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Outline Bible Studies:

Grade.

heart, he professed great zeal for the Jewish religion. To ingratiate himself with the people, he began persecuting the Christians. James, the brother of John, one of their conspicuous leaders, was seized and beheaded. The same fate was designed for Peter also, but he was miraculously released, and retired for a time from Jerusalem. The visit of Barnabas and Saul with the contribution from Antioch seems to coincide with the outbreak of this violence against the Christians, and may account for their apparently brief stay in Jerusalem.

This persecution, unlike those that preceded it, originated not in religious, but in political motives. It was the first attack on the Christians by the secular powers. It seems to have been of brief duration, as the horrible death of Herod Agrippa, late in the summer of A.D. 44, occurred shortly after the release of Peter.

GOLDEN TEXT: "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him,

And delivereth them." (Ps. 34:7.)

SCRIPTURE, to be read in school or class: Acts 12: I-II.

REVIEW AND PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

1. What were the main characteristics of Part I in this history? 2. What were the main characteristics of Part II? 3. In comparison with Parts I and II, what is the first characteristic of Part III (Note 21)? 4. What is the second characteristic? 5. The third characteristic? 6. Around which one of the apostles does the history of Part III center? 7. What is the title of this lesson? its topics? its Golden Text?

THE LESSON OUTLINE, WITH WRITTEN-ANSWER QUESTIONS.

1. The Martyrdom of James, and Peter's Miraculous Release. Acts 12: I-II.

1. What time is referred to in Acts 12: I? (See Note 22; also Expl. Note in App.)

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2. Who was the Herod mentioned here? (See B. D., “Herod (2)".)

3. What did he do with James? (Acts 12:2.)

4. Who was the James here spoken of, and what can you tell of his history? (See B. D., “James (1)"; also Daily Scripture Readings.)

5. What did Herod do with Peter? (vss. 3-5a.)

6. How did the church show its interest for him during his imprisonment? (vss. 56, 126.)

7. Tell briefly how Peter was released from prison. (vss. 6-10.)

8. When Peter realized what had occurred, what did he say? (vs. II.)

2.

"The Power of Prayer, and the Weakness of Faith." Acts 12: 12-19 9. Where did Peter go after the angel had left him? (Acts 12:12 )

10. Why was he not admitted at once? (vss. 13–16.)

11. What did Peter do when he had been admitted? (vs. 17.)

12. What James did Peter refer to? (See B. D., “James (3)”.)

13. What occurred after Peter's escape was discovered? (vss. 18, 19.)

3. Herod's Miserable Death. Acts 12: 20-24.

14. What request did the people of Tyre and Sidon make of Herod. and why? (Acts 12:20.)

15. What blasphemous praise did Herod accept? (vss. 21, 22.)

16. How was he punished? (vs. 23.)

17. After this brief persecution, what is told of the church? (vs. 24.)

LESSON TEACHINGS, WITH QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION. 18. What especial watchfulness does God exercise over those who trust him (Ps., 33: 18, 19; 34:7; 91: 11, 12; 1 Pet. 3:12, 13)? What had Christ promised his disciples (Mt. 10:29-31)?

19. How was this care shown in the case of Peter? How in the case of James, the brother of John? Mention other instances in which God's providences to his people did not at the time seem to be for their good.

20. How does faith interpret providences which we cannot understand (Rom. 8:28; Phil. 1: 12–14, 19-21)? In what spirit should we bear the discipline of life, whether it issues in life or in death (2 Cor. 4:17, 18; memorize; Heb. 12:5-11; 1 Pet. 1:6, 7)?

21. What is the chief thing that God wishes to secure in us through all the varied experiences of our lives?

What common What does the 14:13, 14)? In

22. How does this lesson illustrate the power of prayer? feeling regarding answer to prayer is also illustrated in it? Bible teach regarding answers to prayer (Mt. 21:22; Jo. view of these and other similar promises, why is doubt regarding the efficacy of prayer so common?

TOPICS FOR SPECIAL INVESTIGATION AND THOUGHT.

1. The adventurous early life of Herod Agrippa I. 2. His administration in Palestine. 3. John Mark. 4. The death of Herod Agrippa I, as told by Josephus, and as told by Luke.

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Lesson 15. CARRYING THE GOSPEL INTO CYPRUS AND ASIA MINOR. The Beginning of Paul's

First Missionary Journey.

Acts, ch. 13. A.D. 45, 46.

Note 23.- This lesson is connected historically with Lesson II- The Establishing of a Gentile Church in Antioch. Soon after Barnabas and Saul had returned from carrying the gifts of this newly established church to the saints in Jerusalem (Acts 11: 27-30; 12:25), the leaders of the church in Antioch were divinely instructed to set apart these two brethren to the work of preaching the gospel in Gentile lands. This event marked the beginning of church extension through deliberately planned missionary effort (see Remark 5 (3), Lesson 1, App.).

The two missionaries, accompanied by John Mark, whom they had brought with them from Jerusalem (Acts 12: 25), naturally turned their course toward Cyprus, the native place of Barnabas, and made a tour of the island. Thence they sailed to Perga on the mainland of Asia Minor. Here, for some reason not mentioned, John Mark left them, but Barnabas and Paul hastened from the coast up through the mountain passes about one hundred miles to Antioch of Pisidia, on the highlands of the interior. Here Paul preached to the Jews and proselytes, and afterwards to the Gentiles. The readiness of the latter to receive the gospel moved the Jews to stir up a persecution against the apostles, which drove them from the city.

GOLDEN TEXT: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel." (Mk. 16: 15.)

SCRIPTURE, to be read in school or class: Acts 13:1-12.

REVIEW AND PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS.

1. What were the three principal characteristics of Part III of this history? 2. Who had been the leading apostle up to the close of Part II? 3. Who then became the leading apostle? 4. Which of the apostles was killed by Herod Agrippa I? 5. Tell the story of Peter's arrest and miraculous release. 6. How was he received by those who had been praying for his deliverance? 7. What became of Herod shortly afterwards? 8. With what portion of the preceding history are the events of this lesson

directly connected (Note 23)? 9. What is the title of this lesson? its topics? its Golden Text?

Note 24. In studying the lessons the route traveled and the principal events at each place visited should be carefully fixed in mind. Compare this map with the colored map, at the beginning of the Quarterly, so as to understand their relations to each other. Observe that in these maps the names of Roman provinces are printed in ROMAN CAPITALS, while names of physical divisions and names derived from races or tribes are printed in ITALIC CAPITALS.

THE LESSON OUTLINE, WITH WRITTEN-ANSWER QUESTIONS. 1. Barnabas and Saul Sent Forth. Acts 13: 1-3.

2. The Work in Cyprus. Acts 13:4-12.

1. What message came from the Holy Spirit to the prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch, shortly after the return of Barnabas and Saul from Jerusalem? (Acts 13: 2.)

2. How did they comply with the message? (vs. 3.)