The Gospel in Acts

Prayer: With expectant hearts and minds, we seek your truth, O God. In this study, help us to be attentive as we listen, careful as we speak, and awake to your wisdom. Open our hearts to your Scripture and give us the courage to change in light of what we read. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

With your group, take turns reading the introduction and text and answering the questions in each section.

Introduction

In the book of Acts, we read of the apostles’ first witness about Jesus after he was  taken up to heaven. Their speeches, given to a variety of audiences in a multicultural, spiritually diverse world, represent a synthesis of all that the disciples had witnessed during Jesus’s ministry and the testimony of God’s plan to build a kingdom of spiritually reborn people—from both Jews and Gentiles.¹ The speeches in Acts are strong starting places for us to become attuned to foundational truths of the gospel which the rest of the Bible testifies to and unpacks.

In psychology, the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon, or “frequency illusion,” is the sensation of newly becoming aware of something—a word, podcast, product, fact, etc.—that suddenly seems to reoccur everywhere.  After Jesus’s resurrection, something akin to this cognitive function of our pattern-seeking brain occurred spiritually in the disciples.  In chapter 24 of the companion volume to Acts, the Gospel of Luke records what must have been a thrilling experience:

44Then he (Jesus) said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures….” (Luke 24:44–45)

To finally see the recurrence of what Jesus had predicted about himself throughout the scrolls over and over again—and even more, to understand! Jesus continues by  highlighting two critical components of the gospel and commissioning his disciples to be witnesses, empowered by God’s Spirit, of these truths.  He says,

Thus it stands written that the Christ would suffer and would rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. But stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high. (Luke 24:46b–49)

As you work through this Acts study, expect to begin to “see” the truths of these gospel messages in the rest of the Bible. May the seed of the good news fall on good soil so that you may understand more and bear more fruit.

Section 1: Empowered by the Spirit, Peter testifies about Jesus’s resurrection.

Acts 2:22-32² “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man clearly attested to you by God with powerful deeds, wonders, and miraculous signs that God performed among you through him, just as you yourselves know— 2:23 this man, who was handed over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed by nailing him to a cross at the hands of Gentiles. 2:24 But God raised him up, having released him from the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held in its power. 2:25 For David says about him,
 ‘I saw the Lord always in front of me,
for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken.
2:26 Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced;
my body also will live in hope,
2:27 because you will not leave my soul in Hades,
nor permit your Holy One to experience decay.
2:28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of joy with your presence.’
2:29    “Brothers, I can speak confidently to you about our forefather David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 2:30 So then, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, 2:31 David by foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did his body experience decay. 2:32 This Jesus God raised up, and we are all witnesses of it.

Question 1: What point is Peter making in quoting David in verses 25–28?

Section 2: Next, Peter testifies to Jesus’s ascension to heaven and invites his listeners to be baptized.

Acts 2:33–41
2:33 So then, exalted to the right hand of God, and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured out what you both see and hear. 2:34 For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says,
‘The Lord said to my lord,
“Sit at my right hand
2:35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’
2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond a doubt that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.”
2:37 Now when they heard this, they were acutely distressed and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “What should we do, brothers?” 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 2:39 For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” 2:40 With many other words he testified and exhorted them saying, “Save yourselves from this perverse generation!” 2:41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added.

Question: Why were Peter’s Jewish listeners “cut to the heart”?

Section 3: After amazing a crowd by miraculously healing a disabled man at the Jerusalem temple, Peter (with John), explains the source of the miracle: faith in Jesus.

Acts 3:12–16
3:12 When Peter saw this, he declared to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Why do you stare at us as if we had made this man walk by our own power or piety? 3:13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our forefathers, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate after he had decided to release him. 3:14 But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a man who was a murderer be released to you. 3:15 You killed the Originator of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this fact we are witnesses! 3:16 And on the basis of faith in Jesus’ name, his very name has made this man—whom you see and know—strong. The faith that is through Jesus has given him this complete health in the presence of you all.

Question: What are the three ways Peter describes Jesus? (hint: the first is “servant”)

Section 4: Peter goes on to explain that Jesus is the prophesied Messiah and his listeners should follow him.

Acts 3:17–26
3:17 “And now, brothers, I know you acted in ignorance, as your rulers did too. 18 But the things God foretold long ago through all the prophets—that his Christ would suffer—he has fulfilled in this way. 19 Therefore repent and turn back so that your sins may be wiped out, 20 so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and so that he may send the Messiah appointed for you—that is, Jesus. 21 This one heaven must receive until the time all things are restored, which God declared from times long ago through his holy prophets. 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must obey him in everything he tells you. 23 Every person who does not obey that prophet will be destroyed and thus removed from the people.’ 24 And all the prophets, from Samuel and those who followed him, have spoken about and announced these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed.’ 26 God raised up his servant and sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each one of you from your iniquities.”

Question 1: What had Moses said would happen if God’s people did not obey the future prophet like him?

Question 2: What does Peter promise will happen if his listeners repent and “turn back”?

Read through the texts again below.³

Acts 2:22-32
“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man clearly attested to you by God with powerful deeds, wonders, and miraculous signs that God performed among you through him, just as you yourselves know— 2:23 this man, who was handed over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed by nailing him to a cross at the hands of Gentiles. 2:24 But God raised him up, having released him from the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held in its power. 2:25 For David says about him,
‘I saw the Lord always in front of me,
for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken.
2:26 Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced;
my body also will live in hope,
2:27 because you will not leave my soul in Hades,
nor permit your Holy One to experience decay.
2:28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of joy with your presence.’
2:29    “Brothers, I can speak confidently to you about our forefather David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 2:30 So then, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, 2:31 David by foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did his body experience decay. 2:32 This Jesus God raised up, and we are all witnesses of it.

Acts 2:33–41
2:33 So then, exalted to the right hand of God, and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured out what you both see and hear. 2:34 For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says,
‘The Lord said to my lord,
“Sit at my right hand
2:35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’
 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond a doubt that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.”
2:37 Now when they heard this, they were acutely distressed and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “What should we do, brothers?” 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 2:39 For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” 2:40 With many other words he testified and exhorted them saying, “Save yourselves from this perverse generation!” 2:41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added.

Acts 3:12–16
3:12 When Peter saw this, he declared to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Why do you stare at us as if we had made this man walk by our own power or piety? 3:13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our forefathers, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate after he had decided to release him. 3:14 But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a man who was a murderer be released to you. 3:15 You killed the Originator of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this fact we are witnesses! 3:16 And on the basis of faith in Jesus’ name, his very name has made this man—whom you see and know—strong. The faith that is through Jesus has given him this complete health in the presence of you all.

Acts 3:17–26
3:17 “And now, brothers, I know you acted in ignorance, as your rulers did too. 18 But the things God foretold long ago through all the prophets—that his Christ would suffer—he has fulfilled in this way. 19 Therefore repent and turn back so that your sins may be wiped out, 20 so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and so that he may send the Messiah appointed for you—that is, Jesus. 21 This one heaven must receive until the time all things are restored, which God declared from times long ago through his holy prophets. 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must obey him in everything he tells you. 23 Every person who does not obey that prophet will be destroyed and thus removed from the people.’ 24 And all the prophets, from Samuel and those who followed him, have spoken about and announced these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed.’ 26 God raised up his servant and sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each one of you from your iniquities.”

Discussion and application questions

1. What are some of the most common sins people struggle with today? How are they similar to what people in Christ’s time faced?
2. In these gospel presentations we’ve seen how central the call to repentance is. In your own words, what separates genuine from superficial repentance?
3. How might belief in Christ’s death, resurrection, ascension, and return help you to overcome sin in your own life?
4. Tell about a time you overcame a sin in your life.
5. According to what you’ve read today, what will happen to those who do not repent? 

Conclusion

Challenge: Consider how you would have explained the gospel before this study and explore any foundational truths you encountered in the apostle’s witness that are new to you. 

Blessing: May the gospel message strengthen your confidence in God’s wise plan through his Son. As he did with the early believers, may he fully equip you with understanding of the Scriptures and power by his spirit to share the good news of the kingdom with others. 

Other Scriptures:

Acts 1:3, Acts 4:1-12; Acts 7:1-56, Acts 17:1-3, Acts 28; 23

1. Before the New Testament, these two ethnic groups were at odds: the Jews were named and considered the chosen people of the God of Abraham, while the Gentiles were largely pagan peoples who worshiped other gods.[↩]
2. Scripture and/or notes quoted by permission. Quotations are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.  All rights reserved.[↩]
3. We find that rereading the text is very helpful—please don’t skip this part of the study![↩]