Men's Ministry
Please read Acts 4:1-4
1. Why were the Sadducees upset that Peter and John were “teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead?”
2. When arrested, Peter and John were put in prison overnight. Why not try them immediately? After all, Jesus was tried at night. See John 18.
3. It seems like a dark time for Peter and John. They’re in prison, waiting for their trial the next day. How is this seemingly hopeless situation contrasted with an optimistic situation?
2. When arrested, Peter and John were put in prison overnight. Why not try them immediately? After all, Jesus was tried at night. See John 18.
3. It seems like a dark time for Peter and John. They’re in prison, waiting for their trial the next day. How is this seemingly hopeless situation contrasted with an optimistic situation?
Please read Acts 4:5-12
4. Peter and John spent the night in jail. The next day, all the powerful religious leaders gathered to pass judgement on Peter and John. (There were at least 70 men there, including Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes - teachers of the law - in addition to the priestly family.) Do you think Peter and John should have felt intimidated standing in front of this group? Were they intimidated? Why or why not?
5. This group was gathered to show Peter and John that they had power, not Peter and John. This is the same group that instigated the crucifixion of Jesus only three months or so before this scene. What evidence do you see in verse 7 to prove that they wanted Peter and John to know they were the power brokers of Jerusalem?
6. Peter begins his answer by addressing the group respectfully: “Rulers of the people and elders.” Then he turns the tables by essentially asking, “Why are we on trial for a good deed?” and tells them what they asked for, namely that they did it in the name of Jesus. Do you think the Sanhedrin was satisfied with his answer?
7. Peter told the truth about the Sanhedrin’s guilt in crucifying Jesus and backs it up by referring to Psalm 118:22. Why do you think Peter accused them so openly? Wasn’t it dangerous? If they could kill Jesus, wouldn’t they feel free to kill Peter and John? Only two or three months before this, they were hiding and had the doors locked “for fear of the Jews.” (John 20:19) Why were they so bold now?
8. Verse 12 is a key verse in the Book of Acts and in the doctrine of salvation. Since we’ve stressed that Acts is a book of what happened (descriptive), not of doctrine (prescriptive), how come this verse is here?
6. Peter begins his answer by addressing the group respectfully: “Rulers of the people and elders.” Then he turns the tables by essentially asking, “Why are we on trial for a good deed?” and tells them what they asked for, namely that they did it in the name of Jesus. Do you think the Sanhedrin was satisfied with his answer?
7. Peter told the truth about the Sanhedrin’s guilt in crucifying Jesus and backs it up by referring to Psalm 118:22. Why do you think Peter accused them so openly? Wasn’t it dangerous? If they could kill Jesus, wouldn’t they feel free to kill Peter and John? Only two or three months before this, they were hiding and had the doors locked “for fear of the Jews.” (John 20:19) Why were they so bold now?
8. Verse 12 is a key verse in the Book of Acts and in the doctrine of salvation. Since we’ve stressed that Acts is a book of what happened (descriptive), not of doctrine (prescriptive), how come this verse is here?
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?”
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?
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 4:23-31
15. 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.)
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?
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?
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?”
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?”