Empowered (Acts 1-20)

Acts 1

4 - “...Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," He said, "you heard of from Me;...” Remember in John 20:22 He breathed on them. Now He tells them to wait. It’s a process.

6 - The disciples are looking for the restoration of the Kingdom of Israel.

7,8 - The Father has a plan, and His plan includes Holy Spirit empowered witnesses.

11 - Jesus will come again.

14 - Continually in prayer. What do you suppose was the focus of their prayer? [God’s intentions for them]

20-26 Matthias fills the position left vacant by Judas.

Acts 2

1-13 Filled with the Holy Spirit. Given the language to touch the world around them.

14-36 Peter’s sermon.

37-47 The ingathering.

37 - The world asks “What shall we do?”

38 - The answer is to Repent, be baptized, receive the Holy Spirit.

40 - Be saved from this perverse generation.

47 - Adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 3

6 - “...But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!.." Do we possess the wrong stuff?

12 - Peter doesn’t play the power or piety game.

16 - Focus put on the name of Jesus.

19 - “...Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;...”

26 - Purpose of Christ? To turn everyone from their wicked ways. ****

Acts 4

1-7 Peter and John on trial for healing the lame beggar. Who is trying them? [v.1 Religious leaders]

12 - “...And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved..." This will put you at odds with religion, which doesn’t want you speaking or freeing people from their bondage.

29,30 - “...And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus..."

32-36 Ownership becomes stewardship and “...there was not a needy person among them...”

Acts 5

1-10 Ananias and Sapphira are deceitful and die.

11-16 The sick and afflicted are healed.

17-25 Prison can’t hold them.

29 - “...But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men...”

32 - “...And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him..." Who gets the Holy Spirit? [the obedient]

42 - “...And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ...”

Acts 6

1-6 Stephen is one of seven men appointed to ... care for the widows.

9-15 He gets dragged away to stand before the council.

Acts 7

1-53 Stephen’s defense? Old Testament history.

54 - “...Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him...” Why wasn’t this received well? Do we ever gnash our teeth at the truth?

55-60 Stephen gets a glimpse of heaven and is stoned to death. Why? For serving widows? No. He was doing. He was liberating people from the bondage of their boxes. 6:8 “...And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people...”

Acts 8

1-3 Persecution begins in earnest.

14-16 “...Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus...” Two parts?

25-40 Philip ministers to the Ethiopian, then catches ‘Spirit airlines’ to Azotus and Caesarea.

Acts 9

1-19 The road to Damascus is a life changer for Saul. God interacts!

15 - “...But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;...”

23 - The Jews plot to do away with him.

26 - The disciples were afraid to associate with him.

31 - “...So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase...”

32-43 Man paralyzed 8 years is healed. Tabitha raised from the dead.

Acts 10

15 - “...Again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy..."

34,35 - “...Opening his mouth, Peter said: "I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him...” Who is welcomed by God?

45 - “...All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also...”

Acts 11

1-18 Peter explains to the apostles and brethren what God was doing. Which was? 18 - “...When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, "Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life..." Repentance leads to life.

26 - “...and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch...”

Acts 12

James is killed.

Peter is imprisoned.

An angel frees Peter.

Proud Herod is struck by an angel and eaten by worms.

Acts 13

2 - “...While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them...” What were they doing? [ministering, fasting] What was the result? [call].

16-43 Paul’s message to Antioch. A quick recap of Old Testament history, the execution of Jesus, and His resurrection.

49 - “...And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region...”

52 - “...And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit...”

Acts 14

1-4 The people of Iconium were divided - some siding with the Jews, some with the apostles.

6-11 The people of Lycoania witness a miraculous healing of a paralytic.

19 - “...But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead...”

Acts 15

1-12 Discussions about circumcision. Peter professes that salvation is by the grace of the Lord.

20,29 It’s decided that idols, fornication, and blood are the major things to be avoided. Ceremonial or Moral?

Acts 16

6-13 Paul is guided by the Spirit.

14-21 Paul casts the spirit of divination out of a slave girl.

22-29 Paul and Silas are thrown into prison. They have a prayer meeting and hymn sing. The jail is rocked. All the chains fall off.

31-33 The jailer is converted

Acts 17

Visit to Thessaalonica.

Jews stir up a mob.

Off to Berea, where people were eagerly searching the scriptures.

The Jews follow, agitating and stirring up trouble.

16-21 Athens is full of talkers. 21 - “... (Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)...” Which box?

22-34 Paul effectively reaches some with the good news.

Acts 18

Paul in Corinth. Tent making. Reasoning. Devoting himself to the Word. Finding resistance.

9 - “...And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent;...”

Taught for 1 ½ years, then off again.

Apollos is mighty in the scriptures. Fervent in spirit. Teaching accurately. Speaking boldly.

Acts 19

1-10 Paul lays hands on those who had received only the baptism of John. The Holy Spirit came on them.

11-16 Seven sons of Sceva get overpowered by an evil spirit.

17-20 Many turn from their wicked practices. The word of the Lord prevails.

23-29 The silversmiths lobby for their livelihood.

Acts 20

7-12 Paul speaks til midnight. Eutychus falls from the third floor window and is dead. Paul embraces him and the boy lives.

21 - “...solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ...”

27 - “...For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God...” What did it get him? [stoned,beaten]

29-32 Warns of perversions, be alert.

32 - “...And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified...” The Word is important.