Why did God strike King Herod dead?

16. There is a unifying theme of sorts in both the Book of Acts and the Book of Revelation. What is that theme?

17. What important message is taught in Titus 1:9-11?

18. What is Acts 13:39 teaching us?

19. In Acts 14, why did the people want to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods?

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