Chapter 9 – Flight from Persecution
Questions to Think About and Discuss
1. Nathan says of Stephen, “He’s been in there a really long time.” To see what took so long, check out Acts chapter 7, where Stephen reviews the history of the nation of Israel, naming Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Jacob, David and Solomon. What did Stephen say that made them so angry that they stoned him to death?
2. What would you have done when the stone tumbled down and alerted the robbers that someone was up on the hill? Was Nathan’s idea a smart one? What else might he have done?
3. Do you remember a Bible story (a parable that Jesus told) that happened on this same road to Jericho? Read it in Luke 10:25-37. .
Creative Writing
When Nathan walked down to confront the band of robbers, he acted bravely and prayed silently for God to help him. Have you ever been in a situation where you prayed silently for God’s help? What was the problem you faced? Did God help you think of what to do? Write about it in the form of a story. Or make up a story in which a character prays silently for God’s help and God answers.
Geography
1. Find a map of Palestine and the surrounding countries during Jesus’ day. You can find this in some Bibles and in Bible atlases. Can you trace a route for Nathan and his group from Jerusalem, along the Jordon River, and to Antioch, Syria?
Questions to Think About and Discuss
1. Nathan says of Stephen, “He’s been in there a really long time.” To see what took so long, check out Acts chapter 7, where Stephen reviews the history of the nation of Israel, naming Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Jacob, David and Solomon. What did Stephen say that made them so angry that they stoned him to death?
2. What would you have done when the stone tumbled down and alerted the robbers that someone was up on the hill? Was Nathan’s idea a smart one? What else might he have done?
3. Do you remember a Bible story (a parable that Jesus told) that happened on this same road to Jericho? Read it in Luke 10:25-37. .
Creative Writing
When Nathan walked down to confront the band of robbers, he acted bravely and prayed silently for God to help him. Have you ever been in a situation where you prayed silently for God’s help? What was the problem you faced? Did God help you think of what to do? Write about it in the form of a story. Or make up a story in which a character prays silently for God’s help and God answers.
Geography
1. Find a map of Palestine and the surrounding countries during Jesus’ day. You can find this in some Bibles and in Bible atlases. Can you trace a route for Nathan and his group from Jerusalem, along the Jordon River, and to Antioch, Syria?