Acts 11:19-30
ACTS STUDY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What caught your eye or attention in Acts 11:19-30?
According to Acts 11:19, where does the gospel reach? Where is Antioch located, and what is so significant about Antioch from a geographical and cultural perspective? What types of people live in Antioch? How do they respond to the gospel message about Jesus? What do we learn about the gospel from the multicultural, multiethnic, multigenerational makeup of the church at Antioch?
In Acts 8:26-40 an individual Gentile responded to the gospel; in Acts 10:1-11:18, a whole household of Gentiles responded to the gospel; now, in Acts 11:19-24 a whole city of Gentiles responds to the gospel. What are we witnessing? How is the gospel spreading from individuals to households to cities?
How is Saul reintroduced in the narrative of Acts? What does Saul's addition to the church at Antioch and his invitation to teach say about the power of the gospel to transform and unite?
In this text, how do the Jerusalem church and the Antioch church act in interrelated, loving ways toward one another? What do we learn here about the early Christians and the local congregations they gathered in?
If you received word a severe famine was imminent, how would you respond? Though the famine had not even occurred, what did the Antioch Christians immediately determine to do and why is it so remarkable? What is their attitude toward their possessions and their fellow Christians, and how is it similar to the response in Acts 2:42-47? What do we learn about mercy ministry from their response?
Who did the Antioch Christians entrust with their contributions and relief efforts, and who delivered the relief to Christians in Jerusalem? Why is that so ironic and interesting? What fruit are we seeing evidenced in Saul's life? What does this communicate about the power of the gospel to transform?
What did you learn this week from the text about the church, Jesus’ kingdom, and gospel advance? How is this text encouraging or comforting? How is it convicted or challenging?
