Bible Study on Acts 1-2

We began the night with a quick introduction to Acts of the Apostles:

 

 

Overview of Acts

• Written by same author as the Gospel of Luke (two books flow together)
• Written around AD63 for a Gentile/Greek Christian audience
• Chapters 1-12 narrate the leadership role of Peter in establishing the Church
• Chapters 13-28 narrate the missionary efforts of Paul in expanding the Church

 

The Book of Acts traces the first 30 years of Christian history from the Ascension of Jesus in Jerusalem to the imprisonment of Paul in Rome. It is Luke’s intention to continue the story of Jesus through the life and mission of his first disciples. Though it is also the work of a careful historian, whose accuracy and reliability are increasingly confirmed in modern research, acts is far from being a lifeless chronicle of facts and figures. Luke has given us an artful narrative filled with inspiring heroes, moving speeches, and daring adventures. Many scholars content that Luke is mainly interested in the activity of the Holy Spirit. We see this from the beginning, where the Spirit descends mightily upon the apostles and sends them out to evangelize Israel and the Gentiles with the good news that Jesus is risen. Thanks to the Spirit, who controls the pace and direction of these missions throughout the book, the gospel meets with staggering success, and the Church is quickly built up. Luke shows us that, even in the face of opposition, neither prisons nor persecutions nor plots could thwart the spread of the gospel through the power of the Spirit.

 

 

We then read chapters 1 and 2 from Acts (which you can find here).

 

After reading, we discussed some of the following questions:

 

• Peter calls his listeners to change how they think about Jesus. How has your picture of Jesus changed over the years? What has contributed to the change? What implications has your changing picture of Jesus had for your life? What might you do to give Jesus an opportunity to reveal more of himself to you at this point in your life?
• What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit? Who do you know that seems filled with the Spirit? How do you experience the presence of the Spirit in your life? How can Christians make themselves open to the Spirit?
• Where in your life do you see signs of God’s activity? How might God be calling you to cooperate with what He is doing?

At the end of our time, we brought out birthday cake to celebrate the birthday of the Church, but also summer birthdays of two girls in our group. And everyone got two bookmarks with two prayers to the Holy Spirit:

 

 

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.

 

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. 

 

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.