Acts¶

• Table of contents
• Acts
  • 1.1-11
  • 1.12-26
  • 2.1-21
  • 2.22-47
  • 3.1-26
  • 4.1-22
  • 4.23-37
  • 5.1-16
  • 5.17-42
  • 6.1-15
  • 7.1-38
  • 7.39-60
  • 8.1-25
  • 8.26-40

1.1-11¶

• The disciples are commanded to wait.

• There were still concerned about an earthly kingdom, and did not yet fully understand our Lord's words, "My kingdom is not of this world."

• What is the promise of the Father to which our Lord refers in Acts 1.4 ?

k: Pentecost - "but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

• What is the central theme of this passage?

k: Salvation - i.e. the promise of the Holy Spirit, the restoration of the kingdom to Israel, and "this Jesus will come again in the same way."

a: I think the restoration of the kingdom is a peripheral, or even a non-issue. Jesus redirects their attention away from the earthly kingdom to the Holy Spirit: "You shall receive power" to establish and expand the Heavenly Kingdom.

1.12-26¶

• an example of how the Lord uses human means to accomplish his sovereign purposes.

2.1-21¶

• The "promise of the Father" (John 13-16) is poured out. Salvation comes to every tribe, kindred, tongue and nation

• How does Peter's sermon destroy a strict literalist interpretation of Scripture?

k: Acts 2:17-21 - I don't have an answer. What are your thoughts?

a: Peter cites the prophecy of Joel and says that it is fulfilled. This includes the sun being turned to darkness and the moon to blood (Acts 2.19-20).

k: if this entire prophecy is fulfilled, what then is "the day of the Lord, the great and magnificent day?"

2.22-47¶

• k: The command to "repent, and be baptized" is given in a specific context, during an evangelistic sermon. Peter says, "this is Christ, whom you crucified," now "repent and be baptized." Therefore repentance as a public action is not necessarily a prerequisite to baptism, but rather a command given directly to a rebellious people.

• k: "The LORD said to my Lord, 'sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool." The world is under current and future subjection.

• a: The normative Christian life in Acts 2.42

3.1-26¶

• Peter's 2nd sermon, occasioned by the healing of the lame man.

• After the coming of the Holy Spirit, the apostles are new men. They speak with authority and power, as Jesus told them in Acts 1.8

• The Holy Spirit gives them, and us, understanding of the Scriptures. cf John 16.13

• The same Holy Spirit is for all believers, then and now. (Acts 2.39)

4.1-22¶

• There is nothing new under the sun: the self-absorbed and self-important are still "greatly annoyed" when Jesus is proclaimed in power and in truth (Acts 4.1-2)

• The most important preparation for ministry is not study in and of itself. Peter and John spoke with authority, power and conviction because "they had been with Jesus" (Acts 4.13) and they had been filled with the Holy Spirit. We must do likewise, if we are to be effective fruit-bearing Christians.

• The limits of jurisdictional authority here set forth. The Lord commanded us to do what they say, not as they do, because they occupy the seat of Moses (Matthew 23.2-3). But here we see that there is a limit, when that authority countermands the change and command of the One from whom the jurisdictional authority originates.

4.23-37¶

• Direct citation of Psalm 2.1-2 in connection with Christ Jesus. NT citations by the inspired writers give us clear explanation of OT prophecies.

• The sovereign plan of God is not thwarted by the wickedness of men. cf. the Fall, the Flood. Rather His sovereignty is so great that he causes all things, including wicked acts, work together to accomplish His purpose and plan (Acts 4.28, Romans 8.28).

• Being filled with Holy Spirit is not a onetime occurrence. Here it happens again, similar to the initial outpouring on Pentecost. Paul commands us to be continually filled (Ephesians 5.18). πληροῦσθε ἐν πνεύματι (continuous aspect).

5.1-16¶

• All things are open and laid bare before the eyes of Him with whom we have to do (Hebrews 4.13). We often forget this, or ignore it. The more we remember it, the more the fear of the Lord will keep us from sin (Proverbs 16.6). The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. (Proverbs 15.3)

5.17-42¶

• k: If the council was not in some sense sincere, why did they take Gamaliel's advice?

6.1-15¶

• k: A Diaconate of seven is set up by the twelve.

• k: The scribes set up false witness to incriminate Stephen, saying he blasphemed Moses. Ironically, Stephen's face shown in the same way Moses' did, because he had the spirit of God.

7.1-38¶

• k: Stephen's speech: he exegetes the history of the OT to show that Jesus was the Christ.

7.39-60¶

• k: The ancient Israelites thrust Christ aside, and turned to Egypt. The modern-day scribes and leaders crucified him, and turned to a dead and man-made law.

• k: Stephen's attitude is not vindictive on anyone's account. He says, with Jesus, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them."

8.1-25¶

8.26-40¶