The Acts of the Apostles (hereinafter referred to as the Book of Acts) is a sequel to the Gospel of Luke in that Luke continued where he left off at the end of his gospel. Here, he elaborates on how, after the ascension of Jesus into heaven, the Great Commission was carried out from Jerusalem to the “ends of the earth” as commanded by Jesus.
While the Book of Acts has been given many titles, like the Acts of the Holy Spirit, and they are all appropriate in many ways, we shall attempt to study this book from the angle of how this Great Commission was carried out by the apostles, from Jerusalem to Rome, as part fulfillment of the command of Jesus.
(1) Luke opened this book with recounting where he left off in the Gospel of Luke. Why did he allude to Jesus’ parting words to the apostles as “through the Holy Spirit”? What might be its significance?
(2) How did Luke emphasize the fact that Jesus is really alive?
(3) For forty days, what was the main content of Jesus’ message? How does this help us in putting our trust in the writings of the various apostles?
(4) Jesus asked them to wait in Jerusalem, to wait for the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” which happened in chapter two as the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and bore witness to Jesus’ resurrection in many tongues. How then will you understand the term, "baptism of the Holy Spirit"? What is it and what is it not?
(5) Contrast v. 6 with the end of
v. 3. The focus of Jesus’ content was about “the Kingdom of God” and yet the
apostles’ focus appeared to be the “kingdom of Israel”. What does this tell you
about the mindset of these apostles at the time? (John Stott’s comment on this
verse:
“the verb, the noun and the adverb of their sentence all betray doctrinal confusion about the kingdom. The verb restore shows that they were expecting a political and territorial kingdom, the noun Israel that they were expecting a national kingdom, and the adverbial clause at this time that they were expecting its immediate establishment." (Stott, Acts, 41)
(6) How did Jesus’ reply seek to adjust their mindset? What are the restated contents of the Great Commission?
a. What were they commissioned to do?
b. Where were they commissioned to do it?
c. How would this mission be made possible?
d. What then is your Great Commission today?
(7) As Jesus was taken up, they were naturally amazed and looked intently at this glorious sight, yet two men in white (probably angels) challenged them, “Why do you stand here looking into the sky?” What does this question imply?
(8) Jesus was likely taken up in the Mount of Olives (Lk. 24:50). Compare v. 11 here with Zechariah 14:4. What is the message conveyed to us by these two verses, one from the O.T. and one from the N.T.?
(9) What can you learn about the heart of the Lord from today’s reading and reflection?
Obviously every book in the Bible is important and is inspired by the Holy Spirit; however, the Book of Acts stands out to be a very pivotal book in the New Testament.
It links the earthly life and work of Jesus Christ to the establishment and the beginning of His church. In other words, it gives us the history of the birth of Christianity as a world religion.
It expands on the last word of Jesus, the Great Commission, and describes how His church took on this Commission and began the realization of her mission to be the witness of His resurrection, carrying the gospel from Jerusalem and beyond, converting believers among the Jews and beyond.
But it also honestly gives the accounts of how slow this process was in the beginning, the reluctance of the first believers to leave Jerusalem as commanded, and their even greater reluctance to convert and accept the Gentiles.
This is the book that introduces us to perhaps the most important apostle of all, the Apostle Paul. Luke gives the bulk of this book to cover the life of Paul, from his conversion to his final imprisonment in Rome. In the course of so doing, he gives us the much-needed context to understand all the epistles of Paul which contribute largely to not only the so-called Pauline theology, but also to the overall theology of the New Testament. Without the Book of Acts, we will be so improvised in interpreting all the epistles of Paul.
Of course, the Book of Acts also provides us with the model of what a N.T. church should be, with all her flaws, she remains the prototype of today’s church in many ways — perseverance in the face of immense persecution, dealing with theological disagreements, resolving human conflicts, reconciling traditions with the gospel truth, and remaining focused and faithful to the charge given to her by her Master, Lord and Savior.
As most early church fathers regard this book as a sequel to the Gospel of Luke, we can look at the Book of Acts as Part II of the work of Christ, accomplished through His apostles. Hence, we are all participating in the writing of Part III of this Unfinished Symphony, until the return of our Lord.
(1) After receiving the Great Commission, how did the apostles “wait for the gift” promised by Jesus in v. 4?
(2) How then should you wait in order to prepare yourself for ministry? Why are prayers so important in waiting? Why is praying together even more important in this respect?
(3) Luke highlighted Jesus’ mother and his brothers as part of those taking part in this waiting and praying. What theological significance can you derive from it?
(4) How many did Luke say was the size of the first core group of believers? How many Christians are there today in the world? What has accounted for this growth in 2,000 years? What lesson or encouragement can you learn from it?
(5) Now that Peter took up the
leadership position assigned earlier by Jesus (Lk. 22:32), he understood from
Psalms 69:25 and 109:8 that Judas got what he deserved and that he needed to be
replaced.
Did he also derive from the Scriptures that
a. he and this core group had the responsibility to choose this replacement? (Who chose the original Twelve?)?
b. the method of choosing would be by casting lots?
(6) Before the casting of lots, they did pray and set the following criterion for choosing: The person had to be with them the whole time, i.e. from John’s baptism of Jesus to the witnessing of His ascension. This criterion, from a human perspective, sounded logical. Did the Apostle Paul fit this criterion? Since Jesus chose him personally by appearing to him on the road of Damascus (Acts 9:15), what does it say about Peter’s action here?
(7) What is the main lesson to you today? What glimpse you might have about the heart of the Lord today?
The Book of Acts paints a very different picture of the disciples of Jesus from that of the gospel accounts. They came out of hiding and in a very short period of time, turned the world upside down with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Luke gives us a very important reason for their change and that is because they “waited for the gift” of the Holy Spirit. The rest of the book, basically, tells the story of how the Holy Spirit empowered them to carry out the Commission they were charged with by the Lord. Without the empowering of the Holy Spirit, there would not be the Book of Acts.
But Luke’s account also teaches us how these disciples “waited”. Often misunderstood, waiting does not necessarily mean inaction. In the Scripture, waiting is the active seeking of God through prayers.
It is not hard to imagine how excited the disciples were during the 40 days they spent with the Risen Lord, eating with him and listening to His teaching.
I am sure the teachings given by Jesus in the 40 days were quite intense and loaded. There were a lot of truths to be digested. There were still many questions, practical and theological, to mull over. As much as the Great Commission was made clear, what did it entail? How was it to be carried out? What might the strategy be? What about the ongoing persecution and opposition by the Jews? Not having experienced the work of the Holy Spirit themselves, they had no idea how to work with the Holy Spirit, nor how they might be guided. And there was the need to deal with past failures and past disputes among themselves too. So, the time of waiting through prayers would have allowed them to examine themselves, their motives and their commitment to the Lord and His charge. Their time of prayers would have also enabled them to understand further the truths that had been expounded by the Lord. Their time of prayers would also have prepared them for the mighty work of the Holy Spirit, so that they would be better-prepared to be guided by the Holy Spirit in preaching, teaching and performing miracles, giving glory to God, and not themselves.
Without this preparation and waiting through prayers, they would simply be overwhelmed by the outpouring of the work of the Holy Spirit, to the point that they could have lost their focus, their bearing and their God-centeredness.
Acts has thirty two speeches and this is the first public, evangelistic speech. We can learn much about how the gospel was presented, their emphasis through these speeches and how the OT was being interpreted through these speeches.
(1) The Pentecost, as its name suggests, marks the 50th day after Passover, and it celebrates the end of the barley harvest and the beginning of the wheat harvest, when the people are to bring gifts before the Lord (Exod. 23:14-17). How long did the apostles have to wait before the promised “baptism of the Holy Spirit”?
(2) Try to piece together the actual description of how the filling of the Holy Spirit happened, and distinguish what actually happened from what “appeared” to have happened. Why did such an incident have to happen with such fanfare? Is there any significance attached to the fact that the Holy Spirit descended upon them “separately”?
(3) At this significant first public appearance of the apostles after the death of Jesus, what significance is attached to the fact that these apostles were “Galileans”? What does it say to God’s wisdom and way of choosing people for such an important mission, the bearing of witness of Jesus’ resurrection?
(4) From this miracle, what can you learn about tongue-speaking in terms of:
a. What it is (v. 8)
b. Its purpose (v. 12)
c. How it happens (v. 4)
d. What might its contents be (v. 11)
(5) Who were the majority of the first listeners and why do you think God picked them as the first listeners?
(6) With such a clear case of miraculous tongue-speaking, how could there be people who mocked them as drunkards? What does this tell you about evangelism?
(7) What might be the lesson for you today and how would you put it into practice?
I am sure that we are all impressed with the remarkable conversion of 3,000 people on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2.
We know that their conversion was clearly the work of the Holy Spirit through and through. But isn’t it the same with the conversion of all sinners?
Before we even begin to have the burden of reaching a person — a friend or relative or even a stranger — it is the Holy Spirit who has moved in the heart of that person, creating a sense of need or hunger or dissatisfaction in his spirit.
At the same time, the Holy Spirit impresses upon our spirit, the need for intercession for the person. And as we begin to respond in our spirit to the nudging of the Spirit through praying for the person, we begin to observe and care for the person.
Then according to the Will and timing of God, the Holy Spirit will create an opportunity for us or another Christian to befriend or even begin a spiritual conversation with him which eventually would lead to his conviction and conversion.
I had been praying for one of my nieces and her husband for quite a long time, wondering whether I might have the opportunity to share the gospel with them. My busy schedule (and theirs too) was such that we did not even get to meet. But I continued to pray for them on a fixed day of each week. Then, one day, as they moved into a new apartment, they invited us over for the house warming. Knowing that it would be rather odd for me to share the gospel right away, I prayed to God to open an opportunity.
Then, in the middle of our casual conversation, one of them asked about our church. Right away, I sensed God opening the opportunity for me. But I did not dare to share the gospel right away. Instead, I mentioned that there was a gospel camp coming up in the summer and wondered if they might be open to attend it. To my total amazement, they both answered yes right away. And they did attend the camp.
And at the end of that gospel camp, they separately made a commitment to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Yes, their conversion may not be as spectacular as that of the 3,000 Jews on the day of Pentecost, but nonetheless, it was the work of the Holy Spirit — the timing of the house warming was no accident at all; my readiness to invite them to the gospel camp was not accidental either; their immediate consent to attend was also not an accident; and their commitment at the camp was certainly not an accident. From start to finish, it was the work of the Holy Spirit.
Let’s learn from Peter’s sermon together:
(1) How did Peter turn the opposition and mockery of the people into an opportunity to witness?
(2) As Peter tied the miraculous phenomenon to the prophecy of Joel 2:28-32, he highlighted the arrival of the Last Days: The NT’s interpretation of the Last Days as having begun with the appearance of Jesus, with its consummation marked by the 2nd coming of Jesus. As such, the contents of Joel’s prophecy should likely be viewed in terms of this time frame.
a. Sons, daughters, young, old, men and women will prophesy, see visions and dream dreams: How was this fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost?
b. Wonders and signs are revealed from heaven and earth: How had this been fulfilled according to Peter?
c. Has the last part of the entire prophecy been fulfilled?
(Note: In any case, the Last Days have begun, “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”: This is the main message that Peter zeroed in on as he delivered his gospel message which followed.)
(3) As Peter hammered home both their sin of crucifying Jesus and the fact of Jesus’ resurrection, how did he forcefully use Psalm 16:8-11 to prove that it speaks of Jesus’ resurrection (vv. 29-33)?
(4) While Peter could say, “we are all witnesses of the fact” (v. 32), we are not eyewitnesses to Jesus’ resurrection. How then can we bear witness to it?
(5) How did Peter use Psalm 110:1 to prove Jesus as Lord when he said that Jesus is both Lord and Christ (v. 36)? (Look at v. 39 as well.)
(6) If we are to share the gospel today, what can we learn from Peter’s first public sermon in terms of
a. Approach?
b. Content?
(7) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it in your life?
Time and again, Peter and his fellow-disciples were mentioned as mere Galileans, and in the words of the religious leaders “they were unschooled, ordinary men” (Acts 4:13). Yet, their preaching was so powerful that people came to believe in their message by the thousands.
These days, it takes a very learned person, a very charismatic person or a celebrity to draw a crowd. And to have people respond to the gospel message so preached, seems to be dependent on high-tech presentations, eloquent deliveries and perhaps even skilled altar calls.
But none of these were true of Peter in his preaching in the early chapters of Acts. He was not a learned person; he was only a fisherman from Galilee. Even the epistles he wrote years later were not considered to be of good literary style. The delivery of his message lacked philosophical rhetoric that marked many noted rabbis of his time. His altar calls were crude and direct, and would have turned many people off today. But the result of his preaching was more than obvious.
Paul, who was very different from Peter, also followed Peter’s approach in the delivery of his gospel messages — no eloquent speech, no superior wisdom…nothing “but Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Co. 2:2). And, he achieved just as impressive a result as Peter did. Paul shared with us his secret and it is that the gospel itself is the power of God (Rom. 1:16), not his rhetoric, not his skillful delivery and certainly not human philosophy.
(1) Is it always necessary for genuine repentance to be a response to the hearts being cut? Why or why not?
(2) As the hearers asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?”, without looking at Peter’s reply, what might you have said in response if you were asked? Write down your reply and compare it to Peter’s. What are the main difference(s)?
Would
one of the main differences be that of baptism? Why did Peter demand “instant”
baptism? (Note this comment from F.F. Bruce,
“It is against the whole genius of biblical religion to suppose that outward rite (referring to baptism) would have any value except insofar as it was accompanied by the work of grace within.” Bruce, NICNT, Acts, 70)
(3) The sermon recorded here by Luke was necessarily a summary of a much longer sermon (as we could finish reading the summary in less than 3 minutes), and Luke added that Peter warned them with many other words and pleaded with them. As much as it is right to emphasize the need to be skillful in our gospel presentation, what might be the attitude we are missing compared to that of Peter?
(4) What were the immediate life-changing signs of the first converts (v. 42)? List them out one by one.
- What is meant by “devoted themselves to”?
- How were they different from most new converts of our days?
- What might the reasons for the difference be?
(5) Vv. 46-47 describe the church life of this first community of faith in Christ. Again, list their spiritual routines one by one. How different was this community life from our church-life today? What can we learn from them?
(6) This section ends with saying that their number grew on a daily basis. What do you think accounted for such daily growth? What needs to be changed in you and your church in order that such growth can happen?
(7) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it in your life?
Chuck Colson used to say that Christianity in America was like an ocean which was a mile wide and only an inch deep. He was right and it is still the case, unfortunately, not only in North America, but in many parts of the world. And I believe it has much to do with how we present the gospel in this post-modern world.
I still remember the early years of my Christian walk. Although it was already a post-modern world, many notions of modernity still lingered. In college, our evangelistic approach was quite confrontational and focused more on convincing others of the intellectual credibility of the Scripture. This was why Josh McDowell’s books were so in demand. We believed that once people were convinced of the credibility of the Scripture, they would automatically become Christians (of course, they would have to say the Sinner’s Prayer at the end of the Four Spiritual Laws).
After several decades, with the arrival of the sexual revolution and the breakdown of families, the world we live in is a very broken one. Our approach in evangelism has also changed. While intellectual debates still are necessary, it seems that “healing” — both physical and emotional healing — have become the more effective point of contact with non-believers. This perhaps explains the rapid rise of the charismatic movement. Even outside of the charismatic circle, the gospel emphasis seems to be one of offering a better life, a more wholesome life and a more self-fulfilling life. Many also find Christianity to be the answer to self-actualization, if not the icing on the cake.
This cannot be more further from the gospel message that Peter preached on Pentecost. His gospel message did not make his audience feel good. In fact, they felt so bad that “they were cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37). They were so terrified that they asked Peter and the disciples, “Brothers, what shall we do?”.
Why were their hearts cut? Why were they so afraid? Because Peter accused them of crucifying Jesus — the Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36).
The people were not after a better life, a more fulfilled life or healing from their emotional brokenness, but were seeking forgiveness of sins—the very thing that separated them from God, the very thing that caused their eternal condemnation. In other words, the Holy Spirit convicted them of their sins through the gospel message of Peter. The result was their immediate repentance and belief followed by a public commitment through baptism. Luke describes their new life in Christ in vivid fashion, as they (stubbornly) committed themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Acts 2:42).
These were signs of genuine conversion. These were signs that their Christianity was not inch-deep only. It was all because their hearts were cut and they were convicted of their sins by the gospel.
(1) Do you think Peter and John were expecting this and were fully prepared or rehearsed to perform this miracle and say this famous line, “Silver or gold I do not have…”? What do you think happened at that moment to the apostles?
(2) What is the significance of invoking the name of Jesus? Why did Peter choose, of all names of Jesus, to call him, “Jesus Christ of Nazareth”? What might be the significance of such a description to this crowd who had a part in the crucifixion of Jesus?
(3) Peter mentioned in v.16 that this miracle of healing came about because of two things: The name of Jesus and the man’s faith. While nothing was mentioned about his faith at the time of healing, how did the man express his faith after his healing?
(4) How can we emulate Peter and John in a situation like this today?
- What do we have that Peter and John did not?
- What did they have that we may not have?
- What did they have that we also possess?
- We may not be able to perform a miracle like this, but we still can do something to cause a man like this to believe in and praise God. How?
(5) Why did this man, a beggar, still hold on to Peter? What did he want?
(6) How does today’s reading and reflection speak to you? How may you apply what you have learned in your life?
In His Great Commission, Jesus says, “…you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8). And the disciples were faithful to His commission and bore witness to His resurrection first in Jerusalem, and to Judea, Samaria and beyond.
The message that they repeatedly gave was that they had seen the Risen Lord with their own eyes — a very powerful testimony indeed. Who could dispute their claim?!
We know that this Great Commission is now upon us, and we are to take up their baton and continue to be Christ’s witness. But the question is: Of what are we witnessing? We have not seen the Risen Lord with our very eyes.
In today’s devotion, I was asking several questions along this vein, and perhaps it is helpful that we reflect on these questions together:
(1) What do we have that Peter and John did not?
Well, we have the 27 books of the New Testament that they did not have. In other words, we have a fully documented gospel story that they only might have orally. We now benefit from not only the gospel accounts, but the many epistles that help us interpret the Old Testament in new light. We now have a far more complete theology and thorough understanding of the salvation plan of God, not to mention that we have 2,000 years of history of mission and missiology that equips us to spread the gospel. Yes, we have unprecedented communication technology and global travel means that should help spread the gospel with unprecedented convenience.
(2) What did they have that we may not have?
Apart from their advantage of having seen the Risen Christ with their own eyes, they did have a passion, a zeal, a commitment and a love for the Lord that should put each one of us to shame.
(3) What did they have that we also possess?
We have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that they had. We also have the empowering of the Holy Spirit that they had. We have the same gospel that they had. And, we have the same, precious and genuine conversion experience that they had.
When Peter told the crippled man that he would give him what he had, he then healed him in the name of Jesus. He explained in v. 16 that “It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has given this complete healing to him…” This is also what we have in common with Peter and John.
(4) We may not be able to perform a miracle like this, but we still can do something to cause a man like this to believe in and praise God. How?
Yes, me may not be able to perform a miracle like this (the healing of the crippled — but the Holy Spirit can still use us to perform miraculous healing, if He so chooses), but the ultimate cause of belief does not lie in the miraculous healing. The pro-consul in Acts 13 was converted not because of the great miracle which he did see, but “was amazed at the teaching about the Lord” (Acts 13:12). Genuine conversion always comes through the conviction by the Holy Spirit through the teaching of the word.
This is the 2nd public evangelistic sermon of Peter. Let’s learn from Peter how the gospel should be presented:
(1) How did Peter use this miracle to point them to Jesus?
(2) For God to use us to perform something miraculous, what might be the normal assumptions of the average Christian? How does Peter’s statement in v. 12 serve to clarify such assumptions?
(3) The sermon of Peter could be analyzed as below. Try to reflect on each of the main points, and see
(A) what
must be preached as an essential part of the gospel, and
(B) what might be the necessary points to be brought out if you were to share the gospel with a Jewish audience.
a. It was addressed to “Men of Israel”
b. Jesus was glorified by the God of Abraham
c. Their sins were highlighted, which included that they
- handed Him over to be killed
- disowned Him before Pilate who wanted to let Him go
- killed Him but
- acted in ignorance
d. God raised Him from the dead
e. The apostles were eye-witnesses
f. Christ’s suffering was foretold by the prophets, i.e. it was part of God’s plan
g. It highlighted who Jesus is: The Christ, the author of life, the Holy and Righteous One
h. They should turn to God and repent
i. The results of repentance include:
- Sins wiped out
- Times of refreshing may come
j. The reason why Jesus is still in heaven: He is waiting to be sent again by God to restore all things as promised by prophets
k. Consequence of disbelief: Being completely cut off from among His people, as Moses warned (Deut. 18:15, 18, 19)
l. They were blessed because of being heirs of Abraham and to them Jesus was first sent
What might still be the essential points of the gospel message as we share the gospel with Gentiles?
(5) What is the main message to you today? How may you apply it to your life?
As
we continue to reflect on the faithfulness and courage of the early apostles
who, in a short time, changed completely from a bunch of cowards in hiding into
fearless champions of the gospel, let’s reflect on the lyrics of this familiar
hymn and see if we resemble the apostles in Acts or in the Gospels.
Refrain
He’s counting on us, the story to tell
His scheme of redemption for man;
He’s counting on you, He’s counting on me,
The Master hath no other plan.
1
2
There’s only one way that this lost world may know
That Jesus for sinners hath died;
To spread the glad tidings He’s bidden us go,
And no other way doth provide.
If Christ’s first disciples had silently gone,
And been to their great trust untrue,
God’s plan of salvation we could not have known,
His mercy for me and for you.
3
4
Tell others what Jesus hath done for your soul,
Of sins through His blood washed away;
And bid them on Him every burden to roll,
And taste His salvation today.
Dear Master, we hasten the story to tell,
And pass on the life giving Word;
And they must tell others, and they, others still,
Till all the glad message have heard.