Monday, June 27, 2016

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES QUIZ

1 On whom did the lot fall when the 11 Apostles were choosing a replacement? On whom did it not fall?

2 Name the couple that conspired to sell their land, and then hold back some of the money from the Church?

3 In what city was Paul stoned (to death or near death), then dragged outside the city, then, surrounded by the disciples did he rose up and entered once again into that city?

4 How many days did Jesus show Himself alive after His passion and resurrection with many infallible proofs?

5 Who was the centurion of the band called the Italian Band who was devout, feared God with all his house, which gave alms to the people and prayed?

6 When the new disciples who had practiced curious arts brought their books together to be burned before all men, what was the value of those books?

7 Who joined himself to the Ethiopian eunuch’s chariot and expounded the Gospel to him from Isaiah the Prophet?

 8 At what hour did Peter and John go up into the temple to pray when they crossed paths with a lame man at the gate called Beautiful?

9 As Peter traveled to Cornelius’s house in Caesarea from Joppa he went upon an housetop to pray about which hour?

10 Paul argued daily for the space of two years in what school, so that all that were in Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the Word of the Lord?

11 Name the seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit, full of wisdom, who were appointed by the Apostles to serve the widows?

12 Name the Jewish false prophet/sorcerer of Paphos who withstood Paul and Barnabas as they taught the Word of God to Sergius Paulus, a deputy of Paphos Territory?

13 Name the disciple with whom Paul lodged in Damascus, and who baptized Paul and prayed for Paul to receive his eyesight again?

14 Paul shaved his head in what city because he had a vow?

15 Name the chief ruler of the Corinthian synagogue who believed on the Lord with his entire house?

16 As Paul preached long into the night one vespers, a young man sat in a window of the third loft, sinking into a deep sleep he fell to his death, but Paul went to him and prayed and the young man was made alive. Name the young man?

17 At what spot in Athens Greece did Paul declare the “Unknown God”?

18 Name the Ephesian Silversmith who made much money making silver shrines to the goddess Diana, and who conspired with others of his craft to cause an uprising against Paul?

19 Which of the seven deacons became the first martyr of the early church?

20 Stephen in his final sermon declared to the Jews that they had taken up the tabernacle of whom, and the star of their god whom, figures they made to worship?

21 When the people of Lystra saw that Paul had healed a man, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his birth, they lifted their voices saying “the gods have come down to us in the likeness of men”. They called Barnabas by the name of what god? And they called Paul by the name of what god?

22 About how many disciples were in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost?

23 Philip the Evangelist had how many virgin daughters that prophesied?

24 What woman of Thyatira was known as a seller of purple whose household was saved through Paul’s preaching?

25 Name the sorcerer who bewitched the people of Samaria until Philip arrived with the Gospel?

26 At the close of the Council of Jerusalem, two men chief among the brethren, were selected to travel with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch with letters explaining the decisions of the Council. Name these two men?

27 What eloquent Jew, born in Alexandria Egypt, was “mighty in the scriptures”, and “mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus is the Christ”?

28 Paul was born in what city?

29 When Herod the king killed James, the brother of John with the sword, he saw that it pleased the Jews so he had Peter imprisoned. At whose home was a prayer meeting held for Peter? And name the woman who answered the door when Peter arrived?

30 What two items were taken from the body of Paul that possessed miracle working power that when they were laid upon sick people they were healed and delivered?

31 Name the couple that taught Apollos the way of God more perfectly, seeing that he only knew the baptism of John?

32 Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises at what time when they were in prison in Philippi?

33 Who was queen of the Ethiopians?

34 When the unbelieving Jews of Thessalonica rejected Paul’s teaching about Jesus, they incited rage throughout the city and assaulted the house of whom, looking for Paul and Silas?

35 Paul was brought up in what city? And at whose feet was he taught according to the perfect manner of the law?

36 Who was the wife of Felix, the governor of Judea?

37 Name the lady disciple (with two names) at Joppa who was full of good works and almsdeeds, who became sick and died, but then Peter came and prayed for her, and she was raised from the dead?

38 Who was let down in a basket over the walls of Damascus by the disciples so that he could escape the plots of the Jews to kill him?

39 The Jews of which five synagogues set up false witnesses against Stephen, and stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, who captured him and brought him before the council?

40 From what Old Testament Prophet did Peter preach on the Day of Pentecost saying, “This is that…”?

41 The disciples were first called Christians in what city?

42 Name the Prophet who bound himself with Paul’s girdle and prophesied that Paul would be bound by the Jews at Jerusalem?

43 There were more than how many Jews that made a conspiracy to kill Paul, binding themselves to a curse, and saying that they would eat or drink nothing until they killed Paul?

44 What was the name of the wind storm that caused the shipwreck as Paul sailed to Rome?

45 What was the name of the street in Damascus that Jesus said Ananias would find “one called Saul of Tarsus” praying in the house of Judas?

46 Two converts were named as having believed Paul’s preaching of the Gospel on Mars’ Hill in Athens. Name them?

47 When Paul shipwrecked onto the Island of Melita he prayed for the chief man of the islands father and he was healed of a bloody flux. Name the chief man of Melita?

48 Who said to Paul, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian”?

49 What relative of Paul had overheard the Jews plot to kill him and reported it to the chief captain who then helped Paul escape under protection of a small army?
50 Name the old disciple of Cyprus?


ANSWERS
1 a. Matthias b. Joseph aka Barsabas Justus – ACTS 1:15-26
2 Ananias and Sapphira – ACTS 5:1-11
3 Lystra – ACTS 14:8-21
4 Forty – ACTS 1:3
5 Cornelius – ACTS 10:1, 2
6 50,000 Pieces of Silver – ACTS 19:18-20
7 Philip – ACTS 8:26-40
8 Ninth Hour – ACTS 3:1-16
9 Sixth Hour – ACTS 10:9
10 School of Tyrannus – ACTS 19:8-10
11 Simon, Stephen, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, Nicolas – ACTS 6:5
12 Bar-jesus/Elymas – ACTS 13:4-12
13 Ananias – ACTS 9:10-18
14 Cenchrea – ACTS 18:18
15 Crispus – ACTS 18:8
16 Eutychus – ACTS 20:7-12
17 Mars Hill/Aeropagus – ACTS 17:16-28
18 Demetrius – ACTS 19:23-41
19 Stephen – ACTS 7:51-60
20 a. Moloch b. Remphan  - ACTS 7:43
21 a. Jupiter b. Mercury – ACTS 14:12
22 120 – ACTS 1:15
23 Four – ACTS 21:8
24 Lydia – ACTS 16:14, 15
25 Simon – ACTS 8:9-25
26 Judas aka Barsabas Silas – ACTS 15:22-31
27 Apollos – ACTS 18:24-28
28 Tarsus – ACTS 22:3
29 a. Mary the mother of John Mark b. Rhoda
30 Handkerchiefs and Aprons – ACTS 19:11, 12
31 Aquila and Priscilla – ACTS 18:26
32 Midnight – ACTS 16:25
33 Candace – ACTS 8:27
34 Jason – ACTS 17:5-9
35 a, Jerusalem b. Gamaliel – ACTS 22:3
36 Drusilla – ACTS 24:24
37 Tabitha aka Dorcas – ACTS 9:36-43
38 Paul – ACTS 9:23-25
39 Libertines, Cyrenians, Alexandrians, Cilicia, Asia – ACTS 6:9-15
40 Joel – ACTS 2:16
41 Antioch – ACTS 11:26
42 Agabus – ACTS 21:10-14
43 More Than Forty – ACTS 23:12-15
44 Euroclydon – ACTS 27:14
45 Straight – ACTS 9:10-12
46 Dionysius the Areopagite and Damaris – ACTS 17:34
47 Publius – ACTS 28:1-10
48 King Agrippa – ACTS 26:28
49 Paul’s Sister’s Son – ACTS 23:16-30
50 Mnason – ACTS 21:16
 

Sunday, June 5, 2016

THE GOOD SAMARITAN

Luke 10:25-37

In many passages of scripture we can usually grasp the basic meaning of the passage. The 3 most obvious points of this parable are clear and are important in themselves.
1) Christ exalts compassion - We are called to love.
2) Your enemy is your neighbor when he is compassionate. (The Samaritans were the bitter enemies of the Jews).
3) We are called to imitate the Good Samaritan and love our enemies.

These three points are good and true, and should be understood at face value and followed as the commandments of Jesus. But there is another way of reading scripture that was often practiced by the early Church Fathers, and that is allegory. Allegory was virtually universal throughout early Christianity. Allegory is used to draw our attention, in many well-known passages, to the universal condition of mankind and the all-encompassing love of God. The early Church Fathers are those recognized by the Church as true interpreters of Holy Scripture. One such father was St John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople(modern day Istanbul) in the 4th century.

The parable of the "Good Samaritan" becomes a word-picture of the entire mystery of salvation!!! The allegorical interpretation of the following meditation is from the teaching of St John Chrysostom with the addition of some of my thoughts.

Verse 30: we read, "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho...". The trek from Jerusalem to Jericho was known to be a very dangerous journey, on a very narrow path, where robbers would lie in wait for unsuspecting travelers. In fact, "the valley of the shadow of death" is an actual location on this road. St John Chrysostom says that this is a picture of Adam, who choosing to trust himself rather than God, decided to descend from Paradise to the world. It is interesting to note that Jericho is the lowest city on earth at 853 feet below sea level. Jerusalem, at it's highest point is 2756 feet above sea level. The descent is 3609 feet in 15 miles. So Adam was going from the heights of Paradise to the lowest place that the world can offer.
Then we read, "...and fell among thieves..". So here we see Adam attacked by demons who, as Jesus taught elsewhere, "come to steal, and to kill, and to destroy"(John 10:7-10).
Then we read, "...which stripped him of his raiment,". This shows that Adam(mankind) was stripped of his "robe of immortality". Often in scripture we see that clothing is a picture of spiritual qualities; righteousness, humility, truth. Before the fall, mankind was created immortal, he was clothed with immortality, to live eternally in the Paradise of God. Adam, in his disobedience, was stripped naked. (Read Gen. 3:7-12; Isaiah 25:7,8; 1 Cor. 15:52-57; 2 Cor. 5:1-4)
Then we read, "...and wounded him,". Adam(mankind), in the fall, was wounded by sin, and is wounded by the sins of others, as well as self-inflicted wounds. Mankind was/is afflicted with diseases of the soul, his mind became darkened(Eph. 4:17,18), he became sleepy, ensnared by demons, his will weakened. All these conditions, we can be saved from, healed of, by Jesus.(1 Peter 2:24)
Then we read, "...they departed, leaving him half dead". Adam(mankind) was reduced to the half-life of this earth, subject to sin and death. Adam remained physically alive, but spiritually experienced a death, a separation from God. This does not mean that mankind is spiritually unconscious, as a physically dead person becomes upon death. Adam(mankind) remained spiritually aware, but separated from God, dead to the things of God.

Verse 31 & 32: It happened that a priest...then a Levite, came by that way, and passed by on the other side. This reveals that Israel, who was given the great privilege and responsibility to bring the knowledge of God to the nations, kept to themselves, and did not aid mankind.

Verse 33: Then we read, "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, had compassion on him,". Jesus is the Samaritan. He journeyed, not from this world, but from heaven above. He had even been accused of being a demon possessed Samaritan by the Jews(John 8:48). Jesus sees all who are wounded by the thieves(demons), and upon all He has compassion.

Verse 34: Then we read, "And went to him,...". Jesus comes to all who are wounded by the thieves, to all who are left half-dead along the road from Paradise to the lowest place in the world.
Then we read, "and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine,...". Jesus is seen doctoring mankind's wounds with His teachings(bandages); pouring oil and wine into the wounds. The oil is the Holy Spirit and the Wine is the Holy Eucharist(1 Cor. 10:16,17).
Then we read, "and set him on his own beast, and brought him to the inn, and took care of him". Christ, in becoming incarnate, joins mankind to His divine nature(Hebrews 10:19-22; Rom. 5:12-6:23; 2 Peter 1:2-4); then He brings mankind to the hospital of His Church and continues to minister to him as the divine physician.

Verse 35: We read, "And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him..." Jesus departed the earth in His Holy Ascension(Acts 1:1-11; Eph. 4:8-11; sending the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and giving ministry gifts to men, turning the disciples into apostles and prophets, etc), and he entrusted the care of mankind to the Apostolic Synod personified by its great apostle to the gentiles, St Paul(Col. 1:23-28; Eph. 3:1-6; Gal 1:11-24), and through Paul to the bishops and teachers and ministers of each church(Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5). "Take care of the gentiles which I have given you in the church. Since men are sick, wounded by sin, heal them, putting on them a stone plaster, that is, the prophetic sayings and the gospel teachings, making them whole through the admonitions and exhortations of the old and new testaments."(Chrysostom)
Then we read, "when I come again, I will repay you". At my second coming I will reward you.

We are to see "the Church", through this imagery, as a hospital for the sick and wounded. Jesus, in his teachings, makes reference to this reality(Mt. 9:12; Mk. 2:17; Lk. 5:31). In the Church we are divided into the sick, those undergoing treatment, and those - the saints - who have already been healed...the Church Fathers do not categorize people as moral and immoral, or good and bad, on the basis of moral laws. This division is superficial. At depth, humanity is differentiated into the sick in soul, those being healed, and those healed.
In 1 Peter 2:24 we see that Jesus took upon Himself our sins in order that we be healed of our spiritual sicknesses. Once healed(saved) of our sicknesses we will be able to live righteously. For example; once healed of bitterness, we can show compassion to those who have injured us; once healed of pride, we can with humility and lowliness of mind serve all people regardless of their station in life; once healed of anger we can be at peace with every person we encounter throughout the day.