Congregational Bible Study (30 mins.) BT Chapter 28, paragraphs 8-15.
8, 9. a) What did Jesus' disciples achieve thanks to the Holy Spirit?
Thanks to the Holy Spirit, Jesus' disciples received the power to perform impressive miracles, such as healing the sick, casting out demons, and even raising the dead. But, more importantly, the Holy Spirit gave them the ability to transmit the accurate knowledge of God, which leads to eternal life, thus fulfilling their mission to bear witness throughout the earth (John 17:3).
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Jesus' disciples, thanks to the Holy Spirit, were able to bear witness throughout the earth, heal the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead, and, most importantly, transmit the exact knowledge that leads to eternal life.
The Holy Spirit not only endowed Jesus' disciples with miraculous abilities, such as healing and raising the dead, but also equipped them for an even more crucial mission: proclaiming the message of salvation. This focus on transmitting accurate knowledge underscores the need for a clear and precise understanding of Jesus' teachings, which is essential for achieving eternal life.
The fact that the power of the Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to perform extraordinary miracles demonstrates divine support for the work of preaching. These miracles not only confirmed the authenticity of the message but also served to draw attention to the greater purpose of bringing God's Word to every corner of the earth.
8, 9. b) What is the faithful slave producing with the help of God's spirit?
With the help of God's Spirit, the faithful slave is producing a vast amount of Bible-based publications in hundreds of languages. Through this work, people of different cultures and languages can experience the "magnificent things of God," just as they did on the day of Pentecost. Publications such as The Watchtower, Awake!, and jw.org materials are available to millions of people around the world.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
With the help of God's Spirit, the faithful slave is producing Bible-based publications in over 1,000 languages, enabling the magnificent things of God to be declared to people of diverse nations, tribes, and tongues.
The faithful slave's work today, distributing publications in thousands of languages, demonstrates how God's Spirit continues to guide global preaching. Although the miraculous gift of speaking in tongues is no longer present, the ability to reach a global audience with accessible literature in so many languages is a modern extension of the initial mission of Jesus' disciples.
Revelation 7:9 describes a multitude of people from every nation, tribe, and language worshiping God. This vision is fulfilled today by allowing God's Word to reach people of diverse cultures and languages through publications, reflecting a tangible fulfillment of the prophecy that speaks of effective worldwide evangelization, thanks to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
10. What special efforts have been made since 1989?
Since 1989, priority has been given to translating the New World Translation into many languages. Thanks to these efforts, it is now available in more than 200 languages, and more than 240 million copies have been printed. This impressive achievement has been made possible by Jehovah's continued support and the guidance of his Holy Spirit.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Since 1989, the faithful slave has made special efforts to make the New World Translation available in many languages. As a result, it has been translated into more than 200 languages, and more than 240 million copies have been printed. All this has been possible thanks to the support of God and His Spirit.
The New World Translation has been a key effort to ensure that biblical teachings are accessible to people of diverse cultures and languages. This effort underscores the importance of reaching a global audience with a clear message, demonstrating how divine support allows this translation mission to continually expand.
The fact that more than 240 million copies of the New World Translation have been printed highlights not only the impact of this effort but also the tireless dedication of the Christian community worldwide to sharing the Bible's message. This growing number reflects a positive response and a global desire to access biblical knowledge in their native language.
11. What is being done to translate our publications?
Thousands of Jehovah's Witnesses are voluntarily translating our publications in more than 150 countries and territories. This global effort demonstrates that Jehovah is blessing this work through his Holy Spirit. Thanks to this, a complete witness about him and his Kingdom can be given throughout the world.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Thousands of Witnesses are volunteering to translate our publications in more than 150 countries and territories. This effort should not surprise us, as there is no other organization like this one that is being led by the Holy Spirit to bear a complete testimony about Jehovah, his Messianic King, and the Kingdom established in heaven.
The voluntary work of thousands of Witnesses in translating publications reflects their collective commitment to global preaching. This effort not only facilitates access to biblical teachings in various languages, but also demonstrates the community's unity and dedication to fulfilling the mandate to spread God's message throughout the world.
The fact that this organization is directed by the Holy Spirit to offer "a complete testimony" underscores the uniqueness of this mission. According to Acts 28:23, conveying the message about Jehovah and his Kingdom is not simply a human endeavor, but a work guided by divine direction, giving it a uniqueness and effectiveness unmatched by any other organization.
12. What helped Paul and the other Christians fulfill their mission of witnessing?
What helped Paul and other first-century Christians was God's Holy Spirit, which gave them the courage and guidance to speak without fear. Thanks to this divine help, they were able to give powerful speeches and use other effective methods to touch people's hearts.
For example, in Antioch in Pisidia, many accepted the message because they had "the right attitude for eternal life." Even in Rome, the center of political power, Paul preached the Kingdom of God "with great boldness, without any hindrance." Undoubtedly, the Holy Spirit was his source of strength to successfully fulfill his mission.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Paul and other first-century Christians were helped to fulfill their mission of witness by the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit. This enabled them to preach boldly and effectively, reaching many people, even in challenging places like Rome.
Acts 13:48 highlights how the Holy Spirit guided Paul to preach effectively, causing all those with the right attitude toward eternal life to become believers. This underscores the importance of the listener's disposition, but also highlights how the Holy Spirit facilitates conversion by touching hearts willing to listen.
The reference in Acts 28:31 to Paul preaching unhindered in Rome highlights the courage the Holy Spirit gave him. Despite being in the capital of a world power and in a hostile environment, Paul was able to continue his mission without being detained, demonstrating the strength the Holy Spirit gives to those committed to God's cause.
13. Why is it important that we pray when we are persecuted?
It is important to pray when we are persecuted, because by doing so we demonstrate that we fully trust in Jehovah as our source of strength. Just as the early disciples prayed to Jehovah for courage, and He responded by giving them holy spirit to speak boldly (Acts 4:18, 31), we too need His help to stand firm.
Prayer connects us to Jehovah and allows us to receive wisdom and strength to continue preaching despite difficulties. No matter how tough the opposition, with his holy spirit we can continue our witness.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
It's important to pray when we're persecuted because, like Jesus' first disciples, we need Jehovah's help to give us wisdom, strength, courage, and the power of the Holy Spirit to continue proclaiming God's Word, regardless of opposition or persecution.
In Acts 4:18-31, when the disciples prayed to Jehovah for courage, the Holy Spirit empowered them to continue proclaiming God's message despite persecution. This example shows how prayer and seeking the Holy Spirit are essential to remaining steadfast in the mission when facing opposition.
In Luke 11:13, Jesus teaches that God gives the Holy Spirit to those who sincerely ask for it. By asking Jehovah for wisdom, strength, and courage in times of persecution, Christians can maintain their faith and continue bearing witness without being deterred by any external difficulties. Prayer thus becomes a source of spiritual power to face any challenge.
14, 15. (a) What happened during “the persecution that arose because of Stephen”?
After Stephen was killed for his courageous witness, a great persecution broke out, forcing many disciples to disperse throughout Judea and Samaria. However, this dispersion did not stop the preaching. Philip was one of those who moved to Samaria and had excellent results in announcing the message about Christ. In addition, other disciples went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and began preaching even to Greek-speaking people. Therefore, the persecution, instead of silencing the message, helped it spread even further.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
During “the persecution that arose over Stephen,” the disciples—except for the apostles—were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. However, the persecution did not stop their preaching. Philip, for example, went to Samaria and preached successfully, and those who had scattered reached Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, carrying the message even to the Gentiles.
The persecution that arose because of Stephen resulted in the scattering of the disciples, but this scattering had a positive effect: the message spread to more places such as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. Acts 11:19, 20 shows how, even in the midst of persecution, the preaching spread to the Gentiles, a key event in the expansion of Christianity.
Despite opposition, Christians continued to spread Jesus' message, demonstrating that the power of preaching cannot be easily stopped. The preaching in Samaria, as mentioned in Acts 8:1-8, shows how the dispersion not only preserved the lives of Christians but also allowed the gospel to reach new lands and hearts willing to listen.
14, 15. b) How did many people in Siberia come to know the truth?
In the 1950s, thousands of Witnesses were deported to Siberia by the Soviet authorities. Despite its painful consequences, this situation became an opportunity to spread the message of the Kingdom to distant communities. The brothers, scattered throughout the region, preached zealously, allowing many sincere people to come to know the truth.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
More recently, during the 1950s, thousands of Witnesses were deported to Siberia by the Soviet government. Although deportation seemed like an obstacle, when they were scattered among various communities, they carried the good news throughout the region. Without the forced journeys, the witnesses would never have traveled so far, and it was thanks to the same government that many sincere people in Siberia learned the truth.
The deportation of Witnesses to Siberia in the 1950s, although seemingly a form of repression, had an unexpected effect: it allowed the good news to spread throughout that vast region. As mentioned in the story, without the forced deportation, the Witnesses would not have had the reach they achieved, carrying the message to remote places they would not have been able to reach otherwise.
What initially seemed like a strategy of government control actually resulted in an expansion of the preaching work. Similar actions as seen among the early Christians, as seen in Acts 8:1-8, show how opposition doesn't always hinder the mission of spreading the good news, but in some cases can help the message reach new people and places.
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