Acts of the Apostles -- Study Guide

Lesson 10

Reading: The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 188-200; Acts 15:1-3.

1. After Paul and Barnabas returned from their first missionary trip, what doctrinal controversy arose at Antioch in Syria (188:2 -189:1)?
  AA-SG 20.1

2. What fear motivated the actions of Paul’s opponents (189:2)?
  AA-SG 20.2

3. What had these Jewish opponents failed to understand (189:3-190:1)?
  AA-SG 20.3

4. What decision was reached by the believers in Antioch (190:2)?
  AA-SG 20.4

5. Give the two agreements that were entered into by the disputing parties (190:2).
a.
b. AA-SG 20.5

6. Besides circumcision, what other items demanded the attention of the representatives at the council?
a. 191:2
b. 191:3
c. 192:2 AA-SG 20.6

7. Who, in reality, had already settled all of these issues (192:3; 194:3)?
  AA-SG 20.7

8. How did Peter defend the rights of Gentile Christians (192:4-194:0)?
  AA-SG 20.8

9. When the discussion was over, what decision was announced by James (195:1, 2)?
  AA-SG 21.1

10. How seriously was the decision of the Council to be taken? Why? (196:0)
  AA-SG 21.2

11. How did God Himself answer the question that was considered by the Council (196:1)?
  AA-SG 21.3

12. After the decisions of the Jerusalem Council were announced in Antioch, what effects were seen in that church (197:3-198:0)?
  AA-SG 21.4

13. Name two influential people who were affected by these events (198:0).
  AA-SG 21.5

14. Why did God permit Peter to fall into this embarrassing situation (198:1-199:0)?
  AA-SG 21.6

15. Complete the following sentence: “The greater the ___________________ placed upon the human agent, and the larger his ___________________ to ___________________ and ___________________, the more ___________________ he is sure to do ___________________ he does not carefully follow the way of the Lord and ___________________ in harmony with the ___________________ arrived at by the general ___________________ of ___________________ in united ___________________” (199:1). AA-SG 21.7

16. What guided Paul’s thinking through this church controversy (199:3-200:2)?
  AA-SG 21.8

Thought Question: What lessons for God’s church today can be learn from the experience of the Jerusalem Council and its aftermath?

AA-SG 21.9