(QUESTIONS)

Acts 4:23-31 (Go to the ESV Bible verses)

Key Verse: 4:29, ^“And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness”

1.  What had the council told Peter and John (18)? After they are released, what do they do (23)? What does the word “friends” mean, and what does it tell us about their community?

2.  After hearing this, what do they do (24a), how do they address God (24b), and what does this mean? What Scripture do they use in their prayer (25–26), and how do they apply it (27–28)? What can we learn here about prayer?

3.  What do they ask of God (29), and how do they refer to themselves here? What does it mean “to speak your word with all boldness”? Where does this boldness come from (13)? Why should we also pray for this (see Eph.6:19–20)?

4.  For what else do they pray (30), and why do they pray for this? What can we learn from them?

5.  What happens (31), and what does it tell us about God? How can we experience such an answer to prayer?

(MESSAGE)

(QUESTIONS)

Acts 4:1-22 (Go to the ESV Bible verses)

Key Verse: 4:12, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

1.  As this passage opens, what is the location, what happens there, and why (1–2; cf. 3:1,11)? What do the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees do, and why (3)? What impact did the word from Peter have (4), and what does this tell us?

2.  Who gathers the next day (5–6), what do they do with Peter and John, and what do they ask (5–7)? How is Peter described (8a),^[1] how does he begin to answer (8–9), and why?

3.  How does Peter rebuke them again (10)?^[2] What does he repeat about Jesus’ name (10)?^[3] What else does Peter say (11),^[4] and what do the words “rejected” and “cornerstone” mean?

4.  Read verse 12. What does Peter say here is unique about Jesus? What do the words “salvation” and “saved” mean to us (15:11)? How can we apply this verse practically to our personal life and ministry?

5.  How do the leaders react to Peter and John initially (13), and what does it tell us? How do they react to the healed man (14)? What do they decide to do (15–18)? How do Peter and John answer (19–20)? What is the outcome, and why (21–22)? What can we learn here?

^[1] Cf. Luke 12:11–12; 21:12–15.

^[2] 2:23–24,36.

^[3] 2:38; 3:6,16.

^[4] Cf. Ps.118:22; Luke 20:17.

(MESSAGE)

Key Verse: 4:12, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

What do you think about “salvation”? Every religion claims its own version. Even the non-religious promote personal growth, self-actualization, and contributing to humanity’s well-being as a kind of “salvation.” The Bible describes real salvation as deliverance from sin and its consequences, being restored in a right relationship with God. God’s salvation is a theme in Acts, and God wants to bring it to the ends of the earth.^[1] Today we want to learn more of what God’s salvation really is, why Jesus is the only source of salvation, and what it means to believe in his name. May God speak to each of us.

In the name of Jesus, Peter has just healed a man (3:1–10). And he has taken this opportunity to share the gospel with the people of Jerusalem in his “second sermon” (3:11–26). Through Peter’s words we learned the meaning of repentance. It’s so simple: to realize we are wrong, turn back to God, and put our trust in Jesus. We also saw how Peter gave his message to these people. Despite the evil they’d done, he pleaded with them. Peter had hope that, if they repented and turned to Jesus, they could inherit the blessings God had wanted to give his people throughout history. Peter could see the vision of God that, through their repentance, their offspring could be a source of blessing to all the families of the earth. Peter’s message was convicting and heart-moving. Until now, the outcome of his gospel ministry was positive. But this time, as we will see often in Acts, the response is mixed. Many repent and believe. But there is also strong opposition.^[2] But Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, again proclaims who Jesus is. Today’s passage shows us that since Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension, and the coming of the Holy Spirit, everything has changed. Those holding on to their positions, traditions and buildings in the old religious establishment have become irrelevant. Now, through the name of Jesus, God is about to bring his salvation to all peoples on earth (1:8).

Look at verse 1 (ESV). Peter and John’s teaching in the temple gets interrupted. The priests, captain of the temple and Sadducees “come upon them.” It’s a hostile move. It’s the same word Luke used to describe what they did to Jesus while he was teaching the people in the temple (Luke 20:1). Look at verse 2. This is especially the point of view of the Sadducees. Being the rich landowners and top class people of the time, they don’t like what’s happening through the followers of Jesus. They want to be in control of everything. They are “greatly annoyed” that these Galilean nobodies are teaching the people. They also are greatly annoyed by their “proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.” They love the world so much, they are just not interested in a resurrection. They totally disrespect Peter and his message and make a move to shut him up. Look at verse 3. The word “arrested” is literally “seized” or “laid hands on”; it’s the same thing they did to Jesus (Luke 22:54). Peter and John get arrested and jailed overnight for speaking the truth. It’s disturbing, but not surprising.

Despite this, Luke records an important detail. Read verse 4. Peter’s message of repentance helps two thousand more people repent and believe in Jesus and commit to the new Christian fellowship. It tells us that nobody can stop the work of the Holy Spirit. Despite any opposition we face today, we too need to just keep giving people the gospel, and depend on the Holy Spirit to work.

Look at verses 5–6. These are the top leaders in Israel. This new Christian movement has gotten their attention, with 5,000 men in Jerusalem now eagerly committed to it. The assembly of top leaders, the Sanhedrin Council, is run by the high priest’s family. This family has been in power for nearly 30 years. Humanly, they command the people’s respect. Look at verse 7. Actually, as we see in verses 13-14, the man who was healed is standing beside Peter and John. He may have gotten arrested along with them, as he was clinging to them so tightly (3:11a). Bringing them all in after a night in jail and having them “set in their midst” is a strong intimidation tactic. These aristocratic leaders then ask, with the most condescending tone, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” They’re confident that their wealthy appearance, clever use of their voice, and group solidarity will cause these Galilean fishermen to melt.

What happens? Look at verses 8–9. In contrast to them, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, begins respectfully. But his words call into question this whole situation. Why are they arrested and being examined for a good deed done to a crippled man? They should be thanked instead of being treated like this. If they’re being asked by what means the healing happened, Peter is happy to talk about that. Look at verse 10. “…let it be known to you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead––by him this man is standing before you well.” In other words, Jesus, the one they killed and tried to get rid of, is alive. And this risen Jesus Christ of Nazareth is still working on earth, by the power of his name, to heal people. By the name of Jesus this crippled man is well, sound, fully restored. It’s what our Lord Jesus still wants to do for sick and wounded people today. And he can still do it, by the power of his name, if we repent and believe.

Peter then says something else to these religious leaders. Read verse 11. “This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.” The one they despised so much is the very one exalted by God as the most important person in God’s building, God’s temple. In his famous parable of the tenants, Jesus quoted this same verse of prophecy to these same people.^[3] The prophecy is saying that even those in positions of religious leadership will find themselves crushed and cut off if they refuse to listen to the word of God about Jesus. No one, no matter how powerful, can stop God’s work of salvation through “the rejected stone.” Today, when we are rejected by men but come to Jesus our Lord, the living stone, we too become unstoppable, like living stones in a spiritual house (1 Pet.2:4–5).

Here, Peter keeps all the focus on Jesus. Read verse 12. “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” These men in the high priest’s family had big names: Annas, Caiaphas, John, Alexander. Currently they have a monopoly on temple worship in Jerusalem. They are in charge of the very impressive temple complex and automatically have many people coming there for the annual feasts. Their arrogance and narrow-minded hostility to the gospel would end up driving many believers out of the city. But they could not snuff out the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and the world salvation work God would accomplish through him. Insecure people today resort to name-dropping to make themselves seem more legitimate, mentioning famous people or schools they know. But we don’t need any other name. Philippians 2:9–11 says, “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Just before his arrest, Jesus told his disciples, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Why is Jesus still the only way of salvation? It’s because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom.3:23). Due to our sins, there’s no way out of being under the wrath of God. No amount of good works, or human effort and willpower to keep religious rules, can save us. But God, in his righteousness, justifies sinners by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God put him forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith (Rom.3:24–25a). This salvation is deeper than just escaping bad situations; it’s the salvation of our souls. We may suffer and lose many things because of it. But in this salvation from God we experience forgiveness, peace, the presence of the Holy Spirit, adoption into God’s family, a changed life, a living hope in heaven, real joy, a sense of mission, and faith in God’s victory. There’s nothing better. And, there’s no other way to get right with God, no other way to enter his kingdom. As Joel’s prophecy says, “…everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (2:21). God provides salvation in the name of Jesus to any person, any time, anywhere. His salvation is available to anyone humble enough to accept it.

And what’s the nature of this salvation? The lame man who was healed is a picture of it. He had been so sick, so weak, all he could do was beg and use people. But now he’s “walking and leaping and praising God” (Acts 3:8b). He’s now strong and in perfect health. And he’s not critical; he’s grateful. He’s inspiring many people to turn back to Jesus in faith. The man’s change shows us that salvation is not mere intellectual assent to some dogma. Salvation is deep inner healing, in every possible way. Only the grace of Jesus heals like that. This salvation happens not through our ability or effort, but through the power of Jesus’ name. We all desperately need this salvation.

It may not be religious, but we’re all looking for some kind of salvation. Some try meditation or self-help. Some seek self-fulfillment through personal growth, career achievements or relationships. Some join a community. Some become activists for justice and equity. Some pursue physical health and wellness, or safety and security through financial stability. Some try to leave a legacy. But none of these ways of “salvation” is real. None of it meets the need of our soul. David wrote, “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation” (Ps.62:1). As a popular song today says, “Honestly, we just need Jesus.”^[4] God gives our souls his salvation in the name of Jesus. The Bible says the gospel of Jesus “is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom.1:16). His salvation gives us “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” and guards our hearts and minds in this chaotic, crazy world (Phil.4:7). Ultimately, his salvation brings us back to our eternal home (2 Cor.5:1).

The Sanhedrin is astonished by Peter and John’s boldness. These two are uneducated, common men. But even the religious leaders recognize that they had been with Jesus. And the healed man standing there leaves the leaders with nothing to say. They command the group to leave the council and confer with one another. The best they can come up with is to charge them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus (13–18). But Peter and John say they have to listen to God. With some further threats, the leaders have to let them go for now, because the people are still so happy about the man’s healing (19–22).

Let’s read verse 12 again. We live in such dark and confusing times. May God help us experience the real salvation that’s only in Jesus, and may he use us to bring the saving power of Jesus’ name to the sick and hurting people all around us.

^[1] 2:21,40,47; 4:12; 5:31; 7:25; 11:14; 13:23,26,47; 15:1,11; 16:17,30–31; 28:28.

^[2] For example, see 5:18; 6:12; 8:3; 9:2; 12:1–3; 16:19–24.

^[3] Cf. Luke 20:9–18; Ps.118:22. Years later, Apostle Peter again quotes this verse in his first epistle (1 Pet.2:6–7). Apostle Paul also calls Jesus “the chief cornerstone” (Eph.2:20).

^[4] Woods, Terrian. Honestly, We Just Need Jesus. Published by Maison, de Emack (ASCAP), 2023. Accessed June 29, 2024.

(QUESTIONS)

Acts 3:11-26 (Go to the ESV Bible verses)

Key Verses: 3:19–20, “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, ²⁰ that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,”

1.  How did people respond to the lame man’s healing (11)? What did Peter say, and what lessons are here for us (12)?

2.  How and why does Peter identify God (13a)?^[1] How has God “glorified” Jesus?^[2] Why does Peter call Jesus God’s “servant”?^[3] How does he rebuke these people (13b)? How else does Peter refer to Jesus (14–15)?^[4] What did these people do to him? What does it mean to be “witnesses” to this? How does all this explain the man’s healing (16)?

3.  What else does Peter say about these people and about God (17–18)?^[5] What prophecies mention that “his Christ would suffer,”^[6] and what was the purpose of this?^[7]

4.  What does Peter tell them to do (19a)? What does it mean to “repent”? To “turn back”? What is promised if we do (19b)?^[8] What else is promised (20a), and what does it mean?

5.  What final promise is here (20b)? What else does Peter say about this (21), and what is “the time for restoring”?^[9] What other prophecies does Peter mention (22–23), and why?^[10]

6.  What more does Peter say (24)? What does he tell these people (25)?^[11] How can they inherit this covenant blessing (26)?

^[1] Cf. Ex.3:6,15.

^[2] Cf. Isa.52:13.

^[3] Cf. Isa.42:1; 49:6; 53:11.

^[4] Cf. Isa.53:11; Zech.9:9.

^[5] Acts 13:27.

^[6] Cf. Ps.22; 69; Isa.52:14; 53.

^[7] Cf. Isa.53:4–6,10–12.

^[8] Cf. Ps.51:9; Isa.43:25.

^[9] Cf. Isa.35:1–10; 65:17–25; Rev.21:1–7; 22:1–5.

^[10] Cf. Deut.18:15; Lev.23:29.

^[11] Cf. Gen.12:3; 22:18.

(MESSAGE)

Key Verses: 3:19–20a, “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…”

What do you think about repentance? To “repent” can sound heavy or burdensome. Even Christians misunderstand what it is. The dictionary defines repentance as “to feel sorry, to regret, or to be conscience-stricken.” But that’s not the Bible’s full meaning. Some believers think we only have to repent once, when we first become a Christian, and after that we’re free as a bird. But our Lord Jesus taught that repentance is essential to living and growing as a true Christian (Luke 17:3–4). To the author of Acts, repentance is crucial to gospel ministry. In today’s passage Apostle Peter gives his second sermon. In it, he proclaims several things about Jesus. He explains how a lame man was healed. Most of all, he challenges his audience to repent. In this Bible study we want to think more about who Jesus is and what repentance means. And we want to learn why and how we need to repent practically. May God speak to us today.

As they healed a lame man in the name of Jesus, God continued to use Peter and John as Jesus’ witnesses (1–10). The miracle was very public, done where people were entering and leaving the Jerusalem temple, at a place called the Beautiful Gate. Look at verse 11 (ESV). Now, this healed man is clinging to Peter and John. And all the people, utterly astounded, run together to them in a temple area called Solomon’s Portico. Peter is suddenly like a rock star surrounded by an excited crowd. What does he do? Look at verse 12. He says, “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?” Peter indeed had received power from the Holy Spirit. But, like many godly people in history, he immediately turned the attention away from himself.

As we go over his sermon, we first notice that it is very Jewish. Peter begins, “Men of Israel” (12a) Then he says, “The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers…” (13a) Twice he mentions “what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets” (18,21). He includes two quotations from Moses (22–23). He briefly reviews Jewish history, mentioning “all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him” (24). And he wraps up by saying, “You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers…” (25). Being in Jerusalem, it’s natural for Peter to focus on these people, who are Jewish. Peter also addresses them very specifically. They’re the ones who had delivered Jesus over to Pilate (13b). They had denied Jesus and asked for a murderer, Barabbas, to be granted to them (14). Basically, they’re the people responsible for killing Jesus (15). Because this sermon is so Jewish and addresses these specific people who crucified Jesus, it might seem a bit unrelated to us.

But in his words Peter says some profound and timeless truths that help us get to know Jesus better. He begins and ends by calling Jesus God’s “servant” (13,26). He says Jesus is God’s “Christ” who “would suffer.” Jesus is the suffering servant depicted in Isaiah’s most famous servant song, whom God “glorified.” Peter even calls Jesus “the Holy and Righteous One” (14a) and “the Author of life” (15a), titles reserved for God alone. Though Jesus was rejected on earth, he is God himself, God the Son. He went through so much suffering and humiliation during his trial and crucifixion. But it was not the end. Peter proclaims that God raised Jesus from the dead (15b). This Jesus is now in heaven, and one day God will send him back to this world, when the time comes for restoring all things (20–21). Finally, Peter says Jesus is the promised Prophet like Moses, whom everyone should listen to carefully (22–23). To sum it up, Jesus is the Living One (Rev.1:18) whose presence is accessible to us (20a). Instead of thinking too much about ourselves, people, or the world, we need to turn our minds and hearts to Jesus until we are fully aware of who he is.

There’s another key point in what Peter is saying. He points out that this man, lame from birth, whom everyone in Jerusalem has seen and known for years, is now suddenly in perfect health. Peter explains how this incredible miracle happened. Read verse 16. This is another example of how God glorified Jesus. God glorified him by raising him from the dead. God glorified him by taking him back to heaven to be with him. God glorified him by pouring out the Holy Spirit on all the believers through him. Now God glorified Jesus by using his name to give perfect health and make strong this totally crippled, miserable man. Only the name of Jesus has the power to do that. Peter adds that it’s Jesus himself who gives us faith in his name. So even our faith glorifies Jesus.

Then Peter gets to his main point. What is it? Read verse 19. Peter puts two words together here: “repent” and “turn back.” The Greek root word for “repent” is “metanoeo,” which literally means to change one’s mind. It means to realize that I am wrong, not others, but me, especially my attitude and way of thinking. It’s like realizing, “What am I doing here? I’m totally in the wrong place. I’m really lost!” It’s an inner realization, a change of heart, something that happens within us, without us saying even a word.

But it’s also something we need to take action on. So in verse 19, Peter adds the other word, “epistrepho,” which means “turn back.” He’s telling us: “Don’t just stay in that wrong place, with that wrong attitude, feeling badly; do something!” Often people say they repent, but in fact, they haven’t really changed their mind, or their behavior. If we’re going to truly repent, God doesn’t want us to just say “sorry”; he wants our mind and heart, our inner person, as well as what we do going forward, to change. To “turn back” is no mere behavior modification. It means to come back to God to ask for his mercy and forgiveness and his help to change. In many cases, it also means to seek out the people we’ve wronged, and beg their forgiveness.

What’s wrong with these people listening to Peter? They’ve done such evil to Jesus. But they have no idea how bad it was. It’s why Peter has to use such strong words to help them. God himself had glorified his servant Jesus. But these people denied Jesus. Even Pilate had decided to release him. But they wanted Jesus gone. They denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer. Ultimately, they had the Author of life killed. It’s the greatest crime ever committed. They thought they could just put it behind them and forget about it. But God did not forget. In the same way, some day each of us is going to have to give an account of himself to God (Rom.14:12). God our righteous judge can’t just ignore or forget our sins. But in his righteousness he’s provided a way to deal with our sins and forgive them, through the death of his Son and his shed blood (Rom.3:24–26). If we repent of our sins and believe in Jesus, then God forgives and forgets (2:38).

These people show us the danger of spiritual blindness. If we let sin creep into our minds and hearts, we, too, become blind spiritually. We make foolish choices. We develop ignorant attitudes. We ignore God our Father. We ignore our Lord Jesus and his amazing grace. We ignore the presence of the Holy Spirit. We choose our own stubborn desires and ways. We fail to see those around us from God’s point of view. We ignore, dismiss or despise people, and can get emotionally cruel and abusive. Confessing faith in Jesus and getting active in church doesn’t make our spiritual blindness, ignorance and abusive sins go away. It’s why we constantly need God’s help to repent.

The worst sin that Peter calls out here is the sin of denying Jesus. He repeats the word “deny” twice (13–14). He knows it’s such a sin because it’s what he himself did. What does it mean to “deny Jesus”? Of course it means to deny believing in Jesus, turning away from the faith. But it also means failing to identify my faith when I’m with people who don’t believe. It means living in ways that contradict Jesus’ teachings, choosing worldly and sinful values and lifestyles. Denying Jesus involves compromising key parts of our Christian faith just to conform to cultural pressures. As Christians, when we’re dishonest, or ignore justice, or lack compassion, we’re denying Jesus. When we lack love and forgiveness, we deny Jesus. When we neglect prayer, worship and fellowship with believers, we deny Jesus. Even inaction and indifference are ways we deny Jesus. One of the most prevalent ways we deny Jesus is through our own self-righteousness. We think we know better and are better than everyone, even Jesus. Our habitual attitude toward the living God, his holy words and his precious people, deny Jesus. We need to become more aware, more sensitive to the ways we may be denying Jesus in our own lives. May God help us turn back to Jesus our Lord in sincere personal repentance, and earnestly pray for others.

To help these people, Peter mentions the blessings they’ll experience if they repent and turn back. First, he says their sins will be “blotted out” (19b). It means erased, obliterated, forgotten. Really? In this world, that’s unheard of. People say, “I can forgive but I won’t forget.” But when we repent and put our full trust only in Jesus, God himself promises to remember our sins no more (Jer.31:34b). Second, we experience “times of refreshing…from the presence of the Lord…” (20a). Our minds, our hearts, our spirits get refreshed through repentance. It’s better than a great workout or even a vacation. Repentance helps us newly experience the living presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit. It’s his presence, personally with us, that refreshes and renews us. It’s why we need to come to him daily to repent of all our known and even our unknown sins. David wrote in one of his Psalms: “Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me!” (Ps.19:12–13a) Such thorough and earnest repentance brings real refreshment. 1 John 1:9 tells us: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This is meant to describe our daily walk in the light of Jesus. We all need spiritual cleansing daily, even more than personal hygiene. When’s the last time we’ve really been refreshed in his presence?

In verses 20b–21 Peter suggests that the more we repent, the sooner Jesus will come back and restore all things. Of course, God determines that day. But the more we repent, the more we actually want him to come back, the more we long for the new heaven and new earth that only he can bring.

Look at verses 22–23. Centuries earlier, Moses warned the people that one day God would raise up for us a prophet like himself, and that everyone should listen to that prophet or be cut off from God’s people. That prophet is Jesus. In light of this, we need to repent seriously of not really listening to Jesus. Who are we listening to?

Peter concludes by reminding us of God’s vision. Read verse 25. The Bible says that even though we are not Jewish, if we belong to Christ, we are all sons and daughters of our father Abraham through faith (Gal.3:7–9,29). Through our faith in Jesus we inherit God’s promise to Abraham. So, even in our offspring, all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Repentance helps us see God’s greater vision for our lives instead of getting engrossed in petty concerns.

And what does it mean to be a blessing? Read verse 26. Being a blessing to people doesn’t mean always striving to give them “the warm and fuzzies.” It means first to turn from our own “wickedness.” As sinners, we all have them. We can’t be a blessing if we’re hiding our wickedness, living a double life. We can’t be a blessing if we’re living in self-righteous hypocrisy. After our own repentance, being a blessing also means helping others practically to repent of their own wickedness. God wants us all to repent of our wickedness, of having a wrong mind and heart, to turn back to him and truly believe in Jesus, his servant, the Holy and Righteous One, the Author of life.

Read verses 19–20a again. In light of this passage, let’s reflect seriously on the ways we may be denying Jesus. This summer, may God help us all to repent and turn back to him through faith in Jesus, so that we can experience his forgiveness and spiritual refreshing in his presence.

(QUESTIONS)

1Samuel 3:1-4:1a (Go to the ESV Bible verses)

Key verse 3:19, “And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.”

1. What is the time of the young Samuel like (3:1-2)?[1] What is the major problem in those times?

2. What does it imply that “the lamp of God had not yet gone out” (3a)? How did Samuel get to where he is now (3b)?[2] What is God’s bigger plan through him?[3]

3. Describe God’s call of Samuel (4-10a)? What is young Samuel’s attitude to God (10)? What can we learn about God who calls the young Samuel?

4. What are God’s words to Samuel (11-14)? What does Samuel do with them (15-18)? Why does God give such a difficult mission to him upon his calling?[4]

5. In what way does Samuel grow (19)? What does it mean “the Lord…let none of his words fall to the ground”? What is the result of Samuel’s ministry of the word of God (20-21, 4:1a)? How can we shine the light of God into the dark world?[5]

[1] Cf. 1Sam 2:12,17, 22-25; Judg 21:25

[2] Cf. 1Sam 1:10-11,28, 2:11,26

[3] Cf. 1Sam 2:35

[4] Cf. 1Sam 2:30

[5] Cf. Ps 119:105; 1Tim 4:12; 2Tim 2:15, 4:1-2

(MESSAGE)

Key verses 3:10,19 “And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant hears.’” “And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.”

Happy Father’s Day! A good dad loves giving nice gifts to his children. Imagine your dad gave you a small lamp and matches. Picture the room suddenly going dark. Quickly, light your lamp. “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…” Watch it grow until there’s no more darkness.

In the books of Judges and 1 Samuel, Samuel lived in a time of moral and spiritual darkness. When he was young, his mother sent him to live in the temple of the Lord. One night, still in bed, he heard someone calling him, “Samuel, Samuel!”

Today’s message is about God who called the boy Samuel who had a right attitude toward God and his servant. Upon calling him, God trained him to grow into a faithful and courageous prophet who could shine the light of God over all Israel. Through this message, may we learn what kind of attitude God wants us to have so that we can receive His calling to shine His light into darkness.

1. God’s plan to drive out darkness (1-3)

The first verse of today’s passage shows the dark times of boy Samuel. Look at verse 1. “Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.”

Can you imagine a boy in priestly garments working in the temple? Some may say, “Cute!” But this scene is odd. According to Numbers 8:24-26, only adult Levites between the ages of 25-50 should serve the Lord in the temple. Here, a boy, less than 13 years old, and from the tribe of Ephraim (1 Sam 1:1), was ministering to the Lord. Another irregularity is Eli, who was over 90 years old (1 Sam 4:15). He should have retired long ago. Where were his sons or other priests who should have succeeded him?

1 Sam 2:12-17 and 22-25 explain where Eli’s sons, the priests, might have been. These verses start with, “Now the sons of Eli were worthless men.” Firstly, they forcibly took the raw meat from the sacrifices people offered to God and made roasted beef steaks for themselves. Secondly, though married, they lay with the serving women at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Despite knowing  his sons’ sins, Eli, the High Priest, did not restrain them. They still held the priestly office with authority and power. If the spiritual leaders lived such sinful lives without the fear of God, the rest of the people must have been worse. Judges 21:25 says: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Chaos, immorality, crimes, despair, and darkness covered the whole nation. Aren’t Samuel’s days similar to our own?

How do people respond to the darkness? One of my nephews who got married recently decided not to have children, considering all the exponentially increasing issues their future children will face.

What does the Bible say about the pervasive darkness? Look at verse 1b. “And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.” So, God had a plan. He did not abandon his people. 1 Samuel 2:35 reveals God’s plan: “And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him up a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever.” His plan then was to raise up faithful people of God who will shine His light into the dark world. God’s plan now is still the same– to raise up faithful men and women to shine his light.

1. God’s call of Samuel as a prophet (3-19)

Before His call of Samuel, God was already working. It started surprisingly, with a barren woman named Hannah. In chapter 1, the author, likely Samuel himself, notes, “the Lord had closed her womb” twice (6). Her husband’s other wife, Peninnah, who had many children, provoked and irritated her day and night, year after year, saying her barrenness was God’s curse. Though she was dearly loved by her husband, she couldn’t eat and wept daily. Hannah was in a personal darkness. However, that personal darkness led her to the Lord. She prayed to Him, weeping bitterly, and made a vow that if God gave her a son, she would give him to the Lord all the days of his life (2:1-11). God answered her prayer and gave her a son, whom she named Samuel, “heard of God.” As soon as she weaned him, she returned the young boy Samuel to the Lord according to her vow. Despite Eli and his sons being poor priests, she entrusted her son to God the Father.

The author could have described young Samuel’s life in the temple in many ways.  However, the author writes one thing: “Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man” (2:26), which echoes the boy Jesus’ growth in Luke 2:43. God became his heavenly father. God raised boy Samuel to grow in stature and favor with God and men. Therefore, as parents, we do not need to be afraid to devote and entrust our children to the Lord. God honors the faith and prayers of godly parents!  Praise God!

Now, let’s see how God called Samuel. Look at verse 3: “The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.” The lamp of God was placed in the tent of meeting, outside the veil before the Most Holy Place, where the ark was. The lamp burned every day from evening to morning (Ex 27:20-21). Since it had not yet gone out, it was nighttime, pitch dark outside. This verse tells us more than the time; it metaphorically suggests the lamp of God through boy Samuel was still shining in the darkness.

Look at verses 4-6: “Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, ‘Here I am!’ and ran to Eli and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I didn’t call; lie down again.’ So he went and lay down. And the Lord called again, ‘Samuel!’ And Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call, my son; lie down again.’”

In these verses, we see boy Samuel’s attitude towards Eli. He heard a voice in the middle of the night. Thinking it was Eli, he jolted awake, shook the sleep from his eyes, and ran to Eli saying, “Here I am, for you called me.” At any time of day or night, he was eagerly ready and available for Eli, with a servant’s heart for God’s servant. When he heard his name, he took initiative and ran to Eli. He didn’t just shout from his bed, “What? What do you want? I’m so sleepy!” When Eli told him to go back and lie down, he was teachable and obeyed. And two more times when Samuel heard his name, he faithfully got out of his warm bed and went to Eli.

This amusing scene also reveals Samuel’s spiritual condition though: he couldn’t distinguish God’s voice from Eli’s. Verse 7 adds, “Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.” The boy Samuel did not yet have such a personal relationship with God.

When Samuel couldn’t differentiate God’s voice from Eli’s, did God change His mind? Look at verses 8-9a: “And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore, Eli said to Samuel, ‘Go, lie down, and if He calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’”

So, Samuel obeyed Eli’s words exactly. He went and lay down. Now look at verse 10a. “And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’” Samuel said exactly what Eli taught him– ‘Speak, for your servant hears.’” From God’s call of the young Samuel, we learn two important lessons.

Firstly, God calls people of “FAITH,” though they are humanly unqualified. In Israel, young children and women were not highly respected. But the God who called old men like Abraham and Moses also called the boy Samuel, who seemed too young and unimportant. Soon, God would use Samuel to anoint another young shepherd boy, David, as King of Israel. Sometimes, we feel like boy Samuel. We are too young, too insignificant, too uneducated to be called by God. However, God was seeking boy Samuel. 2 Chronicles 16:9a says, “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the whole earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him (NIV).”

How did Samuel respond to God’s calling? Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” Samuel had a fully committed heart.  He was a boy of FAITH: he was “Faithful” to God and God’s servant; he was always “Available” day or night however inconvenient. He took “Initiative,” and was not passive, staying in bed. He was “Teachable,” with an obedient, listening, and humble heart towards God and God’s servants; and he had a “Heart for God and God’s people,” to serve God and God’s servant at any place and any time.

So however humanly unqualified we may be, we don’t need to despair. Rather, all we need to do is cultivate a heart of “FAITH.” Practically, every day, let us start each day with this prayer, “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.” Then,  come out of our beds, away from cell phone screens. Cultivate the habit of coming to his words faithfully with a humble heart to hear and obey. Be willing to learn humbly from our shepherds and parents. And lastly, practice being available, to take initiative and find ways to serve God and others. And God will qualify us and strengthen us to be his useful servants. Praise God!

Secondly, young children can hear God’s voice personally. Samuel had learned about God through his mother and Eli the priest. Now, with Eli’s help, Samuel knelt before God and heard His voice independently. Parents, God can speak to your children! You are to prepare your children to hear and obey God’s voice. Have you heard of the 4 to 14 window? In 2003, Barna Research Group found that 70% of Christian adults in the U.S. accepted Christ by age 13. This groundbreaking research shows how impactful it is to reach kids with the gospel by the time they turn 14. Parents and Bible teachers, plant the seed of the gospel in their hearts. Parents, help your children hear and obey the word of God, over all the other voices.

Now let’s see God’s word to Samuel. Look at verses 11-14: “Then the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.’”

What a painful message it was! God was going to punish the house of Eli forever. In turn, Samuel was to proclaim this message of judgment to Eli, the High Priest, whom he loved and respected as his spiritual father. This was the first cross Samuel had to bear as a prophet.

What did Samuel do with the word of the Lord? Look at verse 15: “Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli.” Yes, we can sympathize with him! But Eli called and said, “Samuel, my son! What was it that He told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also if you hide anything from me of all that He told you.”

Eli could have said, “My son, if God has spoken against me and my sons, please be silent.” Instead, he strongly urged Samuel to tell him the whole truth.

We can only imagine the distress of the young prophet. However, Samuel obeyed. Look at verse 18a. “So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him.”  He told him the whole truth of God’s impending punishment. Samuel completed his first and most difficult mission as a prophet– to speak the words of God as they were. And Eli accepted God’s message of judgment with humility and repentance.

As a prophet, our most important task is to speak the words of God as they are, however painful they may be. We live in politically correct time which makes it difficult to share the gospel because the gospel is offensive. The gospel tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. And there is salvation found only in Christ. However, God calls us to be prophets who speak the truth in love. Only when we speak the truth can people be set free from their sins. Only then can people see their true darkness and come to Christ, who is the light of the world. May God help each of us overcome our fears and live as courageous prophets, who speak the truth of the gospel that is life-giving and light-bringing in our dark times.

What happened afterwards? Let’s read verse 19 together: “And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.” There were three significant changes.

Firstly, Samuel grew. As a boy, he grew physically. However, his growth was not just physical. As a boy, he used to run to his spiritual father Eli. But now he learned to kneel before God and hear His voice personally. He became completely dependent on the Lord God. Some might think they can only experience significant spiritual growth if they study the Bible enough or go to church long enough. While that might be true, Samuel grew as he obeyed God’s voice and delivered God’s message of judgment to Eli. So how can we grow? We cannot just hear God’s words with our ears. We must obey and put his words into practice. We must share the truth of the gospel. May God help us to grow by obeying his words.

Secondly, the Lord was with him. In verse 7, Samuel did not know the Lord. Now, he says, “the Lord was with him.” When he obeyed God’s words absolutely, Samuel began to have a personal and intimate communion with the Lord. As a result, Samuel knew the heart and mind of the Lord.

Thirdly, the Lord let none of his words fall to the ground. What an amazing statement! The Lord Himself ensured that none of Samuel’s words fell to the ground. Literally, the Lord fulfilled all Samuel said. As we read 3:21 and 4:1a, the word of the Lord and Samuel’s word are interchangeable. As a prophet who knew God’s heart and mind, Prophet Samuel proclaimed the word of the Lord as it was, and the Lord fulfilled His purpose through His word.

What was the impact of Samuel’s ministry? Verse 20 says, “And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord.” And 4:1a adds, “And the word of Samuel came to all Israel.” The word of the Lord through Prophet Samuel shone over all Israel. His little light grew in power and brightness. And the darkness that had covered the nation began to disappear.

In today’s message, we learn the God of Samuel, who called “FAITH”-filled boy Samuel as a prophet. When God called him, boy Samuel said to the Lord, “‘Speak, for your servant hears.’” When his heart was right with the Lord, God told him to deliver the most difficult message. While obeying the Lord, Samuel grew. And God empowered young prophet Samuel. He was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And the light of God shone to all Israel driving out darkness.  May God enable each of us to cultivate a FAITH-filled heart and grow as obedient and courageous prophets as we deliver the gospel light wherever darkness is. “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…”

 

(QUESTIONS)

Acts 3:1-10 (Go to the ESV Bible verses)

(MESSAGE)

Key Verse: 3:6, “But Peter said, ‘I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!’”

Are you confident about anything? We all know people who are self-confident. Sometimes, such an attitude is hard to bear. But so is a person who’s always unsure, calculating, or negative. In today’s passage we see another episode with Peter. A few months earlier, despite his promise to go with Jesus to prison and death (Luke 22:33), Peter denied him three times (22:54–62). He was even ready to take the others back to their old lives as fishermen (John 21:2–3). But now, Peter has become a real spiritual leader, the key figure in the birth of the church. What happened? The Holy Spirit came. As Jesus promised, when the Holy Spirit came on him, Peter received power to be Jesus’ witness (1:8). In this encounter with a man lame from birth, we can learn what it means to be a witness of Jesus today. May God speak to us personally through his word.

In chapter 2, at Pentecost the Holy Spirit came on the 120 followers of Jesus, and in the boldness of the Holy Spirit, Peter gave his first sermon. Based on Scripture, Peter clearly proclaimed Jesus as both Lord and Christ, rebuked the people who crucified him, and challenged them to repent. When 3,000 of them did, the early church was born. It was none other than the mighty power of God at work. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. In the Holy Spirit they began to have a God-fearing, unselfish, loving fellowship. Observers liked this new church, and new people continued to join. But being witnesses of Jesus was more than enjoying fellowship with each other.

In this next section of Acts, chapters 3–5, the author shows us how God establishes Peter and the apostles as the true spiritual leaders for his church, replacing the old leaders of Israel. The old leaders relied on their traditions, wealth, power, and threats. But these new leaders of the early church rely on the Holy Spirit and imitate Jesus. In these chapters we also will see how the apostles increasingly get persecuted, including being arrested (4:3), and later, put in public prison (5:18). Finally, the old leaders furiously want to kill them (5:33) and give them a beating (5:40). Still, the apostles continue to be filled with the Spirit (4:31), preach the gospel in the temple (3:12–16; 5:20,25) and win so many people over to Jesus (4:4; 5:14). They also do great miracles just as Jesus did (3:8; 5:15–16) and enjoy the people’s favor (4:21; 5:26). All of this is sparked by one event, the one in this passage.[1] This passage highlights an important teaching in Acts: faith in the name of Jesus.[2] It especially shows us, in six practical ways, the central theme of Acts: what it means to be Jesus’ witnesses (1:8).

First, witnesses of Jesus pray. Look at verse 1 (ESV). “The hour of prayer” mentioned here is 3:00 PM. Devout Jews prayed three times a day, at sunrise, at 3:00 PM, and at sunset. But when Jesus was on earth, his disciples didn’t really pray. Right before his arrest, while he was struggling so hard in prayer, they were sleeping (Mark 14:37–41). But now, prayer has become their daily habit; they pray before doing anything.[3] Through prayer they continue to be filled with the Holy Spirit and boldness (4:31). Instead of getting entangled in problems, they resolve to devote themselves to prayer (6:4). In Acts, Luke highlights how crucial prayer is. To be Jesus’ witnesses today, we’ve got to learn how to pray.

Second, witnesses of Jesus cowork in love. Look at verse 1 again. It’s the first time the author mentions Peter and John together.[4] Throughout Acts, John doesn’t say anything. So, why is he mentioned? The Bible highlights how we need at least two witnesses to establish the truth of anything.[5] But Peter and John together also shows how the Holy Spirit changes people. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, Peter and John had been intense rivals. Twice among the disciples there were arguments about who was the greatest.[6] Once, John came with his brother James, along with their ambitious mother, and asked Jesus to even push Peter out and make the two of them his top men (Matt.20:20–21). After Jesus was killed, Peter and John were still competing about who could run the fastest to his tomb (John 20:3–4). And when they met the Risen Jesus, Peter was still comparing himself with John (John 21:20–22). But in his Gospel, John recorded how Jesus, in his great love and grace, restored Peter to be a real shepherd of his sheep (John 21:15–17). John fully supported Peter as the spiritual leader for God’s people. In this new Christian church they relied on each other and supported each other. Their coworking in genuine love was a vital part of their powerful witness about Jesus. Without love, we may try to say or do impressive things, but end up seeming just loud or obnoxious. But when even two coworkers truly love each other, people come to believe.[7]

Third, witnesses of Jesus see others as Jesus did. Look at verse 2. In the city of Jerusalem, getting up to the temple area from any direction always involved climbing up steps. This man lame from birth couldn’t do that. In fact, he couldn’t do anything except beg. To many people he looked like a burden, a nuisance, someone who didn’t really matter. Having to be carried by others daily and to beg daily, treated like an object of pity daily, was not a beautiful life. But they placed this man, born into such a life, at the Beautiful Gate where most people liked to enter the temple area. At this point in his life it was a tragic irony: sitting at the Beautiful Gate in a life of misery. Look at verse 3. Seeing Peter and John, this man reached out his hands to ask for “alms,” meaning money. While asking, it seems it was his habit to turn his face away in shame, as most beggars did. It was common in ancient times to make fun of such people, or to be cruel to them. Those who threw money at them often did it without even looking at them, giving only out of their own vanity.

But something very different is about to happen. Look at verse 4. Though nobody really took a close look at this man, Peter and John did. They had learned from being with Jesus how he always treated people. As they fixed their gaze on him, they didn’t see him as tragic, or as an object of pity. They saw him as a human being just like them. So they were willing to stop and look, not to intimidate or embarrass him, or to say something superficial, but to truly help him. Witnesses of Jesus are different. They look beyond people’s present problems and appearances and treat them with the respect and dignity that every human being deserves. Many people today still feel unseen, for many reasons. It may be because they don’t seem impressive, or don’t have connections, or because of their race or gender or weaknesses. But Jesus sees each person, whatever their appearance, like he or she is the most important person in the world, and worth his time. To be his witness means to see each person as Jesus does.

Look at verse 5. The man’s situation has made him spiritually sick, so sick that all he can do is expect people to help him and give him something. He’s so sick he just wants to receive, without even looking at people. It’s why the first thing Peter and John do is insist to him, “Look at us” (4). Their words sound harsh, but they speak them in love, to begin real restoration in this man’s soul. “Look at us.” They want to set this man free from shame. “Look at us.” They want to set him free from a life of only trying to get something from people, a life of using people. “Look at us.” They want this man to know the beauty of looking people in the eye with love and having real relationships. This man has so many compound problems: a life-long ailment, poverty, shame, feeling worthless, and no healthy relationships. With spiritual insight Peter and John can see it all. And it looks hopeless.

Fourth, witnesses of Jesus totally depend on him. Look at verse 6. Peter begins, “I have no silver and gold…” Peter has dedicated his entire life to following Jesus, learning from him, helping him, and now, serving his flock. He has set an example of sacrificial living and sharing, and all the other believers have followed him in this. To human eyes, Peter has no possessions or accomplishments, nothing to boast about. But through all the years of training he has learned how to depend on Jesus, which has made him spiritually rich. He has learned firsthand how God works mightily, not through human resources or ability but when we simply depend on Jesus. Peter believes that even in the hopeless situation of this man, lame from birth and sick with begging, Jesus our Risen and Living Lord can give new life and complete healing. Our human tendency is to live based on what looks possible, and to depend on ourselves or others. But witnesses of Jesus are those who have learned to totally depend on him.

Fifth, witnesses of Jesus believe the power of his name. Let’s read verse 6. Here Peter introduces the source of his spiritual confidence. It’s no longer himself. It’s not even in his past training and experience. It’s only in the name of the living Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Jesus came from a humble place and served all kinds of sinners, then was rejected and crucified. But God raised him from the dead, exalted him to his own right hand as his only Son, and made him both Lord and Christ. He’s the one who’s been given all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt.28:19). He’s the one still reigning over all things and all people. He’s the only one through whom we can do all things (Phil.4:13).

Peter especially believes in the power of Jesus’ name. It’s not a name we use like magic (19:13–17). The Bible tells us the name of Jesus is above every name.[8] We call on his name[9] and are baptized in his name (Acts 2:38). Our sins are forgiven “for his name’s sake” (1 John 2:12). We are washed, sanctified and justified in his name (1 Cor.6:11). If we believe, we “have life in his name” (John 20:31). Jesus taught us to pray in his name[10] and said we are protected by his name (John 17:11–12). Through his name we have access in one Spirit to the Father and have boldness and confidence.[11]We gather together in his name,[12] receive children in his name, we even conquer demons in his name.[13] All our speaking and serving are to be done “in his name,” meaning “for his sake” (Col.3:17). Sometimes, we’re insulted and suffer for his name.[14] We endure patiently and bear up for his name’s sake (Rev.2:3). As we live in this world where Satan dwells, we hold fast to the name of Jesus and do not deny his name.[15] We’re even ready to give our lives for his name (Acts 21:13).

But in this passage Peter does something specific with his name. Read verse 6 again. This demonstrates that the name of Jesus has power to heal people both physically and spiritually, even of incurable diseases.[16] We just need faith in his name. When we call on the name of Jesus, we are inviting his presence to be with us. And when we give people the name of Jesus, we have faith that it is not us, but our Risen Lord Jesus Christ who heals them (9:34). Witnesses of Jesus are those who, by faith, give people the name of Jesus so that they can really be healed.

Sixth, witnesses of Jesus personally help others. Look at verse 7. Peter not only gave the lame man the name of Jesus; he also personally took him by the right hand and raised him up. It shows that Peter had resurrection faith in Jesus. It also shows his compassion and personal help for this powerless, helpless man. Through Peter’s faith, compassion and personal help, this man’s feet and ankles, so weak after never being used, were made strong. Witnesses of Jesus still reach out to give a helping hand to people who just can’t get up on their own.

What happens? Read verse 8. This man can’t believe it. He can leap up and begin to walk. And he doesn’t run away to enjoy his new life. Instead, he enters the temple with Peter and John. And what’s he doing in the temple? Quietly worshiping? No! It says he’s walking, and leaping, and praising God. He’s so wholehearted. He’s drawing everybody’s attention. It’s the most beautiful sight that all began at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. This man’s heart-moving praise really blesses everybody there (9–10). It seems to be a glimpse of what all those who’ve been healed by Jesus will be doing in heaven.

In today’s event we learn what witnesses of Jesus do. Witnesses of Jesus pray. Witnesses of Jesus cowork in love. Witnesses of Jesus see others as Jesus did. Witnesses of Jesus totally depend on him. Witnesses of Jesus believe the power of his name. Witnesses of Jesus personally help others. Read verse 6 again. May God help each of us experience healing of whatever is holding us back and make us living witnesses of Jesus who glorify his name.

[1] See Craig S. Keener, Acts, (Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press, 2020), pp.179–182.

[2] 2:21,38; 3:6,16; 4:7,10,12,17–18,30; 5:28,40–41; 8:12,16; 9:14–16,21,27–28; 10:43,48; 15:26; 16:18; 18:15; 19:5,13,17; 21:13; 22:16; 26:9.

[3] 1:14,24; 2:42.

[4] 3:1,3–4,11; 4:13,19; 8:14.

[5] Cf. Deut.17:6; 19:15; Matt.18:16; 2 Cor.13:1; 1 Tim.5:19; Heb.10:28.

[6] Luke 9:46; 22:24.

[7] John 13:35; 17:21.

[8] Cf. Eph.1:21; Phil.2:9–10.

[9] 2:21; 9:14,21; 22:16.

[10] Cf. John 14:13–14; 15:16; 16:23.

[11] Cf. Eph.2:18; 3:12.

[12] Cf. Matt.18:20; 1 Cor.5:4.

[13]Cf. Luke 9:48; 10:17.

[14] Cf. 1 Pet.4:14,16.

[15] Cf. Rev.2:13; 3:8.

[16] 3:16; 4:10,30.

(QUESTIONS)

Acts 2:42-47 (Go to the ESV Bible verses)

(MESSAGE)

Key Verse: 2:42, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

Are you passionate about anything? We can get enthusiastic about many different things. And then, there are things we have to be forced to do. In today’s passage we see a large number of new believers who get passionate about life in Christ. What’s their focus? Why do they focus on these things? How can we apply their example to our own lives? May God speak to us through his word.

In the previous passage, through Peter’s Spirit-filled preaching, suddenly 3,000 people joined the fellowship of 120. Thousands of people repented and accepted the forgiveness of sins in Jesus and the promise of the Holy Spirit. How exciting! An initial enthusiasm can wear off quickly. But not so with these people. To keep going forward in their new life in Christ, what do they do? Read verse 42 again. “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

They began by being “devoted.” “Devoted” is a powerful word. Today it’s popular to be “chill,” not to get too intense about anything, and to be devoted only to ourselves. But these new believers began to center their lives on something outside themselves. In Greek, “devoted” literally means to be “attached.” It expresses a commitment that’s single-minded, laser-focused, and steadfast. In 1:14, the original 120 followers of Jesus “were devoting themselves to prayer” before the Spirit came on them. Now, they’re not just teaching that others should be devoted; they’re modeling the spirit of devotion for all these new believers. We human beings can get devoted to many things: our studies, jobs, families, interests or hobbies. But these new believers are devoted to four things. They are: 1) the apostles’ teaching; 2) the fellowship; 3) the breaking of bread; and 4) the prayers. Their new community isn’t just a human gathering. These four activities are the substance, the content, of the life of a real church of Jesus, anytime, anywhere. Let’s think about each one.

First, “the apostles’ teaching.” It’s first on the list, suggesting it’s their top priority. The apostles’ teaching includes many things, but the primary focus is on Christ himself: who he is and what he did. Jesus is the sinless Son of God. But he humbled himself to suffer and die for the sin of the world. Then God raised him from the dead to conquer death and give those who believe in him a living hope in his eternal kingdom. God exalted him to his right hand and made him both Lord and Christ (2:36). He’s the one who pours out the Holy Spirit and makes us witnesses of his resurrection. The apostles’ teaching is all about who Jesus is and what he did, and it tells us to base our faith and our lives on him.

The apostles’ teaching also includes what Christ commanded through the Holy Spirit (1:2). We find his holy commands in the author’s other book, Luke’s Gospel. Our Lord Jesus told us to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow him (Luke 9:23). He told us to count the cost in being his disciple.[1] He told us to show mercy and compassion to the wounded and hurting (Luke 10:25–37). He told us to prioritize listening to his teaching over being busy with activities (Luke 10:38–42). He told us to practice humility and to embrace outcasts (Luke 14:7–14). He told us to repent of our own sins,[2] not to judge (Luke 6:37), and to forgive.[3] He told us to put our hope in God’s kingdom, not this world.[4] He told us to always pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1). He told us not to be hoarders but to share what we have with the needy.[5] He told us to be good stewards of what God gives us (Luke 19:11–27). He showed us how to respect and work with women.[6] Above all, he told us to spread his salvation to all people on earth.[7] The apostles didn’t pick and choose what they liked, or drift to trendy topics. They passed on and taught all the holy commands of Jesus to these new believers.[8] To have a healthy spiritual “diet,” we need to be studying “all Scripture,” which makes us wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.[9] As we do, we also need to move from “milk” to “solid food,” to have our powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil (Heb.5:12–14).

What a privilege to have the original disciples of Jesus right there in their midst! Being devoted to their teaching, these new believers could learn to put the words of Jesus into practice and build a rock solid foundation for their new lives of faith (Luke 6:47ff.). They could become spiritually strong and be saved from the crooked generation around them (Acts 2:40). In obeying his teachings, they became the spiritual family members of our Lord Jesus (Luke 8:21). We all need to hear his warning: “Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks he has will be taken away” (Luke 8:18). We don’t have the original apostles with us anymore. But we have their teachings, God’s “precious and very great promises” (2 Pet.1:4) preserved in the Bible. Moreover, it’s good to seek out those who know Jesus personally and attach ourselves to them, to learn from and imitate them.[10]

Second, “the fellowship.” Fellowship is familiar to church people. But what is it, really? The Greek word is beautiful and rich in meaning. It means to participate or to share, and thus, to become partners, companions, friends. These new believers centered their fellowship on Christ himself, on worshiping him (13:2). Genuine Christian fellowship is always deeper than just hanging out to have fun. It means to confess our sins to each other and pray for each other so that we may be healed (James 5:16). It also means not to neglect to meet together, but to keep on encouraging one another (Heb.10:25). Basically, it means to build close friendships in Christ. To do it, it’s good to get involved in a small group that meets regularly for Bible study, prayer and sharing. As believers, we’re not meant to be loners. The cross is a symbol of two essential relationships. First, God calls us into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Cor.1:9). So, we all need to be growing in a personal relationship with Christ. At the same time, God calls us to live in real fellowship with those who have fellowship with him and with his Son Jesus Christ (1 John 1:3)––not just people we know or feel like being with. As we grow in this cross of relationships, vertical with God and horizontal with others, we strengthen and support each other. Such fellowship can begin with our peers, people we can relate to. But it needs to develop into spiritual relationships based not on human qualities, but on our common faith and love in Jesus. And for it to become genuine, we can’t just be “off and on,” showing up on occasion, keeping a safe distance. As verse 42 says, we’ve got to get “devoted” to this fellowship as priority number two, right next to the apostles’ teaching.

Third, “the breaking of bread.” What is this? In a sense it means to have meals together regularly. We shouldn’t just rush in and out of meetings or worship services. Taking the time to share fellowship over a meal is a great way to get to know each other better and deepen our relationships. Again, we need to make it a priority. But the author adds an article here: “the” breaking of bread. Because of this, many believe “the breaking of bread” also refers to celebrating the Lord’s Supper together. It shouldn’t be just a habitual ritual. When we get together to celebrate his cross, we should examine ourselves soberly in God’s holy presence and feed on the broken body and the shed blood of our Lord Jesus.[11] When we’re devoted to this, we don’t become spiritually weak and ill (1 Cor.11:30).

Fourth, “the prayers.” The Bible tells us to be “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication” (Eph.6:18a). Philippians 4:6 says, “…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Here, “the” prayers seems to refer to praying at regular times throughout the day. As new believers joined the Christian community, they learned this new way of life, a life of prayer.

Most of all, “the prayers” recalls the one specific prayer our Lord Jesus gave us. He said that when we pray we don’t need to use many words (Matt.6:7). He told us to pray simply: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation” (Luke 11:2b–4). Becoming devoted to this prayer is God’s wisdom, because this prayer addresses all our needs: our relationship with God as Father; our need to live a holy life for his honor and glory; our need to stay focused on his coming kingdom; learning to depend on him daily for our most basic needs, both physical and spiritual, and especially, to be asking him for forgiveness for ourselves and others, and to avoid temptation. As we devote ourselves to praying for these things, we grow in a healthy spiritual life. And as we pray these things for each other, we encourage one another and build one another up (1 Thess.5:11). Personal prayer is so important. But so is praying together in community. Our Lord Jesus told us: “…if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them” (Matt.18:19–20). Based on these words of our Lord Jesus, praying together is actually vital to our spiritual life.

What happened when new believers devoted themselves to these four things? Read verse 43. People grew in holy reverence for God, which is key to living with real faith. And in such a God-fearing environment, God could work mightily. We live in times where the principle “nothing is sacred” is the dominant mentality and lifestyle. Everything is one big joke. But as believers in Jesus, we need to develop this holy reverence for God in our daily lives and discern the great things God is doing. Read verses 44–45. God also opened people’s hearts to want to be together, to share life and even their possessions, and to be mindful of each person’s needs. It was truly a beautiful, unselfish, life-giving fellowship. Read verses 46–47. Their fellowship was “day by day,” meaning regular. Their fellowship was both public and private, in a large group and in small groups. Their fellowship was glad and generous. Their fellowship was full of praise to God and a blessing to outsiders. When they had such a fellowship, God kept adding people who were being saved. It was a source of life and blessing.

All this was possible because “they devoted themselves.” In any endeavor, devotion is key. Without it, nothing happens. Read verse 42 again. May God help us to devote ourselves to these four essential things, and make our community a beautiful place of wonder and grace where new people can truly grow in their salvation.

[1] Luke 9:57–62; 14:25–33.

[2] Luke 5:32; 13:3,5; 15:7,10.

[3] Luke 6:37; 11:4; 17:3–4; 23:34.

[4] Luke 4:43; 6:20; 9:2; 11:2; 12:31–32; 18:24–25.

[5] Luke 12:15–21,33.

[6] Luke 8:1–2; 23:27,49,55; 24:10.

[7] Luke 2:30–32a; 13:29; 24:47; Acts 1:8.

[8] It’s also known as “the word of God” (1 Thess.2:13) or “the traditions” (1 Cor.11:2; 2 Thess.2:15; 3:6).

[9] Luke 24:27; cf. 2 Tim.3:15–16.

[10] 1 Cor.11:1; 2 Thess.3:7–9; Heb.13:7.

[11] 1 Cor.10:16; 11:24–29; cf. John 6:51–59.

(QUESTIONS)

Acts 2:22-41 (Go to the ESV Bible verses)

(MESSAGE)

Key Verse: 2:36, “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

What’s first and foremost in your heart? It might be that certain romantic someone, a job, a life goal, children, a house, or money, to name just a few. And our heart can float between these things, depending on where we’re at in the moment. Is this okay? In today’s passage, at the Feast of Pentecost, Peter stands up and speaks to a crowd of thousands. It’s been less than two months since Jesus was crucified. Many who’d been there are present now. As he addresses these people, Peter summarizes all that’s happened. Though they thought they got rid of Jesus, Peter proclaims who Jesus is now. And he calls on these people to repent. Though it seems unlikely, because of the Spirit’s power and presence, 3,000 people accept the gospel and are baptized. It’s amazing. But what’s it got to do with us here today? This passage contains a timeless message of who Jesus still is and what he can do for anyone. We want to reflect on how and why we might be rejecting him. We want to look at what real repentance is, and what happens when we do. Most of all, we want to learn what it means to make Jesus both Lord and Christ of our lives. May God speak to us through his word.

As we saw in the first part of chapter 2, at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came on Jesus’ followers, he miraculously enabled them to speak in foreign languages. When people heard them speaking, they were amazed and perplexed, and wondered what it meant. Some even made fun of them, saying they were drunk. God moved Peter to stand up and explain. He told the people that the Holy Spirit had come on them all, sons and daughters, young and old. It was all part of God’s plan, according to the prophecy of Joel, to pour out his Spirit on all flesh. God still wants to give his people visions and dreams of what he wants to do. As this vivid experience has captured their attention, Peter seizes the moment to share the gospel.

Look at verse 22 (ESV). The Spirit has made Peter bold and courageous. He enables Peter to turn the attention not to himself but to Jesus. Peter calls him “Jesus of Nazareth.” At that time, Nazareth was a village in Galilee of about 400 people. That Jesus came from such a tiny place was one of the reasons people in Jerusalem couldn’t accept him. But in Acts, the apostles repeatedly refer to him as “Jesus of Nazareth.”^[1] He was a real, ordinary man, from a poor and humble family. At that time, most people didn’t know his parents were from the lineage of David, or that he was actually born in Bethlehem, the city of David.^[2]

Peter goes on to say that Jesus of Nazareth “was a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know…” (22b). In Greek, “mighty works” is “dunamis,” like our English word “dynamic,” a word repeated many times in Luke and Acts.^[3] Jesus’ ministry wasn’t dry or superficial; it was dynamic, pulling so many broken and lost people into new life. Most had heard of it or even seen it with their eyes. The evidence is clear: God’s mighty work through Jesus proves God sent him.

And what did those who saw it do? Peter says, “…this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men” (23). They humiliated Jesus, nailed him down, and murdered him. What a wicked, rebellious, treacherous act! Peter had been a coward who denied Jesus three times during his trial. But now, full of the Holy Spirit, he’s so changed, that with fiery passion he rebukes them all. He also proclaims God is in control. God knew in advance what they’d do, and God was working out his own definite plan. God’s plan was to cause his Son to suffer all these things, be rejected, and killed, for the sin of the world (Luke 9:22). Through it, God planned to proclaim good news to the poor, liberty to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, liberty for the oppressed, and the year of his favor (Luke 4:18–19). God planned a new covenant of grace through the shed blood of his Son, and to make him a light for revelation to the Gentiles (Luke 22:20; 2:32b).

How could it happen? Look at verse 24. It was not possible for death to hold Jesus. Why? Because God is the Almighty Creator, and Jesus is his Son. God Almighty raised Jesus his Son from the dead. In Acts, the resurrection of Jesus is the main message of the apostles. Time and again they proclaim, not his crucifixion, but that God raised Jesus from the dead.^[4] At that time the Jews believed there’d be a general resurrection on the last day. But they had no idea the Messiah they were waiting for would rise from the dead.

To enlighten them, Peter, with the help of the Holy Spirit, quotes Scripture. Look at verses 25–28. This is from Psalm 16:8–11. David wrote this psalm. David had many enemies, without and within. King Saul tried many times to kill him. But David took refuge in God and asked God to preserve him. He wrote in this psalm that he found nothing good apart from God. He said he set the Lord always before him. He believed the Lord was at his right hand, right there to help him. Because of God’s presence, David was sure he would not be shaken. He was glad, and full of joy and security. He knew he would not be abandoned by God. Then, with prophetic insight, David could see that God also would not let his Holy One see corruption. In fact, through the Spirit, David, facing death, could see the paths of life, and had the hope to be full of gladness in God’s presence.

Peter discerned how this well-known psalm applied to Jesus. Look at verses 29–31.^[5] Though nobody had seen it before, through the Holy Spirit Peter could see that Psalm 16 predicted the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus is the descendant of David who came to sit on David’s throne forever and establish his eternal kingdom. Though his own people crucified him, Jesus is the promised Messiah, the Christ. Look at verse 32. Here again we see the word “witnesses.” Literally it’s the word “martyrs,” and it’s also repeated many times in Acts.^[6] The Twelve were “witnesses” because they had accompanied Jesus during all the time he went in and out, beginning from John’s baptism until the day he was taken up (Acts 1:21–22). They were “witnesses” of all Jesus did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem (10:39). They were “witnesses” because they actually ate and drank with Jesus after he rose from the dead (10:41). Now Peter, standing there with the Eleven, speaks to this crowd and says, “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses” [emphasis added]. It’s such a powerful testimony. The resurrection of Jesus is not an idea, or a metaphor, but a historical fact. There are so many witnesses to it. The Scriptures testify to it.^[7] His apostles with one voice testify to it.^[8] The Holy Spirit testifies to it.^[9]

Peter goes further. Look at verse 33. Peter proclaims not only the resurrection of Jesus but also his ascension to God’s right hand. God is so holy, no one could ever dare be at his right hand, not even Abraham, or Moses, or David. Jesus of Nazareth, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin Mary, who suffered, died, and rose from the dead––he alone is exalted at the right hand of God. Jesus is the one and only Son of God, equal with God.^[10] At the right hand of God, he alone has received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit. Peter says it’s this Jesus who has poured out the Spirit on his followers, which this crowd has just seen and heard. Jesus, God’s Son, at the right hand of God, is the only one who can baptize with the Holy Spirit.^[11]

To help them understand, Peter again quotes Scripture, this time, from Psalm 110. Look at verses 34–35. At the right hand of God, Jesus not only pours out the Holy Spirit; he also reigns as King. It says here that in these last days God the Father is working to put all the enemies of his Son under his feet. Partly, it’s by bringing sinners to repentance and faith in him. Partly, it will be by bringing the unrepentant to one day face him as Judge of the living and the dead.^[12] Again, no one among the Jews ever imagined that the Messiah would be exalted to God’s right hand. But the prophecy of Psalm 110 proves it.

Peter then concludes. Read verse 36. This is the gospel: crucified, risen and exalted Jesus is both Lord and Christ. In the original Greek sentence, the word “Lord” is in the emphatic position. Joel’s prophecy calls him “Lord” (21; Joel 2:32a). David’s prophecy calls him “Lord” (34; Ps.110:1). Peter proclaims him as the Lord of salvation and the Lord of the Spirit. So often, Acts calls him “the Lord Jesus.”^[13] What does it mean that he is “Lord”? Yes, Jesus is risen and exalted, but most of all, he’s God the Son. He’s the living one (Rev.1:18), “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Rev.19:16). One day, as Lord, everyone, friend or foe, will bow before him (Phil.2:10). One day, as Lord, every eye will see him, even those who pierced him (Rev.1.7). Because he’s Lord, we always need to honor him in our hearts as holy (1 Pet.3:15). We not only confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts that he’s Lord; we need to live with him as Lord practically. We need to make him Lord of our lives, including what direction we take, how we spend our time, even Lord of our hearts and affections. To make him Lord, we need to learn to pray, “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42b). If he’s not our Lord, we’re trying to be in the driver’s seat.

Risen and exalted Jesus is also “Christ.” “Christ” means “King” and is similar to “Lord.” But “Christ” or “Messiah” also means “the one I put my hope in,” the one who tells me all things, who is all things to me (John 4:25–26). He’s our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isa.9:6). If he’s not really King of my heart, if anything or anyone else is reigning there, I’ve got a spiritual problem, regardless of what I think I know.

Peter adds: “…this Jesus whom you crucified” (36b). Peter is not just teaching abstract, doctrinal truths about Jesus. He is telling these people, in so many words, to repent. Of course, those listening need to repent; they’re the ones who crucified Jesus. But these words, “this Jesus whom you crucified,” still speak today. We may think we’d never crucify Jesus. We think our sins are not as bad as others’. But whenever we sin, we unknowingly participate in his crucifixion. We may just be trying to find some hope or satisfaction in something or someone else. We may just be trying to live by our own plan, or have our own way. But when we do these things, we’re rejecting Jesus as our Lord and Christ and pushing him out of our lives. Sometimes, we want to enjoy the world, or sinful pleasure. That, too, is crucifying Jesus. In fact, every time we rebel against God, we crucify Jesus. Every time we live in arrogance and mock others, we crucify Jesus. Every time we try to make ourselves seem righteous, we crucify Jesus. The truth is, it wasn’t the obviously sinful, but the most religious people who crucified Jesus. Before his conversion, Saul thought he was most zealous. Blinded by self-righteousness, he was persecuting Christians. Then the voice of the Risen Jesus came to him: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4b). Is he speaking to me, too? We live in times when people have little awareness of sin. Many feel entitled or victimized, angry about others but clueless about the state of their own soul before God. The Bible says one of the main tasks of the Holy Spirit is to show us more of who we really are, our own desperate need for repentance.^[14] Even David, the man after God’s own heart, famously wrote: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Ps.139:23–24)

Look at verse 37. People were “cut to the heart,” not because Peter was a skillful speaker, but because the Spirit of God was helping him speak the word of God boldly.^[15] These people don’t just feel badly; they ask, “Brothers, what should we do?” They’re desperate to take action. This is where repentance takes us. What does Peter say? Read verse 38. Ultimately, repentance doesn’t mean to just feel sorry; it means to come back to God in commitment to Jesus, believing his promises. Real repentance leads to the forgiveness of sins from God himself and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Read verse 36 again. May God help us repent of putting other things or people first, and hold onto Jesus only as both the Lord and Christ of my heart.

^[1] 2:22; 3:6; 4:10; 6:14; 10:38; 22:8; 26:9.

^[2] Luke 1:27; 2:4.

^[3] This Greek root word is variously translated as “power,” “miracles,” or “mighty” (Luke 1:17,35,49,52; 4:14,36; 5:17; 6:19; 8:46; 9:1; 10:13,19; 19:37; 21:26–27; 22:69; 24:19,49; Acts 1:8; 2:22; 3:12; 4:7,33; 6:8; 7:22; 8:10,13; 10:38; 19:11).

^[4] 1:22; 2:24,31–32; 3:15,22,36; 4:2,10,33; 5:30; 7:37; 10:40–41; 13:30,34,37; 17:3,18; 26:23.

^[5] The “oath” God made about David’s descendant is in Psalm 132:11, as well as in 2 Samuel 7:12–13. The angel had also told Mary that her son would fulfill this promise (Luke 1:32).

^[6] Translated as “witness,” “testify” or “testimony” (1:8,22; 2:32,40; 3:15; 5:32; 10:39,41–43; 13:31; 14:3,17; 15:8; 18:5; 20:21,23–24,26; 22:15,20; 23:11; 26:16,22; 28:23); cf. Isa.43:10,12; 44:8.

^[7] 8:35; 17:2–3,11; 18:28.

^[8] e.g. 10:42; 20:21; 28:23.

^[9] 5:32.

^[10] 7:56; 9:20; 13:33; cf. John 5:18; 10:30.

^[11] Luke 3:16; Acts 1:5; 11:16.

^[12] 10:42; 17:31.

^[13] 4:33; 8:16; 11:17,20; 15:11,26; 19:5,13,17; 20:21,24,35; 21:13; 28:31; see also Luke 1:17,43,76; 2:11; 3:4; 5:8,12; 6:5,46; 7:6,13,19; 9:54,59,61; 10:1,17,39,40–41; 11:1,39; 12:41–42; 13:15,23; 17:5–6,37; 18:6,41; 19:8,31,34; 20:42,44; 22:33,38,49,61; 24:3,34.

^[14] John 16:8.

^[15] 4:13,29,31; 9:27–28; 13:46; 14:3; cf. 1 Cor.2:4.

(QUESTIONS)

Exodus 3:1-4:17 (Go to the ESV Bible verses)

Key Verse: 3:4, “When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’”
And, 3:12, “[God] said, ‘But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you; when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.’”

(MESSAGE)

Key Verses: 3:4, “When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’”

And, 3:12, “[God] said, ‘But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you; when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.’”

Do you have questions or make excuses? Of course, we all do. More specifically, do you have questions or make excuses about God’s call or God’s will for your life? Today’s passage includes the call of Moses, a great servant of God in the Bible and in Jewish history. Moses was a great deliverer, who led his people out of slavery in Egypt into a land that God promised to the descendants of Abraham. But surprisingly, Moses was not so eager to accept the call of God. He is quite different from Mary the mother of Jesus who said to the angel Gabriel, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). Rather, Moses had five questions or objections to God’s call. Let’s consider his five questions and God’s answers.

Let’s review Exodus chapter 2 briefly. Moses was born in a time of genocide. Pharaoh king of Egypt was afraid that the Israelites were growing too numerous, too fast. So he enslaved them. Even worse, he ordered that baby boys be killed by throwing them into the river. Atrocities like these have been committed throughout human history, even to this day. Moses’ parents hid him for three months. When they could hide him no longer, they put him in boat basket in the river. By God’s providence, Pharaoh’s daughter found the child and was moved to keep him. She named him, “Moses,” which means “draw out,” because he was drawn out of the water. A slave child became a prince in the Egyptian palace, rather than dying a tragic death. After Moses became aware of his Jewish identity and had grown up, he killed an Egyptian who was mistreating a Jewish slave. Because of this, he had to flee the country to the desert of Midian. He was 40 years old when he fled. For the next 40 years, he got married, had two sons, and tended sheep. It sounds like he was content to be in his life situation. But God had much bigger plans for him.

This leads us to chapter 3. Moses was tending sheep on a mountainside. Verses 2-3 tells us something very strange happened: “And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” It was a strange sight that caught Moses’ attention. What happened next? See verses 4-6: “When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then he said, ‘Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.’ And he said, ‘I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.” Moses saw a burning bush, and he heard the voice of God.

God knew his name: Moses, the name his mother had given him. The name that identified him. The name by which he knew himself. Moses answered, “Here I am.” When you answer the telephone and someone asks to speak with you, you say, “Speaking,” or, “It is I.” Moses responded to his name. Still, he was perplexed. God told him it was holy ground and he was to take off his dirty shepherd sandals. God said it was holy ground. What made that ground holy was the presence of God. Where God meets us is holy ground. Where we encounter God is holy.

God introduced himself to Moses as “the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” He is the God of history. He is the God of the Bible. He is the God who chose and called Abraham, and who was the Fear of Isaac (Gen 31:42,53), and the Shepherd of Jacob (Gen 48:15). He is the God of covenant promises given to Abraham. He is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We’ll consider this more later.

Moses’ response was to hide his face, afraid to look at God. Would we not all respond the same way? Who can stand before or look at the holy God? So, why was God meeting Moses? God tells him in verses 7-10:

Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey…And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

God called them “my people.” They were God’s covenant people, even though at that moment they were slaves in Egypt. God said he saw their affliction. He was not ignorant or oblivious of their plight. He saw their oppression. He heard their cry. He knew their sufferings. He came down to deliver them and to bring them to a better place he promised them.

And he had a mission for Moses. He told him, “I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” God wanted Moses to lead them out of their slavery in Egypt. But consider this: Egypt was a super-power nation and God’s people were slaves. That would make Pharaoh king of Egypt laugh. He would think that their God had no power. Why would their God allow them to be slaves? They had no power. They had no army. They had no clout. If they had, they would’ve revolted or God would’ve saved them from this predicament. God’s words to Moses might have raised many questions in his mind. In fact, he had some questions and opinions about this mission that God was giving him. Let’s consider all five of them.

First, “Who am I to do such a task?” Look at verse 11. “But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?’” Isn’t this a very different Moses from the Moses who killed an Egyptian? There seems to be a time when Moses thought he could do something to help his people who were in slavery. In fact, Acts 7:24-25 comments regarding his killing the Egyptian: “[Moses] supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand.” But now, Moses felt like he was a nobody to do such a monumental, huge task of bringing over half a million people out of enslavement by the super-power Egypt. In fact, he was justified to think this. Do you ever feel that the evil in the world is too great to overcome? Do you ever think that the problems of this world are too difficult or insurmountable for you or me to make any difference? Or, do you ever think that you can do something by your own effort and experience? Perhaps God wants to humble those who think so. I suppose that the devil smiles both when we feel helpless and just want to surrender before fighting against the ungodliness that permeates our society and world, and also when we are overconfident, like Peter making boasts that he would never disown Jesus.

How did God answer Moses? Look at verse 12. “He said, ‘But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.’” God’s great promise to those he calls is “I will be with you.” God’s presence with us is sufficient. If God is for us, who can be against us? The Risen Jesus said to those he gave his Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations: “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt 28:20). God also promised that they would all surely come and serve God on that very mountain. So, was Moses ready for the task? Not yet. He had a second question.

Second, “What is your name?” Look at verse 13. Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” It’s not every day that God speaks to people as he did to Moses and gives them a huge mission, like saving an entire nation. Indeed, we might think someone who said God spoke to them in this way had a mental illness, especially if they said they heard a voice. Moses objected that the people would question his sanity. If they accepted his sanity, they would want to know what voice gave him these instructions. Did the voice have a name and identity?

God gave an awesome and mysterious answer. See verse 14. God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” Have you met God? Do you know his name? God is who God is. God exists in and of himself. God lives and never dies. God is the eternal, Almighty Creator who gave us life. God reveals himself to those he pleases. God revealed himself to Abraham and to Moses. God has most fully revealed himself on earth in the person of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Jesus reflects the mind and heart and spirit of God.

God also said to Moses: “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.” God is the God of covenant. He made a covenant with Abraham. He made a covenant with Israel. He made a new covenant with us through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

God gave further words and instructions to Moses in verses 16-22: “Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to…a land flowing with milk and honey.”’ And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go. And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty, but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”

Third, “What if they don’t believe me?” Moses had further doubts about this mission. He said to God in 4:1. “…they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.” Indeed, when people say God spoke to them, we are usually hesitant to believe them. So God gave Moses signs to prove the power of God with him. His shepherd’s staff became a snake, then returned to a staff. His hand became leprous and then whole again. The water would turn to blood. God was showing by these signs that God controls animals, human well-being, and nature. These signs would be manifested in ten plagues against Egypt, so that they would know that the LORD is God. These judgments would be against the false gods or idols of Egypt. For example, the Egyptians had a sun god they worshiped; but God would bring darkness over the land. God would judge the idols and powers of Egypt. God would bring his people out of Egypt with his mighty hand. God’s power and authority would be with Moses to prove that God was with him.

Fourth, “I can’t even speak well.” Moses said, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” Some scholars have suggested that Moses might have been a stutterer when speaking. Whatever the case, Moses did not feel qualified for this task that God was giving him. Perhaps he worried that he lost his Egyptian speaking proficiency. Or perhaps he was not so quick to reply in heated conversations. He seems to be apologizing even for his awkward questions to God.

What was God’s reply this time? See verses 11-12. “Then the Lord said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.’”

Did you know that all the abilities you have, have been given by God? Maybe you thought you were just lucky, or that you somehow acquired your skills, talents and abilities by your own effort or hard work. Did you even stop to thank God for the ability to see or speak or hear or taste and eat or heal or breathe? Have you instructed your stomach how to digest or your skin how to heal a bruise or a cut? Have you informed your lungs how to breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide? Have you thanked God for the ability to walk or sing or smell or feel? Here’s another question: are you using all these abilities to the glory and praise of God?

Do you ever feel, like Moses felt, unqualified to do the Lord’s work? Do you feel that you need a seminary degree or more experience or practice before you can share God’s word with someone?  Could it be that you are just making an excuse not to speak up for God when you have a chance to? Jesus told his followers not to worry about what to say even before courts or officials for the Holy Spirit will give you words to say.

Fifth, “Choose someone else.” This is the most surprising suggestion of Moses to God. Moses said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” Moses was trying to pass on God’s calling. He really didn’t want to do it. He said, “I’m not your guy. But I’m sure you can find someone willing and better qualified.” This might be the very reason why many people don’t hear God’s call. They don’t want to hear it. They don’t want to do God’s will. They have their life plans pretty well figured out. Or, they just want to live a mundane, mediocre, “normal” life. In other words, they just want to take it easy as much as they can. I can relate.

Sin is not just doing evil; that is, sin of commission (sins we commit). Sin is also not doing the good we know we ought to do, that is called the sin of omission (not doing the good we should do). I know I should work harder, or forgive someone, or be more humble. Yet I fail in all of these again and again. I am a sinner, through and through. I may not sin to the maximum degree possible. That would make me the devil. But I sin hundreds or even thousands of times a day. Who will rescue from my sins? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ my Lord!

There is a saying, “The grass always looks greener on the other side.” That means we have a bad tendency to compare ourselves with others and think that others have it better. Their life is easier. They don’t suffer like I suffer. Moses thought that the job God was telling him to do was too hard. And he didn’t even apply for the job! He was ready to walk out of the interview that God had set up! Perhaps many people in history, even now, have turned down God’s call and will for their lives. Perhaps you or I are doing that right now. Isn’t that a sad thought? Isn’t that a scary thought? I mean do we actually think that we can choose a better, more fulfilling life than God wants to give us, a more important task than we can think up for ourselves? I think not.

This time God was not so happy. See verses 14-17. “Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, ‘Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him. And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.’”

God wasn’t taking no for Moses’ answer. As far as I know, God had no plan B. Moses was the right guy that God wanted for the job. But God did give him a helper: his older brother Aaron, who was 3 years older, 83, while Moses was 80. (By the way, Moses lived to be 120.) Isn’t it a great blessing and encouragement that God gives us coworkers to go with us in carrying out God’s mission? Thank God that we don’t have to go it alone. God gives us helpers. Also, Moses’ staff represented God’s presence, power and authority with Moses. Moses just had to remember God’s purpose, God’s promise to be with him, and God’s authority given him, and to trust and depend on God.

God was angry at Moses, but he didn’t curse or abandon him. God worked with Moses in spite of his questions, doubts, and insecurities. God’s most assuring words were not about Moses, but about God: “I will be with you…I will give you words…Pharaoh will see what I will do.”

God intended to humiliate and defeat the proud and evil king Pharaoh of Egypt, by the power of God and for the glory of God and of his covenant people. God raised up a deliverer, Moses, for the task. For us, God defeated an even greater enemy through an even greater Deliverer. God defeated the devil and his evil power through our Great Deliverer and Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus did not hesitate to obey the will of God to save all sinners from the clutches of sin and death. Jesus defeated sin and death and the devil once and for all by his atoning death and resurrection. Praise Jesus our Great Deliverer!

In conclusion, if our life purpose is rooted in what God wants to do and who God is, we cannot choose a better life, and we cannot fail. Like Moses, may we answer God’s call, “Here I am.” Like Moses, may all our questions be answered and excuses be overcome to accept God’s call and follow God’s will. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(QUESTIONS)

Acts 2:1-21 (Go to the ESV Bible verses)

Key Verse: 2:17, “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;”

1.  How is the coming of the Holy Spirit described (1–4)^[1]? What can we learn from these details about the nature and work of the Holy Spirit?

2.  How do people react to the Spirit’s coming on Jesus’ followers (5–13)? What do you think God was saying through this?

3.  How does Peter begin to respond (14–15)? Read verses 16–18. What is the significance that this event fulfilled the words of Joel? What does it mean to “prophesy”?

4.  What else did God promise (19a), and how is this being fulfilled?^[2] What other details are here (19b–20), and what do they predict (Luke 21:15)? What is “the day of the Lord”?^[3]

5.  What is the prophet Joel’s conclusion (21), and how does this apply to us?^[4] How can we experience the Holy Spirit’s coming upon us today?

^[1] “Pentecost” was also known as the Festival of Harvest (Ex.23:16a) or “the day of the firstfruits” (Num.28:26).

^[2] 2:22,43; 4:30; 5:12; 6:8; 14:3; 15:12.

^[3] 1 Cor.1:8; Phil.1:6,10; 2 Pet.3:10.

^[4] Rom.10:12–13.

(MESSAGE)

Key Verse: 2:17, “And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams…”

Do you ever feel inspired? Sometimes, life can seem like just a lot of drudgery, with its many duties, chores and stress. Once in a while we get excited about something, but it soon wears off and life’s cold reality sets in again. In today’s passage we read about an exciting event: the Holy Spirit comes on the first believers. Yes it was great for them, but what’s it got to do with us? Actually, it’s something God wants to do for every believer and every community that believes in Jesus. And it’s not just to help us feel good for a while or get through life’s hardships. God says it’s to enable us to prophesy, see visions and dream dreams. Really? Does God really want that for us? What does it mean? What’s it for? And how can we have it? May God speak to us through his word today.

In chapter 1 the Risen Jesus spoke to his followers for forty days about the kingdom of God. He told them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit. He promised they would be his witnesses to the end of the earth. Then he ascended into heaven. They felt helpless, but they obeyed him, stayed in the city and devoted themselves to prayer with one accord. God led them to replace the empty spot left by Judas Iscariot. Now they’re ready for the coming of the Holy Spirit. They have no power in themselves, and the task ahead of them is daunting. But in this first part of chapter 2, we see how God keeps his promise and sends the Holy Spirit. In one sense, this event is normative for all believers, but in another, it’s unique, never to be repeated. Through it, God demonstrates for every time and place who the Holy Spirit is and what he wants to do.

Read verses 1–4. As Jesus said, the Holy Spirit came with power, seen in the “mighty rushing wind.” He comes like “fire,” as John said he would,[1] to purify. And he came as “tongues” to show how he wants us to speak and communicate. Verse 2 says the house was “filled” with the sound. Verse 4a says, “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit…” John the Baptist had been “filled with the Holy Spirit” even from his mother’s womb; so had his mother Elizabeth and father Zechariah.[2] Jesus had been “full of the Holy Spirit.”[3] Later, Peter is “filled with the Holy Spirit,” as are all the believers.[4] Acts describes Steven, Paul, Barnabas, and Paul’s disciples as “full of the Holy Spirit.”[5] The Bible urges us all to be “filled with the Spirit” (Eph.5:18). It doesn’t say just a little bit; it says “filled”––“full.”

Filled with the Spirit, they “speak in other tongues as the Spirit gives them utterance” (4b). This is not to be confused with the heavenly language that needs an interpreter (1 Cor.12–14); here it means foreign languages. Read verses 5–8. The sound in this house is so loud, it can be heard outside. It catches people’s attention, and they’re intrigued. When they draw near to investigate, they can hear and understand their own languages. It’s crazy! It says they’re bewildered, amazed and astonished. Somehow, they know these people are all Galileans. They don’t know how to speak foreign languages. So what’s going on?

Verse 5 told us that during this Feast of Pentecost people from every nation were in Jerusalem. Now, Luke mentions all the different kinds of people there. Read verses 9–11. It’s like “Around the World in 80 Days,” though it’s really around the Mediterranean world, from the east to the north, south and west. Though it’s a variety of languages, they’re all hearing the same thing: “…we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God” (11b). Later we find these mighty works are all about what God has done through his Son Jesus.

What’s the point of this “language miracle” of the Spirit? It’s showing that God wants the whole world to know what he’s done through his Son Jesus. People who study humanity say we’re naturally ethnocentric. It’s hard for us to think beyond our immediate family or ethnicity. But when we receive the Holy Spirit, God helps us begin to have his heart and vision for the people of the whole world. As our Creator he loves all people so dearly. He doesn’t want anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance (2 Pet.3:9). They all matter to God.

The coming of the Spirit is so mighty. It shows God’s heart for the world. But some are still negative. Read verse 13. They’re mocking. When it happens, we shouldn’t be surprised or discouraged. In verses 14–15 God inspires Peter to respond. He hears the mockers and doesn’t let it slide. He calls them out. Through the Spirit, God has changed him. He’s courageous. More than that, he’s got a keen spiritual understanding of what’s going on. Of course Peter is the leading apostle. But he is, in a sense, just a representative of all the believers there. Peter’s change here is showing us how the Holy Spirit can change anyone.

Read verse 16. Before Jesus called him, Peter had been a fisherman, not a Biblical scholar. We’re not sure how well he knew the Bible. But Jesus once told him, “…for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say” (Luke 12:12). He also told him, “…I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict” (Luke 21:15). The Holy Spirit inspired Peter to remember the words of the prophet Joel. Joel prophesied after the Babylonian Exile, calling his people to repent. God gave Peter exactly the right Bible passage for that moment. He does the same for us.

Read verses 17–21. This passage is from Joel 2:28–32. It centers on the coming of “the day of the LORD.” One of the signs of that day is that God promised to pour out his Spirit. This phrase is repeated twice. Not just the prophet Joel, but several Old Testament prophets predicted when God would pour out his Spirit.[6] The prophet John the Baptist also predicted that the Messiah would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (Luke 3:16). Jesus himself predicted it in 1:5. Joel’s prophecy tells us it would happen in Jerusalem.

Peter says it’s “the last days.” These days began not after the Spirit’s coming, but with the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus, who both were full of the Spirit, and with the Spirit’s power, proclaimed the coming kingdom. Now, the last days continue as God fills the apostles in Jerusalem with his Spirit and sends them into the world with the message of his kingdom. The last days culminate on the great and magnificent day when Jesus comes again as the Judge. These “last days,” and the coming of the Spirit, are telling us, “Repent!”

God says here, “I will pour out my Spirit.” What does it mean? “My Spirit” is not an inanimate tool, as many people mistakenly think. “My Spirit” refers to the presence of God himself. The Bible calls God “Spirit,” and, “a consuming fire.”[7] Through Jesus, who died and rose again, God the Spirit now comes to change and transform people. When the Spirit comes, we’re born again and can see the kingdom of God (John 3). When the Spirit comes, we understand the depths and thoughts of God, and spiritual things; we become a spiritual person.[8] Peter soon says that it’s the Lord Jesus himself who pours out the Spirit (verse 33).

And in verses 17–18 the prophecy emphasizes “all flesh,” meaning all kinds of people––sons, daughters, young men, old men, even male servants and female servants. In the Old Testament, God poured out his Spirit on special people— those called to lead and serve his people. Moses could only hope that all the Lord’s people would become prophets (Num.11:29). But now, since Jesus died and rose again, God pours out his Spirit on all kinds of people. The Book of Acts shows how the Spirit comes on both men and women, an Ethiopian eunuch, a Roman centurion and his entire household, a team of leaders in Antioch, and several disciples of John in Ephesus. Peter says later the Holy Spirit comes upon all who repent and believe in Jesus (2:38)—any race, gender or social status. God is still doing this today, for anyone who repents and believes the good news of Jesus. God makes each and every Spirit-filled believer a witness of Jesus.

Let’s ask God to rid us of all our human thinking and calculations. Let’s have faith in God to see what God can do through the gospel of Jesus and the mighty work of his Spirit. His promise to pour out his Spirit gives hope to anyone: college students, young parents, children, leaders, even old men and women. God’s promise “I will pour out my Spirit” tells us God wants all of us engaged, inspired, and part of his program. We can’t do it, but the Spirit of God can.

Let’s also think about the word “prophesy.” Peter repeats it (17,18). Does it mean every believer can predict the future? Not really—only in the sense that we know Jesus is coming again. But “prophesy” has a broader meaning. In the context of Acts, it also means helping people know what is hidden, the deep meaning of the gospel of Jesus, the spiritual realities of who he is and what he’s done, and applying it to their lives––to explain what it really means to believe in him, and what it really means to repent. Every Spirit-filled believer can do that.[9]

Verse 19 also says that “wonders and signs” characterize the last days. God did them through Jesus himself (2:22). God also performed signs and wonders during Christ’s crucifixion, resurrection and ascension into heaven, and at the coming of the Spirit. In Acts, God does signs and wonders in Christ’s name through his apostles, as well as through Stephen, Paul and Barnabas.[10] These signs and wonders help people believe. Through gospel preaching, the Spirit still works signs and wonders of changed lives that bring glory to Jesus.

Finally, let’s think about “seeing visions” (17). They’re not personal dreams, ideas, or ambition. Visions refers to supernatural revelations. In Acts, Peter, Paul, Ananias and Cornelius all experience visions; sometimes it’s even called a “trance.”[11] It may sound scary, but a vision is something the Holy Spirit does for us. He helps us see how and where God is leading, and what God wants. Our ultimate vision is to see our Lord Jesus reigning, and the hope of his eternal kingdom. There is no better vision. His vision is to bring people from all tribes and languages and people and nations there, through faith in Jesus (Rev.5:9).

Today, many suffer from a lack of vision. Without vision we see only injustice and darkness. Without vision we cast off restraint (Prov.29:18) and seek only pleasure and personal benefit. Read verse 17 again. Through faith in Jesus, may God pour out his Spirit on us and fill us with his vision for the world.

[1] Luke 3:16.

[2] Luke 1:15,41,67.

[3] Luke 4:1.

[4] Acts 4:8,31.

[5] Acts 6:5; 7:55; 9:17; 13:9; 11:22–24; 13:52.

[6] Isa.32:15; 44:3; Eze.39:29; Zech.12:10.

[7] John 4:24; Deut.4:24; 9:3.

[8] 1 Cor.2:10–15.

[9] cf. John 16:13–14; 1 John 2:27.

[10] 2:43; 4:30; 5:12; 6:8; 14:3; 15:12.

[11] 10:10; 11:5; 22:17.

(QUESTIONS)

Acts 1:12-26 (Go to the ESV Bible verses)

Key Verse: 1:14, All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.”

1.  After the ascension, what do the apostles do, and why (12; see verses 4–5)? Who is mentioned, and who is missing (13; compare verse 25)?

2.  What is going on in this upper room (14)? Who besides the apostles is there? What does this expression “with one accord” mean?^[1] How and why should we have such unity among us?^[2]

3.  What does “devoting themselves to prayer” mean (2:42; 6:2)? Note how Acts repeats the role of prayer in Christian life and community.^[3] How can we be more devoted to prayer?

4.  In this environment, what does Peter do and say, and who does he mention (15–17)? What had happened to Judas Iscariot (18–19)? Why does Peter point out that this fulfilled Scripture (20)? Why do they need to address this issue?

5.  Who is qualified to take Judas’ place (21–22), and why? How do they find God’s choice, and what is their goal (23–26)? Why does this need to be done before the Spirit comes?

6.  How does this passage help us as a community to be prepared to receive the Spirit?

^[1] See also 2:46; 4:24; 5:12; 8:6; 15:25.

^[2] See John 17:11,21–23; Eph.2:14–18; 4:1–6,13.

^[3] E.g. 1:24; 3:1; 4:24,31; 6:4; 10:2; 12:5,12; 13:3; 14:23; 16:25; 20:36.

(MESSAGE)

Key Verse: 1:14, “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.”

Do you like to be with people, or would you prefer to be alone? It may seem like a personality trait: some people are shy and introverted, whereas others are naturally gregarious. In today’s passage we see how the first followers of Jesus all gathered together to pray, even though nobody told them to. Why were they doing this? Was it really necessary? What does it mean? And why do we need to follow their example? May God speak to us through his word today.

Jesus has just told his apostles to stay in Jerusalem, where his enemies are, and wait for the promised Holy Spirit, who would empower them to be his witnesses to the end of the earth. After he said that, he ascended into heaven. It was spectacular. But now, these men are suddenly on their own. Surely there’s a lot going on inside them. They’ve got to be scared, confused, and battling feelings of failure. But their great point is that they listen to Jesus and try to do what he said. Like them, there are times when we all feel disillusioned or lost. But that’s the time to come back to the Bible, meditate on his word, and try to follow it. Though it may seem like there’s no way, we can find our way in his words.

Look at verse 13. They were the eleven disciples of Jesus, minus Judas Iscariot, who we’ll see more about later. These men had been with Jesus all along. They followed him everywhere, listening to, learning from, and helping him. Each one had his own unique character. Peter was outspoken, James and John were secretly ambitious, Andrew was helpful, Philip calculated, Thomas doubted, Bartholomew was just there, Matthew was quietly trying to put himself back together after his sinful life, Simon the Zealot was trying to control his fury over all the social injustice. Over their intense years of life together, surely they had conflict between them. We know that twice, an argument broke out about which of them was considered the greatest (Luke 9:46; 22:24). But after Jesus suffered, died and was raised, and after all of them had failed him, things were different. Their dream of an earthly kingdom through Jesus had been shattered. None of them was sure of his own righteousness anymore, not even Peter. They’d all become keenly aware of their own weakness and need. They all realized they were facing the same opposition. And they’d all been given the same command, to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit.

So they return to Jerusalem and head up to the upper room, where they’ve been staying (12a,13a). And what do they do there? Bolt the door and take a nap? No. Look at verse 14. It’s written in understatement, but this is remarkable. Frankly, the disciples had not been praying men. Right before his arrest, when Jesus asked them to pray, they slept (Luke 22:45–46). They didn’t seem like men who would voluntarily join a prayer meeting with women. But to our surprise, here they are, praying with the women who’d been following Jesus from Galilee, and with his mother Mary and his brothers. Nobody tells them to; it just happens. Why? They all realize they’re helpless. They all need each other.

And it wasn’t just a one-time prayer meeting. Verse 14 says they “were devoting themselves to prayer.” For how long? Jesus had been crucified on the day of Passover and rose on the third day. Verse 3 says he spent the next forty days speaking to them about the kingdom of God. And the day of Pentecost was exactly fifty days after Passover. So, all together, their time of united prayer was a little less than ten days. But the verb tense “they were devoting” means they were meeting regularly during that time, most likely every day.

This Greek word for “devote” is a beautiful one. It means “to associate closely, constantly, and persistently,” like a fully dedicated, loyal soldier (10:7). Some people are not devoted to anything. But it’s beautiful to be devoted to a Christian community, and especially to praying there. In 2:42, Luke describes the many new believers who’d joined the followers of Jesus: “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (2:42). In 2:46, Luke again uses this Greek word “devoting.”[1] In fact, in Greek, it’s the same two words, in the same order, as here in 1:14: “devoting with one accord.” Luke is stressing not personal devotion, but devotion with other believers. He uses the word “devotion” once more, when the apostles decide not to get distracted by the daily distribution of food. They say, “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word” (6:4).

Amidst life’s many distractions and demands, we need a real decision and a firm commitment to devote ourselves to pray together. Colossians 4:2 says, “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Literally it says, “Be devoted to prayer!” The Bible says such devotion is part of our spiritual warfare. Apostle Paul writes, “…praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints…” (Eph.6:18). Here, “all perseverance” is literally “all devotion.”

Most of all, verse 14 says that they’re praying “with one accord.” In English, our word “accord” means “one in mind and heart.” But the Greek word literally means “to rush along in unison.” It can be used to describe musicians who play quite different sounding instruments, with different notes. But when they play together, with the same tempo, they create a beautiful, harmonic sound that’s not possible to achieve alone. Luke uses this unusual word ten times in Acts. Sometimes, he’s describing crowds in general, who are united to persecute believers.[2] Other times, Luke is describing believers’ unity.[3] It doesn’t happen easily; through humble communication we can come to one accord (15:25). And this phrase “with one accord” is the trademark of this first Christian church. As their numbers grow, this beautiful unity spreads through them. To be one with a big group of diverse people may seem too daunting. So it’s good to start small. Once Jesus said, “…if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them” (Matt.18:19–20). Peter and John, former rivals, eventually become close coworkers as leaders of the Jerusalem church.[4] So we need to pray for our church leaders. Married couples also need to pray to be of one accord. In these ways we build an environment of spiritual unity.

In this diverse group, surprisingly none of them is judging or criticizing the others. They all have the same passion. They all want to do what Jesus said. They all want to be his witnesses. They’re all fervently asking for the promised Holy Spirit. Their unity doesn’t mean they’ve lost their individuality. We can have such spiritual unity when we share the common ground to obey Jesus, to be his witnesses, and to depend on the Holy Spirit. Praying for common prayer topics is also helpful. In Chicago UBF we’re praying that God may raise spiritual leaders for the world and for future generations through us. How important it is to pray, not against each other, but with one accord, with and for each other, and based on Jesus’ prayer topics. We need to remember: “with one accord” is the opposite of stirring up division. Apostle Paul taught: “As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him” (Titus 3:10). Unity among believers is serious before God; we all need to work at it.

But for individualistic people struggling with attention issues, this is a totally new way of life: daily devotion to prayer with others, with one mind and heart. Some may think, “I just can’t; that’s not for me.” But in light of today’s passage, devotion to prayer with one accord is necessary for all believers. Apostle Paul says that when we’re united with Christ, we receive his encouragement, his love, his Spirit, his affection and sympathy, and then we can have the same love, “being in full accord and of one mind” (Phil.2:1–2). Paul also says we all have a common Christian calling, to walk “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph.4:1–3). So having this “one accord” is possible for all of us in Jesus, especially as we learn to encourage each other (Heb.10:25).

The apostles, the women, and Jesus’ family are all so different. But together, they’re praying and preparing themselves for the task Jesus has given them. To be clear: devoting themselves to prayer with one accord is not their way of creating group pressure and forcing God to act. They’re just preparing themselves to be ready for God to work through them. This kind of humble prayer is called “waiting on the Lord.” Instead of talking too much or trying to do many things, they come together and wait on the Lord in prayer. Helping each person become more devoted to praying with one accord with everyone else is the best way for us to get ready for the Holy Spirit’s coming.

And there’s one more point here: Throughout his writings Luke highlights that through prayer, God gives us the Spirit.[5] So, we should humbly listen to what the Bible is saying. Instead of asking many things with our own ideas, we should be asking God to give us his Spirit to think and pray and do what God wants. If we skip asking for the Holy Spirit, we’re missing the most vital aspect of prayer.

In verses 15–26 we see how God inspires Peter as the leader of this community of 120. Through devoted prayer, God helps him see the problem among them: their vessel as Jesus’ witnesses has been broken through the betrayal and death of Judas Iscariot. Peter helps them see this event not humanly, but in light of Scripture. He also guides them to find a suitable replacement. They don’t argue about it or allow for a political campaign: they find a way to let God decide, through prayer. Then everyone accepts the outcome, and their vessel is restored. Only after this are they spiritually ready for the coming of the Holy Spirit. It tells us how important each leader joining in unity is.

Let’s read our key verse, verse 14, again. “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” May God help us to be devoting ourselves to prayer with one accord, so that he can form us into a vessel ready for the Holy Spirit to do his mighty work.

[1] Many English Bible versions translate this word in Acts 2:46 as new believers “continuing” or who “continued” to attend the temple and eat together.

[2] Acts 7:57; 12:20; 18:12; 19:29.

[3] Acts 1:14; 2:46; 4:24; 5:12; 15:25.

[4] Acts 3:1,3,4,11; 4:13,19; 8:14.

[5] Luke 3:21–22; 11:13.