Men's Ministry
Please read Acts 4:13-22
9. Why were the religious leaders astonished at Peter and John?
10. The religious leaders noted that Peter and John had been with Jesus. What was it about them that they made this observation? How did this observation affect the religious leaders’ decision?
11. Peter and John were noted as being “uneducated, common men.” How could they be “uneducated, common men” when they both wrote books that are in our Bibles? What did the Sanhedrin mean when they called them “uneducated, common men?”
12. In verse 15, Peter and John (and apparently the healed man) are commanded to leave the room so the Sanhedrin could have a closed-door session. Verses 16 and 17 reveal what their deliberations were. How do you think Luke discovered this information in his research since it’s unlikely the deliberations would have been published?
13. In verse 18, Peter and John were charged not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Did they have the authority to make this command? Did Peter and John comply?
14. The Sanhedrin began this courtroom scene by suggesting that they had the power and they were in control. What is their status in verse 21?
10. The religious leaders noted that Peter and John had been with Jesus. What was it about them that they made this observation? How did this observation affect the religious leaders’ decision?
11. Peter and John were noted as being “uneducated, common men.” How could they be “uneducated, common men” when they both wrote books that are in our Bibles? What did the Sanhedrin mean when they called them “uneducated, common men?”
12. In verse 15, Peter and John (and apparently the healed man) are commanded to leave the room so the Sanhedrin could have a closed-door session. Verses 16 and 17 reveal what their deliberations were. How do you think Luke discovered this information in his research since it’s unlikely the deliberations would have been published?
13. In verse 18, Peter and John were charged not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Did they have the authority to make this command? Did Peter and John comply?
14. The Sanhedrin began this courtroom scene by suggesting that they had the power and they were in control. What is their status in verse 21?
Please read Acts 4:23-3115. When Peter and John were released, they went and told their friends everything that was said to them. Since they were so bold, why didn’t they immediately go back to the Temple and teach about Jesus again?
16. The response of the believers when they heard Peter and John’s report was to pray. Did they thank God for the report? Did they wail and cry that they didn’t get their way? (Remember, they were warned and threatened.) What example did they give us on how to start our prayers?
17. What attributes of God did these believers reference in their prayer? (An attribute of God is a what we would call a characteristic of a person.)
16. The response of the believers when they heard Peter and John’s report was to pray. Did they thank God for the report? Did they wail and cry that they didn’t get their way? (Remember, they were warned and threatened.) What example did they give us on how to start our prayers?
17. What attributes of God did these believers reference in their prayer? (An attribute of God is a what we would call a characteristic of a person.)
18. For what did the believers ask in their prayer?
19. After they prayed, the place where they were was shaken, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak with boldness. Which of these did they actually pray for? Why did they experience the other things, too?
19. After they prayed, the place where they were was shaken, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak with boldness. Which of these did they actually pray for? Why did they experience the other things, too?
Please read Acts 4:32-37
20. In verse 32 we see that everything these new believers had was shared. Is this a Christian form of communism? Is it a model we should follow? Should we be living in a commune? If not, what can we learn from their example?
21. When verse 32 says that “those who believed were of one heart and soul,” does that mean that they were like robots saying, living, eating, and believing the same things? If not, what does it mean?
22. Verse 33 says that “the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.” Who were the apostles? To whom were they giving their testimony? Who are the apostles today?
23. The apostles were testifying and the believers were sharing. At the end of verse 33, we read that “great grace was upon them all.” Who is “all?” The apostles? The other believers? People beyond these two groups?
24. Verse 34 tells us that there were no needy people among them. The fledgling church is well over 5,000 strong at this point. How was it possible that none of them had any needs? On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you think Fairview Community Church is doing on this account?
25. The last two verses of chapter 4 introduce us to Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, who they called “Barnabas.” What is a Levite? Since he’s from Cyprus, what do you think he was doing in Jerusalem? Why do you think they gave him the nickname “Barnabas?”
21. When verse 32 says that “those who believed were of one heart and soul,” does that mean that they were like robots saying, living, eating, and believing the same things? If not, what does it mean?
22. Verse 33 says that “the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.” Who were the apostles? To whom were they giving their testimony? Who are the apostles today?
23. The apostles were testifying and the believers were sharing. At the end of verse 33, we read that “great grace was upon them all.” Who is “all?” The apostles? The other believers? People beyond these two groups?
24. Verse 34 tells us that there were no needy people among them. The fledgling church is well over 5,000 strong at this point. How was it possible that none of them had any needs? On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you think Fairview Community Church is doing on this account?
25. The last two verses of chapter 4 introduce us to Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, who they called “Barnabas.” What is a Levite? Since he’s from Cyprus, what do you think he was doing in Jerusalem? Why do you think they gave him the nickname “Barnabas?”