Men's Ministry
Please read Acts 1:1-5
1. Based on the first four words, this is volume two. What do we call volume one? Who wrote these two books? What do you know about the human author? To whom did he write it? What, if anything do you know about the recipient?
2. He says, in verse one, that his previous book is about “all that Jesus began to do and teach.” If that book is about what Jesus BEGAN to do, what might the Book of Acts be about?
3. Since Jesus is God, why does it say that He gave commands to the apostles through the Holy Spirit? Why not just give them the commands Himself?
4. In verse 3, it says that Jesus gave many proofs that it was actually Him. What kinds of proofs might these be? You may want to refer to Luke 24 and John 20-21.
5. In verse four, Jesus gives them instructions to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Father. What was that promise? Jesus didn't tell them how long they had to wait. Do you know how long they had to wait? Do you have trouble waiting? How do you handle it?
2. He says, in verse one, that his previous book is about “all that Jesus began to do and teach.” If that book is about what Jesus BEGAN to do, what might the Book of Acts be about?
3. Since Jesus is God, why does it say that He gave commands to the apostles through the Holy Spirit? Why not just give them the commands Himself?
4. In verse 3, it says that Jesus gave many proofs that it was actually Him. What kinds of proofs might these be? You may want to refer to Luke 24 and John 20-21.
5. In verse four, Jesus gives them instructions to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Father. What was that promise? Jesus didn't tell them how long they had to wait. Do you know how long they had to wait? Do you have trouble waiting? How do you handle it?
Please read Acts 1:6-11
6. Verses 1 through 5 are a summary statement. Details are then provided in verse 6. Why do you think they asked if Jesus was going to restore the kingdom? And what does the question mean? Had they ever asked this question before?
7. Jesus told His disciples that it wasn't for them to know the timing of the plan. What do you think they would have done if He had told them that the kingdom would not be restored for another 2,000 years?
8. Why does verse 8 start with “But...?” What's the connection between verse 7 (are You going to restore the kingdom now) and verse 8 (you will receive power)?
9. Jesus does not give the disciples a command to be witnesses in verse 8, but that they will be witnesses. What will make them witnesses? Is this something they have to learn and master?
10. Likewise, Jesus doesn't command the disciples where to go to be His witnesses, He tells what will happen. Do you think they would be happy at the prospect of being His witnesses in Jerusalem? Why or why not? What about Judea? What about Samaria? What about the end of the earth?
11. Why do you thing Jesus left the disciples by ascending into heaven? Might there be a picture, foretelling, or "type" from the Old Testament of Jesus going into the clouds?
12. What was the purpose of the two men (angels) asking why the disciples were looking into heaven and telling them that Jesus would return in the same way?
8. Why does verse 8 start with “But...?” What's the connection between verse 7 (are You going to restore the kingdom now) and verse 8 (you will receive power)?
9. Jesus does not give the disciples a command to be witnesses in verse 8, but that they will be witnesses. What will make them witnesses? Is this something they have to learn and master?
10. Likewise, Jesus doesn't command the disciples where to go to be His witnesses, He tells what will happen. Do you think they would be happy at the prospect of being His witnesses in Jerusalem? Why or why not? What about Judea? What about Samaria? What about the end of the earth?
11. Why do you thing Jesus left the disciples by ascending into heaven? Might there be a picture, foretelling, or "type" from the Old Testament of Jesus going into the clouds?
12. What was the purpose of the two men (angels) asking why the disciples were looking into heaven and telling them that Jesus would return in the same way?
Please read Acts 1:12-14
13. The disciples walked from Mount Olivet to Jerusalem. (The phrase, “a Sabbath's day's journey,” does not tell us that Jesus ascended on a Saturday (the Sabbath), but it tells the reader how far they traveled.) Why did they go to Jerusalem?
14. The text of verse 13 tells us that they went to the upper room. Not an upper room but the upper room. It's a specific place. We don't know where it was but apparently the reader of Acts did. Verse 15 tells us there were about 120 people, so it must have been a large room. We know some of these people because they're named but we don't know who most of them were. To me, the interesting people in the list are the “brothers of Jesus.” Why would including them in the list be unusual? See Mark 3:21 and John 7:5. What changed?
15. Verse 14 tells us that they were all in one accord, in accordance with Jesus’s final prayer that His followers would be unified (John 17:20-22). In the Gospels, the disciples fought about who would be first. The mother of James and John wanted them to be seated at Jesus’s right and left. When the others heard about it, they were upset. Peter denied the Lord, Matthew was still a tax collector, and Simon was still a zealot (revolutionary). Why are they now in one accord and what were they doing?
15. Verse 14 tells us that they were all in one accord, in accordance with Jesus’s final prayer that His followers would be unified (John 17:20-22). In the Gospels, the disciples fought about who would be first. The mother of James and John wanted them to be seated at Jesus’s right and left. When the others heard about it, they were upset. Peter denied the Lord, Matthew was still a tax collector, and Simon was still a zealot (revolutionary). Why are they now in one accord and what were they doing?
Please read Acts 1:18-26
16. Peter was always shooting off his mouth in the Gospels, sometimes in a good way (“You are the Christ!”) and sometimes not so good. He also had the history of denying the Lord. Now, however, he stands up and takes leadership. Do you think this is unusual? Is there anything wrong with it?
17. Peter’s "foot and mouth disease" seems strangely absent as he begins to speak to the 120 or so people gathered in the upper room. He connects Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 103:8 to Judas Iscariot. Since the Holy Spirit hadn't yet come, how did he connect the dots?
18. Peter proclaims that they need to replace Judas Iscariot. What were the guidelines for choosing this person? Where did these guidelines come from?
19. Once they found the two men who fulfilled their guidelines, what did they do?
20. Isn't casting lots something similar to us throwing dice today? How could that determine God’s will?
18. Peter proclaims that they need to replace Judas Iscariot. What were the guidelines for choosing this person? Where did these guidelines come from?
19. Once they found the two men who fulfilled their guidelines, what did they do?
20. Isn't casting lots something similar to us throwing dice today? How could that determine God’s will?