Victory Fellowship Bible Study
273 23rd St. S.W., Barberton, OH 44203
Wednesdays at 7pm
Rev. Roderick D. Grabski (330) 858-0223
WEBPAGE: victoryfellowshipministries.com
arod4God@neo.rr.com FACEBOOK: Roderick Grabski
Session NINE: HEROD PERSECUTES
I. ANNOUNCEMENTS and PRAYER CONCERNS
II. Read / Listen / Discuss ACTS 11:19 - 12:25
a. Discuss initial impressions & translation differences
III. THE CHURCH in ANTIOCH (11:19-30):
a. Scattered Jews take the Gospel to Greeks.
• A large number believe and turn to the Lord.
b. An Encourager, not an Apostle, sent to check on the work in Antioch.
• Good choice. Afterward Barnabus goes to retrieve Saul (Paul) in Tarsus. (Galatians 2)
• Barnabus and Saul teaching in Antioch an entire year.
• First called “Christians” in Antioch.
1. Cristianoi (only found in Acts 11:26; 26:28; and 1st Peter 4:16)
c. First “New Testament” Prophets
• Famine predicted (see handout on Josephus, Book XX)
1. Right around A.D. 46
• An offering taken and sent to the mother church.
IV. THE CHURCH in JERUSALEM (12:1-18):
a. Herod Agrippa I persecutes the Apostles to win favor with the Jews.
• James, brother of John, killed with a sword. (see Mark 10:35ff)
• Peter arrested during Festival of Unleavened Bread.
1. See “Jewish Feasts” handout.
• 16 men on guard duty (probably worked in 3 shifts).
b. The Faithful, Fervent, and Effective Prayer of the Church
• Ektenhs -same type as Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
• A Theophany – an angel of the Lord
• A comedy of Divine proportions
1. First, Peter with the Angel and then, Rhoda
V. A DEAD KING and a DYNAMIC CHURCH (12:19-25):
a. The Character of Herod
• Unrighteous Wrath
• Arrogance leading unto Death (see handout on Josephus, Book XIX)
• All in the Family (see handout of the Herods)
b. The Word of the Lord growing – Church Multiplied
• Barnabus, Saul, John (also called Mark) head back to Antioch
VI. APPLICATION
• The gospel came to the Jew first, and then to the Greek (Gentiles). However we must remember that the Gospel is STILL for the Jew. Our Jewish friends need to know that Jesus is the Messiah.
• When someone doesn’t believe the truth, the danger is not that they believe nothing. The danger is that they will believe anything.
• What Peter’s release tells us about Prayer:
VII. Close in Prayer
NEXT SESSION: PAUL’S 1st MISSIONARY JOURNEY
Read ACTS 13:1 – 14:28 to prepare for class
