Acts Lesson 47
Tuesday Night Bible Study
March 17, 2015
Study of the Book of Acts
Tonight’s Text – Acts 17:22-34
Brief review
- The “superstitious” Athenians
- Idolatry and “devotions”
- σεβασμα (seh-BAS-ma) – something adored. An object of worship
- “too superstitious”
- δεισιδαιμονεστερος (“dice-ee-dah-ee-mon-ES-ter-os”)
- δειλος (DIE-los) – a sense of dread, timid.
- δαιμον (“dah-EE-mon”) – a demon, a supernatural spirit.
- δεισιδαιμονεστερος (“dice-ee-dah-ee-mon-ES-ter-os”)
- Paul makes a comparison
- The dynamic at work.
- Idolatry and “devotions”
- Making the “Unknown God” known
- God the Creator
- Needs no man-made dwelling
- Not worshiped in a “place”
- “Unity” of man
- “out of one blood” rather than the making of one blood
- The “offspring” of God
- Citation of secular literature
- A philosophical appeal, not theological
- God the Creator
- Paul’s argument for God’s existence
- God is not defined by the material/physical
- because His offspring are not defined that way
- God is aware of man’s ignorance
- God is ready to deal with ALL men EVERYWHERE
- repentance from ignorance
- warning of coming judgment
- Assurance by the testimony of Jesus Christ
- God is not defined by the material/physical
- Results of Paul’s discourse
- Some mocked
- “throw out the lip” – compare with Psalm 22:7
- Some believed
- Dionysius the Areopagite
- Damaris
- Others
- Some mocked
Acts Lesson 46
Tuesday Night Bible Study
February 24, 2015
Study of the Book of Acts
Lesson 46 Outline
Brief review
- The scene in Athens
- Paul’s manner, again
- Disputing daily
- διαλεγομαι – “dee-ah-leg-oh-my” – to say thoroughly. A structured, well laid-out argument
- Continuous, on-going
- Within the synagogue
- Outside the synagogue
- Epicureans and the Stoics
- Rival philosophies
- Both sought knowledge and wisdom
- Variations on gnosticism
- “City wholly given to idolatry”
- The Athenian interest in Paul
- What did the Epicureans and Stoics have to gain by debating Paul?
- Paul is ridiculed
- A “babbler”
- σπερμολογος (“sper-mol-oh-gus”) –“seed-picker”
- One who sets forth “strange gods”
- χενος (“zee-nos”) – guest, visitor, alien (foreigner)
- δαιμονιων (die-mon-ee-on) – a demon or devil. some diety.
- A “babbler”
- The focus on Mars Hill
- The “Areopagus”
- αρειος παγος (Areios Pagos) – “Hill of Ares”, “Rock of Ares”
- Compare with verse 22
- “Strange things” for a “strange” audience
- επιδημεο (“epi-day-meh-oh”) – to make oneself at home.
- Combined with χενος (“zee-nos”). – “residing foreigners”
- Compare with verse 20
- χενιζω (“zeh-nid-zoh”) – to be a host.
- The “Areopagus”
Acts Lesson 45
Tuesday Night Bible Study
February 10, 2015
Study of the Book of Acts
| Tonight’s Text – Acts 17:10-15 Brief review
Notice Paul’s method of operation again. Compare with verse 2 – “as his manner was”“These were more noble”ευγενης (you-gen-ace) – well-born; high in rank; generous. ευ (you) – good or well γινομαι (gin-oh-my) – to cause to be, that is, to become (reflexively); to come into being. Who are the “these” who were “higher in rank”? “Readiness of mind” προθυμια (pro-thoo-me-ah) προ (pro) – fore, in front of, prior to. θυμος (thoo-mos) – passion. “forward-passion” “whether those things were so” Literal rendering – “if these may hold thus” verb in “optative” mood 4th class condition – a future possibility 4th class condition – a future possibility
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Acts Lesson 44
Tuesday Night Bible Study
February 3, 2015
Study of the Book of Acts
Tonight’s Text – Acts 16:35 – 17:9
Brief review
I. Concluding thoughts on Philippi
– Commentary on Acts 16:35-40
II. Events in a Thessalonian synagogue
A. Paul’s manner
B. Paul’s appeal to reason
– Definition of “reason”
1. A cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event.
2. The power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgments by a process of logic.
C. Necessary facts regarding Messiah
δει (die) – it is necessary or it was necessary
– To suffer
– To die
– To rise from the dead
D. The Biblical significance of suffering
– Psalm 22
III. People’s response to Paul
A. The positive
– Some Jews believed (most did not)
– Large number of devout Greeks
– “Chief women”
B. The negative
– “Moved with envy”
– Riot at the house of Jason
– False testimony to the city rulers
Notes:
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
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