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ACTS
(26 week study)
Lesson Subject Passage
1 Pre-Pentecost Events 1:1 26
2 Day oI Pentecost 2:1 21
3 Peter`s Gospel Sermon, Profle oI Early Church 2:22 2:47
4 Miracles and Messages 3:1 26
5 Persecution, Prayers, and More Preaching 4:1-37
Provision Ior All Needs
6 Purging and More Persecution 5:1-42
7 Deacons Selected, Stephen`s Ministry 6:1-7:60
8 Saul Persecutes the Church 8:1-40
9 Saul Converted, Saul Sent to Tarsus 9:1-31
10 Salvation Comes to the Gentiles 9:32 - 10:48
11 Peter`s Explanation oI Gentile Conversion 11:1-30
Founding the Church at Antioch
12 Persecution Intensifes 12:1-25
13 Paul`s First Missionary Journey (Galatia) 13:1-43
14 Completion oI First Missionary Journey 13:44-14:28
15 The Jerusalem Council 15:1-35
16 Paul`s Second Missionary Journey (Corinth) 15:36-16:40
17 Paul`s Second Missionary Journey Continued 17:1-34
18 Completion oI Second Missionary Journey 18:1-22
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19 Paul`s Third Missionary Journey (Ephesus) 18:23-19:41
20 Third Missionary Journey Continued 20:1-38
21 Conclusion oI Third Missionary Journey 21:1-26
22 Paul`s Arrest and Trial by the Sanhedrin: 21:27-23:35
on to Caesarea
23 Paul`s DeIense beIore Felix and Festus 24:1-25:12
24 Paul`s DeIense beIore Agrippa 25:13-26:32
25 Voyage and Shipwreck 27:1-44
26 Ministry in Malta 28:1-31
Ministry in Rome
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PASSAGE : Acts 1:1-26
SUBJECT : Pre-Pentecost Event
FOCUS : Power and Prayer make ministry eIIective
OUTLINE :
I. Witness in Jerusalem (1:1-7:60)
(Establishment oI the Church)
A. Pre-Pentecost events (1:1-26)
1. Introduction (1-5)
2. Commission oI Christ (6-8)
3. Ascension oI Christ (9-11)
4. Replacing Judas (12-26)
Introduction
As we begin our study oI Acts, it is important to keep in mind that:
Acts picks up where Luke leaves oII.
The Holy Spirit permeates Acts just as He does Luke.
The Iocus is on the Holy Spirit empowering the church Ior
witnessing to Jesus Christ and working Ior Him.
Acts is summarized in 1:8.
The nature and ministry oI the Church is depicted in Acts.
Acts covers the frst thirty years oI the Church.
Acts has three main sections
1) Establishment oI the Church (1-7)
2) Extension oI the Church to Gentiles (8-12)
3) Expansion oI the Church to the world (13-28)
Acts has two main actors Peter, Apostle to the Jews (1-8) and
Paul, Apostle to the Gentiles (9-28).
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Observations & Comments:
Pre-Pentecost Events (1:1-26)
Introduction 1-5
1. Luke begins by reIerring to his frst account (the Gospel oI Luke) which
recorded what 'Jesus began to do and teach. This introduction to Acts
is tied specifcally to the prologue in Luke 1:1-4, Ior Acts continues
the account oI the incarnation oI Christ through the Church.
Luke also reIers his readers to the end oI his gospel account
when Jesus had given the disciples strict orders to wait in Jerusalem
until the Holy Spirit came to empower them to obey the Great
Commission (Luke 24:44-49).
2. Luke emphasizes several signifcant things (1:2-5)
The reality oI the bodily resurrection oI Jesus as He appeared
and spoke to the disciples Ior Iorty days beIore His ascension.
The commandment to be witnesses to Christ but not until the
Holy Spirit was given.
The diIIerence in Spirit baptism and water baptism.
The teaching oI Jesus concerning the Kingdom oI God (see Acts
26:18-20; 28:30-31).
3. A Iew key passages in the gospels should also be read Ior background
in studying Acts:
Matt. 28:16-20
Luke 4:1, 14-18
Luke 5:17
Luke 24:44-53
John 4:14
John 7:38-39
John 14:16-18, 26
John 15:26-27
John 16:7-15
John 17:13-21
John 20:19-21
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4. In his introduction Luke sets the stage Ior the continued ministry
oI Christ on earth through the Holy Spirit working in the lives oI
witnessing believers.
Commission of Christ 1:6-8
5. It is interesting that what is uppermost in the minds oI the disciples at
the outset is the question oI when Christ would restore the Kingdom
oI Israel (1:6). Apparently, they were looking Ior Christ to bring in
the Kingdom then. As Christ had done on other occasions, He told
them to stop worrying about timing and get busy being obedient with
matters at hand (see also Matt. 24:26). Perhaps, too, the disciples
were looking Iorward to taking their place oI ruling in the Kingdom.
They had too quickly Iorgotten that just as Jesus had to suIIer beIore
He could reign (Phil. 2:5-11), so would they (see Rom. 8:18; 1 Pet.
2:19-21, 4:12-19).
6. The commission oI Jesus to the disciples in Acts 1:8 is very signi-
fcant
'But vou will receive power when the Holv Spirit comes on vou,
and vou will be mv witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.`
Ior it:
reveals the primary purpose Ior the coming oI the Holy Spirit
to empower Ior witnessing to Christ.
commands all believers to be witnesses ('martyrs)
unveils the outline oI Acts in summary Iashion
witness in Jerusalem (Chapters 1-7)
witness in Judea and Samaria (8-12)
witness in the remotest part oI the world (13-28)
The 'power oI the Holy Spirit reIers to divine enablement Ior
bearing witness to Christ and ministering Ior Him. Both will be
clearly demonstrated in Acts.
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Notice that throughout Acts the Holy Spirit is not given to beneft
the recipient personally, but to enable the recipient as an empowered
instrument to obey God! Attention is not drawn to the recipient,
but to what God accomplishes through him. Jesus` last instruction
was in eIIect, 'Don`t worry about anything except being obedient
to Me in the power oI the Spirit. We would do well to take heed!
Ascension of Christ 1:9-11
7. Luke next recorded the ascension oI Christ because Jesus had to
return to heaven beIore God could send the Holy Spirit in His place
as He promised.
The disciples were awestruck as Jesus disappeared in the clouds
and had to be brought back to reality by two angels who reminded
them that Jesus was returning in the same way He leIt. Jesus`
ascension was visible and so would be His return (see Luke 21:27;
Titus 2:13; Rev. 1:7, 19:11-16). Jesus leIt Irom the Mount oI Olives
(1:12) and to that same spot He will return (Zech. 14:1-4).
The Ascension oI Christ:
completed His earthly ministry
reunited Him with the Father
commenced His exaltation at the right hand oI God
inaugurated His intercessory ministry Ior the saints
paved the way Ior the coming oI the Holy Spirit
Iulflled His own prophecy (John 6:62)
Jesus had already promised the disciples that He would come again to
receive them to HimselI (John 14:1-3).
Replacing 1udas 1:12-26
8. The disciples returned to Jerusalem Irom the Mount oI Olives and
went back to the Upper Room where they had been staying to wait
Ior the promise oI the Holy Spirit.
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The eleven remaining apostles are named in 1:13:
1. Peter
2. John
3. James (halI-brother oI Jesus)
4. Andrew
5. Philip
6. Thomas
7. Bartholomew
8. Matthew
9. James, son oI Alphaeus
10. Simon the zealot
11. Judas, son oI James
12. Vacant (death oI Judas Iscariot)
But beIore choosing a successor to Judas, Luke adds some very instructive
comments in 1:14-15
The assembled group numbered about 120.
The group included
the eleven apostles
the women who Iollowed Jesus Mary, Martha, etc.
Mary, Jesus` mother
Jesus` brothers
Other disciples not named
The group was united in mind.
The group was 'continually devoting themselves to prayer.
Peter was in charge.
This assembled group oI believers was involved in being spiritually
prepared Ior what was to come.
9. There was, however, one matter oI business that had to be taken
care oI Judas, one oI the twelve, had betrayed Jesus and then committed
suicide. Judas` liIe and betrayal were all in Iulfllment oI Scripture
(1:16-20).
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10. In looking at the account oI choosing a successor to Judas to
complete the original twelve, it should be kept in mind that there
is no biblical evidence oI apostolic succession aIter this one-time,
unique incident.
11. The qualifcations Ior apostleship were basically three. He had to
have been:
chosen or called by Jesus (see Mark 3:13-19)
with the apostles and Jesus during His ministry
an eye-witness to the bodily resurrection oI Christ.
Apparently, there were only two more who met the requirements
Joseph and Matthias.
Notice that they prayed Ior God to reveal His choice based on
the condition oI the man`s heart (see 1 Sam. 16:7). The successor
was to 'occupy this ministry and apostleship which had been
Judas`.
Apostleship was restricted to these twelve men and Paul who
uniquely met the qualifcations. As 'sent ones they would:
preach the gospel
represent the authority oI Christ on earth
perIorm authenticating, miraculous signs
They had been trained personally by Christ and were essential
in the Church (Luke 9:1-9; Matt. 10:1-11:1; Eph. 3:19-20).
God revealed His will through the casting oI lots Matthias
was the choice. Prayer was the key to the choice, not the 'luck
oI which stone Iell out oI the jar frst. This method provided
independent confrmation rather than Peter, Ior example, announcing
the choice.
All was now in place, and the group was spiritually prepared
Ior the coming oI the Holy Spirit and the ministry oI witnessing
to which they had been called.
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Directed Study Questions
Acts 1:1-26
1. In what specifc ways does Luke tie Acts into the Gospel oI Luke?
2. What was the 'promise reIerred to and why was it important Ior
the disciples to wait?
3. Why does Luke emphasize the resurrection oI Christ Irom the
outset?
4. What is the signifcance oI Acts 1:8 in terms oI the book and the
purpose oI the Church?
5. Respond to the Iollowing statement: The Holy Spirit is not given
primarily Ior the personal beneft oI the recipient.
6. Why is the ascension oI Christ given such prominence in the frst
part oI Acts?
7. What does the composition oI the group assembled in the Upper
Room demonstrate?
8. What part did prayer play in the lives oI these early Iollowers oI
Christ?
9. Why was it necessary to replace Judas?
10. Based on Acts 1, what should be the Iocus oI the ministry oI every
believer?