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  1. This chapter relates the salvation of Saul.  Take a few minutes and write about your salvation experience.  Please share it with the others.

  

 

Do you sometimes hesitate to tell others about your salvation because it is not “exciting” like Saul’s?  Why?  Is one “experience” more effective than another?

  

Do you have a tendency to question dramatic conversion experiences like Saul’s?  Why?

  

  1. What do we find Saul “still” doing in verse 1?

  

What do you believe was Saul’s intention?

 

 

If you had been a Christian during this time, what would most likely do if Saul came to your town?

 

 

  1. Why did Saul need letters from the high priest and what was he planning on doing with them? 

 

 

What can we learn about Saul from the fact that he had access to the high priest?

 

 

Why do you think Saul focused on the believers in Damascus?

 

 

  1. What is the significance of Saul’s going to the synagogues to “arrest” believers?

 

 

Why do you think they referred to believers of Christ as belonging to “the Way”?

 

  1. Briefly describe Saul’s encounter with Jesus.

 

 

What question does Jesus ask Saul?

  

In what way was Saul “persecuting” Jesus?

 

  

Jesus takes the persecution of His disciples personally.  How does this affect you?  Please explain.

  

  1. Look carefully at Saul’s answer in verse 5.  Compare it to Ananias’ answer to Jesus in verse 10.  What is the difference?

 

 

How does Ananias’ encounter with Jesus differ from Saul’s?  (Look carefully at vv. 5 and 10.)

 

 

Why do you think the Lord struck Saul blind?

 

 

  1. Read v. 7 and v. 22:9.  What exactly did the men traveling with Saul hear?

 

 

How do you explain the difference between what Saul heard and what the other men heard?

 

 

What can we learn from this?

 

 

  1. What do you think Saul was feeling and thinking as he was led into Damascus?

 

 

Why do you think the Lord kept him blind for three days?

 

 

  1. What can we learn about Ananias from these verses?

 

 

Look at Ananias’ response to the Lord in vv. 13-14.  Was Ananias being disobedient?  Please explain.

 

 

How did Jesus respond to Ananias’ concerns?

 

 

How is this conversation similar to God’s conversation with Moses at the burning bush?

 

 

  1. Read carefully vv. 15-16.  What is the “call” on Saul’s life?

 

 

Is Saul aware of this call?  As a matter of fact, what was Saul doing up to this point?

 

 

What can we learn about Jesus’ call upon our lives?  about His call upon others?

 

 

  1. What is the significance of Ananias’ calling Saul “brother”?

 

 

What is the result of Ananias’ obedience to the Lord?  (See v. 18)

 

 

What can we learn about obedience from both Saul and Ananias?

 

 

  1. Read vv. 19-22.  What did Saul do once he regained his strength?  Why do you think he did this?

 

 

What was the people’s reaction?

 

 

What effect did this have on Saul?

 

 

  1. Verse 23 begins, “After many days had gone by….”  What can you learn about the length of time represented by this phrase? 

 

 

What do you think Saul was doing during this time?

 

 

  1. Upon his return to Damascus, the Jews plotted to kill Saul.  Why did they want him dead?

 

 

Upon his escape, where did Saul go?  What kind of reception did he receive from the apostles?  Why did they react this way?

 

 

Were they wrong, or should they have immediately welcomed Saul into their midst?  Please explain.

 

 

  1. Who comes to Saul’s aid?  What does Barnabas do?

 

 

What does the name Barnabas mean?

 

 

When have you experienced the encouragement of a Barnabas?  Please explain.

 

 

  1. Saul was well-known in Jerusalem.  Before, he was debating “religion”.  Now he is doing the same thing.  What is different? 

 

 

  1. Verse 31 tells us that the church enjoyed a time of peace.  Who strengthened and encouraged the church during this time?

 

 

How did the believers live?

 

 

How could this have brought them peace, prosperity, and growth?

 

  1. Beginning with verse 32, we once again encounter Peter.  Read carefully vv. 32-35.  What strikes you most about Aeneas’ healing?

 

 

Do you believe we can see and experience the same healing?  If so, why are we not witnessing more of it?

 

 

What was the result of Aeneas’ healing? (See v. 35)

 

 

Do you really believe the Lord can save all of Coalgate?

 

 

  1. Read vv. 36-43.  What do we know about Tabitha or Dorcas?  What specifically were some of her good works?

 

 

What can we learn about being a disciple of Jesus and good works?

 

 

Read Matthew 5:16.  How was Dorcas’ life an example of this scripture?

 

 

Sometimes we focus on the more visible ministries of people like Paul and Peter and often look at others like Dorcas.  However, what impact did she make upon the people of her town?  Is there such a thing as an insignificant spiritual gift?  What conclusions can you draw about your gift and ministry?

 

 

What good works are others seeing in your life that is causing them to praise the Lord?  Could you be doing more?

 

 

  1. If Dorcas was already dead, why did the disciples send for Peter?

 

 

  1. Here we see Dorcas raised from the dead.  Question 18 asked if you believed in healing.  Do you believe we still have the authority to raise people from the dead?

 

 

  1. Look carefully at vv. 35 and 42.  Besides the healings themselves, what was another result of these miraculous occurrences? 

 

 

Do we still need this type of “witnessing” today?  Please explain.

 

 

  1. What has impacted you the most from this chapter?  What changes if any do you plan to make?