The Book of Acts
Acts Class Notes Andrew Fountain, April 2010
Introduction to Acts
1: Goal for the course: To hear what Holy Spirit has to say to us through what he has written
- Why study the Bible if we have the Holy Spirit?
- The Spirit speaks in a different kind of way through the Scriptures as compared with dreams, visions and prophecies
- Final authority
- Clarity
- Not just applicable to individuals, but universal
- but not as intimate or personal
- Of course he can and does use the Scriptures to give us a personal word
- The Spirit speaks in a different kind of way through the Scriptures as compared with dreams, visions and prophecies
- Why study Acts in particular?
- Luke gives us a “model” for the church
- This model is not optional
- If we are longing for the blessings and power of the early church, we need to study Acts seriously
- Acts is an incredibly well crafted book
- Luke has not just sat down and scribbled it out
- His Gospel and Acts were his life’s work
- The Spirit helped him choose every word
- The need for Teaching and Response
2: How Acts hangs together
- Structure of the book [handout]
- The story of Acts
- Acts is all about Missions, driven by the Holy Spirit
Section 1: They’ve just Begun [1] Section 2: They start to Do [3] Section 3: They’re forced to flee [6:8] Section 4: God Opens Doors [9:32] Section 5: A Missions drive [13] Section 6: Extended Trips [16:6] Section 7: To Rome, then heaven [19:21] - Assignments [handout]
- All course material will be available at loveintruth.com
- Recommended book: The Acts of the Apostles, Ben Witherington (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998)
Section 1: "They’ve just Begun" [1]
Review of Outline of Acts
The text [handout]
- 1:1 Part 2 of a 2-volume set
- 1:5 Baptized with the Holy Spirit and with fire
- Luke 3:16; 12:50; Mark 10:38-39
- Jesus, the pioneer, the forerunner
- But see Eph 1:19-20 -> the power of Jesus resurrection is already available to us.
- 1:26 Should we roll dice to determine God’s will?
- How to apply the book of Acts
- “There is not the slightest hint that Luke believes he is writing about a special “Apostolic Age” which is coming to an end” —from Witherington commentary
- We can assume that most of the examples are given us to follow
- We can assume we are being given a pattern to follow if:
- There are positive repeated examples, e.g.
- prayer, praising God, healing
- eating together, sharing possessions when needed
- Peter or Paul’s preaching
- but not in the case of casting lots to make decisions
- not in the case of waiting many days in an upper room
- The pattern is always the same
- they witness fearlessly
- churches are planted
- Paul keeps returning to churches to strengthen them
- but sequence of reception of the Spirit does not have a neat pattern
- There is clear divine approval
- Jesus tells Paul he is doing the right thing to go to Rome (contrary to the prophets)
- Holy Spirit answers their prayer for boldness and more of him
- There are positive repeated examples, e.g.
- How to apply the book of Acts
- 1:26 Was Matthias a mistake?
- 1 Cor 15:5 —Paul refers to the “12” and he is not one of them
- James, killed by Herod, was not replaced
- There were several others, apart from Paul, called apostles.
- 2:17 Did they have The Holy Spirit in the O.T.?
- How does it compare with now?
- see paper New Life in the Spirit, at http://www.loveintruth.com/amf-docs/02-spirit.htm
- 2:19-20 Has it happened yet?
Peter’s Sermon
- Structure
- Introduction / point of contact (Link to current events)
- “You crucified Jesus...”
- “but God raised him up again”
- “and exalted him to a position of power (which explains the miracles)”
- “so repent so that your sins will be forgiven and you will receive the promised blessing that Jesus is pouring out.”
- Joel: what period of time?
- 2:37 Why did they respond like this to Peter’s preaching?
- Peter’s gifting was as a Spirit-filled (supernatural) teacher/preacher
- 2:25 Peter’s argument is from witnesses
- Witness of Scripture —Joel prophesied the Spirit being poured out
- Witness of the Spirit —They saw Jesus’ miracles
- Witness of the Scripture —David prophesied the resurrection
- Witness of the Spirit —to “what you see and hear” 2:34
- What gift was Peter given?
- Why did they respond to his message? -was it his boldness, his passionate preaching style?
- Peter had the gift of empowered preaching/teaching
- That meant that when he delivered the truth, the Spirit delivered powerful conviction to the hearts of the hearers
2:42-47 Characteristics of a healthy church
- What are some characteristics?
- teaching
- fellowship
- breaking bread
- prayer
- supernatural power (probably healing)
- love
- evangelism
- giving generously
Other questions:
- Why did Peter not tell them to wait 40 days for the Spirit to come to them?
- Did they all receive Peter’s gift?
- There is usually a development of gifting
- But a gift can suddenly be given in response to a need
Response time
- Chapter 1: Pouring out of the Spirit
- We need the power of the Spirit. How did his coming change things?
- how hungry are you for more of the Spirit to be poured out?
- Do you still want more of him if he will lead you into fire?
- Pray for more power in our lives
- Chapter 2: Peter & the church
- What conditions are there in 2:38,39 for receiving the promised blessing of the Holy Spirit?
- The blessing of the Spirit is not a once-only event in our lives, but continuous and repeated.
- Let’s particularly pray for Peter’s gift
Section 2: "They start to Do" [3]
Review of Outline of Acts
- Show video clip [3:1-4:31]
- 3:1-10 Miracles and evangelism—what is the relationship?
- 1 Thess 1:5,6 “Word and power”
- Healing and the Gospel in Mozambique
- Video of man healed of a stroke
- 3:11-26 Second recorded message of Peter
- almost the same as the first, but uses the testimony of healing, rather than speaking in tongues
- the offer of forgiveness and blessing (v.19,20) is amazing given what they did to the Son of God
- 4:7 Direct fulfillment of Jesus’ promise in Luke 12:11-12
- notice the response (v.13)
- were they right that the explanation was that they had been with Jesus?
- This gift was evident in Jesus’ life when he was under pressure
- Has it ever happened to you?
- Should we prepare for preaching, or let the Holy Spirit lead us?
- My experience of preaching in the last few years
- example of witness to Muslim student
- 4:25,26 Psalm 2 —total sovereignty of God
- v.28 God has already decided the limits to their power
- Amazing prayer
- for boldness
- signs and wonders
- 4:31 “Re-Filling”
- Are we filled once and for all?
- Ed Piorek: stand every day with Jesus in the Jordan
- 4:32 Should we have all things in common, and no private possessions?
- 5:1-11 Ananias & Sapphira
- 5:19 Why does he sometimes rescue them and sometimes not?
- 5:19 Basically the same outline message for the fourth time
- 5:41 Wow!
- 6:1-6 Were they deacons?
- Word diakonos is used in 6:2
- But this means little, since it is such a common word
- Luke makes no suggestion that they are deacons
- Looks more like an example of the church being flexible and adapting to a need
- note how they are chosen:
- involvement of congregation (but not in other examples in Acts)
- they had relationship with the men and knew them well
- laying on of hands (why?)
- 6:4 What exactly were the leaders devoting themselves to?
Response time
- Do you really want more of God’s presence?
- Let’s pray the prayer of 4:29,30 and ask for:
- boldness
- to be filled with the Spirit
- supernatural wisdom and words when speaking the gospel to people
- God to use signs and wonders to bring people to Christ
Section 3: "They’re forced to flee" [6:8]
Review of Outline of Acts
- Is the Holy Spirit happy to leave them growing and prospering contentedly in Jerusalem?
A. Stephen
- 6:8 What was the result of laying hands on Stephen?
- 6:10 What was this gift
- 7:1-53 Is this a pointless meander through history?
- Show video clip [7:51-8:3]
B. Philip
- 8:4 What was the result of laying hands on Philip?
- Show video clip [8:4-40]
- 8:15-16 What do you make of these verses?
- How come they didn’t receive the Holy Spirit
- Was the wrong “formula” spoken at their baptism?
- Was Philip not “powerful” enough?
- 8:27 What is the significance of him being a Eunuch?
- Deut 23:1
- What can we learn from this about the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant?
- He would not have even been able to go into the temple when he visited Jerusalem
- He is so hungry for God, that he still goes to Jerusalem, and reads what he can’t understand
- Why? -The Spirit is drawing him in
- 8:39 What happened to Philip?
- Happened once earlier to the disciples, can you remember when?
- John 6:18-21
C. Saul
- Show video clip [9:1-31]
- 9:3-7 What was the manifestation of God’s presence?
- 9:18 What was the manifestation of receiving the Spirit?
- Why did he not have a flame of fire or speak in tongues?
- Difference between Classical Penetcostal and Vineyard positions
Response time
- Have you ever had stuff in your life that seemed bad at the time, but God was moving you out of your comfort zone?
- Who is the biggest enemy of the kingdom right now?
- pray for them to be saved
- Who do you know who seems least “likely” to be saved?
- pray for them now
Section 4: "God opens Doors" [9:32]
Review of Outline of Acts
Once again, this new move is totally driven by the Holy Spirit.
- Door to the Gentiles
- Peter’s prison doors!
4.1 Peter raises the dead
- Show video clip of Peter—raises the dead [9:32-43]
- 9:40 Notice the order in which Peter does things
- What do you think he prayed?
- Is it always God’s will to raise the dead?
- immediately?
- He wanted to make sure he was hearing God perfectly?
- story of John Welch
- Sam Storms idea of levels of faith, from general belief to a supernatural knowledge of what God is going to do
- Is there a progress in the signs and wonders?
- What do you think he prayed?
- Miracles in Acts
4.2 Salvation comes to the Gentiles
- Show video clip of Cornelius [10:1-11:18]
- 10:11 Why do you think that God did not just speak a straight command to Peter?
- very vivid!!
- God seems to like to stretch us
- we can easily underestimate what a big step this was for any Jew
- 10:17 Have you ever had “timing” be significant in your life?
Gospel comes to the Gentiles
- Notice that Peter is still preaching!!
- He is so shocked, especially since the manifestations are exactly the same as on the day of Pentecost
- 11:15, 11:17
- 11:1 The story is repeated almost exactly. Why?
4.3 A church is planted in Antioch
- Show video clip [11:19-30]
- 11:19 First major church plant: what do we learn about planting churches?
- church interdependence & kingdom values
- But not control of one church by another
- 11:28 First example of major prophetic gifting
- why is this little story important?
- It shows how a love-bond was forming between the Gentile and Jewish churches
- The Spirit-driven gift of prophecy enabled this love gift
- The character of N.T. prophecy is very different to O.T.
- O.T. prophets were like John the Baptist, an “ultimatum” from God, repent or be destroyed
- Paul tells us that the N.T. prophet is to build up and edify (1 Cor 14)
- Another example of prophetic gifting in Acts 15:32
- why is this little story important?
4.4 Peter freed from prison
- Show video clip of Peter [12:1-25]
- 12:6 Peter was sleeping!
- 12:9 Wow! Peter must have frequently experienced “open visions”
- 12:25 completes 11:30 (bookends)
- the focus now shifts, with this verse, from Jerusalem to Antioch
- Sets us up for the rest of the book
Response time
- You tell me what the Holy Spirt is saying to you in these passages?
- All of us have blind-spots and areas of immaturity in our understanding
- Even Spirit-filled Peter needed a massive mind-change
- We must always be willing to be challenged out of our mode of doing things
- pray that you never feel you have arrived
- pray that you will always be humble and willing to learn
- Let us ask God to open our eyes and our hearts to his new purposes and directions
Section 5: "A Missions Drive" [13]
Review of Outline of Acts
- 12:24 Peace, but the Holy Spirit is about to do another huge move!!!
- Maps of Paul’s missionary journeys
Outline:
|
5.1 Journey to Galatia via Cyprus [13-14]
Paul and Barnabas set apart [13:1-3]
- 13:1-3 is very interesting and helpful when it comes to:
- understanding how leadership functions
- appointing new leaders
- starting new ministries
- In Acts, there is almost always fasting & extended time spent with God before appointing anyone for service
- Even Jesus prayed all night before he chose his disciples: Luke 6:12-16
Cyprus: Elymas struck blind [13:4-12]
- from now on Saul is called Paul, why?
- Paul’s first recorded miracle
- was Paul being vindictive?
- the same manifestation of God’s power led to his own salvation!
- What was the proconsul astounded at?
- Paul’s teaching??
- same with Jesus Luke 4:32-37
- it was the combination of word and power
- was Paul being vindictive?
Pisidia: preached in Synagogue [13:13-52]
- Paul preaches in a synagogue
- Note that this first time sets a pattern
- outline of message
- The usual pattern: 13:44-52
Iconium: signs & wonders [14:1-7]
- 14:3,4 Do signs and wonders guarantee that people are saved?
- Even true in Jesus’ ministry!
Lystra: Cripple healed, Paul stoned [14:8-20]
Back to Antioch [14:21-28]
5.2 Jerusalem council about Gentiles [15:1-35]
Dispute about circumcision [15:1-5]
The apostles and elders meet [15:6-29]
- what are we to make of these three rules? Are we still bound by them today?
- Did Jews need to keep the ceremonial law to be saved?
The churches are encouraged [15:30-35]
5.3 Paul returns to Galatia & strengthens the churches [15:36-16:5]
- How come Paul and Barnabas had an argument? —who was right?
Response time
- How do you think we should respond to this?
- Was this a man-made crusade?
- Was there any human wisdom involved? (trick question)
- We can pray for
- a heart to reach the lost
- A pouring out of the Spirit’s power
- To be like the church in Antioch who were so earnest in wanting God to move that they fasted and prayed until they knew his will
Section 6: "Extended Trips" [16:6]
Review of Outline of Acts
- 12:24 Peace, but the Holy Spirit is about to do another huge move!!!
Outline:
|
6.1 Mission trip to Greece [16:6-18:22]
Holy Spirit direction [16:6-10]
- Maps of Paul’s missionary journeys
- In his first missionary journeys, Paul didn’t go that far from Tarsus, his birthplace.
- Now the Spirit is pushing him out of his comfort zone, into a very different part of the Roman Empire
- Paul and decision-making
- [16:6-7] What do you think this looked like?
- How could it be God preventing them from preaching the Gospel?
- Is the “Spirit of Jesus” different from the Holy Spirit?
- See 1 Peter 1:10-11
- Did Paul wait for direction about where in Macedonia to go?
Philippi: Lydia & Jailer [16:11-40]
- [16:14] What does it mean that God “opened Lydia’s heart” ?
- Did he violate her will?
- [16:16] Could the demons in this slave-girl really tell the future?
- Do demons know the future?
- Do they have any more knowledge than us [e.g. v.17]
- Why did they “advertise” Paul—surely it would have been better for them to have kept quiet?
- What did you think of when you saw the video of Paul being flogged?
- [16:37-39] Why did Paul not tell them to start with about being a Roman?
- Think of the example this would have set for the new Christians!
- Why make them come and get him out?
- How would this have affected the new Christians?
- [16:40] Not true that Paul has a “down” on women—he recognized Lydia as a key person
- (Also he greets lots of women in his letters, and strongly recommends Phoebe)
- Another parallel with Peter—miraculous release from prison. (Is there a pattern?)
- What exactly do you think made the jailor want to become a Christian?
Thessalonica: attacked [17:1-9]
- Why was it always the Jews who were their biggest ememies?
- Do similar things ever happen today (i.e. opposition from the “religious” leaders?)
Berea: received the word [17:10-15]
Athens: preached to pagans [17:16-34]
- [17:16] His preaching different at Athens
- Did he make a mistake?
- Why did he not even mention the cross?
- It was for a good reason—almost identical message to his other message to pagans at Lystra
- Paul preaching to pagan Gentiles—compare the two
Corinth: Two years of teaching [18:1-17]
Return to Antioch [18:18-22]
6.2 Ephesus: Two years of teaching & miracles [18:23-19:20]
- [19:10] Why did he need to spend 2 years teaching?
- all in Asia?
- [19:11-12] Wow!
- signs of an apostle! 2 Cor 11:23-30, 12:10-12
- Could this happen today?
- Should we collect the clothing of godly men & women?
Response time
- Would you like the kind of joy in Christ that would make you sing in prison after being “severely beaten” ?
- Paul had an amazing persistence—he just kept going and brought in an extraordinary harvest
- Would you like the Holy Spirit to take you out of your comfort zone?
- before you pray this, ask yourself if you really do mean it!!!
- So,
- pray to be so filled with the joy of Christ that unbelievers will say “what must I do to have what you have”
- pray that we do not become “weary in well-doing”, but rise up on eagle’s wings
- pray that the Spirit will move you out of your comfort zone, and give him permission to do whatever he wants to with you
Section 7: "To Rome then Heaven" [19:21]
Review of Outline of Acts
Outline:
|
7.1 Revisited the churches [19:21-21:14]
Uproar in Ephesus [19:23-19:41]
Revisited Greece [20:1-6]
Man raised from the dead [20:7-12]
- [20:7-12] Raised from the dead
- not for evangelistic purposes, but simply to encourage them
- Table of all occurrences of signs and wonders in Acts
Ephesus: tearful goodbyes [20:13-38]
- Ephesus had become the centre of the church in “Turkey”
- What do we know of them later?
Prophetic warnings [21:1-14]
- Were the prophets wrong?
- Should Paul have followed what they told him to do?
7.2 Arrest and trials [21:15-26:32]
- Was Paul wrong to do what he did?
Trouble in Jerusalem [21:15-36]
Testimony to Jews [21:37-22:29]
Tried by Jewish leaders [22:30-23:11]
- What do you think about the way Paul saved himself?
Tried by Felix [23:12-24:27]
Tried by Festus [25:1-12]
Tried by Agrippa (testimony) [25:13-26:32]
7.3 Journey to Rome [27-28]
Shipwreck [27:9-44]
Malta: Snakebite & healing [28:1-10]
- Do you remember where Jesus said something about this?
Rome: proclaiming the Kingdom without hindrance [28:11-30]
- [28:26-27] is a hard quote. What does it mean?
Response time
- Do you believe that Acts is a one-off, or can see that level of the supernatural again in the church?
- We must never stop being hungry for more
- never grow complacent
- Do you think that Jesus will pour out the Spirit like this again before he returns
- I think so!
- Are you excited?
- Lets really be passionate about praying for more!
Detailed Outline of Acts
§1. They’ve just Begun [1]
- Before Pentecost [1:1-26]
- Jesus’ final words and ascension [1:1-11]
- Devoted to prayer [1:12-14]
- Replacement of Judas [1:15-26]
- Day of Pentecost [2:1-41]
- The Spirit is poured out [2:1-13]
- Peter preaches (1st time) [2:14-41]
- Character of the first church [2:42-47]
§2. They start to Do [3]
- Healing miracle [3:1-31]
- Lame man healed [3:1-10]
- Peter preaches (2nd time) [3:11-26]
- First arrest [4:1-22]
- Holy Spirit fills them all again [4:23-31]
- Ananias & Sapphira [4:32-5:11]
- More healings lead to second arrest [5:12-42]
- The Seven appointed [6:1-7]
§3. They’re forced to flee [6:8]
- Stephen, the first martyr [6:8-8:1]
- Stephen’s teaching leads to his arrest [6:8-15]
- Stephen speaks out against Jewish false religion [7:1-53]
- Stephen stoned to death [7:54-8:1]
- Persecution spreads the Gospel [8:1-40]
- Persecution scatters the church [8:1-3]
- Philip brings revival among the Samaritans [8:4-25]
- Philip & Ethiopian eunuch [8:26-40]
- Saul is saved [9:1-31]
§4. God Opens Doors [9:32]
- Peter raises the dead [9:32-43]
- The Gospel comes to the Gentiles [10:1-11:18]
- Visions [10:1-23]
- The Spirit falls on Gentiles [10:23-48]
- Peter defends the Gentiles [11:1-18]
- Antioch church grows strong in the Spirit [11:19-30]
- James killed but angel frees Peter [12]
§5. A Missions drive [13]
- Journey to Galatia via Cyprus [13-14]
- Paul and Barnabas set apart [13:1-3]
- Cyprus: Elymas struck blind [13:4-12]
- Pisidia: preached in Synagogue [13:13-52]
- Iconium: signs & wonders [14:1-7]
- Lystra: Cripple healed, Paul stoned [14:8-20]
- Back to Antioch [14:21-28]
- Jerusalem council about Gentiles [15:1-35]
- Dispute about circumcision [15:1-5]
- The apostles and elders meet [15:6-29]
- The churches are encouraged [15:30-35]
- Paul returns to Galatia & strengthens the churches [15:36-16:5]
§6. Extended Trips [16:6]
- Mission trip to Greece
- Holy Spirit direction [16:6-10]
- Philippi: Lydia & Jailer [16:11-40]
- Thessalonica: attacked [17:1-9]
- Berea: received the word [17:10-15]
- Athens: preached to pagans [17:16-34]
- Corinth: Two years of teaching [18:1-17]
- Return to Antioch [18:18-22]
- Ephesus: Two years of teaching & miracles [18:23-19:20]
§7. To Rome, then heaven [19:21]
- Revisited the churches [19:21-21:14]
- Uproar in Ephesus [19:23-19:41]
- Revisited Greece [20:1-6]
- Man raised from the dead [20:7-12]
- Ephesus: tearful goodbyes [20:13-38]
- Prophetic warnings [21:1-14]
- Arrest and trials [21:15-26:32]
- Trouble in Jerusalem [21:15-36]
- Testimony to Jews [21:37-22:29]
- Tried by Jewish leaders [22:30-23:11]
- Tried by Felix [23:12-24:27]
- Tried by Festus [25:1-12]
- Tried by Agrippa (testimony) [25:13-26:32]
- Journey to Rome [27-28]
- Shipwreck [27:9-44]
- Malta: Snakebite & healing [28:1-10]
- Rome: proclaiming the Kingdom without hindrance [28:11-30]