Book of Acts
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class began by revisiting Acts chapter 11, recalling how Peter’s encounter with Cornelius led to the inclusion of Gentiles in God’s saving plan. The teacher emphasized the scattering of believers after Stephen’s martyrdom, their missionary work in Antioch, and the subsequent encouragement sent by Barnabas, who also brought Saul back to strengthen the church. The group discussed Agabus’s famine prophecy, which prompted the collection that was delivered to the Judean churches. Transitioning to Acts chapter 12, the lesson highlighted the rise of Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod the Great, and his persecution of the early Christians. The teacher detailed the execution of James, the brother of John, marking the first apostolic martyrdom, and described Herod’s arrest of Peter as an effort to please the Jews and maintain Roman favor. Throughout, the class connected the historical political dynamics with the steadfast faith of the early believers, underscoring how God’s work continued despite external pressures and martyrdom.