Introduction Acts

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Big Questions:

When us Jesus returning?

How does God use people like you and me?

How do the church and the individual believer work together?

What makes you feel equipped to carry out Jesus’ ministry on the earth?

Acts 1:1-5--

In what ways did Jesus prepare and equip his apostles to continue his ministry and live on earth?

What was the significance of the fact that Jesus showed himself to the apostles and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive?

How would the apostles’ ministry be affected by the fact that Jesus chose, commissioned and instructed them?

Summary: In a sense all the disciples of Jesus can claim that he has chosen us, revealed himself to us, commissioned us as his witnesses, and both promised and given us his Spirit, Nevertheless, it is not to these general privileges that Luke is referring here, but to the special qualification of an apostle—a personal appointment as an apostle by Jesus, an eyewitness experience of the historical Jesus, an authorizing and commissioning by Jesus to speak in his name, and the empowering Spirit of Jesus to inspire their teaching. It was primarily these uniquely qualified men through whom Jesus continued “to do and to teach” and to whom Luke intends to introduce us in the Acts.

Read Acts 1:6-11. What evidence is there that the disciples did not understand the kingdom that Jesus set up?

The primary way that Jesus equipped the apostles was the promise of the Holy Spirit. What was going to be the result of the Holy Spirit coming on them?

The major event of the early chapters of the Acts took place on the day of Pentecost, When the now-exalted Lord Jesus performed the last work of his saving career (until coming again) and “poured” out the Holy Spirit on his waiting people, His live, death, resurrection and ascension all culminated in the great gift, which the prophets had foretold and which would be recognized as the chief evidence that God’s kingdom had been inaugurated. For this conclusion of Christ’s work on earth was also a fresh beginning. Just as the Spirit came upon Jesus to equip him for his public ministry, so not he Spirit was to come upon his people to equip them for theirs.

What difference would the ascension of Jesus and the promise of his return make in the ministry of the apostles?

Read 1:12-26 Why do you think prayer seemed to be the major activity that they engaged in after they returned?

Two characteristic of their prayer: they persevered, were of one mind.

What was Peter’s conclusion about Judas? V 15-20

What were the qualifications of the person who would replace Judas? 21-26

Why were these qualifications important?

Apply:

The records of these acts of the Holy Ghost have never reached completeness. This is the one book which has no proper close, because it waits for new chapters to be added so fast and so far as the people of God shall reinstate the blessed Spirit in his holy seat of control. How are you involved in being and praying for the witness of Jesus throughout the world? Beginning with your own “Jerusalem”?

From John Stott's Acts: Seeing the Spirit at Work IVP 1998