Queen's Road Cell

For Thought and Discussion: Why does Peter mention God’s plan and foreknowledge in 2:23? Why is it important for us to remember? Peter assures his heaers that Jesus' crucifixion was not evidence of His criminal acts, but rather, an event foretold and planned for by God. This establishes His righteousness rather than His culpability. It tells us that compatibilism alone allows us to deal with evil and suffering in the world and in our lives. God is still in control.    For Thought and Discussion: Peter tried to convince Jews about Jesus by showing how scriptures they already accepted supported his claims. Would this approach work with your friends? Why or why not? If not, what beliefs that you already hold in common could you use to draw them toward examining the Scriptures?   A s in Acts 17 with Paul in Athens, Peter establishes common ground with his hearers. But where there is no common ground, different approaches e.g. meaning of life, life after death, morality, removal of gui

 3. Peter says that the babble of languages is a sign of something greater than drunkenness. What does the sign demonstrate (see 2:15-21)?  God's work. Fulfillment of prophecy of the Spirit's outpouring, and the opportunity for salvation.   4. Next Peter recounts the key facts of Jesus’ life (see 2:22-24).  a. How could the Jews have known that Jesus was a special person sent by God (see 2:22)?   ' mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst' b. How did Israel respond to Jesus (see 2:23)?  ' you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men '. The teachers of the Law had acted contrary to the Law in causing Jesus to be killed by Gentiles. ' delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God ' cf. Acts 4:28 -  a powerful affirmation that God's permissive/decretive will is often fulfilled through the breaking of His revealed/prescriptive/preceptive will.   c. What was the crucial event of Jesus’ car

Pentecost is the name Greek-speaking Jews used for the Feast of Weeks (see Leviticus 23:15-21; Deuteronomy 16:9-12), the Feast of Harvest (see Exodus 23:16), or the Day of First-fruits (see Numbers 28:26-31). (LifeChange)  Read through all of Acts 2:1-47.   1. Why was it appropriate that the events of Acts 2 occurred on Pentecost, the day when Jews celebrated the giving of the covenant under the Law of Moses? (Optional: See Jeremiah 31:31-34; Romans 7:6; 2 Corinthians 3:6.)  The giving of the Spirit in power corresponds to the birth of Jesus in Luke's gospel and to the birth of the Church. As the Jewish nation was defined by the Law of Moses, so the Church is defined by the presence of the Spirit's power. This is the new covenant promise.   Pentecost is the fulfillment of Jesus' promise in 1:4 as well as of OT promises in Joel 2:28-32 and Is 32:15. The list of countries there begins with three countries to the east of the Roman Empire in the area known as Persia or Iran,

To apply Acts to our lives sensibly, we need to distinguish when Luke is describing an example we should follow; when he is describing one we may follow; and when he is giving details to portray the overall message, not to be exact models for us. One clue to this distinction is that primary patterns recur whereas specific details vary. For instance, people repeatedly pray for God’s guidance to make decisions in Acts but casting lots occurs only once, before the Spirit is poured out at Pentecost. Likewise, when people become believers in Acts, water baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit normally occur, but “these can be in reverse order, with or without the laying on of hands, with or without the mention of tongues; and scarcely ever with a specific mention of repentance, even after what Peter says in 2:38-39.” You’ll find more guidelines for applications later in this study guide. For now, keep this question in mind: When is a practice in Acts a norm we should follow; w

 1. For each of the following sections, write a title that expresses what the section is about.  1:1-11  Introduction and ascension. (“Hello again Theophilus”, says Joe!) “command” 1:12-26     Replacing Judas. “Obey”   2. If Acts tells how the church began to fulfill its mission through the Holy Spirit, how does 1:1-26 relate to this theme?  Acts is about Jesus' continued work through the Holy Spirit by the apostles.  He has returned to heaven in glory to receive all authority, but will not return untill the mission of the church to the world is complete. The church is the new Israel, with the 12 apostles representing the 12 tribes of the new people of God. The apostles are to carry on the ministry of Jesus through the power of the Spirit. The Spirit helps identify the apostles. 3. From Acts 1:2-5, what was apparently the purpose of the forty days Jesus spent with His disciples after the Resurrection? He gave commands through the Holy Spirit, I.e. the spirit was teaching them and g

  12  Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13  And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14  so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15  “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,      the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16  the people dwelling in darkness      have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,      on them a light has dawned.” 17  From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 18  While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19  And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” [ b ] 20  Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21  And going on from there he saw two other