Acts

Reflection Guide Key Terms Every city – In his first missionary journey, Paul travelled to the island of Cyprus and through many of the major towns in southern Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). On this next journey, Paul will travel through southern Asian Minor, visiting the churches he helped plant, before continuing on to Macedonia…

Reflection Guide Key Terms The Law of Moses – The law God gave to Israel in the OT books in order to reveal himself to his people, set Israel apart from the other nations and guide them to flourishing, and teach mankind about sin and the need for atonement. Putting God to the test –…

Reflection Guide Key Terms Word of his grace – A description of the gospel used by Paul (Acts 20:32) and Luke (v. 3) which highlights the essence of the Gospel as grace secured by and through Jesus. Kingdom of God – The kingdom of God is both the present reality following Jesus’ sacrificial death and…

Reflection Guide Key Terms Herod – This Herod is Herod Agrippa I, who ruled from 41-44 AD, and was the grandson of Herod the Great. The Herod who played a part in Jesus’ arrest and execution was a different Herod called Herod the Tetrarch. Worshipping – From the Greek word leitourgeō, which means “to serve.”…

Reflection Guide Key Terms Antioch – 300 miles from Jerusalem, Antioch was the 3rd largest city in the Roman Empire with a population of 500,000 people. Antioch would serve as a “home base” for Paul (see Acts 13:1-3, 15:30-26 & 18:22-23). Hellenists – This term has a wide range of meaning and Luke used it…

Reflection Guide Key Terms The Circumcision Party – Although the ESV translates this phrase the circumcision party, the Greek phrase is simply koi ek peritomēs, which literally means “those of the circumcision.” It’s unclear whether Luke uses this term to refer to all Jewish Christians in Judea or the particular group within the Church that…

Reflection Guide Key Terms Caesarea – An influential 1st century port city located about 30 miles north of modern-day Tel Aviv. Caesarea was the Roman capital of Judea and home to the Roman governors over the region. Cornelius – Cornelius was a Gentile (non-Jew) who sought to follow Yahweh, the God of the Jews. He…

Reflection Guide Key Terms The Son of God – An honorific title that by the time of Jesus had become associated with the Messiah. Verse 20 is the only time this phrase is used to describe Jesus in the book of Acts, but would become central to Paul’s theology and teaching (See Ro 1:4 &…

Reflection Guide Key Terms Letters from the high priest – Paul asks for letters from the high priest in an apparent attempt to establish his authority to arrest Christians outside of Jerusalem. The Way – A term used to describe Christians in the 1st century; Luke uses similar terms such as the way of salvation…