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Kingdom Life: A Deeper Dive Into Acts

2016

A Journey Group Project.

This study was written, edited, and tested by members and friends of a Trinity Church

Journey Group during the Fall of 2016. Their hope was to provide a resource for the Trinity

family to use during the 2016 Fall sermon series.

No Copyright.

You are free to use this material as you wish for the glory of God! Note, however, that

several sections quote the resources in the appendix.

10101 W. Ann Arbor Road * Plymouth, MI 48170 * 734-459-9550 * www.trinityepc.org

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Table of Contents

Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 4

Our Approach to Studying the Bible ............................................................................................................. 6

Theme Topics ................................................................................................................................................ 7

From Theme Topics to Theme Statements ................................................................................................... 7

Summarized Outline ................................................................................................................................... 12

Study 1 - Acts 1:1-26 ................................................................................................................................... 13

Study 2 – Acts 2:1-47 .................................................................................................................................. 16

Study 3 – Acts 3:1-4:37 ............................................................................................................................... 20

.................................................................................................................................................................... 26

Study 5 – 5:12-42 ........................................................................................................................................ 26

Study 6 – Acts 6:1-8:3 ................................................................................................................................. 29

Study 7 – Acts 8:4-40 .................................................................................................................................. 33

Study 8 – Acts 9:1-43 .................................................................................................................................. 36

Study 9 – Acts 10:1-11:18 ........................................................................................................................... 39

Study 10 – 11:19-12:25 ............................................................................................................................... 43

Study 11 – 13:1-14:28 ................................................................................................................................. 46

Study 12 – Acts 15:1-35 .............................................................................................................................. 49

Study 13 – Acts 15:36-17:15 ....................................................................................................................... 53

Study 14 – Acts 17:16-18:22 ....................................................................................................................... 57

Study 15 – Acts 18:23-19:41 ....................................................................................................................... 61

Study 16 – Acts 20:1-38 .............................................................................................................................. 66

Study 17 – Acts 21:1-28:31 ......................................................................................................................... 70

Appendix - Annotated Bibliography ............................................................................................................ 77

Appendix Two - The Essentials of Our Faith ............................................................................................... 78

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A Deep Dive into Acts

Introduction

In many ways the Acts of the Apostles is Part Two of a series written by Luke with both having similar objectives. Here are the introductions to both: “Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.” (Luke 1:1-4)

“In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:1-3)

In these openings we see a couple themes that are important to understanding the whole picture Luke desires to convey. The first is providing an accurate historical account of the coming of the Kingdom of God. As with any historical event there can be a plethora of “recollections” about what happened. Given the importance of events in the life of Jesus and then in the coming of the Holy Spirit after Him, getting the facts straight was important. The second feature of the opening is to see that Luke is not trying to convey every historical event, but rather those that coincided with the message of the kingdom of God. The term “Kingdom of God” is only used six times in this book, but two of those usages are at key points in the story. The first is the one quoted above at the beginning of the book. The second key use is at the very end of the book:

“He (Paul) lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” (Acts 28:30-31) The concept of kingdom as used by Jesus and the early church was quite important. It was not the physical governmental and military powers that controlled civil affairs. Instead, it was the reign of God in the spiritual realm where He exercises control. Eventually that will include the physical and cultural world, but those are days that lie ahead! George E. Ladd was a great theologian who devoted much of his teaching to the kingdom. In his words:

“The Kingdom of God is His kingship, His rule, His authority. When this is once realized, we can go through the New Testament and find passage after passage where this meaning is evident, where the Kingdom is not a realm or a people but God’s reign. Jesus said that we must “receive the kingdom of God” as little children (Mark 10:15). What is received? The Church? Heaven? What is received is God’s rule. In order to enter the future realm of the Kingdom, one must submit himself in perfect trust to God’s rule here and now. We must also “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” (Matt. 6: 33). What is the object of our quest? The Church? Heaven? No; we are to

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seek God’s righteousness—His sway, His rule, His reign in our lives.” George Eldon Ladd, Gospel of the Kingdom

In Acts we see the Kingdom emerge through the working of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the apostles from Jerusalem all the way to Rome. The spreading of the Kingdom of God is not without it costs. Throughout the book of Acts we see tensions surrounding the lives of believers. They were both hated by the Jewish leaders who oversaw the crucifixion of Jesus and were also opposed and beaten by Gentile mobs who were threatened by how the gospel impacted their cultures and their cash flows. Acts is a call to believe no matter what the costs.

The story is told against an historical and geographical background. Luke carefully tracks the people and places where the gospel is proclaimed, but the sequencing is not random. Instead we see the apostles carrying out the command of Jesus at His departure back to heaven to be witnesses “in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (1:8). When considering both of Luke’s volumes, we see the story from Bethlehem to Rome with the focal point being the death and resurrection of Jesus.

One last thought by way of introducing Acts. There are ten key sermons that are documented in the book that reinforce the primary message that Luke wants his readers to hear. The following table is a summary and these sermons will be tackled in the deep dive part of this study guide. Speaker Text Audience Message

Peter

2:14-36 Jews in Jerusalem Jesus fulfilled OT prophecy, He is resurrected and you should repent and be baptized.

3:11-26 Jews in Jerusalem Jesus fulfilled OT prophecy, He is resurrected and you should repent and be baptized.

10:34-43 Cornelius’s household

The gospel is for all people.

Stephen 7:1-53 Jews in Jerusalem Jesus fulfilled OT prophecy, He is resurrected and the Jewish officials were in disobedience to God for rejecting the gospel.

Paul

13:16-41 Jews in Pisidian Antioch

Jesus fulfilled OT prophecy, He is resurrected and the Jewish officials were in disobedience to God for rejecting the gospel.

17:22-31 Greeks in Athens Idolatry is from the imagination of man, but the gospel is from the Creator.

20:18-35 Elders in Ephesus Paul encouraged the elders to continue to faithfully teach and live out the truth of the gospel.

22:1-21 Jews in Jerusalem Paul shared his devotion to the OT and his conversion experience that enabled him to understand the truth of the gospel.

24:10-21 Felix I am innocent but my gospel causes tension among the Jewish leaders because they don’t believe in the resurrection of the dead.

26:1-29 Agrippa Paul lays out in depth the gospel and his own conversion experience and the essential truth and impact of Jesus’ resurrection.

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In short, consistent with the entire Old Testament, the risen Jesus is the one in whom there is salvation. It is time for all to repent and believe the gospel.

Our Approach to Studying the Bible

One of the challenges we face in life is determining what we believe to be right and wrong. Increasingly in our culture there is a view that truth is not absolute and, therefore, each person determines what is “right” based on their own opinions. As disciples of Jesus we believe that there is absolute truth and that truth is revealed to us in the Bible. Given that, part of our walk as disciples is to learn what the Bible teaches and use that foundation as the basis for our beliefs and our choices in life. While that sounds straightforward it leads to an important question: “How do I figure out what the Bible says?” One of the goals of this study guide is to demonstrate how we go from the Bible to our beliefs. In the study of each passage there is a high level summary of Acts and is formatted in a manner that attempts to start the path from Bible to belief. To better understand the table’s intention the column headings need defining. Story – A key principle in interpreting the Bible is to start by reading it and seeing what the author was saying to the people to whom he was writing. The focus is to accurately describe what was written. This step is usually called “Observation”. Themes – This step involves taking the facts and observations from the passage and summarizing what is said in a manner that captures the ideas or concepts the author is trying to communicate. If we tell the story of something that happened to us while we were growing up, we might have the objective of expressing thanks for what our parents did for us. The events or facts would be the observations and we would be telling them in a manner to communicate their virtues and our appreciation. Those would be the themes in our words. This step is referred to as “Interpretation”. Finally, we want to take the messages that the author was constructing and determine how to apply those to our lives in this present day. When we read about Jesus washing the feet of people at dinner we see a theme of humility that challenges us to take that principle and apply it to our lives today. It may not result in washing people’s feet at dinner! It might, though, call us to invite people who have needs over for a great meal. This step is “Application”. The application part of this process will be addressed in the study guide under deeper dive for each passage. In the tables that are part of each passage study there are sentences under the “Themes” column that are derived from the passage. After each point a “theme topic” is referenced to help our process in pulling all this together. As an intro, here are the theme topics that will be captured for each passage:

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Theme Topics

The power and working of the Holy Spirit (labeled “Holy Spirit”)

Community among believers (“Community”)

Teaching and apologetics of the faith (“Teaching”)

The discipline of prayer (“Prayer”)

The inevitability of suffering (“Suffering”)

The Sovereignty of God and His plans (“Sovereignty”)

The Gospel and its ultimate priority (“Gospel”)

The response to the gospel – amazement and opposition (“Response”)

Once this disciplined approach to understanding each passage is completed, we can then step back and take a look at the book as a whole and see the overarching themes and objectives the author had in mind and use that summary to reach final positions on the truths we need to embrace. Each study has a table with the themes highlighted. The summary below draws from each of those study tables.

From Theme Topics to Theme Statements

Having ploughed through the whole book and identified the theme topics by passage we can summarize to see what Luke was thinking regarding these thematic truths. In this step we start with the complete inventory and highlight those passages where there is the clearest focus on the topic. The idea here is that some passages will reference the topic while others will be more intentionally aimed at conveying the author’s message. The latter passages carry more “weight” in summarizing the author’s thinking.

The Power and working of the Holy Spirit (“Holy Spirit”)

Inventory: 1:1-11, 2:1-13, 2:14-41, 3:1-26, 4:1-22, 5:12-42, 6:8-7:60, 8:4-25. 8:26-40, 9:32-43, 13:1-14:28, 18:23-19:41

Key Passages: 1:1-11 – In this passage Jesus promises the coming of the Holy Spirit and describes Him as one who was promised by the Father to empower the apostles to proclaim the gospel. Here the Holy Spirit “comes upon” them.

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2:1-13 – The promised Holy Spirit visibly comes from heaven and rests on the disciples. They are filled with the Holy Spirit and that filling enables them to proclaim the gospel in different languages.

2:14-41 – Peter explains to the crowd that the arrival of the Holy Spirit was prophesied by Joel and that His arrival would be evidenced by miracles that would lead people to call upon the Lord and be saved. Peter then calls all those listening to repent and believe the gospel and they, too, will receive the promised Holy Spirit.

13:1-14:28 – In this passage we see the Holy Spirit speaking to the apostles and giving them instructions for sending out Paul and Barnabas.

18:23-19:41 – When Paul arrived at Ephesus he met people who were disciples but had been baptized for repentance as preached by John but not baptized in the name of Jesus. Paul came to this conclusion because these disciples had not yet received the Holy Spirit. After they were baptized in the name of Jesus, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they too could speak in other languages and prophesize.

The other passages refer to the Holy Spirit as the enabling power in believers and as evidence of those who had believed in Jesus.

Summary – Luke presents the Holy Spirit as one who was promised in the Old Testament, promised by Jesus while He was on earth after His resurrection, and then arriving to believers to be God’s presence to empower and direct their lives. Jesus teaches that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is of greater value than the physical presence Jesus had with them while He was on earth. In Acts the presence of the Holy Spirit is evidence of the real faith of those who proclaim to be believers. That evidence is not only for the believers themselves, but also for the leaders so they can see how God is working to spread the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles. He is proof of what God is doing. Community Among Believers Inventory: 2:42-47, 4:23-37, 5:1-11, 6:1-8:3, 9:23-31, 20:1-38 Key Passages: 2:42-47 – This is probably the key passage in Acts on the theme of community. In this passage we see the believers devoted to gathering together for teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, praying and meeting each other’s life needs. Together they were a testimony to the population of what God was doing in their midst. 6:1-8:3 – The strains of community amid unmet needs and some perceptions that not everyone was treated fairly puts the community concept to a test. The importance of community is emphasized as the apostles responded with a leadership change to make sure those needs were being met while they could focus on their praying and preaching time. Summary – The early church was presented as being quite separate from their prior community infrastructure. As believers, they didn’t “fit” into how things were managed for those who held to

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traditional Jewish practices. They needed to help each other and they were enabled to not only meet physical needs, but to also join together in worship and in growing in their knowledge and faith. Those who were not believers saw this new community and it was a witness to what God was doing. Teaching and Apologetics of the Faith Inventory: 2:14-41, 2:42-47, 3:1-26, 6:1-7, 6:8-7:60, 15:1-35, 18:23-19:41, 20:1-38, Key Passages: 2:14-47 – This passage sets the example that is repeated throughout the book that models biblical teaching. Peter needs to explain what is happening with the arrival of the Holy Spirit and, enabled by the Holy Spirit, he takes the listeners through the Old Testament teaching of David and the prophets. His goal is to help them see what God was saying back then and how that explains what is happening now. Because Peter refers to these passages that carry the weight of God’s revealed truth, he not only explains what was happening but also supports the call for faith in the work of Jesus since his work was what God had planned. 20:1-38 – Paul reminds the elders at Ephesus of his emphasis on teaching during the years he spent with them and then passes on the baton to similarly teach those in their church so new believers would be strengthened in Christ. Summary – Teaching, at its core in Acts, is seen as taking God’s revealed truth and both explaining what was said and then helping others to understand how it impacts what they are experiencing now. It is an intentional effort to not only just “sell” the gospel, but also to be a discipline that enables believers to grow in understanding how God wants them to live. Teaching is such a priority that it needs to be passed on through the leadership of the church. The Discipline of Prayer Inventory: 1:12-26, 4:23-37, 6:1-7, 11:19-12:25 Key Passage: 4:23-37 – In all of the passages listed above the apostles and disciples are described as being devoted to prayer. In this passage we get to see the words that they prayed out of their spirit of devotion. In this instance Peter and John had just been released from the high priest who had ordered them to stop preaching the gospel. Peter and John refused and were released back to their friends where they told their peers what happened. The prayer focuses on the sovereignty of God from creation to this very day and a request that they would be bold in proclaiming the gospel amid growing opposition. When they finished praying the ground shook and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Summary – In looking through the full inventory of passages that reference prayer, we see the disciples facing much uncertainty and risk while at the same time seeing the Holy Spirit move in miraculous and unexpected ways. There is a unity that exists between God and His people that is

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nurtured through prayer and there is a clear demonstration of dependency – that they needed God to intervene and deliver regardless of the impact it had on them. In this spirit of prayer we see God responding to affirm and engage in their shared mission of spreading the gospel. Prayer is put on display as the chassis for the relationship between God and His followers. The Inevitability of Suffering Inventory: 5:12-42, 6:8-7:60, 9:20-31, 11:19-12:25, 13:1-14:28, 16:1-40, 17:1-15; 21:1-28:31 Key Passages: 6:8 – 7:60 – Here we see the stoning of Stephen emerging from a jealous and enraged group of Jews in the synagogue. 11:19-12:25 – The believers are scattered and the church in Antioch is born because of persecution in Jerusalem. Herod killed James and, seeing that the people in Jerusalem were pleased by this, Herod arrested Peter. 16:1-40 – While certain sects of Judaism were in constant opposition to the apostles, the Gentile crowds in cities outside of Israel also included opposition that resulted in suffering. In Philippi, after commanding an evil spirit to leave a slave girl who was a source of income to her owners, Paul and Silas were stripped, flogged and cuffed in prison. Summary – Suffering is almost an afterthought, a given, in Acts. We see that wherever the gospel went, no matter who was preaching and to whomever the message was being delivered, the gospel disrupted culture and that disruption gave birth to persecution. It is important to see that it wasn’t just a debate over different views; the impact of people becoming believers was so dramatic on the cultural norms that disruption and outrage ensued. Those proclaiming the gospel knew it was coming, but they continued with an understanding of what would likely happen. The Sovereignty of God and His Plans Inventory: 1:12-26, 4:23-37, 9:1-19, 10:1-11:18, 11:19-12:25, 13:1-14:28, 16:1-40, 17:16-34, 18:23-19:41, 20:1-38, 21:1-28:31 Key Passages: 1:12-26 – The apostles needed a replacement for Judas and as they prayed for God’s guidance the acknowledged that the Lord “knows the hearts of all”. 4:23-37 – This passage summarizes the concept of sovereignty as it is considered throughout the rest of the book. Following release from interrogation by the Jewish authorities, the group of believers in Jerusalem prayed to the “Sovereign Lord” who was Creator, One who spoke through David by the Holy Spirit, Anointer of Jesus whose life developed according to God’s plan, and the One who can embolden them to preach the gospel despite any circumstance they may face.

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Summary – The chapter 4 passage captures the essence of the sovereignty of God. He is all-powerful, is fully in control and He has a plan. A critical aspect of Luke’s intention is to show that in response to this truth the people were not swayed by opposition and struggles but fully depended on the Lord. Much of the latter portion of the book is watching Paul push to get to Jerusalem following the Lord’s leading despite all the believers that surrounded him advising him not to proceed. The balance of the book shows God’s plans for the gospel getting to Rome being played out by His divine intervention. The Gospel and its Ultimate Priority Inventory: 1:1-11, 2:14-41, 3:1-26, 4:1-22, 4:23-37, 5:12-42, 8:4-25, 8:26-40, 9:1-19, 10:1-11:18, 13:1-14:28, 16:1-40, 17:1-15, 18:1-22, 18:23-19:41, 20:1-38, 21:1-28:31 Key Passages: 1:1-11 and 28:30-31 – The entire book of Acts is framed by these verses and their focus on the gospel. Everything in between is an account of how this command was fulfilled by God’s working and the bold disciples proclaiming. 19:10 – This verse is an example of how the theme regarding the gospel is captured. Paul started a church in Ephesus and people from all over the world came and heard the message that Jesus is the Christ. Summary – The gospel; that Jesus had died, was resurrected and in Him our relationship with God can be restored to what existed when mankind was created, was the revelation of a mystery that had confounded all the prophets of the Old Testament. It was this act of God Himself that replaced all the “temporary” provisions the nation of Israel had been given in the Law and it answered all the Gentile questions they sought to understand as they tried to find meaning in idols. The gospel is a worldwide game changer and getting that message out through believers is important above all else. The Response to the Gospel – Amazement and Opposition Inventory: 2:1-13, 2:42-47, 3:1-26, 4:1-22, 4:23-37, 5:12-42, 6:8-7:60, 9:20-31, 11:19-12:25, 17:1-15, 18:1-22, 18:23-19:41, 21:1-28:31 Key Passages: 2:1-13 – The format in this passage is repeated frequently in Acts. The gospel was preached and the Holy Spirit visibly demonstrated his arrival in striking ways. The response by many was amazement. 5:17 – For the Jewish leaders, however, those who accepted the gospel no longer needed the functioning of the temple. This “power shift” threatened those who led the people through the temple and they were jealous and enraged.

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19:23-40 – Driven by similar underlying motives, Gentile leaders also saw their cultures threatened by the “Way” and incited public riots to oppose the apostles. Summary – The general pattern that Acts depicts begins with the preaching of the gospel often accompanied by some miraculous Holy Spirit intervention. The event is seen as amazing and in response some believe and some do not. For those who don’t, they see the growing movement as a threat to their livelihood and rise up in violent opposition. The gospel divides people, whether Jew or Gentile, into fundamentally opposing camps.

Summarized Outline

Most scholars have a pretty similar outline for Acts. This one is a summary from the table of contents in The Book of Acts by F. F. Bruce. 1. The Birth of the Church (1:1-5:42) 2. Persecution and Expansion (6:1-9:31) 3. The Acts of Peter and the Beginnings of Gentile Christianity (9:32-12:24) 4. Church Extension From Antioch and Apostolic Decree at Jerusalem (12:25-15:35) 5. Paul Leaves Antioch and Moves to the Aegean World (15:36-19:20) 6. Paul Plans to Visit Rome and Gets There By an Unforeseen Route (19:21-28:31) This summary outlines helps us see the overarching goal Luke had in writing Acts. The very beginning of the letter opens with the disciples talking to the resurrected Jesus. They wanted to know if the kingdom was going to be restored to Israel. Jesus needed to redirect their thinking by helping them understand that it was not that outcome on which they were to focus. Instead, they were to, “be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The rest of the book then goes on to show how God enabled and empowered the gospel to make it from Jerusalem to Rome through the lives of His people.

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Study 1 - Acts 1:1-26

There is a struggle we face as human beings and it revolves around wishing we could know what’s coming. In our guts the idea is that if we know what’s coming we can figure out what we need to do so that things are ‘good’ when the inevitable happens. At the time of this material getting pulled together, “Brexit” just happened and the world is recoiling in uncertainty. What will happen? Or another very different example; there is storytelling among new dads about the excitement that comes when a child is born, but then a level of anxiety about what lies ahead. What will happen? Eleven men (and a larger group of about 120 at the time) had left their jobs and career plans and families and had decided to follow a man they thought was the promised Messiah so they could re-establish the kingdom that Israel used to be. And then Jesus was crucified. What will happen? What do you see? (Observation)

Story Themes

1:1-11 Jesus promises the coming Holy Spirit and then ascends into heaven.

You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. (Holy Spirit) You will receive power. (Holy Spirit) You will be witnesses of the new Kingdom. (Gospel) He will return. (Teaching)

1:12-26 Matthias is chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. Judas chose to go to his own place.

The disciples came together to wait and pray. (Prayer) God knows the hearts of all; we can trust Him. (Sovereignty)

When you read Luke 1:1-4 and the opening of Acts, what do you think is Luke’s intention in writing these letters? Both Jesus (1:3) and the disciples (1:6) used the term ‘kingdom’. Does it look like they are thinking about the same thing? What does the Holy Spirit provide in Jesus (1:2) and in the apostles (1:8) and in David (1:16)? Why do you think they cast lots to choose Matthias?

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What does this passage teach? (Interpretation) Main idea: You are witnesses and are to carry the message of the Kingdom of God to the whole world. To do this you will be empowered by the Holy Spirit. Key Verse: 1:7-8 – He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” When we come to the book of Acts, it is important that we try to put ourselves back into what it was like for Jesus’ disciples having just gone through seeing Him crucified and then miraculously appear risen from the grave. A key question rushing around in their heads had to do with how their vision for restoring Israel was going to play out. When they first began following Jesus they anticipated that he was the promised Messiah, and that the Messiah would restore the physical kingdom of Israel. Take a look at Jesus’ words after John the Baptist was arrested: Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:14-15) In this statement the Jews at the time would have latched onto the word “kingdom” with a passionate reaction. Their legacy of “kingdom” most dramatically reached back to David when they reigned over most of the civilized region and reaped great wealth and rewards. The thinking around kingdom back then was captured by David in Psalm 103 when he blessed the Lord for His immovable steadfast love that mercifully resulted in His kingdom reigning and ruling from His throne in heaven (see Ps. 103:19). Following the Davidic era, the nation of Israel faltered and struggled and eventually fell apart. In the days of Jesus’ Israel was subject to overwhelming control by Rome and the Jews longed for Roman rule to be overthrown. Once done, the kingdom of Israel would rule as they thought God has promised. The prophets that followed David spoke of a coming Messiah that would restore Israel following their being conquered by Assyria and Babylon. When Jesus appeared and showed the power of God that was in Him through His teaching and His miracles, the populace thought Jesus was “the one” (take a look at their reasoning in John 7:25-31. The “signs” were proofs of His being the Messiah). The Pharisees asked Him when the kingdom would be restored (Luke 17:20). The disciples jockeyed for a powerful job once the “kingdom” began to rule (see Mark 9:33-37). Until he was crucified. How could He be the Messiah, the king over the new kingdom, if He was dead? The apostles were in disarray and their devotion over the last three years of Jesus’ life seemed like a waste of time since it didn’t result in the kingdom coming. Until he rose from the dead. Now was there hope that somehow Jesus could be the king? That the kingdom could be restored? That hope was not lost? When all that history is considered, you can understand their burning question – “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” Jesus’ response is critical to understand. He doesn’t deny all the promises that God had made concerning the kingdom; instead He redirects their zeal. In effect He pushes back and tells them to stop focusing on timing – timing is in the Father’s hands and He alone has that authority. Instead,

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be focused on your role in the restoration of the kingdom, and that role is to share what you learned and experienced in your time with me. You need to carry on what I started, and just as the Holy Spirit brought power to me while I was proclaiming the kingdom, so He, too, will come to you and empower you to do the same thing. With that Jesus rises up and disappears into heaven formally handing over the baton to the disciples. Again you can feel the surging turmoil they must have felt. “What, gone again?? Now what? Is He coming back to help me do all this?” As those thoughts began to swirl they get the angelic message – He will return. And in that exchange they have a new vision for what lies ahead. As a follower of Jesus the job is not to try and guess what will happen – that is the Father’s job, but this I know – proclaim the good news that in Jesus there is restoration and someday He will come back to reign. I somehow can continue what He started because the Holy Spirit will be with me to help. In response, they listened to Jesus (1:4) and waited. While waiting they figured they needed to replace Judas to get back to the 12 they had before. Here again we can see their orientation to history – there were twelve tribes in Israel, Jesus picked twelve disciples, somehow as this kingdom roles out they need to have twelve ready to go. It’s not real clear if this is what God wanted them to do while waiting – not much more is conveyed about what Matthias does and the rest of the book of Acts doesn’t have a “twelve” focus as they go forward. We can see what was on their minds as they waited. How should this impact my life? (Application) What kinds of things in life cause anxiety in you? When you are struggling with those feelings what do you think would make that anxiety go away? Given how Jesus responds to the anxieties of the disciples, what do you think He would ask you to focus on? We know the pledge of allegiance and have a certain level of pride in being Americans. What do you feel about being part of God’s kingdom? When you aren’t sure what is next in your life, how do you wait? How does knowing that Jesus will return impact what is important in your life?

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Study 2 – Acts 2:1-47

There are a few moments in a well-written book where the plot thickens. Those moments when the characters are in just the right spot, just enough information has been shared, emotions are at just the right temperature and there is a major breaking development in the story that sets a whole new trajectory for the rest of the book. You usually get to them after normal bedtime, but there is no way that book is being put down! This passage is one of those points in the Bible. Don’t stop reading! What do you see? (Observation)

Story Themes 2:1-13 The Holy Spirit comes on the day

of Pentecost. The disciples speak in the languages of the people. Observers are amazed or skeptical.

The day of Pentecost is a day of remembering God giving the Law on Mt. Sinai and one to celebrate God’s provision. (Sovereignty) They were filled with the Holy Spirit. (Holy Spirit) They spoke about the mighty works of God. (Gospel) The crowds were amazed. (Response)

2:14-41 These events were foretold by Joel. With this new day, anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. As David foretold, Jesus now has fulfilled the prophecy that one of his descendants would be Lord and King. Be saved by repenting in the name of Jesus. Those who received His word were baptized.

The last days that were foretold by Joel have been brought to reality by the death and resurrection of Jesus. (Teaching, Gospel) What happened to Jesus was according to God’s plan. (Sovereignty) God fulfilled His promise to David that there would be an eternal King in the person of Jesus. We are witnesses to that fact. (Teaching, Gospel) Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for forgiveness and you too will receive the Holy Spirit. (Holy Spirit, Gospel)

2:42-47 The believers devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer.

Care for each other’s needs. (Community) Devotion to teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer. (Teaching)

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Their goods were shared in common to meet everyone’s needs. The new movement grew and people were amazed.

Praise God. (Sovereignty) Their lives and how God worked amidst them was a testimony to those around. (Community, Response)

What do you notice Luke focusing on when he talks about the Holy Spirit? Why is it important that Peter quotes from the prophets (Joel and David) when he is explaining what is happening? The resurrection of Jesus was an established fact observed by many. How does Peter use that truth to explain the importance of what was happening? Why were the listeners cut to the heart? What did they need to do to be saved from that which they were guilty? What things were true of these new believers that helped them grow in their faith? What do you see “God” or “the Father” doing in this chapter? What do you see “Jesus” doing? What do you see the “Holy Spirit” doing? List the attributes you observe about the Triune God. What does this passage teach? (Interpretation) Main idea: According to God’s plan, Jesus died on the cross, was raised from the dead and is exalted at the right hand of God as Lord over all. From there, Jesus received from the Father the Holy Spirit and He then has poured that out on those who believed in Him. In response we can repent for forgiveness and receive the Holy Spirit in our lives. Key Verse: “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.” (2:32-33) Pentecost was a day of celebrating what had been produced in the agricultural community. The “pente” part of the word is “fiftieth” and the festivities were held 50 days following the reaping of the barley harvest or, in practical terms, 50 days following the first Sunday after Passover. It would have been a time when many travelled to Jerusalem as part of their celebrations. In that setting we see, in a powerful way, the Spirit of God arriving and enabling the disciples to speak in languages from all over the region with a message that proclaimed the mighty working of God. As they spoke, those who were observing were amazed at their language skills and were focused on trying to figure out what was happening. There must be some deep significance behind the events that were transpiring and they wanted to understand what it all meant. With that as the setting, Peter jumps in with the first sermon in Acts! Because most of the audience was Jewish, Peter walks them through the teaching of Joel and David to help them see that this

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pouring out of the Spirit of God was planned by the Father and enabled by the death and resurrection of Jesus. Peter’s sermon followed a format that is used frequently in Acts and is summarized well by F. F. Bruce: “Peter now takes up his main theme: the proclamation of Jesus as Lord and Messiah. The early apostolic preaching regularly comprises four elements (not always in the same order): (1) the announcement that the age of fulfillment has arrived; (2) an account of the ministry, death, and triumph of Jesus; (3) citation of Old Testament scriptures whose fulfillment in these events proves Jesus to be the one to whom they pointed forward; (4) a call to repentance.” (The Book of Acts, page 63) As you probably noticed when you did the work above, God is featured as being the one in control of all that was happening and not only were the events planned, but had an intended response. This plan wasn’t some new fad idea that Peter had dreamt up; it was anticipated all the way back to the time of David when God had promised to him that He would set one of David’s descendants on the throne forever. Everything God had promised going all the way back to Abraham in Genesis 12 was being worked out in and through Jesus. Not only that. This Jesus, who fulfilled everything promised by God the Father, these listeners were part of crucifying. When these listeners heard Peter preach they realized that they were guilty before God and needed to do something to “right the wrong” of which they were a part. They moved in their thinking from; “What does this mean?” (vs. 12) to, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (vs. 37). They were part of crucifying the Messiah that was the sole hope of the nation of Israel! Was there any possibility that such a huge mistake could be fixed? Peter’s summary of their only hope was a call for those who realized they had no hope to repent and give their lives in devotion to Jesus as evidenced by baptism. These responses were to be “in the name of Jesus Christ” and in Him there is forgiveness. Repentance has the idea of a 180-degree turn around in your life’s commitment. It is no small call! It was not a new idea that Peter was presenting, but one that was the primary focus of both John the Baptist and of Jesus Himself. In Luke’s first volume Jesus was calling some selected men to follow Him as disciples and one of those He called was a tax collector named Levi. Tax collectors were pretty unpopular and the Pharisees challenged Jesus for hanging out with such sinners. Jesus’ response set the tone for His entire message to the people while He was here on earth, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” The answer Peter provided was welcome news. There was an avenue for being shown forgiveness and mercy. In the closing paragraph we see their response wasn’t a one-time event, but rather they devoted themselves to being taught, to fellowship and shared worship and prayer. In this new relationship with God and with fellow believers they moved from inquiry, to desperation, to awe and to praise. They were restored by the working and planning of God the Father, through the death and resurrection of Jesus the Son, ensured and embraced by the gift of the Holy Spirit within. How should this impact my life? (Application) With such spectacular events taking place, telling the story of what happened could have many different perspectives. What do you think Luke wants to emphasize in his recounting of the events?

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When you come to the point of thinking about what Jesus went through, what emotions do you experience? What do you think God wants you to do with those feelings? When you think about God, do you believe He has a plan for your life? Do you trust Him and His plan? What can happen that makes this hard? Given that we all struggle with sin and temptation, where can we find any hope of our relationship with God being a good one? Throughout this study we will be seeing how the Holy Spirit worked in the apostles. Take a moment to write down how you experience the Holy Spirit in your life. This will be a topic that we will revisit throughout this study, so this beginning assessment is important. This is a key passage in Acts and, for that matter, an important passage for the whole Bible. If you are wondering what the Bible is all about, this chapter captures a key theme of its message and calling. God loves you and had a plan for His Son, Jesus, to come as a human being, live a perfect life and then die on the cross to pay the price for all the things we do wrong. That death wasn’t the end. God the Father went on to raise Jesus from the dead and set Him as ruler over all creation and, in particular, as Lord of all people. The key message of the Bible, the gospel, is that we can be forgiven and our relationship with our Creator restored so we can enjoy Him forever. Just as in the days of Peter so now – we are asked by God to repent. To turn from chasing what we think is best for ourselves, and instead submit to Jesus as the Lord of our lives. In this act of turning to Him, of repentance, we seek His mercy because we can see how much He loves us. Have you made the decision to give your life to Jesus as the one in control - as Lord? If you want to talk through your questions or struggles, contact one of the leaders at Trinity and share your thinking. We all have those thoughts and questions! But we have also experienced what real forgiveness is like and it will be the biggest blessing you can imagine.

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Study 3 – Acts 3:1-4:37

There is a principle that is used in defining the role of a leader that is referred to as “from one to many”. The idea is similar to the relationship between a mother and her children where the “one to many” idea is very tangible! The intent of this principle is to bring focus on how much more can be accomplished when “many” are enabled to work together rather than the load being held on the shoulders of a single person. In our study of Acts we will see the “one to many” principle in action as stories move from an encounter with one person (in this study a lame man needing help) to many being formed into a community of sharing where many needs are met. What do you see? (Observation)

Story Themes

3:1-26 Peter and John heal a man in the name of Jesus. Peter explains to the crowd how Jesus and His resurrection fulfilled the message of the prophets.

The God of the OT has glorified Jesus and in His name there is healing. (Holy Spirit) Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of the OT and the days they foretold have arrived. (Teaching) Jesus is servant, Holy and Righteous One, Author of life, Christ. (Teaching) What was foretold was for the whole world. (Teaching) You need to turn from your wicked ways. (Gospel) The crowds were amazed. (Response)

4:1-22 The Priests and Sadducees arrested Peter and John because they proclaimed Jesus rose from the dead. The number of believers grew to 5,000. Peter proclaimed a man was healed by Jesus and that there is salvation only in Jesus. The Jewish leaders instructed Peter and John not to speak any more the name of Jesus. Peter and John said they must obey

Tensions were building between the traditional Jewish leaders (those in power) and disciples. (Response) Peter was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. (Holy Spirit) Peter and John proclaim the presence and power of Jesus given His resurrection. Salvation and resurrection are in Jesus alone.(Gospel) The people were amazed and were praising God. (Response)

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God and not these leaders. The leaders can’t respond given what the crowds had witnessed.

4:23-37 The friends of the apostles prayed, quoting from Psalm 2, that the gospel would continue to be proclaimed with boldness amidst opposition. The place where they prayed shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit to witness with boldness. They shared all their goods to make sure every person’s needs were met. Barnabas is introduced.

Despite the opposition, they were compelled to continue to proclaim Jesus’ resurrection and power. (Prayer, Gospel, Response) They prayed together, in the name of the Sovereign Lord, that what God had predestined would continue to be carried out. (Prayer, Sovereignty) They were of one heart and soul and shared that unity to meet practical needs. (Community)

Write a few words next to each character or group of characters listed below that describe how they responded to what was happening in this passage. Most will have more than one response:

The beggar –

Witnesses to the miracle –

Peter –

Priests, Sadducees, captain of the temple, elders and scribes –

Friends of Peter and John –

Full number of believers – What message do you think Luke is conveying when you look at how people are responding? Remember the “four points” that most sermons in Acts contain? See the notes on Acts 2 for a reminder if that helps. What does Peter say about:

The age of fulfillment arriving?

The life of Jesus?

The message from the prophets?

The response people should have?

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What does this passage teach about God? What do you see the Holy Spirit doing in this passage? What tensions do you see emerging and what emotions are running through the two groups? On what issue do they fundamentally disagree? What does this passage teach? (Interpretation) Main idea: The gospel is being proclaimed by the apostles, enabled by the Holy Spirit and evidenced by miracles. While thousands of common people are responding in faith, the leaders of the Jews are feeling threatened and are elevating opposition. The community of believers is growing and working together to meet their needs. Key Verse: Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead – by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:8-12) In a concise manner, Acts 3-4 provides a real life moment of history that captures the tensions the early church would face in Jerusalem. In a manner very similar to Jesus, Peter and John came upon a man who needed help. They healed him proclaiming the power of Jesus and this miracle was performed in the area around the Temple – so it got plenty of attention. The responses that ensue are the beginnings of what will launch the worldwide spread of the gospel amid opposition. We see one type of response in the man who was healed. He started the day, as he started every day, getting carried to the temple expecting that he would be begging to get enough for his needs. He ended up leaping, praising and clinging! This man was very clear on who had healed him – God had worked through the apostles who proclaimed the name of Jesus. The next response we see is from “all the people” – those who had come to the temple for daily prayers. They were astounded and wanted to understand what was happening. Peter saw their curiosity and amazement and took the opportunity to share with them what faith looks like. In this real life event, faith in Jesus took a lame man and made him perfectly healthy. Peter proclaimed that in the same way, God will take an ignorant and sinful people and bring the full restoration promised to Moses, Samuel and Abraham. That same way is through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Everything about the entire history of Israel as God’s chosen people pointed to this time – a time when God was intervening to deliver on what He promised He would do, and that in and through Jesus. Many of these people responded to a call to faith with belief. The third group was composed of the religious and political leaders of the Jewish people. They were the power brokers of the day and carried not only authority around the temple, but had a level of clout that enabled them to arrest Peter and John for the disruption they were causing. These folks were in a real pickle. On one hand there were three really clear facts: 1) a lame man was

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healed; 2) uneducated Galilean fisherman were lecturing the scholars on how their conduct was against God as prophesied by Isaiah and 3) these guys used to be with Jesus. How could this be? Where did this power come from? They realized that if this message spread, their jobs and their views would be threatened so they tried to limit the damage. The leaders could not bring any charges, so instead they insisted that no further speaking about Jesus could be done. With that new rule in place, any future disobedience would give them a basis for responding with more force. This group responded to try and keep control. The last group includes the “church family,” although that label comes later. The friends of Peter and John heard the story and they experienced confirmation and an invigorated boldness to keep doing what they had started. In their time of prayer they clung to the Sovereign Lord who had predestined all these transpiring events to occur and since He was able to accomplish all that was happening, they could trust Him with their needs as they faced this emerging opposition. Amid this realization, that they were headed for being attacked by the rulers of Jerusalem, they bonded together with one heart and soul so they could continue to testify to the truth and consequences of the resurrection of Jesus. Two camps: A worshipping, emboldened body of believers and a threatened, angry and plotting group of those wanting to maintain power. The divide? The truth and implications that Jesus had risen from the grave and was now in charge of the emerging Kingdom. How should this impact my life? (Application) When you think about the truth of the resurrection of Jesus – that it was an undisputed fact among both the believers and those who opposed this new movement – what are the implications you need to grapple with? Would you describe our environment as being in opposition to the gospel? Give some examples. Are you bold? What makes being bold about the gospel hard for you? As you listen to the news and all that is happening in our world, how do you think about the Sovereign Lord? How does that truth impact what you think about your life and your circumstances? Take some time to praise God for His power and plans and ask Him to help you grow in your faith.

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Study 4 – 5:1-11 Weight. TV time. Grades. Age. Time spent praying. Struggles with temptation. Exercise time. What’s on your list of topics where it is hard to tell the truth? Lying can become so common that we don’t always appreciate who it offends and what are the implications. If you were writing a book about how great the new church movement was, you might not include this story. But Luke’s focus on historical accuracy and completeness helps us see how serious sin is. What do you see? (Observation)

Story Themes

5:1-11 Ananias and Sapphira lie about their gift to help people. God revealed the lies to Peter and when confronted both died.

Peter proclaimed that Satan had filled their hearts to lie and that the lie was not just to people but to God. Their actions posed a threat to the community of believers that needed to be addressed. (Community) When the church observed the consequences, they were filled with fear. (Community)

Go back to 4:32-37 and read the story of Barnabas. What might be a reason Ananias and Sapphira did what they did? What response did the observers experience? What does this passage teach? (Interpretation) Main idea: To say one thing while doing another is a lie to God and harmful to the community. Many people observed the consequences and they were afraid. Key Verse: “Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” (Acts 5:4b) When you first read this story, you can’t help but be filled with questions that aren’t answered. Why did this couple do this? Why were they judged so severely? How much did they hold on to - was it a really big lie? If I make a mistake, could this happen to me? With these kinds of thoughts swirling around it is important to stay focused on what Luke was trying to communicate. A key theme that Luke draws out is to depict who is the object of sin. Sin, in this case a lie, goes against God. The problem isn’t that it impacts the church’s budget, but rather that sin within a community is detracting from what God is doing and given that perspective is very serious. We see a very similar story in the time of Joshua when Achan stole some valuables from a conquered community. He and his family too were called out and were stoned because of their sin against God.

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The response we see from the other believers is an important lesson as well. Notice that they didn’t respond with a sense of thankfulness that justice was carried out. Instead it was fear. As members of this new community could this be the consequences for making a mistake? It brought home a reality that can be underappreciated – being in the Kingdom of God means that what is done within that community impacts the Kingdom and how God is working in and through that Kingdom. How should this impact my life? (Application) In what areas of your life do you find it hard to be honest? Can you remember some occasions when your story wasn’t exactly the truth? Why did you struggle with that situation? Are there “Barnabas” type people that you observe where you wish you would be recognized as being like them? When you reflecting on these inner tensions that are hard, what do you think Jesus would say to you if you were talking them through with Him? Take some time to talk them through with Him.

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Study 5 – 5:12-42

A paradox is a situation where there are two things that are both true but it isn’t clearly logical how they could both be true at the same time. For centuries theologians have struggled to explain the paradox of the combined humanity and deity of Jesus. He is fully human. He is fully God. Paradoxically, he is both. The Bible is full of paradoxical truth and one of those paradoxes lies in the matter of faith. Does God save us or is it our decision of faith that makes it happen? Be prepared for some great paradoxical reflection as you dive into this passage! What do you see? (Observation)

Story Themes 5:12-42 The church continued to grow.

There continued to be miraculous healing by the apostles that was getting widespread attention. New believers were gathering in increasing numbers in the temple area. The high priest and the Sadducees were jealous of the attention the apostles were getting and responded by placing them under arrest. An angel freed the apostles and they returned to the temple to preach. The officers brought the apostles before the high priest and Peter continued to preach the gospel despite the high priest’s order to stop. The Jewish leaders were enraged and wanted to kill the apostles but Gamaliel, a highly regarded teacher, offered a different approach. He claimed that if the apostles teaching was not from God it would fade. If it was from God they should not oppose it. Their strategy should be to wait it out and see what developed. The apostles were beaten, ordered to stop, and released. Rejoicing, they continued to proclaim the gospel in the temple and in homes.

God continued to confirm the truth being taught by performing healing miracles through the apostles. (Holy Spirit) Opposition from Jewish religious leaders was at a feverish pitch while the people were being overwhelmed by what they witnessed. The tensions between the traditional leaders and the new sect were rapidly escalating. (Response) The apostles defied orders from the high priest and instead obeyed God in proclaiming Jesus as the Christ. They continued to primarily point to His resurrection despite having been put to death by the religious leaders as the confirming evidence. (Gospel) The apostles rejoiced counting it worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus. (Suffering)

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How was God putting on display the importance of what the apostles were saying? What responses by various groups of people do you see in this passage? Highlight the word “obey” in this passage. What does Luke want to share when he deals with this topic? What do you think “this life” means in verse 5:20? What does this passage teach? (Interpretation) Main idea: God continued to draw people to Himself despite growing opposition. The apostles rejoiced in being counted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus. Key Verse: But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.” (6:29) This passage gives us some real life events that depict the tensions that existed around Jerusalem as the apostles proclaimed the gospel. On one hand people were seeing miracles and were flocking for attention. But in the midst of retelling what the crowds were doing, Luke helps us see that giving yourself to Jesus as risen Savior is no easy decision. While the healing was great, 5:13 provides insight that joining the apostles was not easy. The decision involved going against the mighty leaders of the Jewish community. It meant being an outcast. It could involve physical suffering or imprisonment. So when Luke goes on to explain that despite all the risks many were becoming believers, we can get a feel for how visible, public and risky it was to accept the risen Jesus as Lord. When we read about the imprisoned apostles being set free by an angel, we almost instinctively want to sing one of those “free in Christ” worship songs! What a strong fact of history Luke recalled to help us see how active God was working in their midst to get the message of the gospel to people. Even after a miraculous escape they went right back at it, and not in a discrete location. They continued their preaching at the temple. Acts 5:27-32 is a great passage. We see two powers working side-by-side. First and foremost, look what Luke says about the activity of God. He “raised Jesus”, “exalted him at his right hand as “Leader and Savior”, “giving forgiveness”, and the giver of the “Holy Spirit.” There is no doubt – God is planting and launching His Kingdom and He is active as the unstoppable triune God over all. But also notice the activity of the apostles – “we must obey God.” God is sovereign and all-powerful and His plans for us and for creation will not be hindered by anything that happens. But in an impossible to explain manner there is another part of the paradigm – our need to obey. We don’t control the outcome, but our piece in the plan is crucial because God has embraced us in a relationship with Him. In that relationship we are not simply puppets, but active participants through His strength. The apostles in this passage beautifully put that on display. Despite every threat the Jewish rulers could come up with, these faithful disciples “did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.”

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How should this impact my life? (Application) We use the term “community” in our church setting and it is a very important part of how we grow as disciples. What aspects of community would you like to see at our church? What could you do to help? What helped the apostles prepare for hardship? Do you think you could go through similar hard times? Many parents of young children have great fears for what the future holds as our culture grows more and more “anti-Christian”. What could you take from this passage and pass on to young people to help them prepare for hardship? It’s great to worship the sovereignty of God and we can rejoice that He is in control. But for some reason He has asked us to play a vital role in His Kingdom. Is that role for you a top priority? Take some time to consider how much real time and energy you devote to obedience and reflect on whether that is what you want to continue to be true in your life. Share your struggles and your hopes with someone you love. We are part of His Kingdom and we are in this together.

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Study 6 – Acts 6:1-8:3

The Gettysburg address stands out in history as a short speech that captured the essence of what it means to be an American. Abraham Lincoln wrote, “It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from earth.” Just pure imagination, but it would not be a surprise if Abraham Lincoln was thinking about Stephen and his message from Acts 7 as he prepared the speech he wanted to give to inspire people to keep the faith amid hard times. What do you see? (Observation)

Story Themes

6:1-7 Seven men were chosen to address needs people had so that the apostles could devote their time to prayer and preaching. The chosen seven were wise and full of the Spirit. The number of disciples continued to multiply.

It was important that needs of the disciples were addressed. (Community) The apostles needed to be able to focus on prayer and preaching. (Prayer, Teaching)

6:8-7:60

Stephen, one of the chosen seven, was full of grace and power and was gifted to perform great signs and wonders among the people. Jews of the synagogue put together a deceitful plan to have him seized claiming he spoke against the synagogue and the law – that Jesus would destroy both. Stephen, with a face that appeared like an angel, walked the Jews through a history of how God worked from Abraham through the patriarchs, through the time the Jewish people were in exile in Egypt, through their exodus by God working through Moses, up to David and Solomon and the construction of the temple. In this historical account, Stephen highlighted

The Holy Spirit was actively empowering the apostles and church leaders. (Holy Spirit) The Jewish leaders in the temple were increasingly angry and threatened by the growth of the followers of Jesus. (Response) Stephen summarized the history of the Jewish people as those who stubbornly denied and resisted all that God had done and was doing in their midst, including murdering Jesus. (Teaching) The church was now in an era of persecution being led by Saul. (Suffering)

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God’s divine hand and the people’s rebellious response. The incidents of rebellious response included the worship of the calf while Moses was receiving the law, and their refusal to accept that the Most High doesn’t just dwell in a house made by hands and their persecution of the prophets. They consistently resisted the Holy Spirit just as those who now had seized Stephen had killed Jesus and refused to obey the law. Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit and saw Jesus standing by the right hand of God. The Jewish leaders were full of rage and anger and stoned Stephen to death. Stephen’s execution was approved by Saul. Saul continued a campaign to arrest believers and those believers scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

What does this passage teach? (Interpretation) Main idea: From the time of Abraham those who have been called by God to carry out His plan have been rejected by their cultures. This was true of Jesus and is now facing His followers. Despite this opposition, God continues to build His kingdom. Key Verse: You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it. (7:51-53) The new church is experiencing growing pains and some changes are needed to deal with some of the tensions. Hellenists represent those Jews whose backgrounds were deeply impacted by Greek culture. Many would have come from families who had left Judea during a period called the diaspora where small groups of Jews lived around the Mediterranean region keeping their Jewish traditions but becoming “Greek” in things like language and customs. Those referred to as “Hebrews” would have been folks who stayed in Palestine, spoke Aramaic and kept traditions in the “home town”. Now together as believers in Christ, they had to figure out how to blend their cultures so everyone was treated fairly. In this case, widows weren’t getting the same care and the tension that surrounded this issue rose to the apostles. Like good leaders, the apostles realized they needed help and selected seven men whose lives demonstrated similar godly attributes that they as apostles were called to, enabling the apostles to

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focus on prayer and preaching. Stephen, a Hellenist Jew, was one of the seven. With these changes in place, the church continued to grow quickly, including priests, in Jerusalem. A group of Jewish leaders from the diaspora regions (listed in verse 6:9) realized that their position of power was being threatened as people believed the gospel and were witnessing the powerful working of the Holy Spirit in Stephen’s ministry. These opponents could not outsmart the wisdom of Stephen and the working of the Spirit in his life, so they developed a scheme to bring him down. They began a rumor that Stephen was advocating that Jesus would tear down the temple and toss out the customs brought by Moses. In short, they positioned themselves as protectors of what had been promised to the leaders from Israel’s past and that Stephen and his gang were trying to unravel all that God had promised the Jewish people. Stephen was brought to the high priest to defend his case. In response, Stephen redirects the finger pointing. He shows from history that these leaders come from a long tradition of leaders who rejected what God was doing in carrying out all that had been promised to Abraham. The table below captures the “stars” from their history who tried to obey what God wanted and how the people responded. The story starts with Abraham and goes all the way to those leaders accusing Stephan.

Passage Key Person From Then to Now… 7:1-8 Abraham God promised a land where his descendants would grow and

worship. Father of Isaac, Jacob, 12 patriarchs. 7:9-16 Joseph Cast out by his brothers but rescued by God, Joseph enabled Jacob’s

family to be together surviving the famine in Egypt. 7:17-43 Moses God sent Moses to deliver his suffering people from Egypt.

Moses was rejected, the people refused to obey him and the law, and the people crafted a golden calf desiring to return to Egypt.

7:44-45 Joshua God enabled Joshua to lead the nation to conquer the promised land and bring the tabernacle into the land promised to Abraham.

7:46 David God asked David to establish place a permanent dwelling place where people could worship.

7:47 Solomon Built the temple. 7:48-50 Isaiah Prophesied that God is not limited to the temple, but to the whole

earth. 7:51-53 Ancient leaders

of Israel Resisted the Holy Spirit, persecuted the prophets and did not listen to God’s voice.

7:51-53 Current leaders of Israel

Like their predecessors, the current leaders resist the Holy Spirit, murdered Jesus and don’t keep the law.

In summary Stephen’s whole point, in response to the accusation that he was part of a sect wanting to destroy the temple, was that the temple wasn’t God’s ultimate plan for ruling the kingdom. It was not the building, it was the person of Jesus and in Him the promises to Abraham are fulfilled. The anger of those being accused as uncircumcised in heart and ears overwhelmed the moment and they stoned Stephen. In words very similar to Jesus while he was being crucified, Stephen looked to God to receive his spirit and asked the Father to forgive those who were attacking as they couldn’t understand what they were doing. Saul, one of those leading these happenings, is introduced and widespread persecution and scattering of believers begins.

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This historical account has two important dimensions in the Book of Acts. We see a launching point where people beyond Judea are being reached with the gospel, where there is growing opposition and, despite these tensions, the church is growing. These dimensions range from broader geographic dimensions all the way to the first martyr and the introduction of Saul. But a second dimension lies in the message of Stephen. It summarizes the connection between the Old Testament and all God did among His chosen people to a gospel that was vitally anticipated in that history and was destined to be carried out to all people. From a theological perspective, it connects God’s plan from His promise to Abraham to those who give their lives to Jesus as being part of one plan to create one people who would together be His kingdom. We also see another important observation when thinking about this “one people”. They all suffer. They don’t have a permanent home here on earth, they face opposition and most of those who surround them are violent. They also see beyond the days of this life and make decisions around the belief that their relationship to God will transcend all the struggles of the present and someday result in being reconnected to their Creator who will make things right. In all of that, the mission is to proclaim the truth that God loves people and in Jesus they can be rescued. How should this impact my life? (Application) Think about your life and grapple with this question; “If you were in Stephen’s sandals, what would you have said to the high priest?” List some of the things that had to be true in Stephen’s life for him to do what God wanted him to do. We often find ourselves saying we should be like Jesus. The whole “WWJD” fad was an example. Stephen’s conduct foreshadows what that might entail. What anxieties do you struggle with in making changes in your life that would be “Jesus-like”?

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Study 7 – Acts 8:4-40

If you were to sit down and put together a plan for how to roll out a breakthrough idea, what would you include? Say you invented a drug that could cure cancer. Would you announce it in the local Observer or might you think a bit bigger?? Maybe a Tweet? Or might you find the most powerful media voice in the world and let everyone know that at last cancer could be conquered! From a different point of view – if you read in the local newspaper that someone was claiming they had cured cancer, would you believe it? As we see the gospel of the Kingdom roll out – a “breakthrough” more significant than even high performing medications – how it is revealed is as breakthrough as the message itself. What do you see? (Observation)

Story Themes

8:4-25 Philip proclaimed Christ in Samaria with miraculous signs and many believed. While those in Samaria had believed and been baptized, they had not yet received the Holy Spirit. Peter and John went to Samaria and prayed for these believers and the Holy Spirit came upon the new believers. Simon, a Samaritan leader who possessed some type of magical power, offered to buy the gift of the Holy Spirit with money. Peter proclaimed that Simon’s heart was not right before God and that he needed to repent of his wicked intentions. The apostles returned to Jerusalem and proclaimed the gospel to many Samaritans.

The gospel was spreading beyond Jerusalem. (Gospel) Their beliefs were real as evidenced by the receiving of the Holy Spirit in their midst. (Holy Spirit) Some who expressed belief had evil intentions and they were called out to repent. (Gospel)

8:26-40 An angel called Philip to go to the road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza and on that road Philip met an Ethiopian eunuch. The Eunuch was reading Isaiah 53 and asked Philip to explain what it meant. Philip showed him how Jesus was the one whose life was sacrificed for the sake of others. The Eunuch believed and was baptized. Philip was taken by the Spirit to Caesarea where he proclaimed the gospel.

The gospel continued to spread through the preaching by the apostles and the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit. (Holy Spirit, Gospel)

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Starting with Paul in 8:1-3 and then throughout this passage, summarize how people were responding to the gospel. What do you see the Holy Spirit doing in this passage? How does that compare to what you have seen Him do in previous chapters? What was Simon’s problem and how did the apostles deal with it? Read Isaiah 53:7-8 quoted in 8:32-33. Who do you see at work with the combination of circumstances including the presence of Philip, the proximity of water in a desert region, and a eunuch reading this passage all at the same time?!! What does this passage teach? (Interpretation) Main idea: Amid great persecution that caused the believers to scatter around the Mediterranean Sea, those scattered went about preaching the gospel. It was received with great joy and the arrival of the Holy Spirit to confirm their faith. Key Verse: Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with the Scripture (from Isaiah 53:7-8) he told him the good news about Jesus. (Acts 8:35) On one hand this passage has many variables. Philip is in the mix in several different settings. The issues people were struggling with ranged from paralysis, to demon possession, to pride, to struggling with understanding an Old Testament passage. There were different geographic regions and people groups as persecuted believers were spread around. On some occasions the preaching went to crowds, at other times it was a one-on-one in a chariot. Amid so much variety, there were some critical constants. The Holy Spirit led and confirmed the working of the gospel. The gospel was received by those with real needs with real joy. No matter what the circumstances or consequences, the apostles faithfully preached the gospel. Above all else, sharing the gospel was a top priority. The contrast between what seemed like chaos yet in fact was God working in and through His people with clear intentions and life-changing results served as the story Luke wanted to share. From the unexpected baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger (Luke 2:12) to a fisherman turned apostle explaining the prophet Isaiah to an Ethiopian eunuch who was in charge of the finances of the queen, God was bringing about His Kingdom in the most unexpected and marvelous ways anyone could imagine. Those who loved Jesus gave all they had to walk in obedience to wherever and however He led. How should this impact my life? (Application) If people from your church were being persecuted, what would you do? Take some time to “translate” into your own words Isaiah 53:7-8.

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Share with someone a part of your life where something unexpected happened but later you could see how “God was in control.”

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Study 8 – Acts 9:1-43

Teamwork can be hard to define. You hear it discussed frequently around sports where the gifts and skills between opposing teams is similar, but one team is somehow able to consistently do great things. It’s an intangible feeling that emerges when a challenge arises. But while it is hard to define, it isn’t random either. It has its source in a shared commitment to something bigger than we can grab as individuals. When you read this passage, look for “team” and what is that shared aspiration. What do you see? (Observation)

Story Theme

9:1-19 Jesus appeared to Saul asking, “Why are you persecuting me?” Saul was led to Damascus unable to see and fasted for three days. The Lord told Ananias to go to Saul and He revealed the mission He had for Saul’s life – to suffer and carry the Lord’s name to all people. When Ananias arrived Saul could see, could eat and was baptized.

Jesus called Saul to carry the gospel to the Gentiles and kings and to the people of Israel. (Gospel) Ananias was called to take a significant risk at Jesus’ calling and he obeyed. (Sovereignty)

9:20-31 Saul proclaimed the gospel in the synagogue in Damascus. Everyone was surprised at his conversion and the Jewish leaders sought to kill him. With the help of other disciples Saul escaped. Saul appeared before the apostles in Jerusalem and preached boldly despite all the threats. Again his enemies sought to kill him and he was taken to Tarsus. The church in Judea and Samaria was at peace and was growing in the Lord.

Saul boldly proclaimed the gospel in Damascus and in Jerusalem despite threats to his own life. (Suffering, Response) Saul was helped by disciples. (Community) Opposition was fierce and pervasive. (Response)

9:32-43 Peter healed a paralyzed man in Lydda in the name of Jesus and many turned to the Lord. Peter brought Dorcas back to life and many in Joppa became believers in the Lord.

Miracles were performed in the name of Jesus and people who witnessed these miracles came to believe in the Lord. (Holy Spirit)

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How was Paul persecuting Jesus? Underline the words spoken by Jesus to Saul and to Ananias. What do you see in these words that is similar? How did Saul’s “old buddies” take the changes in Paul? How did Paul respond? What do you observe about Ananias and Barnabas? What does Luke emphasize as he records the miracles of healing and restoration of life? What does this passage teach? (Interpretation) Main idea: Jesus appeared to Saul and called him to be a chosen instrument to carry His name among both the Gentiles and the children of Israel. In that role, Saul would suffer for the sake of the One whom he was previously persecuting. Key Verses: And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city and you will be told what you are to do.” (Acts 9:6) But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. (Acts 9:22) The story of Saul’s conversion is told three times in the book of Acts (here, before a Jewish crowd in 22:3-17, and before King Agrippa II in 26:2-18). In each of these accounts, Saul is helping those around him understand what God has called him to do. This is a crucial juncture in the story of the new church. The chapter opens with a “ramping up” of murderous threats to the disciples of Christ and this section ends with peace, fear of the Lord and comfort in the Holy Spirit for the whole region. In the middle we see the direct intervention of Jesus to reset the course of history. While the story of Paul’s conversion is famous, a few other people need some attention. First, consider the day Ananias had! A vision from the Lord (that’s a big deal) telling him to go see the guy every believer is running all over Asia Minor to avoid! And look at his response; “So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul…” (9:17). When he finished praying, the blind Saul got his vision back and was baptized. Now that is a day he relayed to his grandchildren many times. Notice he was told to go and, regardless the task, he went. Next we see Barnabas vouching for the one he had gotten to know. This wasn’t easy given his history. Imagine having to go before families who had experienced suffering at the hands of the “old Saul” and now have to come before them and ask that they listen to his preaching! Again, not only did they listen, but also when Saul’s life was at risk they come around him and helped him escape. Finally, we have Jesus. Does our Lord’s mercy have a limit? While Saul has a track record of terrible sin, Jesus shows him mercy, love and forgiveness. The one who was crucified calling rescued people

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to give their lives for the sake of preaching the gospel so that others might be rescued. In this there is peace, being built up, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Together. How should this impact my life? (Application) Has Jesus asked you to rise and go? What could we face in “going” and why should that be a concern? When we don’t rise, or when our “go” is a limp, what are we struggling with? If Saul, Barnabas and Ananias were your mentors, how would they encourage you? Think about someone you know who has a need. Do a “rise and go” act of love for that person.

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Study 9 – Acts 10:1-11:18

At the time this material is being pulled together, our country is dealing nationally with “Black Lives Matter” protests and police shootings in Dallas. ISIS attacks in Budapest and Turkey are recent additions to a painful era of terrorism. The Brexit decision in Europe is renewing ancient tensions among European countries. Almost every church is under scrutiny for teaching positions around the LGBT movement in the US. Current nominees for President of the United States have people across this country and the entire world wondering where we are going. These tensions create an important challenge for believers in the gospel. What does Jesus want us to do and to be like amid these pressures? How should we be preparing our children and grandchildren for what might lie ahead? In the passage we are diving into, the apostles faced a similar challenge driven by political and religious conflicts that were deeply cultural. As you study, take special notice of what is a priority to Jesus. What do you see? (Observation)

Story Themes

10:1- 11:18

Cornelius was a devout believer. He received a vision from an angel of the Lord and in that vision his faith was acknowledged and he was told to send men to Joppa to get Peter. While the men were on their way, Peter received a vision of a great sheet with food that was ‘unclean’ according to Jewish standards. The Lord told him to eat from the sheet. God told Peter that He had made it clean. The men from Cornelius arrived and Peter was told by the Spirit to go with the men to meet Cornelius. When Peter met Cornelius he asked him why Cornelius had sent for him. Cornelius explained what he had experienced. Peter recounted his witnessing of Jesus’ death and resurrection and recited Jesus’ words to the apostles that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness in Jesus’ name. While Peter spoke, the Holy Spirit came upon the Gentiles in the same way He came upon the apostles. Peter authorized them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Peter faced opposition from the other apostles and believers back in Jerusalem. He recounted the events and the arrival of the Holy Spirit as evidence to confirm what God was doing. The other apostles responded by glorifying God for bringing repentance and salvation to the Gentiles.

Salvation in Jesus was given for anyone who believed. (Gospel) In that, God is glorified. (Sovereignty)

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Highlight in chapter 10 the places where Luke gives details about the events. Look for things like schedules, locations, geography and participants. Why do you think Luke is including this much detail? Look at what the Lord says and the Holy Spirit does in this passage. What do you see them doing? What are they not doing? What tensions do you see between the Gentiles and the Jews in 10:24-29. Did Peter have a clear idea why God sent him to see Cornelius? Look at 10:17 and describe where Peter is at in his thinking. Why were Peter and his fellow Jewish Christians amazed? Notice the process the Jewish believers back in Jerusalem went through. How big of a change in thinking were these believers dealing with? What does this passage teach? (Interpretation) Main idea: The Lord brought Peter and Cornelius together so the gospel could begin to be shared with the Gentiles. The Holy Spirit came upon the Gentile believers just as He had with the disciples back in Acts 2 to confirm that in fact the Gentiles could be saved just as the Jews. Key Verses: And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” (10:15) While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. (10:44-45) This is a critical point in the book of Acts. Cornelius is a Roman citizen, a well-to-do soldier, a Gentile and he embodied the focal point of many cultural tensions that existed at the time. Before delving into the passage it is helpful to walk through the cultural setting to grasp all that Luke wants us to hear. A Roman soldier in Caesarea Caesarea was a hub port city of Samaria that was under control of the Roman military to ensure ongoing shipping of essential grain to Rome. At the time there was great tension between Jews and Romans centering around who should be in control. As a conquered people, the Jews wanted to be free from oppressive Roman control. Acts was probably written around 62 AD and less than a decade later the Romans would get fed up with Jewish opposition and storm Jerusalem to quench their threats. Peter was called to go see a key military figure from the enemy.

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A wealthy man Centurions were commanders of 100 men and were key figures in the Roman military system. They were very well paid and Cornelius would have been a highly regarded, prominent person in the city. Peter, the fisherman now on a mission to proclaim the gospel, was called to see a “big wig” in the city. A Gentile Above all other issues, Cornelius was a Gentile. For a Jew who tried to stay in alignment with OT laws, the food issues alone resulted in Jews becoming “impure” just by entering a Gentile’s home. Unfortunately, the Jews had not taken the promise to Abraham to be a role of connecting God with the whole world. Instead, they saw themselves as superior to any other people group and interacting with the “low lives” was a huge step down. Let’s take a moment to get to know Cornelius. He is a Gentile, but has converted to the Jewish faith. Luke tells us that he feared God, gave to those in need and prayed. The “ninth hour” would have been 3:00 PM and it was a common practice among Jews to set that time aside for prayer. Cornelius was keeping these disciplines of faith and it didn’t go unnoticed by the Lord. The first vision in this story is angel asks of Cornelius to send some men to see Peter, but Cornelius isn’t told why. Without hesitating, Cornelius obeys. Peter took a bit more convincing! N. T. Wright helps us see the pill Peter is being asked to swallow: “At this point we must remind ourselves of one of the basic points about the Jewish food laws. It wasn’t just that the Jews weren’t allowed to eat pork. There was a whole range of meat which they were forbidden; they are listed (for example) in Leviticus 11, and were much discussed by later generations. These food laws, whatever their origin, served to mark out the Jewish people from their non-Jewish neighbors, a rule reinforced by the prohibition on Jews eating with non-Jews, sharing table fellowship. The reasoning was clear; the people you sit down and eat with are ‘family’, but the Jewish ‘family’ has been called by God to be separate, to bear witness to his special love and grace to the world, and must not therefore compromise with the world. Of course, there were less complimentary ways of putting that as well, and the food taboos were regularly used as a weapon in a larger war of words, Jews accusing Gentiles of all kinds of wickedness and uncleanness, and Gentiles responding with sneers. All of this we must keep in mind as we join Peter on the roof and watch this great sail descending from heaven – with unclean food on it.” (Acts for Everyone – Volume 1, pgs. 159-160) To all the parties credit, they did what God asked them to do even though when the instruction was given it wasn’t clear what was ahead. Cornelius was told to send men to get Peter and he did. Peter was told to go with those Cornelius sent and he did. What Peter learned was that his cultural life experience, that Gentiles were unclean and were to be avoided, was being tested and Peter responded ‘without objection’ (vs. 10:29).

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Peter didn’t just tolerate the trip. Below are some phrases he used in sharing the gospel with Cornelius that were sensitive to the fact that he was a Gentile: “God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” (10:34-35) “As for the word sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),” (10:36) “To him (Jesus), all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (10:43) When Peter saw the Holy Spirit descend on Cornelius and those other Gentiles gathered in the room, he immediately understood that the Holy Spirit was confirming their salvation ‘just as we have’ and offered up baptism to testify to what they had believed. With that history-changing event completed, one more challenge remained. Peter had to tackle another beast. His “brothers” heard what happened and Peter needed to take them through the same journey he had experienced. The visions and events were recounted and Peter put the question on the table – with such clear evidence of what God wanted done, “who was I to stand in God’s way?” (11:17). Then we see the launch of a whole new definition of “church”. The Gentiles were granted repentance that leads to life and He is to be glorified. No matter what might lie ahead. How should this impact my life? (Application) Are there any types of people you find hard to see as equals before God? It’s pretty easy to give a quick “no way” answer to this one, but take a moment to do some inventorying. Think about your pool of friends and those you spend time with. How much diversity do you see in that mix? In your community, how would you describe the cultural issues around race? Around wealth? Around religious beliefs? In what ways could we behave similarly to how the Jews treated the Gentiles? Take a look around at those who are gathered together at your church on a Sunday morning. What do you see? Why might that be true? Peter had every motivation to avoid a wealthy, Roman, military Gentile, but he stepped out in faith and did what God wanted him to do. Write down an area where you see a need to lessen ways where you might be seeing someone as ‘common or unclean’ and ask God to help you to share your life with that person.

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Study 10 – 11:19-12:25

For you believers that enjoy older hymns, you are probably familiar with this verse coming from Charles Wesley that has as its theme the amazing love of God:

Long my imprisoned spirit lay, Fast bound in sin and nature’s night; Thine eye diffused a quickening ray –

I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth and followed Thee.

(Just to put this into context, I had to add “Thine” to my Word dictionary!!) When we read some of the passages from Acts the events that transpired seem ‘long ago’ and hard to imagine in our situations. But in this passage, while we see unusual activity, it isn’t the events that are the focus. In our study our challenge is to understand what got them through whatever the circumstances were and engage in how we embrace that discipline as we grapple with “sin and nature’s night”. What do you see? (Observation)

Story Themes

11:19- 12:25

People from Jerusalem who were fleeing persecution proclaimed the gospel to Jews. Some from Cyprus and Cyrene proclaimed the gospel to Hellenists and they too became believers. Their faith was confirmed by Barnabas. Saul and Barnabas ministered to the newly labeled Christians in Antioch for a whole year. Herod became violent towards Christians and he pleased the Jews. He killed James and imprisoned Peter. The people prayed for Peter and he was miraculously freed from prison by an angel. At first people didn’t believe Rhoda when she shared that Peter was at the door. Herod spoke to the people of Tyre and Sidon and they claimed he was a god. An angel of the Lord struck Herod down because he did not give God glory.

God was gracious to all and they were encouraged to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose. (Suffering) The church continued to grow despite opposition and persecution. (Suffering) Turmoil and persecution from Jewish leaders and Roman officials were increasing. God intervened to continue the preaching of the gospel. While Peter had been retained for execution, it was the one who arrested him who died. (Sovereignty, Response) The people were devoted to prayer around issues that were difficult, but they weren’t prepared for how God might answer. (Prayer, Sovereignty)

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Go through this section and highlight the passages where Luke summarizes the growth of the church. When the circumstances were hard what did the believers do in response? What do you see the leaders of the church doing? What seems to be driving the behavior of Herod and the people of Tyre and Sidon? What does this passage teach? (Interpretation) Main idea: Persecution from the Jews drove people to scatter. Herod put leaders, including James, to death. A coming famine was forecasted, but while the historical events were dangerous, the hand of the Lord was with them through it all in powerful ways and the body of believers continued to grow. Key Verse: When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” (12:11) At first reading, this section almost comes across like the front page of a newspaper where five different stories are being told. Large numbers of Hellenists becoming believers. A severe famine is forecasted. One church leader assassinated. One imprisoned leader miraculously escapes. A ruling king unexpectedly dies of unknown causes. They can feel quite disconnected. But put yourself in Luke’s shoes and remember; he is writing this letter to help Theophilus understand the truth of the gospel. Why did he pick these stories? An important theme that Luke consistently brings to the story is how God is engaged in all these events. In Antioch, the gospel was only being proclaimed to Jews by those who grew up in Jerusalem and were being scattered to other countries. But the hand of the Lord was with them and that made all the difference. Other Hellenist believers from Cyprus and Cyrene shared their faith with those who were not Jews and the church continued to grow. The group now became Christians, a word coming from the Greek culture, as their composition diversified. Barnabas could see the grace of God and His working in the people and brought teachers to these new believers so they could grow together. Also in Antioch we see God, through the Spirit, helping this new community of believers see a coming famine and prepare to help out their Jewish brothers and sisters back in Jerusalem. Again, God is engaged and has a plan for His people. The persecution that came from Herod heightens the challenge. It’s easy to focus on the miraculous rescue of Peter and think about how God can protect us through situations that seem to have no way out. But notice that James doesn’t get that kind of intervention and there isn’t an explanation for why one is rescued and one is not. Instead, what Luke shows is that God is the one who is making those calls and it is to Him we take our prayers and it is in Him we trust. Eventually Herod pays the price for his behavior, but those kinds of outcomes are not common in the story. Very few

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of those who opposed the believers had negative consequences described in the account Luke provides. So what does Luke focus on with all these stories? Acts 12:24 is insightful. “But the word of God increased and multiplied.” While this type of statement is used by Luke as he tells the story (see 6:7 and 9:31), it is unique in opening with, “But…” Luke, too, sees how difficult the events are and how hard they are to logically rationalize. Why would God let James be killed when He could have prevented it like He did with Peter? Why didn’t He send some rain rather than have the Christians need to send support to believers impacted by famine? The answers to these questions are not what Luke wants us to focus on. What we see instead is Luke helping us experience that God is in control, that God has a plan and that while the journey may have many unexpected developments, and some of those might be very hard to endure, His plan will bring about His glory and giving God the glory (12:23) is our main purpose in life. How should this impact my life? (Application) Barnabas exhorted the new believers to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose. He also supplied a teacher to help them grow. What do you include in your life that has a similar goal? What are some of the possible events of life you think about that make you nervous? Is it hard for you to trust that whatever happens the Lord is in control? If someone you love was killed, what would you say to God? Take some time to talk to God about how you would like to trust Him more.

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Study 11 – 13:1-14:28

In reflecting on what it is like to be in God’s presence, Brother Lawrence touched on an aspect of faith that we will see in this passage. Here are his thoughts: “When we begin the spiritual life we should consider and examine to the bottom of our being what we are. We will find ourselves worthy of contempt and surely not deserving of the name Christian. We will find ourselves subject to all kinds of misery and accidents to trouble us and play havoc with our health. Our body chemistry can get upset, our inward moods and external expressions can be miserable. In a word, we are persons God can humble by many pains and lots of hard work inside and outside. Knowing all this, we should not show surprise when people trouble, tempt, oppose, contradict us. We ought, on the contrary to accept these troubles, temptations, contradictions, and bear them so long as God pleases, knowing they come as highly advantageous to us. The greater the perfection one desires, the greater the dependence on divine grace.” (an excerpt from The Fourth Conversation in The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence) What do you see? (Observation)

Story Themes 13:1- 14:28

Saul, now called Paul, and Barnabas were sent off by the church in Antioch in obedience to the call of the Holy Spirit. This first trip began in Antioch of Syria, included Salamis and Paphos in Cyprus, Perga in Pamphylia, Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia and back to Antioch in Pisidia, Pamphylia, Attalia and finally returning to Antioch of Syria. As they encountered a new location they began by proclaiming the gospel in the local synagogue. The message traced the history of God’s plan of redemption from the time of Egypt to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. The gospel that was being brought was that God’s promise to them was fulfilled in Jesus. When Gentiles heard the message, they rejoiced and many believed. When Jews heard the message there response was split: some believed and others were opposed and persuaded local Jews to attack Paul and Barnabas.

The Holy Spirit continued to speak to the leaders as they prayed for His direction. (Holy Spirit) The gospel was faithfully proclaimed and many Gentiles believed. (Gospel) Opposition from some Jews, particularly those in positions of authority within the synagogues, grew violently opposed to Paul. (Suffering) Jesus’ death and resurrection was the fulfillment of all that God had planned beginning with His calling of the people of Israel. (Sovereignty) The resurrection of Jesus was witnessed and attested to by many. (Gospel)

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The Holy Spirit continued to work miraculously through Paul as evidence that his message was from God. Jews from other areas, knowing what Paul was doing, traveled to oppose and attack him. Back in Antioch Paul bore witness that God had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

In almost every historical account in this passage Luke lays out the “two sides” that existed around each event. Take a moment to highlight the word “But” in this passage to see Luke’s approach to the historical events. Describe the two camps. Why were they different? What emotions do you see in each camp? This is Paul’s first major recorded sermon in the book of Acts. How would you summarize the case he is trying to make? Take a moment to look at a map of Paul’s first missionary journey. This passage covers this journey that goes from Antioch to Antioch (of Pisidia) and back to Antioch. How would you describe the results? What does this passage teach? (Interpretation) Main idea: In this passage we see the Holy Spirit leading the church to send Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey to the Gentiles. Amid persecution driven by Jews, the gospel was proclaimed and many Gentiles believed. Key Verse: When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in their faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. (14:21-22) At this juncture in Acts the church body begins a formal process of reaching out to the Gentiles. A key aspect of this new “plan” is to see the how the church leaders respond to the Holy Spirit in deciding what they need to do. We see Him speaking to the leaders in 13:2, sending Paul and Barnabas in 13:4, filling them with power in 13:9, and filling the disciples amidst persecution in 13:52. For believers there was both joy at seeing what God was doing and seeing how they could be saved; but at the same time there was violent opposition. In just a couple very short sentences we see that Paul was almost stoned to death, but rose up the next day! It took a focus on the kingdom of God and how that reality was so much more important than their current circumstances to keep their focus on doing what the Holy Spirit sent them to do. Paul’s sermon is built around a critical theme – look at what God has given you. They were promised a land and after 450 years it was given to them (13:19-20). He gave them judges and prophets and then, when they asked for it, He gave them kings (3:21-22). He brought a Savior,

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Jesus, as promised (13:23). And finally the good news, or gospel, that God completely fulfilled His promise in raising Jesus from the dead and through Him God is giving forgiveness from sin that the Law could not provide (13:32-39). As he traces this theme through history, he also captures another theme – as the prophet Habakkuk foretold this truth would be met with unbelief (13:40). That prophesy, combined with what Paul was experiencing as he faithfully went to synagogues to start his preaching in each new location, resulted in the Gentiles now becoming the primary audience for the gospel. This resulted in real joy for the Gentiles because they could definitively hear that they could now have a direct relationship to the God who was so clearly reaching out to offer salvation they couldn’t otherwise obtain. The emotions run very deep in this passage. For the Jewish opponents, they are filled with jealousy and anger so intense they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city counting him as dead. The Gentiles were overwhelmed with joy almost to the fault of making Paul and Barnabas into gods deserving oxen sacrifices! It is important for us to reflect on the intensity of the emotions we see given how “behind the curtains” so much of our beliefs can become in our time. The gospel wasn’t just a belief option – it solved the problem of how to make sense out of life. It was clung to as the only way of having hope in something better than what they were experiencing. Grasping it wasn’t just mental assent – it launched a new life of being a disciple that required commitment to learning and being exposed to life threatening risk. It was people, by faith alone, trusting that the risen Jesus would ultimately save them from whatever might happen in this life. How should this impact my life? (Application) If you thought God had asked you to do something and you were met with being almost killed, what questions would you struggle with? How do you answer those questions? In this passage we see some Gentiles wanting to treat Paul and Barnabas as gods. In what ways can we place too much value on messengers and not enough on Jesus? This passage has an important warning – there is a cost to being a disciple. What are some of the costs that you face? When do you struggle with not being a strong witness to the gospel because of possible consequences? In both the opening and closing of this passage we see the apostles praying and fasting as they commit people to the Lord. Have you ever tried using this type of spiritual discipline to help you in your walk with the Lord? Pick one area of your life where you would like to grow in your faith and commit one day to praying and fasting, seeking to hear what God wants you to tackle.

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Study 12 – Acts 15:1-35

What does it take to be saved? There may not be a more profound question with which humans have grappled. Different views on that question have born every belief system we see in our culture and the challenge in seeing a clear answer has given birth to the agnostic/atheistic arguments that claim it can’t be answered. Not only is the question hard, but also consider the implications of getting it wrong! What bigger question could exist? As Acts unfolds, the cultural tensions and struggles that emerge center around different answers to this profound issue. A key consideration, therefore, as you study is this – what can we observe that tells us what the answer is? What do you see? (Observation)

Story Themes

15:1-35 A theological debate emerged among the believers. Some who came from Jewish background asserted that salvation required both faith and circumcision so they would keep the law of Moses. Paul and Barnabas held that only faith was necessary for salvation. These two went to Jerusalem to meet with the other apostles and church leaders to resolve the issue. After much debate, Peter reminded them that God made the choice to reveal, through Peter, that Gentiles should hear the gospel and be saved. Their receiving the Holy Spirit bore witness to the reality of this truth. As such, salvation is by grace, not by obedience to the Law of Moses. The assembly agreed, endorsed Paul and his message to Gentiles, and asked only that they abstain from sins that were common among pagan nations. The church leaders prepared and sent a letter with some other leaders to believers in Gentile regions confirming this decision. The letter was received with rejoicing and Paul continued to stay in Antioch teaching the Word of the Lord.

Salvation is by grace alone. (Teaching) That Gentiles were becoming part of the Kingdom was consistent with Old Testament prophecy (Amos 9). (Teaching) The church leaders took the time to resolve different opinions and relied upon what God had revealed to determine their position. (Community, Teaching)

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Summarize the question that the leaders are trying to resolve. Describe what each of the following people or groups of people brought to the debate:

Believing Pharisees

Paul and Barnabas

Apostles and elders living in Jerusalem

Peter

James

What considerations and evidences in the debate were key to finding resolution? Why were Judas and Silas sent with Paul and Barnabas to relay the decision? Why were some “rules” added in 15:20 and 29? Were these added as things that must be done in addition to grace? What does this passage teach? (Interpretation) Main idea: Salvation is by God’s grace alone shown to those whose hearts have come to put their faith in Jesus. Other practices around being identified as one of God’s people that came from the Law are not necessary. Key Verse: And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will. (15:8-11) Many authors would describe this chapter in Acts as not only pivotal to the book, but in many regards to the whole Bible. It’s one thing to say that the gospel can be proclaimed to the Gentiles – we have seen that in the accounts of the Ethiopian eunuch and in Cornelius. Yet, a theological problem emerged with what should happen next to those Gentiles who became believers. The Jewish tradition was that male babies were circumcised eight days after birth and any Gentile converting to Judaism was also required to be circumcised. To understand why this was seen as an imperative we go all the way back to God’s instruction to Abraham:

God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house of bought with your money from

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any foreigner who is not of your offspring, both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people, he has broken my covenant. (Genesis 17:9-14)

This served as the requirement passage for those who felt that the Law still was to govern people’s relationship with God. The terms of the covenant were clear – males must be circumcised. This not only represented a piece of the challenge, but the problem was actually bigger. If this term of the old covenant was still in force, what about all the other terms? Essentially the construct of this argument was that any Gentile who wanted to be saved had to both express their faith in Jesus and then convert to Judaism and continue all its practices and requirements. Because so many of those traditions required engagement with the temple and the priests, effectively the “gospel” couldn’t spread much beyond Israel and was limited to those who were either Jewish by birth or those who converted to Judaism. The other side of the argument was summarized by James. He went back to the prophet Amos (Amos 9:11-12) where the prophet, who was speaking to the people about how God would rebuild His Kingdom after they had been decimated by Gentile kingdoms, foretold that the rebuilt kingdom would include Gentiles. If it includes Gentiles, then it can’t require those Gentiles to effectively become Jews. While the covenant with Abraham required circumcision, the new kingdom would not. So how did they resolve the debate? The key factor was presented by Peter when he described how the Holy Spirit came to the Gentiles following their conversion just as the Holy Spirit came to the disciples back in Acts 2. The Holy Spirit “made no distinction between us and them”. Surely if the Holy Spirit didn’t require circumcision, neither should they. This became the final piece of evidence that resolved the issue. To ensure to all that this was a unanimous and final decision from the leading elders, a letter was created and two independent individuals went with the “pro-faith alone” pair of Paul and Barnabas to share the results with the Gentiles. Wisely, the leaders did not want to encumber the new Gentile believers with the yoke of the law, but on the other hand there were some practices within their cultures that were not consistent with a relationship with God – there were still sins! The elders made sure that those cultural issues, particularly those related to idolatry, were addressed as unacceptable to those who had given their lives and devotion to Jesus. How should this impact my life? (Application) On one hand it would be easy for us to say, “This isn’t a struggle for me, I’m good with the no circumcision decision,” and move on. Yet, it speaks to a bigger issue. What tendencies do we have that are similar to wanting to add something to faith in our relationship with God? Why is that a struggle for us? If the need in our relationship with God is “faith alone”, what makes up “faith alone” becomes a key question. There is a document used by the Evangelical Presbyterian Church called the “Essentials of Our Faith”. Its purpose is to define the core beliefs of the Christian faith. In other words, when you

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hear that we are saved by faith alone, that word faith means not only trusting that God will rescue you from your sin, but that this trust includes being devoted to the truth of the gospel that the Bible teaches. Take a moment to read that document (It’s on the Evangelical Presbyterian Church website and is included in the back of this study guide). If there are any statements around which you aren’t sure, reach out to one of the church leaders so your thoughts and questions can be talked through. All this theology we grapple with can feel heavy. For a moment reflect on this part of the discussion; our hearts have been cleansed by all that Jesus did for us. He takes us as we are and when we put our trust in Him we are rescued. Spend some time thanking Jesus for being your Savior.

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Study 13 – Acts 15:36-17:15

Think about the planning you might do if you were asked to lead a mission team into a foreign country where you expected many difficulties. How important would be the selection of who joined the team? How would you figure finances? Would you go someplace where there was no church or ministry with whom to partner? What groups of people would you seek to reach out to first? With people and plan in hand, what would you do if everything changed? Sometimes we are tasked with these big projects and these questions can fill our minds, but in a very practical sense we have the same challenges with day-to-day life. If you are a parent you feel the angst of what your child needs or should experience in key formative years. If you are caring for an aging family member you can feel the uncertainty around what that will call for and what the experiences that lie ahead will hold. What does it look like to really depend on the Lord? Let’s see what we can learn from the early missionaries. What do you see? (Observation)

Story Themes

15:36-41 Paul and Barnabas did not agree on whether Mark should join them on their next missionary journey. Paul left with Silas and Barnabas left with Mark. The second missionary journey of Paul runs through to 18:22 and included time in Philippi, Thessalonica, Athens and Corinth before returning back to Antioch.

16:1-40 The first leg of the journey took Paul through central Galatia where he met Timothy, the son of a Jewish mother and a Greek father. Timothy was circumcised and together they proclaimed the gospel and the decision the apostles had reached in Jerusalem. The churches were growing and getting stronger. Paul received a vision in the night to go to Macedonia. They departed

The truth that the gospel was for both Jew and Gentile was affirmed in joining of Timothy to the missionary team. (Gospel) God continued to direct and empower the apostle and his team. (Sovereignty) As people became believers and their lives changed, it impacted the cultures of which they were a part. Those changes brought tensions, opposition and suffering. Yet Paul continued to proclaim the gospel despite the consequences. (Suffering, Gospel)

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from Troas and arrived in Philippi, a major city at the top of the Aegean Sea and a Roman colony. Lydia became a believer and hosted the missionaries. A slave girl, who had a spirit of divination and brought profit to her owners, repeatedly made proclamations about Paul. Paul excised the spirit in her and, given the financial impact to her owners, caused Paul and Silas to be publicly condemned, beaten and thrown into prison. While in prison an earthquake shook the region and the prison doors were jarred free. Paul and Silas did not depart and the jailer, who would have been accountable for their escape, became a believer. The local magistrates discovered that Paul was a Roman citizen and that being true, his imprisonment was a violation of Roman citizen rights. They came and apologized and having been set free, Paul, Silas and Timothy departed.

The church continued to grow amid the tensions and conflict. (Sovereignty) For the first time the gospel came into conflict with Roman influence and the beginning of the tension around the implications of the gospel to Roman culture. (Suffering)

17:1-15 Paul, Silas and Timothy went to Thessalonica and, as was their custom, began proclaiming the gospel in the local synagogue. Both Jews and Greeks became believers. The local Jews were jealous of the missionaries and the success they were having in preaching the gospel. They attacked Jason, who was hosting Paul, publicly humiliated him and stole his money. Paul went to Berea. The Bereans listened to the gospel and studied the Old Testament to

As the gospel was preached, people across Macedonia believed, including some Jews, many Greek and leading women. (Gospel) Paul began his outreach in each new area in the local synagogue and then spread more broadly to local Greek populations. (Gospel) As the movement spread and many believed, local Jewish leaders saw their base moving away and were jealous. They told lies and rallied crowds to threaten, torture and humiliate Paul and his team. (Suffering, Response) The Christian movement was described by

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affirm the message that was preached. The opposition from Philippi went to Berea and stirred up the crowds to oppose Paul. Paul departed to Athens leaving behind Silas and Timothy.

opponents as one that was turning the world upside down as its message that Jesus is Lord conflicted with secular culture. (Response)

Why did Paul think it was important to circumcise Timothy? While Paul had a plan, how do you see him responding to God’s leading? As Paul and Silas went from city to city, what pattern do you see them following in their ministry? Describe the groups that opposed the gospel and what issues caused them to respond so violently. While Luke comments on the overall progress of the gospel (see 16:5), he tends to provide stories of individual conversions. For each of the individuals listed below, what does Luke convey about the significance of their conversion?

Lydia (16:11-15)

Jailer in Philippi (16:25-34)

Jason (17:1-9) Why were the Philippian magistrates in trouble? What attribute of the Bereans resulted in Luke describing them as “noble”? What does this passage teach? (Interpretation) Main idea: The Greek Christian population grew as they heard and received the gospel while at the same time they faced growing cultural opposition. The Holy Spirit continued to lead Paul, but he and his colleagues often faced severe consequences as they proclaimed the gospel. Key Verse: Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (16:30-31) In taking on Timothy Paul had to consider an important issue. By Jewish tradition, Timothy was considered a Jew given his mother’s heritage. Being so, the Jews Paul sought to preach to would have concluded that Timothy was an apostate Jew since he wasn’t circumcised. We get some insight into the commitment Paul had wanting Jews to receive the gospel as he ‘removed’ any reason they might have come up with to oppose his message. We also see real devotion to the gospel in Timothy’s life in his willingness to go through this procedure even though it was not a necessary component of his faith and relationship to the Lord.

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We see another aspect of Paul’s leadership as he sorts out where to go next on this second missionary journey. He has plans, but at the same time he listens to and responds to the leading of the Holy Spirit. And Paul’s response isn’t slow; Luke tells us that he changes course immediately. Macedonia, the place to which he was called, was a dominant power center in the Greek world. A licensed businesswoman with adequate means to host guests in her home, a young demon-possessed woman who was enslaved so her “owners” could profit from her proclamations, a jailer who had a family at home and had the simple job of keeping watch over bound prisoners during the night shift, as Luke walked with Paul he took special note of how Paul and the gospel impacted people. While their circumstances were quite different the outcome is similar – they were confronted with the reality and the power of God. It may be quite simple, like a missionary showing up to explain the gospel, or it might be quite miraculous like the prison falling apart from an earthquake-like intervention. Regardless the pieces of the puzzle we continue to see the spread of the gospel as God carries out His plans despite so many challenges and roadblocks. Luke wants to show how the spreading of the gospel took place, but we have far more than just history. The stories give us tangible insight into the sovereignty and power of the God we serve. His Kingdom isn’t a tangible, physical property; but His Kingdom is nonetheless real. So real, in fact, that those things that are “tangible” pale in comparison to what God is doing in the lives and hearts of people. How should this impact my life? (Application) What are some examples from your life where God had plans for you that were different than what you thought was coming? How did you feel about those changes? In reflecting back, are you thankful for what happened? Do you trust God? When is it hard to answer yes to such a simple question? Think about what Paul went through and reflect in a very honest way – would you subject yourself to all that he endured solely because you trusted Him with the next step, especially when you aren’t sure what follows? Pick an area of your life where trusting God is hard. Maybe it’s with the future for your children. Maybe it’s around finances and jobs. Maybe it’s around your reputation. We all have a long list of areas where it’s tough!! Spend some time praying to God asking Him to help you trust Him no matter what the short-term consequences might be.

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Study 14 – Acts 17:16-18:22

“Every man is a creature of the age in which he lives and few are able to raise themselves above the ideas of the time.” - Voltaire We tend to live in a time when people aren’t all that comfortable talking about their philosophies of life, but regardless of what they say they have a belief. It may not be carefully thought through. It might be very difficult to talk about. It seems like it is impossible to get a ‘right answer’. But this is important – this is not new. As human beings we have these persisting questions concerning where we came from and where are we going. Often our answers are driven by the “ideas of the times”. In the entire history of all mankind one fact provides all the answers. And the answer is… What do you see? (Observation)

Story Themes 17:16-34 In Athens Paul observed the plethora of

idols. As was his custom he spoke to the Jews in their local synagogue. In Athens he also reasoned with the Stoic and Epicurean philosophers in the marketplace. These philosophers asked Paul to explain his beliefs because they found them strange. He was asked to speak at the Areopagus, the highest court in the city overlooking the marketplace. They ask for Paul to speak was both a desire to hear as well as a potential threat given he proclaimed a foreign god. Paul referenced a local altar to the unknown god and claimed that his God was the one true God, creator of all things and is the source of all life. God made humans to be seekers of God as offspring of God. The divine being isn’t made out of something tangible, like the idols throughout Athens. God now calls all people to repent because a day of judgment is coming. There is assurance that this judge is coming because he has been raised from the dead. Some scoffed at Paul’s message while others believed.

God is not a simple idol. He is the creator and life-giver of all. (Sovereignty) We are made to seek and find God. (Sovereignty) God is near, He has called us to repent and a fixed time of judgment is coming. (Sovereignty) Judgment will come from the man whom God appointed and who He raised from the dead. (Sovereignty)

18:1-22 Paul went to Corinth and met Aquila and Paul continued to face violent

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Priscilla. Silas and Timothy rejoined the team. Paul focused on proclaiming Jesus as the Christ in the local synagogue. He was opposed and reviled by the Jews. Paul stopped his preaching at the synagogue and reached out to the local Greeks. Many became believers. God spoke to Paul and encouraged him not to be afraid but rather to stay in Corinth and reach out to many who were God’s people. Paul stayed there a year and a half. The local Jews brought Paul before Gallio, proconsul of Achaia and claimed Paul had broken the law. Gallio did not intervene since Paul’s words were not against Roman law. The Jews seized the ruler of the local synagogue and beat him. Paul returned to Antioch.

opposition from the local Jews, but he continued to try and convince them that Jesus is the Messiah. They continued to reject the message. (Response) Many Greeks believed in the Lord and Paul invested time teaching them the word of God. (Gospel)

What is unique about the people in this passage? If you have a Bible Dictionary, look up Epicurean and Stoic. You can also look online - Google these two and look for the Theopedia option. If not, there are some descriptions in the notes below. What does Paul want them to think about? Write down the attributes of God that Paul mentions. What does this passage teach? (Interpretation) Main idea: Unlike any other god, God, the creator and giver of life, will judge the world through the One who rose from the dead. Key Verse: Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed; and of this He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead. (Acts 17:29-31) Before we get to Paul’s sermon, it’s worthwhile to understand the community to whom he is speaking. The following quotes were taken from F. F. Bruce’s commentary on Acts (see Appendix). What is a “Stoic”?

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“The Stoics, who claimed the Cypriot Zeno as their founder, were so called because they met in the stoa poikile, the “painted colonnade” in the Agora, where he habitually taught in Athens. Their system aimed at living consistently with nature, and in practice they laid great emphasis on the primacy of the rational faculty in humanity, and on individual self-sufficiency. In theology they were essentially pantheistic, God being regarded as the world-soul. Their belief in a cosmopolis or world-state, in which all truly free souls had equal citizen rights, helped to break down national and class distinctions. Stoicism at its best was marked by honorable means of escape from a life that could no longer be sustained with dignity.” (Bruce, pg. 330) What is an “Epicurean”? “The Epicurean school, founded by Epicurus, member of a family of Athenian settlers on Samos, based its ethical theory on the atomic physics of Democritus and presented pleasure as being the chief end in life, the pleasure most worth enjoying being a life of tranquility, free from pain, disturbing passions, and superstitious fears (including the fear of death). It did not deny the existence of gods, but maintained that they took no interest in the life of men and women.” (Bruce, pgs. 330-331) What is “Areopagus”? The Areopagus was a court of sorts that oversaw matters of religion and morality. During some parts of its history this court was used to hear and address judicial cases, but in Paul’s case they wanted a “court” format to have Paul layout and defend his beliefs. This was a chance for Paul to speak the gospel in the world’s most prominent location for discussing philosophy and religion. So with that as context, let’s look at how Paul laid out the gospel for these philosophers. Paul’s sermon opens with his acknowledging something of which they were very proud – they were very ‘religious’. So religious, in fact, that just in case they had missed something they had a catch-all unknown god. Paul saw underneath this label a people who clearly had not come to an absolute conclusion about who god was. Starting with where they were, Paul goes on to take them down a path to reveal to them what the real God was like. Paul followed this line of reasoning: 1. The God who is creator of all is not constrained to live in a man-made temple. 2. This Creator God does not need to be cared for by humans, in fact He created humans and

gives them life, breath and everything. 3. Furthermore, He didn’t just create one man; He created all life, all nationalities and all

territories. These were designed that people should seek God hoping to find their way to Him (clearly a high passion for the philosophers of Athens!) and that is their desire since we are His offspring.

4. Since we are the offspring of this God, then clearly He isn’t made of gold or silver or some

other image that people have imagined (and like you have saturated Athens with).

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5. While this real God has patiently waited to be acknowledged, that time of patience is coming to an end and we need to repent. He has appointed a time for this to be near and has demonstrated that He is giving assurance about His intentions by raising the appointed judge from the dead.

With that the sermon ends and Paul moves on to Corinth! In looking at this sermon, there is a key feature that is worthy highlighting. Whether Paul is speaking to Jews who had the creation account of Genesis as a foundation, or he is speaking to Greek philosophers who are searching for meaning in life, the unique and all-encompassing truth of the gospel rests on the resurrection of Jesus. All other possible understandings of life are confronted by the truth that the conquest over our own imminent death only has the chance of being overcome by one who has already accomplished that reality. The resurrection of Jesus makes it the unique belief construct that deals with the ultimate questions of our source and destiny in life as proven by Jesus’ resurrection. In Corinth we see Paul diligently proclaiming the gospel and the response continues to follow the same pattern. The Jews reject and some of the Gentiles believed and were baptized. In a compassionate moment we see the Lord encourage Paul to keep running (18:9-10) with the gospel. Paul obeyed his calling in Corinth for a year and a half. From there he made his way back to Antioch to end his second missionary journey. How should this impact my life? (Application) Why has God created us? As you think about the people you come into contact with, what are the “big questions” they are probably trying to answer? Do they ask or do they bury those questions? Paul had to deal with an incredible number of conflicts, challenges and persecutions. Yet he kept going. What made him tick? What are some of the things in our lives that keep us less passionate about the gospel than Paul was? What do you think Jesus wants us to hear from His word? What is the one event in history that provides an answer to all the philosophical questions of life? Describe what a difference that event makes in thinking about what is important in your life.

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Study 15 – Acts 18:23-19:41

People who have run marathons have some great quotes:

“The thirst you feel in your throat and lungs will be gone minutes after the race is over. The pain in your legs within days, but the glory of your finish will last forever.”

“There will be days you don’t think you can run a marathon. There will be a lifetime of knowing you have.”

And my favorite:

“It’s not the 26.2 miles…it’s the 10 water stops!” You can’t help but feel the reward these runners experienced having ploughed through seemingly impossible challenges with the end not anywhere in sight. Sometimes our walk of faith can have the same feeling. Let’s see how Paul deals with the marathon journey the Lord has called him to run. What do you see? (Observation)

Story Themes 18:23- 19:41

Paul launched his third missionary journey departing to the region of Galatia and Phyrgia. Apollos emerges as a devoted believer and strong teacher. He is discipled by Priscilla and Aquila and is sent on to Achaia where he taught the scriptures and refuted the Jews who opposed Christ. Paul came to Ephesus and met some disciples who had not yet received the Holy Spirit. While they had been baptized according to the teaching of John the Baptist and their need for repentance, they had not been baptized in the name of Jesus as part of their faith. They were baptized in the name of Jesus and they received the Holy Spirit with the special gifts of speaking in tongues and prophesying. Paul spent three months in the local synagogue teaching about the Kingdom of God. They opposed his teaching and so

People throughout Asia continued to receive the gospel and become believers. New teachers and leaders were emerging and being trained. They were proclaiming the gospel. (Teaching, Gospel) Opposition from Jews associated with the local synagogue continued to refuse the gospel and create tension among the Jewish community. (Response) New Greek Christians were impacting their local cultures in a manner that caused conflict and tension among their community. (Response) Despite all the opposition and conflict, the gospel continued to spread, the number of Christians grew and the Holy Spirit came to them in a special way to confirm the work God was doing (Holy Spirit) and the work that God was doing in their midst. (Holy Spirit, Sovereignty)

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Paul moved on to teaching the Gentile people in the hall of Tyrannus. Paul taught there to both Jews and Greeks for two years. Seven sons of a Jewish high priest began casting out demons in the names of Jesus and Paul. They were overpowered and wounded by an evil spirit and word of this event spread throughout Ephesus. Fear overwhelmed the people and they came confessing their magic arts and throwing their related books in a pile to be burned. The name of the Lord Jesus was extolled and the word of the Lord increased and grew mightily. Ephesus was the hometown of a great idol named Artemis. People from the region came, bought objects of silver from local craftsman and offered them to that goddess. As the gospel spread and worship of handmade gods declined, the local businessmen suffered financial losses. This change highly disrupted the locals and a riot ensued threatening those who proclaimed the gospel. Amidst the rioting crowd a local town clerk called the people to take their case through the courts rather than rioting. The crowd disbursed.

Write down what Paul is doing in each of the locations he visits:

Corinth (18:4, 6, 11)

Ephesus (18:19; 19:8)

The region of Galatia and Phrygia (18:23) And now match that up with how the people responded:

Corinth (18:6, 8, 12)

Ephesus (19:9, 25-29)

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Luke introduces some new people who venture out into doing what Paul has been doing. Summarize what happens:

Apollos (18:24-28)

The seven sons of Sceva (19:11-16) What triggered rioting in Ephesus? How did Gallio, procounsel of Achaia (18:12-17), and the town clerk of Ephesus (19:35-41) handle the opposition to Paul’s teaching? Describe the depth of emotions you see in all the parties around these conflicts. What is driving those emotions? What does this passage teach? (Interpretation) Main idea: While Paul continues to carry out his mission to proclaim the gospel, Luke selects some key events to capture both the nature of the growing church as well as the responses of the cultures that are impacted by the growing influence of the church. As Luke has shown throughout Acts, both the church and the opposition continue to grow. Key Verse: And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” (Acts 18:9-10) Whenever history is told, the one telling can’t possibly write down everything that occurred. Instead, certain key moments are captured that tangibly enable the reader to both hear and feel the events and experiences that are connected to convey vital themes. In this passage we see certain themes that are continuations of what Luke has been developing since the beginning of the book. Jews continue to reject the gospel struggling with the resurrection of Jesus. Greeks are clearly not unanimously convinced, but increasingly the gospel is spreading all across Asia. The Holy Spirit comes into the lives of believers in a special way so they all can see visibly what is taking place within their own hearts and lives. In this passage we see these themes continue in Ephesus as Paul teaches there for two years. There is another theme that is getting more attention by Luke and that is the theme of conflict. The first conflict is not a new one. Paul allowed Apollos to stay and preach in Corinth and he went inland to Ephesus. There, he found 12 people who had put their faith in Jesus but had not yet experienced the coming of the Holy Spirit. Paul prayed for them and when the Spirit came they, too, were given special gifts to testify to the reality of their beliefs and the indwelling of the God in them. This new church plant spoke to the truth that in Jesus the Kingdom of God had come but they were met with stubborn unbelief and conflict. The tensions around the conflict required Paul to pull away from them and refocus on the Greek citizens. Here we see the ongoing conflict around who has the right teaching position – Jews still clinging to the “old ways” or the new church.

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The second conflict that emerges is in the power realm. Paul was gifted with the miraculous ability to heal people and Luke focuses not just on the physical attributes that change, but that indwelling evil spirits were also being excised. Others wanted to be able to have this power so seven sons of a high priest attempted to cast out evil spirits and they were soundly defeated. Yet what emerges is striking – those who saw the difference between what Paul was doing and what these evil spirits were able to do became much more aware of the power of that which is evil. It drove them to a deeper level of confession of magic arts. This spiritual conflict, once the underlying forces were put on display, enabled the disciples to see how significant evil is and their need for fully depending on the word of the Lord. The third conflict scene is seen around the tensions of money. Artemis was a goddess that dwelt in a massive temple complex in Ephesus. Here is a quote from Bruce that gives us a glimpse:

“Her temple, replacing an earlier one which was destroyed by fire in 356 B.C., was reckoned one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It covered an area four times as large as that of the Parthenon in Athens; it was supported by 127 pillars, each of them sixty feet high, and was adorned by Praxiteles and other great sculptors of antiquity. It stood about a mile and a half northeast of the city which Paul knew.” (Bruce, pg. 374)

This massive temple drew people, from all over the region, who came and bought silver products from the locals to then go and offer worship to Artemis. As the gospel spread, the product demand for silver declined and that hurt the pockets of the local merchants. This economic conflict triggered massive opposition as the city came close to breaking out into a violent riot against the believers who were disrupting the economic structure of the city. While these are significant historical events, Luke is not solely focused on providing an historical record. Instead we see kingdom conflict. In the beginning of this study guide we looked at how Luke starts and finishes the book of Acts with the idea of the arrival of the kingdom and within that kingdom Jesus reigns as Lord. It is the central theme of Paul’s message (see 19:8) as he teaches and builds the new disciples. While it is not a physical government movement, it is real, it is powerful, it changes lives and it comes into conflict with all aspects of the culture it encounters. In this passage we see more deeply what is in play around this conflict. Deep, sinful struggles with pride and control and wealth are put on the table. Evil, demonic forces are somewhat below the surface but are both real and very powerful nonetheless. The emerging kingdom of God is emerging to take on, across the world, the deep-rooted conflict that resulted in Jesus’ crucifixion. This time, though, the resurrected Jesus has defeated the most threatening weapon of evil – death – and is working in the lives of devoted followers, enabled by the Holy Spirit, to help people become part of this miraculous kingdom. There is one additional topic that should be highlighted from this passage. In verse 19:21 we see Paul’s vision for what the Holy Spirit has called him to do next.

Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”

He sees that he needs ultimately to get to Rome, but that the path to Rome would go through Jerusalem. In chapter 20 Paul goes through Macedonia and Greece and the first half of chapter 21

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takes us from Europe to Jerusalem. Along the way there are many reasons why Paul might want to reconsider, but Luke will then use the rest of the book of Acts to chart the historical course from Jerusalem to Rome.

How should this impact my life? (Application) In what areas of life do you feel tension between what you believe as a disciple of Jesus and what the culture around you thinks you should believe? When you feel that pressure, what do you do? What risks do you take on being part of the Kingdom of God? How do you prepare yourself for those risks? When faced with a threat some would say we could respond with “fight or flight”. Look at Paul’s life as he faced conflict. How would you describe his response (you may need to think of a third response option!) How do we see Paul handling people who didn’t agree with him? How do we see him handling those who needed help but didn’t know what to do? In this passage we see God working to launch and grow His Kingdom. Do you live your life with a commitment that you are part of this Kingdom no matter what the conflicts and consequences might be? Spend some time with the Lord talking to Him about your fears and your desire to grow in real faith.

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Study 16 – Acts 20:1-38

What do you think makes a good leader? It may not be possible to take a full inventory on the number of books, courses, assessments and counsel that exists around this question. The focus can range from leading a family, to leading in business, to leading a country. In the United States we are confronted with this question at every election. What should we be looking for? Does everyone have some element of leading in life or is it just for a few? As believers, we would all agree that Jesus is our leader. We use the term “Lord”, but in our relationship with Him He calls us to take on a role that involves some aspect of leading no matter what our circumstances, gifts or calling. How are we to carry this out given all our own struggles and weaknesses? Let’s see how Paul might answer these questions. What do you see? (Observation)

Story Themes

20:1-38 Paul left Ephesus after the uproar and traveled through Macedonia to Greece and back to Troas. The Jews continued to make plots to oppose and threaten Paul. Eutychus fell asleep during one of Paul’s speeches, fell three stories from a window and died. Paul went to him and he was brought back to life. Paul sailed among some of the Aegean Sea islands and called elders from Ephesus to join him in Miletus. He conveyed that he was headed to Jerusalem at God’s calling and, given all the opposition he would face by the Jews, he did not expect that he would ever see these leaders again. In his parting words he spoke to:

Despite great cost and sacrifice I have proclaimed to you, and those throughout Asia, the gospel.

The Holy Spirit has called me to

Jerusalem and there I will face imprisonment and affliction. I will face these hard times because I am called to finish the ministry Jesus gave to me.

Despite facing abusive opposition from the Jews, Paul continued to proclaim the gospel. (Gospel) Paul knows that the Holy Spirit has called him to head back to Jerusalem where he would face imprisonment and persecution. He obeys knowing he must fulfill the calling he received from Jesus. (Holy Spirit, Sovereignty) Paul mentors and commends the elders of Ephesus encouraging them to diligently proclaim the gospel and preserve what he taught them. (Teaching) He warns the elders that they will face opposition so they must be alert in caring for the church. (Teaching) He calls them to care for those who are weak and in need. (Community) He calls them to hard work and to empowerment by God’s grace. (Teaching)

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As overseers, care for the church of God which he secured by His own blood. You, too, will face fierce opposition so be alert to preserve what I taught you.

I commend you to God and to his

grace, which builds up those who are sanctified.

Help the weak. To give is better than

to receive. They prayed and wept together as Paul departed.

Read through Paul’s sermon in Acts 20:17-38. To whom is he speaking? Have you seen any other sermon in Acts where the message is to this type of group? Go through the sermon and write down the verses that are dealing with what has happened in the past. What is Paul trying to convey as he looks back? Which verses cover “now and go forward” and what is Paul trying to say about what will be needed? Why is Paul concluding that he needs to give this sermon to the elders? What is Paul’s main point in the sermon? What does he want his brothers to do after they have heard him? Summarize the emotions you read about in this passage. What do you think Luke is trying to convey as he records all those feelings? What does this passage teach? (Interpretation) Main idea: Paul is focused on getting to Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost but he still wants to have some final words with his brothers in Ephesus. They travel to meet Paul and He commends them to carry on the work he began – to care for believers as they face great opposition. Key Verses: Pay careful attention to yourselves, and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with His own blood. (Acts 20:28) And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32)

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The words Paul speaks to the elders from Ephesus are very unique in the book of Acts. In all his other sermons and for that matter the sermons of both Peter and Stephen, the audiences are those who need to hear the gospel. Acts tells the story of the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome. Here, uniquely, Paul is speaking to his brothers and co-leaders from a town where he spent years in serving the community. He needs to tell them that given the calling of the Spirit they will most likely never see each other again in this lifetime. If you were asked to summarize Paul’s ministry in a few sentences, that would be quite a challenge! As he prepares to give these elders a commendation, he reflects on what has been the story of his journey. He doesn’t go through the geography of his past, nor does he speak to the miracles and events that transpired. Instead he talks about what drove him to serve as he did. Here is a summary of what Paul recalls from his time with them:

I served in humility

I served with tears and trials I served bravely

I served wherever I had to go to meet people I served all for repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus

We see an “inner Paul” in this passage that is a great role model for those who have given their lives to Jesus. In the end, the aspiration of Paul was to tell others about Jesus and how they can be restored to God. Everything else, from his emotions to his physical safety to his work plan, was driven by this singular calling. Jesus had grabbed hold of Paul on the road to Damascus, and Paul wants to grab hold of anyone who will listen so they too can experience forgiveness and new life in Jesus as their Lord. With that past reflection as a foundation, Paul tells what he sees ahead. He can’t speak to the specifics of what lies ahead other than imprisonment and suffering; but he does know, as we saw in 19:21, that he will be going to Rome via Jerusalem – the hometown of the Jews who want to kill him. Why is he going forward with this plan? To finish the course Jesus gave to him (see 20:24). In the past, when Paul met with threatening opposition, he left, escaped or was thought dead and abandoned. Now his plan is to go head on and plough into the core opponents of the gospel. In that, he isn’t seeking to take them on, but rather he sees it as how the Spirit will somehow get him to Rome – the ultimate place God wants him to engage. What drove Paul through his past continues to drive him in the present. As he sees where God is calling him, he has another area of focus. Those to whom he preached the gospel need to be cared for without him. He needs to hand over the keys to new landlords. In this commendation, we can see two important dimensions that he lays out for these elders. First, here is your task – care for the church of God (20:28). This caring ministry will involve conflict against enemies, night and day admonishment, deep emotions, and personal sacrifice (what a great job description!). Second, this will be very hard work, but you will be built up for this task by God through His grace (20:32). Paul started this conversation with a very important insight into what it takes to tackle such a threatening and seemingly impossible calling. “…serving the Lord with all humility” (20:19)

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provides a critical insight. In the end, it really is His Kingdom, His eternal plan, His empowering Spirit and with that all being true, the key is to allow Him to use us as He deems important. Acts is about Jesus calling us to be witnesses (1:8) – living resources in His hands to share the truth of the gospel with those he places on our path. Now Paul wants this next generation of believers to have the same humility before the awesome God who is bringing about His kingdom. How should this impact my life? (Application) Do you think Paul’s commendation applies to you as it did to the elders in Ephesus? If Paul could spend some time with you, what do you think he would say to you as he hands you the keys to continue what he started back in Jerusalem? Think about things in your life that are very important to you. How does sharing the gospel stack up against those priorities? It is important that we live wisely. Budgets are good. Setting goals on January 1st (let’s not talk about what happens on January 2nd!) is good. Providing for yourself and your family is part of our calling, but in Paul’s life we see that times may require sacrifice – significant sacrifice – given the importance of the calling he, and we, have from Jesus. When you are facing decisions that may feel like they threaten your sense of security, what do you do? If Paul followed the same approach you follow, would he have done the same things in his life? Paul talked about not “shrinking” from his calling. In what ways do we tend to shrink? What are some ways we can be braver? Do you consider yourself to be humble? It’s hard to answer this question because a “yes” feels not very humble! Think about the emotions you experience and assess whether you engage in life with “tears and trials” given your submission to Jesus as Lord. Spend some time talking to Jesus about ways where you need to be more submissive to Him as Lord and less trying to control everything you touch. This is not a finger-pointing exercise – we all struggle with real humility and submission. From the Garden of Eden to yesterday’s decision about how much to give to the church, we have an inner fire that wants to be in control. The great difference of the gospel is that God wants us to trust Him and in that we give up control. This is a part of our daily experience and our entire lives will be full of wanting to grow in humility. What makes sense to you as a next step in tackling this challenge?

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Study 17 – Acts 21:1-28:31

Before jumping into this last study, there is an important connection between what Luke wrote in the Book of Luke and what he is writing here in Acts. Following are some examples: Jesus warned the disciples about the Pharisees in Luke 12. In that chapter He said, “And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say. (Luke 12:11-12)” We have seen the Holy Spirit speaking in and through the apostles throughout the book of Acts. In that same conversation Jesus warned of the split His gospel would create; “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. (Luke 12:49-51)” We have seen the conflict and splits that the gospel created in both Greek and Jewish cultures. In this passage we see the culmination of both Jewish and Roman leaders coming together against Paul and gospel. (Acts 24:1-9) As Jesus and the disciples were heading toward Jerusalem He pulled them aside and warned them about what was coming; “And taking the twelve, He said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise. (Luke 18:31-33)” We have seen Paul repeatedly being flogged. In this passage see Acts 21:27-32. Luke recorded how the Jewish leaders began plotting to kill Jesus once He was in Jerusalem; “Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people. (Luke 22:1-2)” We have seen the opposition resolving to kill Paul. In this passage see Acts 23:12-13. Then Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done. (Luke 22:42)” After many people had warned Paul about the danger of going to Jerusalem, they finally, seeing his resolve, responded, “Let the will of the Lord be done. (Acts 21:14)” This pattern is not just a weird coincidence. Instead it portrays in vivid pictures what the Kingdom of God is like for those who put their faith in Jesus as Lord. As you engage in this last study, reflect on what Jesus modeled in His life as of utmost priority.

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What do you see? (Observation)

Story Themes 21:1- 28:31

On Paul’s journey to Jerusalem his team and a prophet all warned Paul not to go given the threats to his life. His response was that he was prepared to die for the name of the Lord Jesus. The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem were proclaiming that Paul was teaching people to forsake Moses and the law. On that basis they wanted to take his life. Some Asian Jews identified Paul and claimed that he brought Greeks into the temple. He was removed from the temple by the crowds that intended to kill him. The local Roman officials stopped the beating and arrested Paul. From there Paul appeared before the Roman tribune, the governors and King Agrippa defending his case. While still in Caesarea, King Agrippa came and was told about Paul’s case. The King asked to hear from Paul. Paul told his life’s story and his calling to take the gospel to the Gentiles. As Paul spoke about his belief in the resurrection, Felix claimed Paul was out of his mind. King Agrippa agreed that Paul had done nothing wrong but should be sent to Rome since that is what Paul requested. On the journey to Rome they encountered a storm and the ship was destroyed but, by God’s hand, those on the ship were kept safe and they arrived ashore on Malta. The people of Malta were kind and cared for the sailors and Paul. In their presence Paul was bitten by a poisonous snake but was unharmed. For three months Paul healed many with diseases and the local people cared for the shipwreck victims. Paul made it to Rome. For two years he proclaimed the Kingdom of God teaching about the Lord Jesus, the gospel and salvation offered to the Gentiles without hindrance.

Paul was convicted that God had called him to return to Jerusalem despite severe threats to his safety. He persisted through many obstacles and advice not to proceed. (Sovereignty, Gospel) The central issue of conflict was around the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. It was the source of great division among the Jews and created a riotous response. Wherever Paul went the Jewish authorities plotted to kill him. (Suffering, Response) Paul was consistently found “not guilty” by the Roman authorities and under God’s hand Paul ended up in Rome to proclaim the gospel as Jesus had foretold him. (Sovereignty) Under God’s sovereign hand, Paul was able to proclaim the gospel and teach about the Kingdom of God and the Lord Jesus Christ to the political capital of the Gentile world. (Sovereignty)

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What does this passage teach? (Interpretation) Main idea: Paul, in his defense, shares his testimony and the gospel with:

His fellow believers who urged him not to go to Rome Jewish leaders and crowds in the temple

A Roman tribune Felix, Festus, Agrippa and Bernice

Sailors amid violent storms and a shipwreck off a reef Natives of Malta following the shipwreck

Jewish leaders in Rome All who came to him while imprisoned in Rome

In doing so, Paul completes the ministry that was given to him on the road to Damascus. Key Verses: The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” (Acts 23:11) He lived there (in Rome) two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. (Acts 28:30-31) It would be easy to read this passage and see it as a story about Paul. What a life! When he departs from close friends they pray, hug, kiss and weep. His colleagues are so concerned about him that they try to keep him from potential danger. Everywhere he preaches there is overwhelming crowds, attention and response (except for the one guy who fell asleep back in chapter 20!). He is corralled and protected by Roman guards and in what follows meets all the leaders from the local government. His own people plotted to kill him – constantly. His travels were all over the civilized world and included being in a violent “northeaster” sea storm that had even experienced seamen convinced they would die in the tempest. All 276 people on board were without food for 14 days until they eventually hit a reef and had to swim to shore on a remote island. Finally, the biggest item on Paul’s “bucket list” – getting to Rome – is achieved and he becomes a recognized teacher under house arrest. What a story! Isn’t Paul awesome? Not only is he adventurous, but also he is also a learned teacher as we see when he speaks to kings, to crowds and to people one-on-one in their homes. He spoke Greek and Hebrew and probably Aramaic. To top it off, he performed miracles! In previous passages we studied we saw that even his presence brought healing to disease. He raised people back to life (that chapter 20 guy again) and healed diseases. What made Paul tick? He endured incredible suffering as he ventured through life – how could he keep going? We see Paul getting asked this very question as he appealed to Roman officials that he wanted to be put on trial in Rome. They concluded he was innocent and would have let him go, but Paul insisted on a hearing before Caesar (see 26:31-32). What was driving Paul? In this passage we get some insight into Paul’s inner self. Here are some passages that give us a peek:

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Before the local governor Felix Paul shared this confession: “But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.” (Acts 24:14-16) Before King Agrippa Paul shared all the sins he had committed in persecuting those who believed in Jesus and then he shared the mission that Jesus gave to him: “And I (Paul) said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles – to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ (Acts 26:15-18) Continuing before Agrippa and Festus, Paul shared this passion: “And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am – except for these chains.” (Acts 26:28-29) What made Paul tick? He had experienced forgiveness – forgiveness for vile sins. Not only forgiveness, but also a fixed hope that he, too, would be resurrected just like Jesus. With that incredibly underserved gift of forgiveness and hope, Paul was fully committed to getting the word out to others that they too, like him, could experience forgiveness and hope in eternal life if they would put their trust in Jesus-- no matter what. If we stopped here and set Paul up as an example we could imitate, we would miss a more important message that Luke wants us to hear. This isn’t a story about Paul. Let take a look at some passages that talk about who is really the star. “And he (Jesus) said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard.” (Acts 22:14-15) “The following night the Lord stood by him (Paul) and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” (Acts 23:11) “To this day I (Paul) have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass; that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” (Acts 26:22-23)

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“Since they were without food for a long time Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night there stood before me an angel of God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.” (Acts 27:21-24) Paul is great, but God is greater. We see His hand behind the scenes with a clear plan that He is carrying out. Paul is a faithful witness, but God is the planner. God is the power and God is the King who is developing and ruling His kingdom. Paul is a part, but God is the whole and being ‘in Him’ is the place of hope and worship. There is another important theme that we need to refresh and that has to do with the Kingdom of God. This study guide opened with a brief discussion of the Kingdom and consistent with Luke (see Acts 28:30-31 – the last two verses of the whole book) it only seems appropriate to wrap up this study by returning to this idea. As human being we inherited from Adam and Eve an inner drive to be in control. The apple was the pathway to being able to do what God could do, and with just a few bites we would no longer need to depend on Him. Behind all our struggles and anxieties is this inner drive to overcome the risks and challenges in life through our smarts, our hard work or our good behavior. What Jesus called us to do was to put our faith and trust in Him to be rescued from this inner lust for control. We would realize we are not able to measure up to God’s standards, but that Jesus – being God – did and He paid the price for our failures and shortcomings. Even more, having paid the price He rose from the dead – a major theme we have seen in this study – and since He is alive we can be rescued in Him. We just need to accept Him as our Lord seeking both forgiveness and restoration by faith. In other words, we need to give up control and depend on who He is and what He did. That is the gospel. When we trust Him, when we submit to Him being the Lord of our lives, He is recognized as being Lord of His Kingdom and we are now part of that Kingdom – under the reign and rule of Jesus our Savior. The Kingdom of God is His reign and rule and the entrance to that kingdom is the gospel. How should this impact my life? (Application) Where are you at in your thinking about Jesus? Are you working hard to have a good life and is that working? The message of the Bible is that God loves you despite any shortcomings you have, He wants to have a deep relationship with you, but you can’t get there on your own. You need to ask Jesus to rescue you. If you have an interest in talking about this more, contact someone on staff at Trinity and they will make sure any questions you might have about how to accept Jesus as your Savior can be answered. For those of you who have accepted Jesus as your rescuer, what does ‘hope’ look like in your daily walk? We took a look at how it motivated Paul. Do you experience a similar motivation? For all of us we need to be encouraged as we go through life. Jesus took time to encourage and boost up Paul as he journeyed. In what ways do you boost up others? In what ways do you let others boost up you? If someone asked you why you are a Christian, what would you say?

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Luke described Paul as bold. Would others describe you that way? What challenges do you struggle with that make it hard to be bold? What do you think Jesus would say to you? Take a moment to meditate on the reflection on the next page. If you have made it to this page, it has been a long study with a ton of information and challenges. Take a moment to worship God. He is in control. We are graced to be in His kingdom. Our hope for eternal life is secure. We are loved by our Creator. Hallelujah, what a Savior!

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A Reflection

When I am down, and oh my soul, so weary.

When troubles come, and my heart burdened be. Then I am still and wait here in the silence.

Until You come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains. You raise me up to walk on stormy seas.

I am strong when I am on your shoulders. You raise me up to more than I can be.

There is no life, no life without its hunger. Each restless heart beats so imperfectly.

But when you come and I am filled with wonder. Sometimes I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains.

You raise me up to walk on stormy seas. I am strong when I am on your shoulders.

You raise me up to more than I can be. A song by Selah

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Appendix - Annotated Bibliography

Acts for Everyone; Parts 1 and 2 by N. T. Wright This is the most readable commentary and walks through the various events in the books of Acts with great storytelling. N. T. Wright has a gift for making the passage clear and straightforward so we can really get a grip on the present day meaning of the text. Acts - Witness to Him by Bruce Milne from the series Focus on the Bible. Acts - The NIV Application Commentary by Ajith Fernando. Both these commentaries are thoughtful and make sure they bring focus to how we apply biblical truth to our lives. The Milne text has great study questions at the end of each passage and the Fernando commentary is structured with each passage having an Original Meaning, Bridging Contexts and Contemporary Significance section. Both provide good insight with a focus on how to grow in our walk. The Message of Acts by John R. W. Stott from the series The Bible Speaks Today. This one is a favorite. Stott is an accomplished Bible teacher that brings not only well thought out exegesis of the passage, but a true pastor’s heart to the challenges he puts on the table. This study really draws out the themes and intentions that Luke wanted to convey in his letter. The Book of the Acts by F. F. Bruce from the series The New International Commentary on the New Testament. This is a top-end technical commentary that provides deep insight into original languages, customs and takes on some of the theological struggles in a comprehensive manner. This one requires some technical training to really get the most out of its content, but the effort is well worth it!

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Appendix Two - The Essentials of Our Faith

All Scripture is self-attesting and being Truth, requires our unreserved submission in all areas of life. The infallible Word of God, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is a complete and unified witness to God’s redemptive acts culminating in the incarnation of the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible, uniquely and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, is the supreme and final authority on all matters on which it speaks. On this sure foundation we affirm these additional essentials of our faith. We believe in one God, the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. To Him be all honor, glory and praise forever! Jesus Christ, the living Word, became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. He who is true God became true man united in one Person forever. He died on the cross a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. On the third day He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven where, at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He now is our High Priest and Mediator. The Holy Spirit has come to glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to our hearts. He convicts us of sin and draws us to the Savior, indwelling our hearts. He gives new life to us, empowers and imparts gifts to us for service. He instructs and guides us into all truth, and seals us for the day of redemption. Being estranged from God and condemned by our sinfulness, our salvation is wholly dependent upon the work of God’s free grace. God credits His righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation, and thereby justifies them in His sight. Only such as are born of the Holy Spirit and receive Jesus Christ become children of God and heirs of eternal life. The true Church is composed of all persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit are united together in the body of Christ. The Church finds her visible yet imperfect, expression in local congregations where the Word of God is preached in its purity and the sacraments are administered in their integrity, where scriptural discipline is practiced, and where loving fellowship is maintained. For her perfecting she awaits the return of her Lord. Jesus Christ will come again to the earth personally, visibly, and bodily—to judge the living and the dead, and to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Rev. 22:20) The Lord Jesus Christ commands all believers to proclaim the gospel throughout the world and to make disciples of all nations. Obedience to the Great Commission requires total commitment to “Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.” He calls us to a life of self-denying love and service. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10) The Essentials are set forth in greater detail in the Westminster Confession of Faith.

In Essentials ...Unity

In Non-Essentials ... Liberty In All Things ... Charity