BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE KJV ADULTS FALL | …s7d9.scene7.com/is/content/LifeWayChristianResources/...BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE | KJV ADULTS FALL | LEADER UVARISED TRUT: LIFE’S REAT STORY

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FALL 2016 | LEADER GUIDE

UNVARNISHED TRUTH: LIFE’S GREAT STORY

UNSTOPPABLE GOSPEL

FALL 2016

GET INTO THE STUDY

SAY: ”For the next six sessions

we will be discussing the

unstoppable nature of the

gospel.”

LEADER PACK: Point to

the session titles on Item 5:

“Unstoppable Gospel.”

DISCUSS: Draw attention to

the picture (PSG, p. 82) as

you introduce Question #1:

What is something you have

waited for that was worth

the wait?

GUIDE: Direct attention to The

Bible Meets Life (PSG, p. 83).

Note the ways people seek

instant gratification. Contrast

this with Jesus’ disciples, who

were told to wait for the

Holy Spirit.

Reinforce the importance

of our mission by reading

The Point (PSG, p. 83): The

Holy Spirit empowers us to

spread the gospel.

SESSION 7

UNSTOPPABLE MISSION

The PointThe Holy Spirit empowers us to

spread the gospel.

The Bible Meets LifeMany Christians no longer have the

passion of the early believers to

take on the mission Christ gave to

the church. Fear of offending and

being rejected has become more

important than love for God and our neighbor, so we have chosen to leave to

others the mission of making disciples. We need to turn from our own priorities

and return to the mission Jesus gave His followers in Acts 1.

The PassageActs 1:4-8,12-14

The SettingAfter Jesus rose from the dead, for 40 days He appeared to His disciples,

showing Himself to be alive and instructing them on the kingdom of God

(Acts 1:3). Although He was preparing to return to God the Father, as He had

promised, the disciples would not be left alone. They would receive “the

Father’s promise,” the Holy Spirit, who would be with them to teach them and

empower them. As the time arrived for Jesus to leave His disciples, He spoke

with them one last time.

5 minutes

8 6 S e S S i o n 7

S U G G E S T E D U S E | O C T O B E R 16 87

Acts 1:4-5

4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded

them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait

for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard

of me.

5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized

with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Jesus has promised to empower us with the Holy Spirit.

1 During the time between Jesus’ resurrection and His ascension, it seems His disciples weren’t certain what to do. While they had been with Him constantly before His death, after the resurrection things changed. Though they encountered Him at different times and in different places, His visits likely were brief and probably left them with more questions than answers.

Apparently the disciples weren’t sure where to go, either. Following the resurrection Peter and a few others, who had been in Jerusalem, were back in their native Galilee on the sea of Tiberias (sea of Galilee), where they fished all night, without success. The next morning they encountered the risen Christ on the seashore and ate breakfast with Him (see John 21).

Verse 4. At times, however, all of the disciples (except Judas Iscariot, who had committed suicide on the day of Jesus’ death) were in Jerusalem together. On one of these occasions, Jesus was assembled together with them. This might indicate they were sharing a meal or it may simply refer to a gathering. Whatever the occasion, Jesus appeared in their midst to prepare them for what was coming. During that meeting He commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem. While we often think of a command as a serious order from a no-nonsense superior, Jesus wasn’t being a stern taskmaster. Certainly He had the authority to tell them what to do, but His words were likely more of a special emphasis or highlighted instruction that He didn’t want them to miss. He wanted to make sure the disciples remained in Jerusalem instead of traveling back and forth to other places as they had been doing for several weeks.

Something Jesus had previously taught His disciples was soon going to happen in Jerusalem. Thus, the disciples were

PRAY: Transition into the Bible

study with prayer. Ask for

wisdom from the Holy Spirit to

empower you to follow

His mission.

STUDY THE BIBLEActs 1:4-5

GUIDE: Before reading the

focal passage, set the context

by briefly summarizing the

information in The Setting

(p. 86) along with the

introductory paragraphs in the

Bible commentary 1 .

READ: Ask a volunteer to read

Acts 1:4-5.

10 minutes

87

THE POINT

GUIDE: Use the Bible

commentary 2 to offer some

background about the Jewish

people’s understanding and

experience with the Holy Spirit.

Emphasize “baptized with

the Holy Ghost” (v. 5) does

not describe a so-called

“second blessing” that follows

a believer’s conversion at

some undetermined point.

This baptism occurs for every

believer at the moment he

or she turns to Christ in faith

and receives Him as Savior

and Lord.

DISCUSS: Question #2 (PSG,

p. 85): What do you find

difficult about waiting on

the Lord?

(Alternate: How does

anticipating a good thing affect

your ability to wait?)

TRANSITION: “As we move

to verses 6-8, we’ll see

Jesus address the disciples’

misconception; we’ll also hear

an amazing promise.”

to wait in the holy city for the promise of the Father to be fulfilled.

2 Verse 5. The focus of this promise was the Holy Ghost. Though God’s people had known about God’s Spirit for centuries, their knowledge was more of a distant awareness rather than a personal experience. In their minds this mysterious Spirit probably seemed to operate unpredictably. Throughout the Old Testament we read accounts of how the Holy Spirit powerfully came upon a specific person for a specific time for a specific purpose. Often a judge like Gideon was filled with the Spirit to defeat an enemy (Judg. 6:34). Frequently a prophet like Ezekiel was empowered to speak God’s word of judgment or promise (Ezek. 2:1-5). Sometimes God’s Spirit empowered a military leader like Joshua (Deut. 34:9) or a king like David (1 Sam. 16:13) to lead God’s people. Still other times a craftsman like Bezaleel was filled with God’s Spirit, so that he could design and build fixtures for the tent of meeting (Ex. 31:1-11). But these manifestations of God’s Spirit were never random happenings; they were completely controlled by the Father in order to accomplish His will. Still, these times were the exception rather than the norm. A special filling from the Spirit was reserved for certain people at certain times but not for all of God’s people all of the time.

Even so, God had planned for a change. Centuries before Jesus was born God decreed that one day His Spirit would not be limited to select persons. Isaiah had prophesied that God would pour out His Spirit on the descendants of Israel (Isa. 32:15; 44:3) and Joel prophesied God’s plan “to pour out my spirit upon all flesh. … And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered” (Joel 2:28-32).

During His earthly ministry Jesus also told His disciples about God’s promise. On the night before His crucifixion Jesus taught the disciples about the coming of the Holy Spirit (John 14–16). Jesus noted that the Spirit’s ministry in the world and among believers would include convicting of sin, revealing truth, counseling and guiding, teaching, and testifying about Jesus. Jesus also emphasized that He would have to go away in order for the Spirit to come. Soon, both events would happen—Jesus’ departure and the Spirit’s arrival.

During His post-resurrection meeting with them, Jesus helped His disciples understand more about their coming encounter with the Spirit. Jesus related it to a baptism, which

The Holy Spirit empowers us to spread the gospel.

8 8 S e S S i o n 7



commentary 3 on page 90

to explain the misconception

that many Jews in Jesus’

day—including His disciples—

believed about the coming of

God’s kingdom.


Acts 1:6-8.

GUIDE: Call attention to verses

6-7. Note that God’s plan was

far bigger than a regional

government—nor was it a

temporary kingdom. Stress

that God’s mission involves

using His people to invite all of

humanity to become a part of

His family—living in a growing

relationship with Him through

repentance and faith in His

Son Jesus.

many of them probably experienced from John the Baptist. But in contrast to John’s baptism with water, the disciples would soon be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Most likely the reference to John the Baptist was a reminder of what the prophet had proclaimed about Jesus—that He would “baptize … with the Holy Ghost and with fire” (Luke 3:16). While future believers would continue to follow Jesus’ example of physical baptism to identify them as His disciples, they would also experience this spiritual baptism to enable them to live lives of obedience to God’s commands and carry out His mission of leading more people to become His disciples.

The word baptize generally means to immerse or submerge something (usually in water). But in reference to the Holy Spirit it pictures a flood that is poured out from God—both a covering and a filling (or cleansing). This is an appropriate picture of what God does for everyone who has a relationship with Him through faith in His Son Jesus.

Jesus assured the disciples that not many days hence this promise would be fulfilled. Soon all believers would be baptized with God’s Spirit. And though Jesus would leave to return to His Father in heaven, the Holy Spirit would remain with believers—living in them—to enable them to accomplish God’s purposes.

Acts 1:6-8

6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of

him, saying, Lord , wilt thou at this time restore again the

kingdom to Israel?

7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times

or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is

come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in

Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the

uttermost part of the earth.

KEY WORD

witnesses (v. 8)—A witness (Greek: martys) gives a testimony of

something he or she has experienced. Our English word “martyr” comes

from the same Greek root.

10 minutes

8 9

THE POINT

DISCUSS: Question #3

(PSG, p. 88): What do these

verses teach us about God’s

mission?

(Alternate: What circumstances

can cause us to doubt we have

God’s power within us?)

GUIDE: Ask a volunteer to

read or summarize “Digging

Deeper” on page 87 of the

PSG for more information on

“The Great Commission” to

God’s Church.

GUIDE: Point out the

progression of the Gospel

from Jerusalem to Judaea

to Samaria and then the

uttermost part of the earth.

God’s Great Commission was

for all disciples in every time

until Christ’s return.

TRANSITION: “As we conclude

with verses 12-14, we’ll see the

importance of prayer as we

seek to carry out our mission.”

The Spirit empowers us to be His witnesses locally and globally.

3 Verse 6. When the disciples met with Jesus they once again asked about the kingdom they anticipated. For several years during His earthly ministry they had heard Jesus teach about the kingdom of God. However, the disciples were either still confused or simply refused to give up their preconceived ideas about the future that would be inaugurated by the Messiah.

Like most Jews they looked forward to a political kingdom where they would be free from the foreign rule they had known for centuries—from the Babylonians in the sixth century B.C. to the Romans in their own day. But the disciples especially anticipated a future where everyone would again know the power and glory Israel had once experienced under David and Solomon. This was what they expected with Jesus the Messiah on the throne. It was the type of kingdom that two of the disciples anticipated when they boldly and selfishly sought for positions of power and prominence in Jesus’ future kingdom (Mark 10:37). Now as the disciples met with Jesus after His resurrection, they again asked about the kingdom that was coming, hoping it was the right time for their dream to become reality.

Verse 7. Jesus didn’t reply to the primary focus of their question: their hope for Israel’s worldwide prominence. Instead, He emphasized times and seasons were not their concern. Though Jesus used different Greek words related to time—chronos, translated times, meaning a specific time or date, or period of time; and kairos, rendered seasons, meaning the appropriate moment or season—likely He intended little distinction between the words. That was not what was important for the disciples. Jesus noted that God the Father has set the times and are His alone to know. In Mark 13:32, Jesus noted that even He didn’t know the specific “day” or “hour” of the end. Jesus’ words are a good reminder our primary concern should not be to speculate if certain events in our world indicate the approaching end times.

Verse 8. It was important, however, for the disciples to understand the kingdom that was coming and how it impacted them and others. Unlike what the disciples imagined, God’s kingdom was different from all earthly kingdoms where powerful human kings sit on thrones in


9 0 S e S S i o n 7


READ: Invite a volunteer to

read verses 12-14.


p. 89): How is praying with

others for a common

mission different from your

personal prayers?

specific places for a limited time. Instead, God’s kingdom is about the eternal, immortal, invisible God ruling in human lives. It is about God’s Spirit living in those who trust in Him.

The kingdom of God is about the power of God enabling the people of God to fulfill the mission of God. This power is unlike anything Rome or any other nation has ever possessed. It is the supernatural capability and potential that was experienced in the miracles of Jesus, including His resurrection from the dead. Jesus promised this same power to His followers.

Note the certainty of Jesus’ promise: ye shall receive power and ye shall be witnesses. Jesus’ promise was not a statement of wishful thinking but rather one of fact; it would happen. The Greek word for power is the same root from which we get our English words “dynamic” and “dynamite.” This power is a gift God would give to His people through His Spirit. His power was not given for their benefit—so they could be prominent or dominant—but so they could be His witnesses. This was also a certainty. Jesus promised to empower His followers to enable them to share a testimony with others of their experiences with Him. With these brief words Jesus didn’t explain everything the disciples wanted to know about the kingdom, but He did tell them all they needed to know about the kingdom and their role in it.

God’s mission involves using His people to invite all of humanity to become a part of His family—living in a growing relationship with Him through repentance and faith in His Son Jesus. This mission was to start in Jerusalem and to expand throughout Judaea. But it was not for Jews only. It included the despised people of Samaria, considered half-breeds by most Jews. And it also included people in far away lands, Gentiles (non-Jews) in nations all over the globe, even unto the uttermost part of the earth. The Book of Acts provides a record of the progression of this mission—beginning in Jerusalem (Acts 1–7), moving into Judaea and Samaria (chs. 8–12), and finally to the uttermost part of the earth (chs. 13–28). Though Jesus’ promise was initially spoken to the disciples who knew and followed Him during His earthly ministry, His words are spoken to all believers in all times—none is excluded from the promise, the result, or the mission.

Acts 1:12-14

12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called

Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.

15 minutes

91

THE POINT

SUMMARIZE: Call attention

to the numbered statements

on PSG page 89. Summarize

what the author sees

happening in the disciples’

prayer meeting.

1. Prayer is primary. For

many people, prayer is a last

resort. But prayer was not

the last resort for the early

church. It was not an item on

a crowded agenda; it was the

main agenda.

2. Fear can be a great

motivator. Those who

crucified Jesus might have

been coming for His followers

as well. It was fear, not piety

that drove the believers to

pray. Prayer is your life when

you’re scared to death.

3. Prayer unites us. The

disciples were single-minded,

joined together as one.

13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper

room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and

Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew,

James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the

brother of James.

14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and

supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus,

and with his brethren.

Prayer unites believers in our focus on Christ and His mission.

Verse 12. The disciples’ meeting with Jesus and His subsequent ascension to heaven had taken place on the mount called Olivet, just east of Jerusalem (Acts 1:9-11). Luke noted it was a sabbath day’s journey, or about three-fourths of a mile. This was simply a Jewish reference of distance and doesn’t imply the meeting was on the Sabbath. Thus, the disciples had only a short walk to return to Jerusalem where Jesus had instructed them to wait.

Verse 13. Once in the city, the eleven disciples went up into an upper room, where they were staying. Some have thought this might have been the place of the last supper or an upstairs room at the house of Mary, mother of John Mark. But these speculations are neither certain nor important. Most likely it was merely a large room on the top floor of a large house. The fact that the disciples were staying there suggests it was where they slept and met with other believers.

The list of disciples is the same as those noted in Luke 6:14-16, excluding, of course, Judas Iscariot. The order of the names is slightly different in the two lists, perhaps reflecting the prominent roles Peter, and James, and John would have in the church in Jerusalem.

Verse 14. They continued with one accord in prayer and supplication. One thing that became constant for the disciples following the ascension was prayer. The word continued suggests more than just occasional or brief prayers. It pictures them as being devoted to it—their praying was intense and persistent. Jesus had modeled a


92 S e S S i o n 7

SAY: “When we pray and seek

God’s will together, it brings

unity and keeps us focused on

our primary tasks: worshiping

Him and bringing people to

Christ.”


p. 90): What common

mission can our group pray

for together?

GUIDE: Encourage group

members to think about a

mission that is specific for your

church and community.

(Alternate: When have you

seen people come together

in agreement or singleness of

purpose by praying together?)

DO: Invite volunteers to share

their responses to the activity

on PSG, page 90: “Ye Shall

Be Witnesses …”

perfectly faithful prayer life, and it obviously was important for them as well.

We don’t know the content of their prayers, but they might have included praying for God’s kingdom to come as Jesus had taught them (Matt. 6:10). They could have incorporated worship in light of all they had experienced in the preceding weeks—they had, after all, seen Jesus crucified, buried, and raised to life again! They might have prayed for clarity and understanding about things they had heard from Jesus in the previous weeks that had challenged their thinking. And their prayers could have focused on preparation for the mission Jesus had given them. In the Book of Acts the early church was characterized by this kind of ongoing, persistent prayer.

Whatever the content of their prayers, Luke wrote that the disciples prayed with one accord. This means they had the same heart and commitment, which was to glorify God and fulfill His purpose. They may have prayed for unity, just as Jesus prayed for them on the night before His death in John 17:20-23. But certainly they experienced unity as a result of their ongoing praying together.

More than just the eleven disciples were in that upper room, however. Luke mentioned the women, likely a reference to those who had followed Jesus, had been there at His crucifixion, and had even prepared Jesus’ body for burial. The Gospels note that women initially discovered the empty tomb and were the first to encounter the risen Lord. Almost certainly those women would have been a part of this group gathered for prayer in the upstairs room of the house. The women also may have included any wives of the disciples.

Luke also noted that Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brethren joined the disciples during that time. Mark 6:3 names four brothers of Jesus and notes that He also had sisters. These were the natural children of Mary and Joseph, so technically Jesus was their half-brother.

During His earthly ministry His brothers did not believe Jesus was the Messiah (John 7:5). But since they were with the disciples in the upper room after Jesus’ ascension, something obviously had happened to change their thinking about Jesus’ true identity. We know that after His resurrection Jesus appeared to His brother James (1 Cor. 15:7), so James’s testimony of his encounter with the risen Christ may have led the other family members to believe that Jesus was in fact the Messiah.

Though this is the last time Mary is mentioned in the Bible, both she and her sons provide a good example of unity with other believers around the mission of Christ. James later became a prominent leader in the church at Jerusalem and helped the believers stay focused on the universal nature of

93

THE POINT

SHARING THE GOOD NEWSWithout the Holy Spirit in

our lives, we are powerless

to live the life God desires

for us. His power becomes

available to us when we

turn from sin and place our

faith in Christ alone.

Each week, make yourself

available either before or after

the session to speak privately

with anyone in your group

who wants to know more

about becoming a Christian.

See the article, “Leading

Someone to the Greatest

Decision of All,“ on page 2 for

guidance in leading a person

to Christ.

Remind group members that

page 2 in the PSG offers

guidance in how to become a

Christian. Encourage believers

to consider using this article

as they have opportunities to

lead others to Christ.


the gospel message—the invitation to repent and believe in Jesus Christ to receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life is for all people. He also wrote the New Testament letter that bears his name, which provides very practical guidance for living as a follower of Christ. His brother Jude also wrote one of the New Testament letters and may have later become the leader of the Jerusalem church.

The emphasis of Jesus and the example of His followers in the days before Pentecost remind us of what we as believers are to do and how we are to do it in our day. Our priority is to be witnesses for Jesus—sharing the truth about God, sin, and salvation, and our testimony of what we have experienced (forgiveness of sins and eternal life) through faith in Christ. This is what we have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to do. But we don’t do this alone—prayer keeps us connected with God so we can receive and walk in His wisdom, strength, and guidance for the mission. And unity with other believers—in fellowship and in prayer—gives us the family we need for support and the encouragement we need to keep moving forward as we work together to spread the gospel.

A previous Biblical Illustrator article “To Make Disciples” (Summer 2001) relates

to this lesson and can be purchased, along with other articles for this quarter,

at www.lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator. Look for Biblical Illustrator for Bible

Studies for Life.

“YE SHALL BE WITNESSES …”Make a prayer list based on Acts 1:8. Write specific requests you can

pray throughout the coming week.

A prayer for my city: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A prayer for my nation: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A prayer for my world: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

How might God use you to answer your own prayer in each case?

9 4 S e S S i o n 7

LIVE IT OUT

GUIDE: Emphasize

The Point: The Holy Spirit

empowers us to spread the

gospel.

Review Live It Out (PSG,

p. 91; see text to the left).

Invite group members to think

about which application they

will pursue in the next week.

Wrap It Up

GUIDE: Comment that God’s

mission is unstoppable. His

Spirit who lives in you will help

you accomplish that which

seems impossible in the flesh

as you seek Him in prayer.

PRAY: Conclude by expressing

thanks for the blessing of the

Holy Spirit. Pray that each

person present would be

attentive to the Spirit’s leading

in order to take advantage of

the Spirit’s power in your lives.

Get expert insights on

weekly studies through the

Ministry Grid (MinistryGrid.

com/web/BibleStudiesFor

Life)

LIVE IT OUTActs 1:8 is our mission. It’s mine, and it’s yours. It may seem like an impossible mandate, but we can fulfill that mission by relying on the power of the Holy Spirit. Consider one or more of the following applications to live out His mandate this week.

> Accept the mission. Recognize Jesus has commanded you to be His witness wherever you go and wherever He sends you. Say “yes” to Jesus and then ask Him when and where.

> Embrace the gift. Understand the Holy Spirit is the source of your strength to be the witness God has called you to be. Rely on Him for guidance and power.

> Pray together. Make prayer a priority with your Bible study group, not an afterthought. Consider meeting with another member this week for coffee or tea and time of prayer.

God’s mission is unstoppable—and so is the Spirit He’s placed within you. Remember His mission is your mission—and it starts with prayer.

5 minutes

95

GET INTO THE STUDY

GUIDE: Direct the group

to look at the picture (PSG,

p. 92).


p. 92): What often gets you

sidetracked during the day?

GUIDE: Call attention to

The Bible Meets Life (PSG,

p. 93). Invite a volunteer to

read the original mission

statement of Harvard

University. Then note how far

the institution has drifted from

its original purpose.

OPTION: Begin this activity

by asking group members to

identify major companies or

brands represented within

your group. Examples could

include phone manufacturers

(Apple®), coffee companies

(Starbucks®), clothing brands

(Levi’s®), and so on. Once

your group has identified

several companies and brands,

encourage members to

identify the message behind

those brands. What are they

trying to accomplish with

their message?

SESSION 8

UNSTOPPABLE MESSAGE

The PointJesus died for our sins, rose again,

and reigns as Lord.

The Bible Meets LifeThere are many good groups and

organizations in our communities

seeking to benefit society in

some way. The church, however,

is unique. Many organizations

are short-lived or diminish as the need they seek to meet is realized. Or they

change when the leadership changes. The church is different. Christ gave His

church one unchanging message to proclaim: the message of salvation in

Christ.

The PassageActs 2:22-24,32-33,36-38

The SettingAfter Jesus’ ascension, the disciples followed His command to return to

Jerusalem to await the coming of the Holy Spirit. Gathered together on the

Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon them with the sound of a

violent rushing wind and the appearance of flames, like tongues of fire. The

disciples began to speak in different languages, which the Jews gathered for

Pentecost from the various nations could comprehend in their own languages

(Acts 2:1-6). The crowd was amazed and Peter took this opportunity to tell

them about Jesus and the good news of the gospel.

5 minutes

9 6 S e S S i o n 8


Acts 2:22-24

22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a

man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders

and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye

yourselves also know:

23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and

foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands

have crucified and slain:

24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of

death: because it was not possible that he should be holden

of it.

KEY WORDS

miracles and wonders and signs (v. 22)—Miracles show the power of God.

Wonders emphasizes the response of people who witness miracles. Signs are

intended to point back to God.

Jesus died and rose again to bring salvation.

Verse 22. On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came in power just as Jesus had promised. The believers in Jerusalem who were empowered by the Spirit spoke in many other languages and drew the attention of a crowd. While some people ridiculed what they heard and saw, others were astonished by the experience and wondered aloud what it all meant. Peter seized the moment and spoke to the crowd to help them correctly interpret the events (Acts 2:1-21).

Most if not all in the crowd were Jews. Jerusalem was teeming with people during that time, not only those who lived in the city and throughout Judaea but also Jews who lived in other countries throughout the Mediterranean world. They had come to celebrate the Feast of Weeks (Ex. 23:16; 34:22; Lev. 23:15-21). This holy day, also known as Pentecost, came 50 days after Passover and was one of the three most important festivals in the Jewish year.

Peter began by quoting a passage from the prophet Joel that explained and confirmed what they had seen and heard that day (Acts 2:17-21; Joel 2:28-32). Then he boldly directed the men of Israel to hear him—to pay attention and understand what he was about to say. In what is considered

GUIDE: Introduce The Point

(PSG, p. 93): Jesus died for

our sins, rose again, and

reigns as Lord.

PRAY: Begin your prayer by

declaring your faith in Jesus’

life, death, and resurrection.

As you engage the Scriptures,

ask the Holy Spirit to grant

each group member a fresh

understanding of God’s

message for the world.


GUIDE: Introduce the focal

passage by sharing the

information found in The

Setting (p. 96).


read Acts 2:22-24.

10 minutes

97

THE POINT

GUIDE: Call attention to the

KEY WORDS feature on PSG

page 94. Invite a volunteer to

read the information.

Emphasize that God chose

Jesus for a unique position—a

role no one else could fill. In

addition, God worked in and

through Jesus’ humanity to

prove who He really was. The

people who had encountered

Jesus would not have

forgotten the astonishing and

overwhelming things He did

among them.

SUMMARIZE: In verse 23,

Peter’s message holds two

truths that some people tend

to set against each other:

God’s sovereignty and man’s

responsibility. The cross was

“delivered by the determinate

counsel and foreknowledge of

God” (v. 23), yet lawless people

killed Jesus. God is in control,

but the men involved are held

responsible for their deeds.

God planned for the death of

His Son because there was no

other way for sinful people—

those who were His enemies—

to be in a right relationship

with Him. Stress that we all are

responsible for Jesus’ death.

the first Christian sermon, Peter started by calling attention to Jesus. Undoubtedly, many in the crowd had known about Jesus Christ. Jesus’ words and actions caught the attention of multitudes, and many people had followed Him.

Even so, because so many were visiting in the city during that time, Peter clarified that Jesus was of Nazareth, a town in the region of Galilee. Jesus was sometimes identified as the Nazarene during His earthly ministry. When He was crucified, “Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS” (John 19:19), much to the consternation of the religious leaders (vv. 20-22).

Rather than jumping immediately to the reality that Jesus is the Messiah, Peter reminded his hearers of basic truths they already knew or things they could confirm. Peter thus emphasized that Jesus was a man. Thousands of people had encountered Him in Judaea, Galilee, and Samaria during the previous three years. So while any skeptic could have questioned Jesus’ Deity, no one could question His humanity.

Although Jesus was a man, He was far from ordinary. So Peter went on to note that Jesus was approved of God. This phrase translates a Greek term that originally came from the political realm, where it referred to someone who already had been chosen or elected to an office, but had not yet begun to serve. But the word also carries the sense of showing or proving a person’s identity. Certainly both meanings of the word apply to Jesus. God chose Him for a unique position—a role no one else could fill. God also worked in and through Jesus’ humanity to prove who He really was. But it was only in His death and resurrection that Jesus would bring to fruition the full significance of His role as Messiah.

Peter reminded the people of the miracles and wonders and signs done by Jesus. Miracles show the power of God. Wonders emphasize the response of people who witness miracles. Signs are intended to point back to God. The people who had encountered Jesus would not have forgotten the astonishing and overwhelming things He did among them. It was these miracles that caused many people to follow Jesus, either for what they could receive, such as healing or food, or perhaps just to see what He would do next. But not everyone who followed Him had a genuine interest in Him. Many Jewish religious leaders followed Him with sinister motives, either hoping to catch Him violating the law or trying to trap Him with words they

Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and reigns as Lord.

9 8 S e S S i o n 8

Jesus’ resurrection was also

part of God’s plan from the

beginning. Jesus’ resurrection

broke the hold death had on

humanity.


p. 95): What can we learn

from Peter’s approach to

sharing the gospel?

(Alternate: What are the

essentials of the gospel

message?)

NOTE: Encourage group

members to look for practical

applications among verses

22-24. What can we learn from

Peter’s sermon that will help us

do a better job of speaking the

truth about Jesus?

TRANSITION: “In verses 22-24,

Peter emphasized the major

events of Jesus’ death and

resurrection. As we move to

verses 32-33 and 36, we’ll see

Peter’s emphasis on Jesus’

proper place as Lord.”

considered blasphemous. But while the religious leaders claimed Jesus’ power to do supernatural works came from the Devil (Matt. 9:34; Mark 3:22), the Jewish people generally were in awe of what Jesus did, and many thought God was working through Him. Some believed He was a mighty prophet because of the miraculous things He did that were reminiscent of Elisha or Elijah (Luke 7:16).

Verse 23. Despite the admiration many of the Jews in Judaea had for Jesus, Peter emphasized that they played a role in His death. The Jewish religious leaders had wanted to get rid of Jesus for some time because He did not follow their traditions and He threatened their popularity and position. Finally they arrested Jesus and had their own pretense of a trial. And after their sham trial, they delivered Jesus to those who could carry out their ultimate desire. The Jews used wicked men; that is, the Romans, who did not have the Mosaic law, to kill Jesus. And though the civil authorities found no cause to put Him to death, the Jewish leaders incited the crowd to call for Jesus to be crucified. Peter emphasized the brutal Roman method of execution where a condemned man was nailed to a cross and forced to suffer in agony, often slowly suffocating for hours and hours before death finally came. So while the Jewish leaders plotted to put Jesus to death and the Romans carried out the sentence, the Jewish people also bore the responsibility for what had happened. They, of all people, should have recognized who Jesus was—God’s Messiah.

Though most people who knew Jesus did not anticipate His death (despite His repeated teaching about it), God was not caught off guard. God not only anticipated it, He also prepared for it “before the foundation of the world” (1 Pet. 1:20). The arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus was all carried out by the determinate counsel and the foreknowledge of God. The Greek word for determinate refers to something appointed or decreed. And the word for counsel emphasizes God’s will; that is, His sovereign purpose that will be fulfilled. God had not only decreed that Jesus would die but also set the appointed time for it to happen (Gal. 4:4-5).

While Peter did not elaborate on this plan, it was part of God’s purpose to make atonement for the sins of humanity. God planned for the death of His Son because there was no other way for sinful people—those who were His enemies—to be in a right relationship with Him.

Verse 24. The death of Jesus, however, was not the end. Peter stressed that God hath raised [him] up—restored Jesus to life again. This was also part of God’s plan for the salvation of humanity. Death is certainly humanity’s most common

9 9

THE POINT

STUDY THE BIBLEActs 2:32-33,36


read Acts 2:32-33,36.

GUIDE: Encourage group

members to read the story

of Polycarp’s confession on

PSG page 96. Note that

persecution of Christians is still

taking place around the world.


(PSG, p. 96): What are the

personal implications of

recognizing Jesus as Lord?

SUMMARIZE: Highlight the

major points from page 96-97

of the PSG:

“When the Romans called

Caesar kurios, they were using

that term in its highest sense:

to signify divinity.”

fear and may in fact be what we fear most. It is distressing to consider and often agonizing to experience—certainly this was true for Jesus. But God loosed the pains of death Jesus experienced, both physically and emotionally. Because He was restored to life He would never again endure that pain. The Greek word for pains may have a connection to the Hebrew term that originally meant “cords” or “restraints.” Peter also could have used the word as a reminder that just as Jesus was freed from the cords of death that held Him, Jesus’ resurrection broke the hold death had on humanity.

Why was it not possible for death to hold Jesus in its grip? Because His death and resurrection were a part of God’s unstoppable plan! God had chosen Jesus for His unique position as Messiah to make salvation possible for all humanity—a truth Peter would clarify soon enough. Nothing, not even death itself, could hinder God’s purpose!

Acts 2:32-33,36

32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are

witnesses.

33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and

having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost,

he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that

God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified,

both Lord and Christ.

Jesus is exalted as Lord.

Verse 32. In Acts 2:25-31, Peter declared David was a prophet because he had proclaimed God’s plan in Psalm 16. Then the apostle noted indeed this Jesus hath God raised up from the dead just as He had planned. The resurrection of Jesus was the primary focus of the apostles’ preaching after Pentecost. That’s because the resurrection is the foundational truth of the Christian faith. It provides assurance that Jesus’


15 minutes

10 0 S e S S i o n 8

“Peter used the term at the

climax of his sermon in Acts

2:36 to describe the absolute

sovereignty of Jesus Christ:

‘Therefore let all the house of

Israel know assuredly, that God

hath made that same Jesus,

whom ye have crucified, both

Lord and Christ.’”

“Jesus, ‘being by the right

hand of God exalted’; with the

Father (v. 33), He sits in the

most authoritative, sovereign

position in the universe.”

“Jesus is Lord, equal with God;

that is central to the gospel

message.”


(PSG, p. 97): What are the

worldwide implications that

God has made Jesus Lord?

(Alternate: What can cause

people to struggle with the

certainty that Jesus is Lord?)


with Acts 2:37-38, we’ll learn

what Peter wanted his listeners

to do after hearing the truth of

the gospel.”

sacrificial death brought victory over sin and death for all who believe. Paul later noted that if the resurrection did not happen then our faith is “vain” (1 Cor. 15:17) and all humanity is still held captive by the guilt and power of sin.

But Jesus’ resurrection did happen! Peter added that he and the other apostles were witnesses of it. They not only saw Jesus die on the cross; they also saw Him alive again after being dead for three days. While the other eleven apostles were standing with Peter in front of the crowd (Acts 2:14), the witnesses also could have included many of the 120 who were gathered together when the Holy Spirit came upon them (1:15). Scripture confirms that Jesus appeared to over 500 people after His resurrection (1 Cor. 15:6), so many others could have testified as well to the truth of the resurrection.

Verse 33. Peter still went on, however, to proclaim even more than Jesus’ resurrection. He was, after all, no longer walking on earth as one who had simply been resuscitated from death only to die again at a later date. Instead, Jesus had ascended into heaven where He is living still and where He has been by the right hand of God exalted.

The person seated at right hand of a king was in a position associated with great power and authority. On the morning of His crucifixion, as He endured the pretense of a trial before the Jewish religious leaders, Jesus prophesied that He would soon sit in this exalted position “on the right hand of the power of God” (Luke 22:69). This is the place Jesus now occupies in heaven as He reigns with His Father over God’s kingdom and over all creation.

In this powerful position Jesus received the Holy Ghost and the authority to distribute the Spirit to others in accordance with God’s promise. Thus, like water is shed forth from above and floods whatever is below, God’s Spirit was poured out from heaven and engulfed the believers gathered in the room in Jerusalem. Peter went on to emphasize that what the people of Israel saw and heard that day—the Spirit’s powerful activity that enabled the believers “to speak with other tongues” (Acts 2:4)—was clear evidence of Jesus’ identity and authority. Only the One chosen and exalted by God the Father, acting on His behalf, could have freely poured out the Holy Spirit in fulfillment of prophecy.

Verse 36. Point by point, Peter had carefully constructed his sermon using prophetic Scripture, the Jewish people’s knowledge of events, the apostles’ personal experience, and the activity of God’s Spirit. Now he reached the climactic point of his message—revealing the full identity of that same Jesus he had been proclaiming to them.

101

THE POINT



read Acts 2:37-38.

SUMMARIZE: In the original

Greek, Luke’s words actually

meant they were “cut to the

heart.” These people didn’t

merely feel bad or ashamed;

they were filled with anguish

and horror over the sin of

having rejected and crucified

the Messiah.

When we share the gospel,

our goal should not be to

make people feel guilty or

condemned, but to open their

hearts to the conviction of the

Holy Spirit.

Explain the difference between

condemnation and conviction.

Condemnation brings

a general feeling of

worthlessness. It can paralyze

you from realizing God’s

love and plan for your life.

Condemnation leaves you

feeling powerless and

immobilized.

In a powerful summation Peter emphasized a point he did not want the house of Israel to miss. (The Greek word for house refers to a family or lineage; in this case Peter was referring to the patriarch Israel’s descendants.) All of them needed to know assuredly the truth about Jesus. Peter’s conclusion contrasted the difference between how the Jewish people responded to Jesus and how God responded to Him. God has exalted Jesus as both Lord and Christ. The people, however, had crucified Jesus like a common criminal.

In referring to Jesus as Lord, Peter reached the climax of his message. Some Jews might have questioned Peter’s reasoning that led to his conclusion that Jesus was the Christ. But the apostle had gone even further to insist that Jesus was in fact Lord. More than simply a designation of respect (as it was sometimes used in the Bible), the word Lord here indicated the divine nature of Jesus. Earlier Jesus had claimed equality with God; and the Jews tried to stone Him (John 10:30-33). Now Peter took a bold step and insisted that Jesus was truly God.

In the Greek, the words in verse 36 are reordered; the verse ends with the words whom ye have crucified. Perhaps Peter ordered his words intentionally, wanting the people to bear the weight of guilt and responsibility for their actions: they had actually killed the Lord Himself.

Acts 2:37-38

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their

heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles,

Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every

one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of

sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

KEY WORDS

repent (v. 38)—In the New Testament, repent means to change one’s mind in

the sense of turning away from sin and self and turning to God (Jesus), making

God (Jesus) the center of one’s life.


10 minutes

102 S e S S i o n 8

Conviction brings awareness

of specific sins, attitudes, and

habits in your life that need to

be changed. When the Holy

Spirit convicts you, it is with

the loving desire that you turn

from sin and turn to Christ.

Conviction motivates and

encourages you to change.


commentary 1 to clarify

Peter’s statement: “Repent,

and be baptized … for the

remission of sins” (v. 38).


(PSG, p. 99): As we share

the gospel, how can we

work toward the goal of

conviction rather than

condemnation?

(Alternate: When is it a struggle

to know with certainty that

Jesus is Lord?)


their responses to the activity

“Signs of Life” (PSG, p. 100).

The message of Christ calls for a response.

Verse 37. What the Jews experienced that day was more than just well-crafted words of Peter’s sermon. While they had seen evidence of the Spirit at work in the lives of believers, now they experienced Him at work in their own lives.

On the night before His death, Jesus told His disciples about “the Comforter” He would “send …unto” them and promised this “Spirit of truth” would “reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:7-8,13). Now on the day of Pentecost, with thousands of Jews from around the world gathered in Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit carried out His assignment as the people who heard Peter’s message were pricked in their heart. Peter’s words, like a dagger driven deep into their hearts, brought intense emotional pain as the Jewish people realized the enormity of their sin.

It was natural that they wanted a solution to their problem. So they said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Verse 38. The solution to their problem, Peter said, was to repent. They needed to change their thinking, especially about Jesus, sin, and salvation. To repent in their thinking about Jesus, they needed to acknowledge Him as Lord and Messiah. To repent in their thinking about sin, they needed to understand sin separates us from God and Jesus provided the perfect, final sacrifice for our sin. To repent in their thinking about salvation they needed to know that faith in Jesus is the only way to come into right relationship with the Father and experience eternal life.

The biblical usage of repent also refers to a change of action—not only thinking differently but also acting on this new belief. Thus, Peter added that every one of them needed to be baptized. Baptism is an outward picture of an inward change that has happened to a person. Thus, after the people changed their thinking about Jesus, sin, and salvation they were to give evidence of that change by being baptized. Both repentance and baptism were familiar to the Jews. John the Baptist called for both as he prepared the Jewish people for the coming of the Messiah (Luke 3:1-18).

Being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ means acknowledging His identity and accepting His authority. Peter had challenged the Jewish people with the truth that Jesus is Messiah and Lord. For them to be baptized in Jesus’ name would reflect their newfound commitment to Christ.

1 This is the only place in the Book of Acts where there is any question about the relationship of repentance, baptism, and the remission of sins. The misunderstanding

103

THE POINT

SHARING THE GOOD NEWSThe message all people

must respond to is the call

of Christ to turn to Him in

faith to receive forgiveness

of sin and the free gift of

eternal life.











to Christ.









comes from the Greek word translated for, which in the New Testament can indicate either requirement (purpose) or result (basis). Thus some have incorrectly interpreted this verse to teach that baptism is necessary to receive forgiveness of sins. But this is not taught anywhere else. On a different occasion not long after Pentecost, Peter specifically charged people to “repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19), with nary a mention of baptism. At other times Peter preached belief in Jesus (10:43); Jesus Himself taught faith (26:18) as the basis for remission (forgiveness of) sins. Thus we should understand that 2:38 says remission of sins is a result of repentance, and baptism is the outward demonstration of the changed mind and life.

To those who experienced salvation, Peter noted they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus would give them His Spirit. This was the One God had promised, the Spirit who had come upon the disciples earlier that day in the upper room (2:1-4). This gift does not refer to special manifestations of the Spirit (which are His gifts), but instead to His indwelling presence in believers’ lives.

A previous Biblical Illustrator article “Peter’s Messages” (Fall 2000) relates to this

lesson and can be purchased, along with other articles for this quarter, at

www.lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator. Look for Biblical Illustrator for Bible Studies

for Life.

SIGNS OF LIFEList some of the things God used to call you to repentance and

new life in Christ:

Now list evidence that God indeed saved you and gave you

new life:

How can you use these details as a witness to call others to

repentance and faith?

10 4 S e S S i o n 8

LIVE IT OUT

GUIDE: Emphasize The Point:

Jesus died for our sins, rose

again, and reigns as Lord.

Review Live It Out (PSG,

p. 101; see text to the left).

Encourage each group

member to commit to follow

through this week with at least

one of the applications.

Wrap It Up

GUIDE: Emphasize that

all people need to hear

the message of love and

forgiveness through faith

in Christ.

PRAY: Conclude by praising

Jesus for His sacrifice on your

behalf. Verbally proclaim

your commitment to follow

Him daily as Lord, and ask for

strength and wisdom for both

you and your group members

in striving toward that goal.”

Grow with other group

leaders at the Groups

Ministry blog (lifeway.com/

groupministry).

LIVE IT OUTHow will the unstoppable message of the gospel influence your life this week? Consider the following applications:

> Focus. Evaluate the focus of your spiritual life. Are you focused on Jesus or on programs; activities, or your own interests? Determine one way you will support your church in spreading the message of Jesus, whether it’s inviting someone to church, volunteering to help in the nursery, or something else.

> Develop. Improve your skill at sharing the message of Jesus. Take an evangelism class at your church or read a book on how to share your faith. Of course, there is no better way to hone your witnessing skills than by witnessing.

> Share. The message of salvation is for all Christians to share. Pray for opportunities to share the message of Jesus in your everyday conversations. Consider asking one of the members of the group to go with you this week.

Let’s avoid the dangers of “mission drift,” both in our lives and in our churches. Let’s not forget that the message of Jesus Christ and His salvation is the reason for everything we do.

5 minutes

105

GET INTO THE STUDY

GUIDE: Lead members to look

at the picture (PSG, p. 106).


p. 106): What are some

employee benefits that

would get you excited?

NOTE: Encourage members

to use their imaginations when

brainstorming these benefits.

(Their choices are not limited

to existing perks or benefits.)

GUIDE: Direct attention to

The Bible Meets Life (PSG,

p. 107). Note the list of

company benefits.

Introduce The Point (PSG,

p. 107): Loving people is

a powerful expression of

loving God.

PRAY: Transition into the

discussion by thanking God

for the opportunity to study

His Word and learn about the

community of the early church.

Ask for wisdom as you and

your group members engage

the text.

SESSION 9

UNSTOPPABLE LOVE

The PointLoving people is a powerful

expression of loving God.

The Bible Meets LifeThe United States is well known

for its humanitarian aid to other

countries, and its citizens give to

a host of organizations seeking to

alleviate various forms of suffering.

While the motives for giving to these groups may vary, giving within the

church is motivated by love: a love for Christ expressed in love for the person.

Out of their common love for Jesus, the early church expressed love for each

other.

The PassageActs 2:41-47

The SettingOn the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples of

Jesus. Empowered by the Spirit to speak to the Jews present in Jerusalem

for Pentecost in their own languages, the people were amazed and Peter

preached to them, telling them about Jesus and the good news of the gospel.

Acts 2:41-47 details that about 3,000 people believed after Peter’s sermon and

describes the growth of the early church.

5 minutes

10 6 S e S S i o n 9


Acts 2:41-42

41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized:

and the same day there were added unto them about three

thousand souls.

42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine

and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

KEY WORDS

fellowship (v. 42)—The Greek word koinonia comes from a root word

meaning “common.” In this context, koinonia expresses shared interests and

concerns, full engagement in a community of believers.

breaking of bread (v. 42)—Most likely this refers to the Lord’s Supper, which

is a reminder of Christ’s body and blood sacrificed for the salvation of those

who place their faith in Him.

Unstoppable love meets spiritual needs.

Verse 41. On the day of Pentecost, the people in Jerusalem witnessed the powerful activity of the Holy Spirit. Then they heard a clear and powerful message from Peter explaining the events. The Holy Spirit empowered Peter’s words and brought conviction to the people. This led to Peter’s call for them to accept God’s offer of salvation and be baptized (Acts 2:1-40).

As a result, many Jews received his word. The Greek word for received carries the idea of coming to believe something is true and then acting on that belief. The people turned (repented) from their old thinking and wholeheartedly believed what Peter had said—the truth about Jesus, sin, and salvation.

Those who believed then were baptized. The Greek term translated baptized means “to immerse” or “submerge.” Baptism is an outward symbol of an inward transformation. It was a reflection of what had just happened to these new believers, whose thinking, especially about Jesus, had changed. They now acknowledged that Jesus is more than a man who died; He is in fact the resurrected Savior and Lord—their Messiah—who reigns with His Father in heaven. Baptism identified them as followers of Jesus—people who had died to their old way of life and entered into a new life where Jesus was their focus. As His disciples they would continue to learn and obey what Jesus had said.


GUIDE: Remind the group that

they learned in the previous

session about the powerful

message Peter proclaimed on

the day of Pentecost. Use the

information in The Setting

(p. 106) to introduce the focal

passage.


Acts 2:41-42.


p. 108): What aspects of

church life have been

especially meaningful

to you?

15 minutes

107

THE POINT

GUIDE: Call attention to the

“Digging Deeper” feature

(PSG, pg. 109). Emphasize

the role that fellowship and

the breaking of bread had in

sustaining the early church.

GUIDE: Focus on verse 42

and the believers’ devotion

to prayer.

Point out the line on PSG page

110 that reads:

“The reason we don’t pray

is not because we’re too

busy, but because we’re too

confident.”

Compare prayer with

breathing. Prayer is not

something we do when

we’ve tried everything else

or become desperate. Rather

it should be a natural part of

our lives that sustains us as

we “pray without ceasing”

(1 Thess. 5:17).

“In those days” following the resurrection of Christ the number of believers had grown to “about an hundred and twenty” (Acts 1:15). But after Peter’s message on Pentecost, Luke noted that there were added unto them about three thousand souls who became followers of Christ. This incredible response to the gospel was a reminder of what Jesus had promised—“He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” (John 14:12).

Verse 42. The events noted in verses 42-47 occur over an extended period of time. During this time the new community of believers was developing and growing. Their fellowship was characterized by several distinctive activities. Indeed, Luke wrote that they continued stedfastly in these pursuits. The phrase expresses more than a mere interest in something or even a short-lived loyalty to it. Instead, it implies that the believers gave dedicated attention to these actions and persistently focused on doing them day-by-day.

The goal of Peter’s preaching on Pentecost was not simply to lead people to accept Christ as Savior. Instead, he and the other disciples were focused on making new disciples as Jesus had commanded them to do (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8). A disciple is first a learner, which is why the apostles’ doctrine was an essential element in the new community. On a daily basis the apostles taught the new believers what they had learned from Jesus, as their goal was to help believers become more like Jesus. This apostolic instruction could have included Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled in Christ; Jesus’ death and resurrection; as well as what Jesus taught about God and His kingdom including faith, prayer, giving, relationships, and priorities. The apostles most certainly shared personal stories about Jesus’ life and ministry that served as examples to believers and gave direction for the disciples’ lives.

The New Testament letters and books we have from Paul, Peter, James, and others may be much like what the apostles taught new believers in the months after Pentecost. In these writings we see key doctrines that are important for believers to understand as well as specific guidance for putting scriptural knowledge into practice in daily life. The apostles’ letters (and thus their teachings) are a reminder that true learning does not happen apart from both

Loving people is a powerful expression of loving God.

10 8 S e S S i o n 9

DISCUSS: Focus on the theme

of prayer by highlighting the

main points from page 110 in

the PSG:

“Prayer is the key to

effective evangelism.

We don’t change

people’s hearts with our

convincing arguments or

clever presentations.”

“Prayer allows God to

change me—the one

praying.”

“Praying for others leads

to caring for others.”


p. 110): In what ways have

you seen or experienced the

transformational power of

prayer?

(Alternate: What do we learn

about the practices of the early

church in this passage?)

TRANSITION: “As we continue

with verses 43-45, we’ll get a

deeper look at some of the

characteristics that made the

early church so influential.”

information and application. Jesus emphasized this at the close of His Sermon on the Mount when He said that sensible people act upon what they hear from Him, building a solid foundation for life that prepares them for whatever may come (Matt. 7:24-27). Jesus also noted that obedience to His commands is actually an expression of a person’s love for Him (John 14:15,23).

The new community of believers also devoted itself to fellowship. This means more than just eating a meal together, as the contemporary use of the word often implies. The Greek word, koinonia, points to believers’ unity with Christ or with each other. This is highlighted in all the common elements of Christianity. Believers have a common relationship with God through faith in Christ and we share His Spirit who lives within each of us. Believers also have a common focus of loving God and loving others. And believers have a common mission of growing in their faith and helping others know Jesus and grow as His disciples. The believers in Jerusalem expressed their unity in actions—which could have included worshiping God together, eating meals together, being physically present and emotionally supportive in times of distress, and even giving material possessions to help meet others’ needs.

Another common action the followers carried out consistently was the breaking of bread. Beyond a regular meal, this most likely was a celebration of the Lord’s Supper. This ordinance Jesus initiated on the night before His crucifixion prompts believers to remember Him and what He did for us (Luke 22:14-20). It represents God’s new covenant that was initiated by Christ’s sacrifice. It also symbolizes the believer’s communion (relationship) with Christ and with others in His body—the church.

Finally, their devotion to prayers characterized the new believers. This could refer to specific prayers, such as the scheduled Jewish prayer times at the temple. Acts 3:1 makes the point that “Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.” so it is entirely possible that the believers, who were Jews, continued to participate in these Jewish prayer services.

But most certainly the believers also prayed with and for each other as they met together in homes. These surely would have been more than memorized prayers like those that would have been offered in the temple service; it makes sense to think Jesus’ followers would have included prayers for unity, boldness, wisdom, provision, guidance, and strength.

10 9

THE POINT



verses 43-45.

GUIDE: Emphasize that

these believers didn’t just

meet together to pray and

worship. Verses 43-45 show

how they provided for one

another’s needs. Call attention

to the bullet points on PSG,

page 111. Note these three

prominent characteristics:

• Unity. They “were together,

and had all things common”;

• Selflessness. They “sold their

possessions and goods”;

• Mutual care. They “parted

them to all men, as every

man had need.”

Point out that caring for

people is a wonderful way

to open a conversation

with someone about Jesus

Christ. When people see your

sincerity, they’re more willing

to listen to you.

Acts 2:43-45

43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and

signs were done by the apostles.

44 And all that believed were together, and had all things

common;

45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to

all men, as every man had need.

Unstoppable love meets physical needs.

Verse 43. Because of all that was happening in and through the believers, Luke noted that a sense of fear came upon every soul. This was not the feeling of dread or panic people experience when they are afraid. Instead, it refers to a deep respect, admiration, or reverence. It was not just a one-time occurrence either. The verb suggests an ongoing action—everyone continued to experience this reverent awe. Surely the believers were amazed and probably even overwhelmed by what God was doing in and through them. But likely the response refers more to those who were not believers, especially Jews in Jerusalem who witnessed the work of God in ways they might never have seen before.

Part of what they witnessed or heard about was the many wonders and signs that God did by the apostles. These were miraculous actions similar to those done by Jesus that met physical needs, demonstrated the power of God, and pointed people to God. The word wonders indicates and is associated with the people’s reaction, while signs is a word used to point to the miracles’ Source. The miracles were intended as directional markers that pointed people to God. This is important because it was God who was doing these miracles. The apostles were simply the human vessels through which He worked. These wonders and signs were a reminder of Joel’s prophecy of the last days that Peter proclaimed on Pentecost: God was carrying out “wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath” (Acts 2:19).

1 Verse 44. This summary verse from Luke was another reminder of the close fellowship of the fledgling church. To emphasize the unity of the Christian community, Luke


10 minutes

110 S e S S i o n 9


commentary 1 to help

the group understand the

voluntary nature of the sharing

that was going on among the

believers.


p. 112): What would it look

like for our group to practice

the extravagant love we see

in this passage?

(Alternate: How can you describe

a healthy balance between

giving and keeping in today’s

world?)


with verses 46-47, notice the

attitude of the early church

members as they joined

together as the people of

God.”

remarked that all that believed were together. This could simply mean that the believers met together on a regular basis. But it also may suggest some actually shared their homes with other believers. The Christians also had all things common. Ancient Greek thought suggested the concept of an ideal society in which the people held everything in common and shared equally all things. Unfortunately, this thinking eventually gave rise to the tenets of modern communism where such sharing is forced on a group of people. But for the early disciples, this type of sharing was not forced. Rather, it apparently was a completely voluntary action they engaged in because of their love and concern for one another.

This kind of community wasn’t a new concept to the Jews of that time, however. A Jewish religious group, who lived in an isolated community in a place known as Qumran near the Dead Sea, practiced a form of communal life that was characterized by self-denial. In addition, Jesus and His disciples had a common money bag in which they kept their shared finances to provide for their needs (John 12:6; 13:29). Perhaps the believers after Pentecost followed this practice and had a similar community fund where giving and receiving were ongoing practices.

Verse 45. Poverty was a reality throughout Judaea and Galilee during the first century. It is likely that at least some of those who became believers during that time were already living in poverty before they trusted in Jesus. They were thus dependent on the generosity of others. And those who had come from other towns or countries but remained in Jerusalem, perhaps anticipating the Lord’s imminent return, may have found only marginal work after Pentecost, which would have added to the number of people who did not have adequate provisions.

Because of their love for each other, the disciples determined to take care of every man who had need. To that end, they willingly sold their possessions and goods to help meet one another’s physical needs. Again, no follower was required or commanded to do such a thing, as seen in the tragic story of Ananias and Sapphira that happened sometime later (Acts 5:1-11). This deceitful couple sold some property and gave a portion of the proceeds to the community of believers but lied about how much they had received. Peter confronted their dishonesty by asking Ananias, “Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this

111

THE POINT



verses 46-47.

SUMMARIZE: The early church

prayed and cared for others.

Perhaps if they had done only

these two things—nothing

more—none of us would

know about Jesus.

At some point, in addition to

praying for people and helping

them, they had to tell them

about Jesus—who He is and

why He lived, died, and rose

again. They had to voice the

message behind their love and

caring acts. Deeds need words

to make effective evangelism.

thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.” (vv. 3-4). His piercing questions stress that owning possessions was not wrong in the community of Christ. Both Ananias and Sapphira fell dead, not for their desire to have material wealth, but for lying to God. Even so, the believers were to maintain a loose grip on their property and possessions, allowing God to use whatever they had when a need was among them.

Acts 2:46-47

46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple,

and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat

with gladness and singleness of heart,

47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And

the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Unstoppable love creates opportunities to share the gospel.

Verse 46. The believers continued to meet daily with one accord in the temple. Herod’s temple was a vast complex of courts, chambers, porches, and other structures. Different areas in the temple were reserved for different groups of people—whether Gentiles, women, Jewish men, or priests. One area, known as Solomon’s porch (Acts 3:11; 5:12), seems to have been a common gathering place for the believers when they were in the temple complex.

The mention of the temple is a reminder that the believers at this time still saw themselves as Jews. They had accepted Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah but they still held to many of the fundamental beliefs of Judaism and continued to observe many of the Jewish practices. This became a problem later, however, as controversies arose between Jewish and Gentile believers about clean and unclean foods (Acts 10:9–11:18), as well as circumcision and other elements of the Mosaic law (15:1-35).

Even as the believers met together in the temple courts, they had in mind their witness to Jews who were not followers of Christ. Every day crowds of Jews came to the temple to participate in worship, so it was natural for the


10 minutes

112 S e S S i o n 9


(PSG, p. 114): Loving others

involves praying, caring,

and sharing. In which of

these areas would you like

to grow?

(Alternate: When have you

met a need and seen it open

a conversation about faith or

Jesus?)

DO: Invite volunteers to

share their responses to the

activity, “The Fellowship of

Believers” (PSG, p. 114).

believers to gather there. And it was a natural place to share their faith. They wanted others to experience the forgiveness and life they knew because of their relationship with God through faith in His Son Jesus.

Luke mentioned that the believers were devoted to their fellowship gatherings. They made it a high priority to spend time with each other, and they naturally spent part of that time in the temple. Two worship services were held in the temple in which sacrifices were made, prayers were offered, and blessings were bestowed upon the people. One was held early in the morning and the other at the ninth hour (about 3 p.m.). The followers of Christ could have met there with other believers at one or both services, or at another time during the day.

While public, larger group gatherings in the temple were vital to the people, it was just as important for the believers to spend time together outside the temple. Thus, they also gathered from house to house; that is, in many different homes throughout the city. In was in these small, intimate groups where they were breaking bread and where they did eat their meat. This probably refers to a regular meal, which may have concluded with an observance of the Lord’s Supper. Such combination meals, known as “feasts of charity” (Jude 12), apparently were a regular practice for the early church. Some years later, when writing to the church at Corinth, Paul chastised believers whose selfish actions during the love feasts brought shame to them and division within the Corinthian church (1 Cor. 11:17-34).

But the early believers in Jerusalem needed no correction. Their love for one another and their unity in the faith resulted in gladness and singleness of heart within their fellowship. The gladness they experienced refers to extreme joy and exultation. The Greek phrase translated singleness of heart occurs in the New Testament only in this verse and literally means simplicity of heart. It carries the idea of sincere devotion; a mind-set focused solely on pleasing God.

Verse 47. One other notable characteristic of the believers was their time spent praising God. Their worship undoubtedly included thanks to God for all He had done for them—not only for the eternal life they experienced because of Jesus but also for the abundant life they enjoyed because of the Spirit’s presence within them.

The believers did not live their lives in isolation. The community of Christ was well-known throughout the city. Luke noted that they enjoyed the favour of all the people, that is, the unbelieving Jews in Jerusalem. The believers’ lives and their fellowship were characterized by great love,

113

THE POINT

SHARING THE GOOD NEWSThe blessing of loving God

and others begins when

we turn from our sin and

experience the love of God

in His free gift of grace

through faith in Christ.











to Christ.









and likely this was the key to the goodwill they received from outsiders. Their love was noteworthy and became a witness to others, just as Jesus had promised: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35).

The results of their sacrificial love and ongoing witness were astounding. The Holy Spirit empowered their witness, just as Jesus had promised in Acts 1:8, and daily people were being saved. As a result, the Lord added these new believers to the church.

Out of their common love for Jesus, believers in the early church expressed love for each other. And this love spread throughout Jerusalem as the believers loved their fellow Jews enough to share the good news of the gospel with them. As a result, the church continued to grow and was held in high regard even by those who were not part of it.

A previous Biblical Illustrator article “Herod’s Temple” (Winter 2014-2015) relates

to this lesson and can be purchased, along with other articles for this quarter,

at www.lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator. Look for Biblical Illustrator for Bible

Studies for Life.

THE FELLOWSHIP OF BELIEVERSChoose the words that best describe your church or group:

___ chaotic ___ fun ___ life changing

___ close ___ sharing ___ caring ___ warm

___ exciting ___ giving ___ praying

List some words that you would like to see describe your fellowship in

the coming years.

____________ ____________ ____________ ____________

How can God use you to contribute to that reality?

114 S e S S i o n 9

LIVE IT OUT

GUIDE: Emphasize

The Point: Loving people

is a powerful expression of

loving God.

GUIDE: Review Live It Out

(PSG, p. 115; see text to

the left). Encourage group

members to choose an

application that fits best with

what God is calling them to do.

Wrap It Up

GUIDE: Emphasize that Jesus

said people would know we

are His disciples because of

our love. Challenge group

members to evaluate the love

they have for others.

PRAY: Conclude by affirming

your desire for your group

to be a place where people

experience community and

the reality of God’s love. Pray

that each of you would take

advantage of opportunities to

express God’s love in the days

to come.

Additional ideas for your

group are available at

BibleStudiesFor Life.com/

blog.

LIVE IT OUTHow will you actively and intentionally show love to people this week? Consider the following applications:

> Prayer. Instead of merely taking an exercise walk through your neighborhood, take a prayer walk. Pray for the people who live in each house in your neighborhood. Pray for their spiritual, emotional, and financial needs—and pray especially for their salvation. Ask God to work in their lives and to use you as His chosen instrument to tell them about Jesus.

> Care. Actively look for someone in need this week. Determine to give sacrificially, whether of your time, money, or other resources to help that person in the name of Jesus.

> Share. Think of someone you’ve prayed for or helped in practical ways but never talked to about Jesus. Bring Jesus into your conversation with that person. Let them know your concern for them is motivated by the love of Christ in your life.

As members of the church, we have an opportunity to create a culture that’s much more attractive than anything a corporation could produce. But it starts with you. Choose to pray, care, and share as a witness of Christ.

5 minutes

115

GET INTO THE STUDY

GUIDE: Lead members to look

at the picture (PSG, p. 116).


p. 116): When has a “chance”

encounter changed your

life?

GUIDE: Direct attention

to The Bible Meets Life

(PSG, p. 117). Note the

huge significance a “chance”

meeting between Apple’s

founders has had on our world.

How much more significant

is it when God changes

someone’s eternal destiny

through a “chance” encounter?

Introduce The Point (PSG,

p. 117): We intersect daily

with people who need

Christ.

PRAY: Begin the group Bible

study with prayer. Ask God

for guidance to recognize

and take advantage of daily

opportunities we have to share

Christ with others.

SESSION 10

UNSTOPPABLE OPPORTUNITIES

The PointWe intersect daily with people who

need Christ.

The Bible Meets LifeWhenever you drive any distance

at all, you pass intersection after

intersection. Many times we just

pass through those intersections

without noticing what’s around.

These intersections are like our lives. Every day we intersect with people, but

we should take the time to notice them without simply passing by. God put us

on this pathway to impact and influence lives along our journey. Intersections

become opportunities.

The PassageActs 3:1-10

The SettingThe early Christian church in Jerusalem was comprised of Jews. Most if not all

of them continued to participate in the Jewish rituals and worship. One day,

as Peter and John were going up to the temple complex to take part in the

afternoon hour of prayer, they encountered a lame man begging at the temple

gate. They used this opportunity to demonstrate the power of Jesus Christ to

this lame man and all those present at the temple.

5 minutes

116 S e S S i o n 10

S U G G E S T E D U S E | N O V E M B E R 6 117

Acts 3:1-4

1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at

the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was

carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which

is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the

temple;

3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple

asked an alms.

4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said,

Look on us.

See the opportunity your intersections with people provide.

Verse 1. The love, unity, and witness of the first Christians was truly remarkable. In the closing paragraph of Acts 2, Luke provided a brief summary of the activities of the growing community of believers (Acts 2:43-47). They spent time together in each other’s homes. They met together in the temple on a daily basis. They took care of each other and provided for each other. And what came as a result of their new community was astounding. They enjoyed the goodwill of people in Jerusalem who weren’t believers. Every day new people were being saved. The apostles performed many miracles that resulted in awe and wonder in those who witnessed the events.

Chapter 3 gives specific details of one of those miraculous events that drew the attention of many people in Jerusalem. Along with attention came the first conflict experienced by the new community of faith. The focus in chapter 3 is on Peter and John. These two men, along with John’s brother James, were perhaps closest to Jesus among the Twelve who followed Him during His earthly ministry. They were the only disciples Jesus took with Him to the mountain for His transfiguration (Matt. 17:1). They were also the only ones to accompany Jesus when He raised to life the daughter of the synagogue leader (Luke 8:51). John was known as the disciple “Jesus loved” (John 13:23; 19:26; 21:7), while Peter typically was the spokesman for the disciples. Peter continued to have a prominent role in the Christian


GUIDE: Remind members that

the early believers were still

figuring out what it meant to

be Jews who followed Christ.

Use the information in The

Setting (p. 116) to introduce

the focal passage.


Acts 3:1-4.

GUIDE: Call attention to

verse 2 to describe the setting

for this encounter. Use Bible

commentary 1 and the

DIGGING DEEPER feature on

PSG page 119 for additional

help.

10 minutes

117

THE POINT

DISCUSS: Summarize the

information on PSG page 118:

Peter and John chose a busy

intersection on their way to

the temple in Jerusalem.

Three o’clock in the afternoon

was one of the times

designated daily for prayer,

and it was the time for one of

the two daily sacrifices.

Large crowds would be

coming to pray and offer

sacrifices at the temple.

Peter and John likely chose this

crowded time and place as a

forum to share the gospel. As

they approached the temple

gate, they saw a disabled

man begging from those who

passed.

Instead of hurrying past

him, Peter and John stopped

and did just what Jesus had

done—they looked at the man

as if no one else in the world

mattered at that moment.

Then they directed the man to

look at them.

community, as we see in the first 12 chapters of Acts; however, beginning in chapter 13, Luke moved the attention to center primarily on Paul in his journeys to take the gospel into other parts of the world.

One day Peter and John were on their way into the temple, apparently to participate in the hour of prayer that happened each day at the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.). This also was the time of the evening sacrifice. Jewish worship at the temple included not only a time of prayer but also the priestly blessing of the people.

Luke notes that the two apostles went up together, a reminder of the prominence of the temple in the city of Jerusalem. The temple complex included a number of courts, porches, structures, and buildings. Restrictions controlled who could go into the different areas: Gentiles (non-Jews), Jewish women, Jewish men, priests, or the high priest. Different gates or points of entry allowed access throughout the facility. Due to the design of the temple complex, depending on where an individual was, he or she might have to ascend or descend to go to the temple. However, the Jews generally spoke of going up to worship at the temple.

While both apostles were involved in this event, Peter was the only one who spoke. This leads some people to wonder why John was even mentioned. The apostles may have gone to the temple in pairs to witness as well as to worship. They likely learned this from Jesus, who had “appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two” on their mission to share the good news of the kingdom (Luke 10:1). This may have been done to fulfill the requirement of the law noted in Deuteronomy 19:15: “At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.”

1 Verse 2. One gate of the temple was known by the name Beautiful. While we know of no references to a gate of this name in either the Old Testament or in Jewish writings from the period, this may have been what was known as the Nicanor Gate in rabbinic literature. It is believed this massive gate made of Corinthian bronze was on the east side of the complex leading into the Court of Women from the Court of the Gentiles. The Jewish historian Josephus mentioned ten gates in the temple sanctuary in his writing titled Wars of the Jews. He described the fine craftsmanship and impressiveness of this gate compared with the other nine gates: “one gate that was without the [inward court of the] holy house, which was of Corinthian

We intersect daily with people who need Christ.

118 S e S S i o n 10

GUIDE: Point out the question

and answer concerning the

homeless man in the story told

on PSG page 118:

“What’s the worst part

about being homeless?”

The man replied, “No one

sees me.”

Focus attention on verse 4.

Compare the way Peter and

John saw the beggar with the

way Jesus often saw those in

need of Him. Contrast that

to the way we often treat

such individuals in our hectic

society.


(PSG, p. 120): How can we

get better at noticing the

opportunities God gives us

to love others?

(Alternate: What emotions

do you experience when God

interrupts your day?)

TRANSITION: “As we continue

with verses 5-8, we’ll see the

difference the power of God

can make in one person’s life

when we are obedient to Him.”

brass, and greatly excelled those that were only covered over with silver and gold.” 1 This might explain why this particular gate was called Beautiful.

Outside this particular gate a man was laid daily at a strategic spot where he could ask alms of them that entered into the temple. One essential practice of Judaism taught by the rabbis was almsgiving. By the New Testament period, alms could take the form of either charitable monetary giving or good deeds. To practice almsgiving was to be righteous. Since there was no government assistance, financial support for the needy was essential.

Many Old Testament passages note God’s concern for the poor and a number of laws highlight God’s expectation for His people to provide for those in need (Ex. 23:6-7; Lev. 19:9-10; 23:22; Deut. 15:7-11). We also find this practice in the New Testament, where believers gave generously out of their own means to help other Christians who had need (Acts 4:32-37; Rom. 15:25-27; 2 Cor. 8–9) and where providing for others in need is noted as a natural and expected result of experiencing the love of Christ (Jas. 1:27; 1 John 3:17-18). But Jesus Himself warned against any giving to the poor merely to be to be noticed and admired by others (Matt. 6:1-4).

Luke wrote that the man was lame from his mother’s womb; family or friends carried him daily to the temple where he would sit to beg. It was most likely the only way he could get any money to help provide for his needs. The time of the afternoon services at the temple would have been one of the best times for begging, as people coming to and from the temple after praying and giving their sacrifices would have been more inclined to practice piety by giving alms to the needy. Scholars differ as to whether the man would have been forbidden to enter the temple complex because of his disability. Some argue that the law would have excluded the lame man from the temple; others disagree, however, saying this was not the case and the reason the man sat there was because it was the most advantageous position from which to gain alms from those coming and going from the temple.

Verse 3. Peter and John were about to go into the temple when the lame man saw them. “The man was above forty years old” (Acts 4:22) and had probably begged at the temple for many years. Thus, he saw many of the same people on a regular basis. However, he would have called out to anyone who might give him something. As he probably did countless times every day, the man cried out as people passed by. He most likely had learned to hope for something

1. Flavius Josephus, “A Description of the Temple” The Wars of the Jews or The History of the Destruction of Jerusalem, Book V, Chapter 5.3.

119

THE POINT



verses 5-8.

GUIDE: Call members’

attention to the quote by

Stephen Grellet on PSG,

page 120.

“I expect to pass through

this world but once. Any

good therefore that I can

do, or any kindness that

I can show to any fellow

creature, let me do it now.

Let me not defer or neglect

it, for I shall not pass this

way again.”

Point out that Peter and John

did not view this beggar as a

nuisance but as a man in need

of ministry.

but expect nothing from most people. Even so, he asked an alms from Peter and John as they approached him.

Verse 4. The beggar may have made eye contact and called out to one person or group, then immediately turned and made the same request of someone else, lest he miss a potential benefactor. He surely repeated this again and again, especially before the times of the morning and evening sacrifices when crowds of people were entering the temple. The man’s unwavering hope surely was that someone would give him a donation in response to his plea for help. Most people who responded to his calls probably threw coins his way almost mindlessly as they went to and from the temple.

The lame beggar most assuredly never expected the apostles’ response on that day, however. Rather than hurrying past him with the other worshipers, they actually stopped before him. Then, Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. They gave focused attention to him and saw his need. They were truly concerned about him! The man may have turned away from them, so they had to get his attention before they proceeded to talk with him.

Acts 3:5-8

5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive

something of them.

6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as

I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth

rise up and walk.

7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and

immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered

with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and

praising God.

Share the love of Christ through those encounters.


10 minutes

120 S e S S i o n 10

GUIDE: Note the principles

found on PSG, page 121.

• Peter and John gave what

they had.

• Peter and John relied on

Jesus.

Make the point that when

we open our eyes to the

needs around us, it can be

overwhelming. We have to rely

on the Holy Spirit to guide and

empower us, just as Peter and

John did.


p. 121): When have you

seen Jesus make a dramatic

difference in someone’s life?

(Alternate: When have you felt

led to care for someone in need?)


with verses 9-10, we’ll see how

God receives the glory when

we are faithful in following

where He leads.”

Verses 5-6. The lame man did as they requested and gave heed unto them. Perhaps he had heard the apostles’ preaching or heard about the miracles they had been doing in Jerusalem. But he probably did not know them by sight so he was simply expecting to receive something from them. Maybe in the past, when someone had spoken to him directly, they had given him a significant sum of money. Thus, the man gave them his attention.

But he was quickly disappointed. Immediately Peter said, Silver and gold have I none. The man’s heart must have dropped as he realized he wasn’t getting any money from the men. But Peter wasn’t finished—he had something else to say: But such as I have give I thee. One can only imagine what must have run through the lame man’s mind as he wondered if he was really going to get something significant.

Then Peter invoked the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. A person’s name represented everything about the person, especially the person’s attributes and characteristics. Thus the name of Jesus Christ represented His divine identity, authority, and power. Calling on the name of Jesus Christ was not some magic formula that forced Jesus to act (as the story in Acts 19:13-17 confirms). Rather, it was a declaration of the power and authority of the Lord to heal the man and the means by which Christ’s power was released to work through Peter.

To clarify Jesus’ identity even further, Peter added that He was of Nazareth. Nazareth was a small village in the hill country of lower Galilee, about midway between the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean Sea. By identifying Jesus as being from Nazareth, Peter was declaring that this was the same Jesus who had ministered throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria. This was the same Jesus who had done miraculous things people had talked about—healing those who were blind and lame, driving out demons, and even raising the dead. This was the same Jesus who was crucified by the Romans. This was the same Jesus who a large group of Jews believed was raised from the dead and was still the subject of conversation in Jerusalem.

This now was the same Jesus who Peter called on as he commanded the man to rise up and walk. What Peter offered the lame man was far better than any amount of money. The man was given the opportunity to walk like everyone else; something he had never done before.

Verse 7. Peter then reached out to the man and took him by the right hand and lifted him up. This sentence appears to indicate the lame man may have been reluctant initially to act on Peter’s command; after all, he knew his

121

THE POINT



verses 9-10.

SUMMARIZE: Draw attention

to the bullet points on PSG

page 122 to illustrate that the

impact of Peter and John’s

actions in the lame man’s life

were huge. Before that day, his

disability had …

• … prevented him from

being able to earn a living.

• … marked him as

blemished, cut off from

access to full worship in

the temple (Lev. 21:17-20).

• … caused others to reject

him, and kept him socially

ostracized.

legs were useless and never would hold him up. Just because this stranger told him to stand up and walk didn’t mean he believed it would or could happen. The Greek word for took is often used of someone being captured or apprehended (John 7:30,44; 10:39). Here it pictures Peter holding tightly to the man and pulling him to a standing position. Similar to some of Jesus’ healing miracles, Peter’s touch was the conduit through which God’s power flowed to bring healing and enable the lame man to stand up.

Unlike a rehab patient who gradually regains the use of his legs, complete healing happened immediately for the formerly lame man. As Peter pulled him up the man discovered his feet and ankle bones had instantly received strength.

Verse 8. The man wasted no time getting familiar with his new legs. We might have expected him to be like a toddler, taking a while to get adjusted to walking, but this was not the case. Leaping up, the man stood, which of course was a logical thing to do—to see if his legs would actually support him. Then he walked! The tense of the Greek verb indicates that he continued to walk. Once he got started, he couldn’t stop. And he did not need any instruction or help.

The first place the formerly lame man went was into the temple with Peter and John. The man who had formerly sat outside the temple at its entrance now entered into the temple on his own two feet. Once inside the temple the man was walking, and leaping. The Greek word for leaping is the same word used by Jesus to describe the living water He offers, “springing up into everlasting life” within those who drink of it (John 4:14).

Inside the temple the man went beyond simply trying out his new legs. He was also praising God. He knew he had received a great gift—a miracle—and he joyfully acknowledged God as its source. By his words and his actions he couldn’t help but let others know what had happened to him and who had made it possible. Other instances are found throughout the Book of Acts of people rejoicing and praising God, both in good times and in bad (Acts 5:41; 8:39; 16:25).


15 minutes

122 S e S S i o n 10


p. 123): How have you been

affected personally by

others’ obedience to Christ?

GUIDE: Help members to see

that not only did the disciples’

actions have a huge impact

in this man’s life but it began

an ongoing ripple effect. One

opportunity led to another.

One changed life led to

another, and another. God’s

kingdom still spreads that

way today.


p. 124): How can we make

room now so we can say yes

to future opportunities to

serve?

(Alternate: How can we take

the initiative to meet needs and

share the gospel?)


their responses to the activity,

“Intersections of Hope”

(PSG, p. 124).

Acts 3:9-10

9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the

Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder

and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

One encounter often leads to more opportunities to share Christ.

Verses 9-10. The man’s bold actions must have created quite a commotion. No doubt it was exceptionally unusual for a worshiper to leap about and shout praises to God in the temple. No wonder then, that all the people took notice of him and his audacious behavior. Although Isaiah had prophesied that in the messianic age, “Then shall the lame man leap as an hart” (Isa. 35:6), apparently no one expected it to happen right then and there.

The people recognized the man. They had seen him for years as they walked to the temple. They knew he was in fact the same man which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple. Because the people knew the man, they also knew he had been unable to walk. But none could deny something miraculous had happened, because now they saw him walking and praising God.

Their response was nothing less than we would expect: they were filled with wonder and amazement. Only Luke used these words in the New Testament. The Greek term thambos is translated wonder and describes a reaction to a sudden event that can be a response of either awe or fear. The Greek word for amazement is ekstasis, from which we get our English word ecstasy; it is sometimes translated visionary state (Acts 10:10; 11:5; 22:17). The word can refer to a mind that’s been thrown out of its normal state. This was what the people in the temple experienced—the man they knew had always been lame was walking, jumping, and praising God right before their very eyes. This was not normal! What they saw stopped them in their tracks. They were overwhelmed with a sense of reverent fear at the miracle they witnessed.

However, wonder and amazement are not the same as repentance and faith. A person can be amazed by someone or something without realizing the true meaning and purpose behind the event. In Acts 3:11-26, Peter would seize the opportunity to preach to the people in the temple, proclaiming that the miracle the crowd had observed of the

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THE POINT

SHARING THE GOOD NEWSGod often uses many

people at many points in

our lives to bring us to the

place of repentance and

faith. He then uses us to

help others find new life

in Christ.











to Christ.








We intersect daily with people who need Christ..

man formerly lame healed and walking bore witness to the reality of the power of God and the salvation now available from God through His Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Read the article “Alms and Almsgiving” in the Fall 2016 issue of Biblical

Illustrator. Previous Biblical Illustrator articles “Simon Peter: His Years of

Ministry” (Fall 2012), “John, Follower of Jesus” (Winter 2006-2007),

“Begging in Jerusalem” (Fall 2003), “Peter’s Messages” (Fall 2000),

and “Peter’s Miracles” (Fall 2000) relate to this lesson and can be

purchased, along with other articles for this quarter, at www.lifeway.com/

biblicalillustrator. Look for Bundles: Bible Studies for Life.

INTERSECTIONS OF HOPEConsider the places you are likely to encounter someone in your

community in need of the gospel message. Make a short list or

sketch a map.

Now consider ways you or your group can help get the gospel

message out in those places. List some means that might

demonstrate God’s grace and power there.

How will you ensure that God gets the glory?

124 S e S S i o n 10

LIVE IT OUT

GUIDE: Emphasize

The Point: We intersect

daily with people who need

Christ.

GUIDE: Review Live It Out

(PSG, p. 125; see text to

the left). Encourage group

members to choose an

application and commit to act

on it in the coming week.

Wrap It Up

GUIDE: Emphasize that God’s

kingdom expansion happens

as we are faithful in one divine

intersection after another.

PRAY: Conclude by asking God

to open our eyes to the many

needs around us. Ask Him to

guide us to places where He is

at work and then give us the

courage to act when we get

there.

Get expert insights on

weekly studies through the

Ministry Grid (MinistryGrid.

com/web/BibleStudiesFor

Life)

LIVE IT OUTHow will you make the most of the intersections and opportunities that come your way this week? Consider the following applications:

> Look. Search for such opportunities. Allow your schedule to be interrupted in order to minister by listening, offering encouragement, praying with someone, or meeting a need.

> Obey. Respond to opportunities God has placed in your path to reach out to someone at work or in your neighborhood. When you see a need, determine to be a “first responder.” Ask God to use you to show the love of Jesus to someone who doesn’t know Him.

> Join others. Discover opportunities your church has to show Christ’s love to people in need nationally or globally. Consider talking with a staff person at your church and signing up for ministry opportunities that match your gifts.

To follow Jesus is to serve a sovereign God who guides your path and that of others. That doesn’t leave much room for random chance. Every day provides more opportunities to intersect with His plan.

5 minutes

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