We just finished reading So Many Lions, So Few Daniels and are starting Acts of the Apostles from the New Testament. I'll be posting my notes and study guides for each chapter on this post.
Shortcuts
Free Course on Acts
Book Summary
- The book of Acts quotes extensively from the Old Testament. Luke tied his account back to Joel, back to Psalms, and back to Isaiah.
- These supporting notes come from Every Man's Study Bible:
- Acts shows the Christian church's explosion across the Mediterranean region.
- Acts was written by Luke and addressed to Theophilus (as is the Gospel of Luke).
- Acts covers a 30 year period, beginning with the ascension of Jesus and extends to the early 60s AD.
- Acts consists of 28 chapters.
- 1-7: The gospel takes root in Jerusalem
- 8-12: The gospel spreads across Judea and Samaria.
- 13-28: The gospels spreads across the Roman empire.
Chapter One
General Notes:
- Acts 1:1–3: Luke recapped what he covered in his first writing (the Gospel of Luke). As he began this writing, Luke emphasized that Jesus suffered, died, came back to life, and then appeared to the disciples for four days. Jesus provided “many convincing proofs” He was alive, and He talked to the disciples about the kingdom of God. This is the message we should be about today. We need to become more about the kingdom of God than about ourselves or our denominations.
- Acts 1:4–5: While Jesus was with the disciples these 40 days, He told them not to leave Jerusalem. They probably questioned that command since Jerusalem was where Jesus was killed, but Jesus said they had to wait for what the Father promised. Jesus had told them about God’s promise that they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit. In Luke 11:13, Jesus explained that God would give them the Holy Spirit. In Luke 24:49, after His resurrection from the dead, Jesus said, “I am sending you what My Father promised.” The disciples heard the consistent message that they were supposed to wait in Jerusalem until they were given what Jesus and His Father had promised to give them.
- Acts 1:6–8: The disciples wanted to know if Jesus intended to restore the kingdom of Israel. They were ready to see the state of Israel reinstated with Jesus ruling as king. The disciples knew Ezekiel 36 and Joel 2 connected the coming of the kingdom with the outpouring of the Spirit. Jesus said that it wasn’t for them to know and then redirected them to what He had called them to do. When the Holy Spirit was given to them, they would be “[His] witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (v. 8). The word “witness” is from a Greek word that means “one who dies for his faith.” Jesus was saying that when we actually believe His promise that the Spirit has come to give us power and authority, then we’ll actually die for Him. For some reason, we think taking the good news is a business or an assignment through a Sunday school class. In reality, if we’re followers of Christ, then we’re being asked if we’re willing to be a witness who will die for our faith in Christ, wherever we are. We’ve been given authority and power, when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, to walk as ambassadors for the living King; yet, we decide if we want to or not. We’re afraid to walk out the authority that we’ve been given.
- Acts 1:9–14: The disciples watched as Jesus was taken up in a cloud out of their sight. We are to be witnesses who release the gospel and the kingdom of God into this atmosphere, into this earth. We have the opportunity to walk out the Authority of Christ, and we have an incredible model that shows us how to do it. Then two men in white clothes asked why they (the disciples) were standing there looking up into heaven (v. 11a). The two white-clothed men explained Jesus would come again in the same way the disciples saw Him going into heaven. As the disciples returned to Jerusalem—no more than a half mile away, as that was the farthest they could have walked on the Sabbath (v. 12)—can you imagine their conversation? As directed, the disciples waited in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Spirit.
- Acts 1:15–26: As they gathered in the upper room, the disciples cast lots to choose Matthias to replace Judas so that they once again had 12 disciples
What was your favorite statement and why?
- ”But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” - when Jesus sent the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49)
- After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him.
- "Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”
What was your least favorite statement?
An important thought or question raised in the text.
- We are to be witnesses who share the gospel.
- Our instruction is to be a witness for Jesus. We have nothing to fear.
Chapter Two
General Notes:
What was your favorite statement and why?
- "there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting"
- "flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages"
- "they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers"
- "I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike -and they will prophesy."
- "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved"
- "Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. "
What was your least favorite statement?
An important thought or question raised in the text.
- "I see that the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
No wonder my heart is glad,
and my tongue shouts his praises!
My body rests in hope.
For you will not leave my soul among the dead
or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.
You have shown me the way of life,
and you will fill me with the joy of your presence"
Chapter Three
General Notes:
What was your favorite statement and why?
- Peter and John start evangelizing without Jesus. This must have made them very nervous but they trusted in God to provide the confidence and words they needed to be successful.
- Acts 3:6: Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”
- The lame man had been begging for money. Peter showed the lame man that he was able to heal him with his faith in Jesus. Faith is far more valuable than any silver or gold.
- Act 3:16: “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes."
- Peter asks why people are surprised that the lame man was healed and explains why and how he was healed.
- Acts 3:19-20: "Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah."
- Peter begs the crowd to repent so that they can be saved.
- Acts 25-26: "You are the children of those prophets, and you are included in the covenant God promised to your ancestors. For God said to Abraham, ‘Through your descendants all the families on earth will be blessed.’ When God raised up his servant, Jesus, he sent him first to you people of Israel, to bless you by turning each of you back from your sinful ways."
- Peter explains how we are blessed and that we must repent of our sins to be saved.
What was your least favorite statement?
An important thought or question raised in the text.
- Peter explains that he didn't perform a miracle, what he did was only possible due to faith in Jesus Christ. There is power in the name of Jesus through the Holy Spirit.
- The lame man had a new life after being healed and began to leap about, praising God. We also have a new life after being saved by Jesus. The lame man's legs were restored by Peter's faith in Jesus Christ. Our life were restored when we accepted Jesus as our savior and turned from our sinful ways. We must be like the lame man that was healed - he didn't go back to his ways of begging and we shouldn't go back to our ways of sinning.
- Peter didn't want the glory of healing the lame man - Peter instead pointed to God and faith in Jesus Christ.
- Peter and John were only successful in healing the man because they walked in the authority of their faith in Jesus. We also need to walk in authority as we share the gospel with others.
- Peter showed tremendous grace as he pointed out how the Jews had chosen a killer over Christ and had Christ crucified. Instead of expressing anger over this outcome Peter urged them to repent and turn from their sins so that they could be saved.
Chapter Four
General Notes:
- Study Guide for Chapter Four (PDF)
- Acts 4 Reading Guide
- Chapter Four verse by verse commentary
- Peter and John are arrested by Sadducees leaders because they saw the early church as a threat to their political structure. They held Peter, John, and the healed begger in custody overnight because it was too late for a legal hearing. They had to release them the next day to avoid a riot since a large crowd had seen the begger be healed by Peter and John.
- Peter and John return to the believers to pray with them - the crowd is filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.
- The believers are united and pool/share their resources so that no one is left needy or wanting.
What was your favorite statement and why?
- "There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” - Acts of the Apostles 4:12 NLT
- When Peter and John tell the Sadducees leaders that God's laws are above any law that man might establish (Acts 4:19).
- But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” - Acts of the Apostles 4:19-20 NLT.
What was your least favorite statement?
An important thought or question raised in the text.
- The church needs to unite and support one another - just as the early believers did for Peter and John (Acts 4:32-34).
Chapter Five
General Notes:
- Study Guide for Chapter Five (PDF)
- Acts 5 Reading Guide
- Chapter Five verse by verse commentary
- Acts 5 Study Course
- The believers are united and pool/share their resources so that no one is left needy or wanting.
- A man named Ananias and his wife Sapphria sell some property but lie about how much it was sold for - they are struck down by God for lying to the Holy Spirit.
- Peter and John heal many people and large crowds of people come to the Lord.
- Peter and John are again arrested and imprisoned by the arrested by Sadducees leaders who view the early church as a threat to their power.
- An angel of the Lord opens the gates of the prison during the night and encourages Peter and John to return to the believers and continue sharing the message of life.
- The guards again arrest Peter and John. Peter and John explain how they must obey Godover any human authority.
- Tha Sadducees leaders want to put Peter and John to death but are convinced by one of the leaders that if Peter and John are actually working for God then the Sadducees leaders would be trying to fight God by killing them. The Sadducees leaders reluctantly agree and release Peter and John after having them flogged and telling them to never preach again about Jesus.
- Peter and John celebrate that God counted them worthy to be digraced for the name of Jesus.
- Peter and John return to the temple each day to continue preaching about Jesus.
What was your favorite statement and why?
- When Peter and John explain that God's laws will always trump man's laws (Acts 5:29).
- When Peter and John rejoice that they were deemed worthy to be digraced for the name of Jesus instead of being sad about being imprisoned and flogged (Acts 5:41-42).
What was your least favorite statement?
An important thought or question raised in the text.
- As the Authority in our lives, Jesus - He calls on us to represent Him to other people. If Jesus is not in charge of our lives after we’ve claimed Him as our Savior and Lord, then we are hypocrites. Acts 5 is the story of two people who were hypocrites.
- The death of Ananias and his wife Sapphria help reinforce upon the crowd that fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10).
- God striking down Ananias and his wife Sapphria may initially seem cruel but it illustrates the holiness of God. God doesn't stop being holy just because He's gracious and loving. See 1 Peter 4:17 : "The time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God's household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God's Good News?"
Chapter Six
Resources:
My Notes:
Chapter Seven
Resources:
My Notes:
- Stephen had nothing to lose. He told them they were wrong about the tabernacle. The curtain was torn in two and they were not paying attention to it. Stephen points out how they missed everything that was going on around them.
- Stephen accuses them of making an idol out of the land. Are we doing the same?
- We carry around the Word but we don't live it out
- We need to apply Stephen's testimony in our own lives
- Stephen's face reflected the presence of God yet they still stoned him to death. Stephen told them that the temple and the temple service must come to an end, and it would be the glory of both to give way to the worship of the Father in spirit and in truth; but he perceived they would not bear it.
- Their guilt stung them to the heart, they sought relief in murdering their accuser, instead of sorrow and supplication for mercy.
- When Stephen saw God's glory Jesus was standing at the right hand of God. God was rising from the throne to greet Stephen.
- They screamed at Stephen when they heard this, throwing him out of the city and stoning him to death.
- While they were stoning him Stephen cried out "Lord Jesus receieve my spirit" and "Lord do not charge them with this sin".
- At that point Stephen fell asleep (died) - his body fell asleep but his soul moved onto heaven. Some believe in the concept of soul sleep: your soul slumbers until Jesus returns
- Stephen was the first recorded martyr, having been killed for Jesus
- Saul heard this testimony and would later become Paul.
Chapter Eight
Resources:
Questions:
Why did the persecution of the church result in its dispersion?
- Because people feared punishment of men more than the Lord.
Why is it significant that the Samaritans did not receive the Holy Spirit until Peter and John prayed and laid hands on them?
- I don't understand - they should have had the Holy Spirit when they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus.
What does it mean to be a Christian in a hostile environment? How can we overcome persecution and continue to share the gospel?
- Fear the Lord more than what men might do to punish us for our faith.
- Always lead with love, pray for our persecutors.
How can we be more like Philip in our witness to the world? How can we experience the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives? How can we apply the lessons of this passage to our own lives and churches today?
- Always lead with love, pray for our persecutors and detractors.
- Fear the Lord more than what men might do to punish us for our faith.
- Follow Phillip's approach: know the gospel, lead with love, listen and address their concerns, pray for them, understand it's not our job to ensure they accept Jesus as their savior - our job is only to share the gospel with them.
My Notes:
- The Apostles scatter and continue preaching the gospel after the stoning death of Stephen. Saul and his men go from house to house, arresting men and women who follow Christ.
- Phillip goes to Samaria a nd continues preaching the gospel, casting out demons, and healing the sick.
- Peter and John accopmany Phillip and lay hands upon the Samaritans, enabling them to receive the Holy Spirit. Note: I'm unclear why they didn't already have the Holy Spirit after they were baptised? This is confusing.
- "The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit." - Acts of the Apostles 8:16-17 NLT
- Simon, a former sorcerer, is so moved by this that he offers to pay the Apostles to give him the power of the Holy Spirit. Peter tells Simon it is a sin to think you can buy something that is a gift from God. Peter tells Simon to repent of so that God could forgive him. This means Peter was questioning Simon’s conversion. Unlike Peterm we should focus on delivering the good news. not judging if the good news has been truly accepted. Simon later asks Peter to pray for him, proving Simon had accepted the Word.
- An Ethiopian eunuch beguns preaching the book of Isaiah. Phillip discusses the book of Isaiah with the eunuch, helping him to better understand it.
- An angel tells Phillp to accompany the eunich back to Gaza. On their way to Gaza they come upon a pool of water and the eunich asks to be baptised. Phillip baptises the eunich and is carried away by the Holy Spirit.
- NOTE: Acts 8:37 is frequently omitted from the Bible: "Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”. This raises the question if belief in Christ is required for baptism. Some people erroneously think this verse is omitted because the church wants to encourage infant baptism. The vast majority of the New Testament passages do not include baptism as a condition for salvation.. I study the NLT translation which includes a note thst some translations include Acts 8:37 but the actual verse is not featured in NLT.
- Phillp later appears in Azotus and evangelizes in the towns there until he came to Caesarea.
- Phillip serves as an excellent role model for us, showing how to evangelize to others based on how he evangelized to the eunich:
- Philip showed the Ethiopian eunuch that he loved him because he ran to the eunuch.
- Philip listened to what the Ethiopian was reading and engaged him in conversation with a question.
- Philip recognized that the Ethiopian was open to the Gospel.
- Philip got into the chariot with the eunuch, and talked about Jesus prior to baptising him.
- None of this would have been possible if Phillip didn't know scripture.
Chapter Nine
Resources:
My Notes:
- Saul went to the high priest and asked for letters that he could take to the Damascus synagogues to search for and persecute any potential Christians there.
- As Saul returned to Damascus he saw a great light from heaven and heard a voice asking “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”. Saul fell to the ground, recognizing the voice of the Lord. Saul got up from the ground and was blind for three days.
- When Saul entered Damascus he began to pray to Jesus. The Lord spoke to a disciple in Damascus named Ananias and asked Ananias to heal Saul's blindness. Ananias initially argued with the Lord because of how Saul had been persecuting Christians. The Lord told Ananias to go heal Saul because He had chosen Saul to evangelize about Him to Gentiles, Kings, and Israelites. God said Saul would suffer for the name of Jesus.
- Ananias entered the house of Judas, placed his hands on Saul, and told Saul Jesus had sent him to restore Saul’s sight so he could be filled with the Holy Spirit. The scales fell from Saul’s eyes and his sight was restored. Saul was then he was baptizedand began to eat to regain his strength.
- Saul spends time with the disciples in Damascus and begins proclaiming that Jesus is the Son of God.
- The Jews in Damascus plan to kill Saul for his beliefs. Saul learns of this plan and escapes. Saul returns to Jerusalem and tries to join the disciples there but they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe he converted. Barnabas vouched for Saul, explaining what had happend and the disciples accepted him.. Saul went out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. Saul spoke against the Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews). The Hellenists were seeking to kill Saul so the brothers brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
- Meanwhile Peter heals Aeneas, a man who had been bedridden and paralyzed for eight years. The helps the church grow, turning others to the Lord.
- Meanwhile in Joppa a female disciple named Tabitha (meaning Dorcas) died. The disciples in Joppa bring in Peter and ask him to heal her. Peter sends everyone out, tells her to open her eyes, and she returns to life. This causes more people to believe in the Lord.
#booknotes #review #books
Yet another reminder popped up today to 
The coffee at Tim's is not as good as Bright Jennie's but it's still far better than anything you'll get at Starbucks.
Fascinating (if swear-filled) analysis of how surprisingly terrible Abraham Lincoln was for America. 
