Preaching Good News - Acts
ACTS 8
These questions are designed to help you along with your family, friends or missional family dig deeper into the account found in Acts. You can also use this time to encourage each other from things you’ve learned from the previous chapters.
If you have been studying Acts as a family there is a video by the Bible Project that explains chapters 8-12. You can find it here. Using that video along with adapting these questions for your family can be a great way to study the book of Acts with your children.
Chapter eight is a turning point in the book of Acts. The first seven chapters focus on the start and spread of the church in Jerusalem. After Stephen is martyred, the level of general persecution rises and the work of the church begins to broaden its borders.
QUESTIONS
Looking back through Acts 1 through 7, recount some of the ways the Holy Spirit’s power was revealed.
What was the main idea shown in those first chapters of Acts?
In the beginning of Acts 8, we find the church in Jerusalem being scattered due to persecution. How did this persecution help to accomplish God’s purposes that Jesus spoke about before ascending into heaven (Acts 1:8)?
When else in ancient or recent history have hardships (whether from being persecuted, oppressed or otherwise pushed out of an area of comfort) been used to promote God’s purposes? You may have had a personal life experience, read about believers in other countries or remember other accounts in the Bible such as the life of Joseph.
Despite the fact that God does accomplish his purposes in the midst of persecution and hard times, we are reminded here that there is still a time for lamenting (v. 2). Take some time to read Psalm 116 and learn as you see how the psalmist walks with both trouble and sorrow while also taking comfort in the fact that the Lord “bends down to listen” (Psalm 116:2). How can the reminders in this psalm impact the way you talk with God about your own experiences and how you relate and listen to others in their good and bad times?
In verses 9 to 25, we read of how Simon tried to buy the power of the Holy Spirit. How can the desire for power distract us from the purposes God has for our lives?
Acts 8:30-35 shows how upon being led to the Ethiopian who was reading from Isaiah, Philip then explained the good news about Jesus by beginning with that very scripture (Isaiah 53:7-8). As you think about this, how does it affect your regard or disregard for the Old Testament?
In Acts 8 we read about the baptisms of those in Samaria (v.12), of Simon(v.13), and of the Ethiopian eunuch (vv. 38,39). In each instance, belief was soon followed by baptism. What else do you know about baptism from other scriptures? (Matthew 28:19-20, Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:11,12)
If you’ve already been baptized, perhaps there will be some time in your family, friend group, or in your missional family where you can take turns sharing about the where, what, when and why of your baptism.
If you haven’t been baptized, now is a good time to consider it. You can start by talking to someone in your missional family.
