The Apostles are arrested by the Religious leaders
An angel of the Lord rescues them from jail
They are warned not to preach the Gospel
Peter says they must obey God rather than human authority
Peter shares the Gospel message with the high council
Gamaliel tells Religious leaders to leave the disciples alone as if what they’re doing is from God no one will be able to stop them, but if what they’re doing is not of God it will not be successful
Seven men, well respected and full of the Holy Spirit are chosen to serve the people in the church
The number of believers in Jerusalem increased including many Jewish priests
Stephen is arrested because of false testimony against him
Stephen’s face becomes bright as an angel’s as he stands before the high council and shares the Gospel message
Part 2 of 22 – Acts Chapter 2:11 through Chapter 3:17
The Holy Spirit is poured out at Pentecost
People from many different languages hear believers who are filled with the Holy Spirit speaking of the wonderful things God has done in their own languages
Peter testifies that the prophesy from Joel 2:28-32 has been fulfilled in their presence
Peter speaks boldly to the crowds about the prophesies about Jesus and how He fulfilled them all
Peter tells them to repent of their sin and turn to Jesus, their Messiah, to find forgiveness and to receive the Holy Spirit
A deep sense of awe came over them all and the Apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders
The Lord added to the group of believers, the first Church, those who were being saved
Peter and John went to the Temple to pray and healed the lame man who begged at the Beautiful Gate
Peter then preaches the Gospel message to all who were in awe and wonder over this miraculous healing
Peter gives glory to God for all God does through him to heal and deliver the people in the name of Jesus
“The only dramatization using the actual Scriptures . . . word for word from the International Version Bible”
Part 1 = Chapter 1:1 through Chapter 2:10
PURPOSE OF THE BOOK OF ACT
To give an accurate account of the birth and growth of the Christian chruch
HOLY SPIRIT INSPIRED AUTHOR
Luke, a Gentile physician or medical doctor who traveled with Apostle Paul
TO WHOM WAS THE BOOK OF ACTS WRITTEN
Theophilus and all lovers of God
DATE WRITTEN
Between A.D. 63 and 70
SETTING OF THE BOOK OF ACTS
Acts is the connecting link between Christ’s life and the life of the church, between the Gospels and the Letters
KEY VERSE
Acts 1:8 – “But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about Me (Jesus) everywhere – in Jerusalem[in your home town], throughout Judea [the areas outside your home town], in Samaria [those places no one wants to live or associate with the people who live there], and to the ends of the earth [those places that are very, very far away from the comforts of your home town, where you will need to live among the people and really get to know them, as a missionary teaching them about Jesus].
Because Acts ends so abruptly, Luke may have planned to write a third book, continuing the story.
“With a flick of a match, friction occurs and a spark leaps from match to tinder.As small flame burns the edges and grows, fueled by wood and air.Heat builds, and soon the kindling is licked by reddish orange tongues.Higher and wider it spreads, consuming the wood.The flame has become a fire.
Over 2,000 years ago, a match was struck in Palestine.At first, just a few in that corner of the world were touched and warmed; but the fire spread beyond Jerusalem and Judea out to the world and to all people.Acts provides an eyewitness account of the flame and fire – the birth and spread of the Church.Beginning in Jerusalem with a small group of disciples, the message traveled across the Roman Empire.Empowered by the Holy Spirit, this courageous band preached, taught, healed, and demonstrated love in synagogues, schools, homes, marketplaces, and courtrooms, and on streets, hills, ships, and desert roads – wherever God sent them, lives and history were changed.
Written by Luke as a sequel to his Gospel, Acts is an accurate historical record of the early Church.But Acts is also a theological book, with lessons and living examples of the work of the Holy Spirit, Church relationships and organization, the implications of grace, and the law of love.And Acts is an apologetic work, building a strong case for the validity of Christ’s claims and promises.
The book of Acts begins with the outpouring of the promised Holy Spirit and the commencement of the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.The Spirit-inspired evangelism began in Jerusalem and eventually spread to Rome, covering most of the Roman Empire.The Gospel first went to the Jews, but they, as a nation, rejected it.A remnant of Jews, of course, gladly received the Good News.But the continual rejection of the Gospel by the vast majority of the Jews led to the ever-increasing proclamation of the Gospel to the Gentiles.This was according to Jesus’ plan:The Gospel was to go from Jerusalem, to Judea, to Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).This, in fact, is the pattern that the Acts narrative follows.The glorious proclamation began in Jerusalem (chapter 1 – 7), went to Judea and Samaria (chapters 8 and following), and to the countries beyond Judea (11:19; 13:4 and on to the end of Acts).The second half of Acts is focused primarily on Paul’s missionary journeys to many countries north of the Mediterranean Sea.He, with his companions, took the Gospel first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles.Some of the Jews believed, and many of the Gentiles received the Good News with joy.New churches were started, and new believers began to grow in the Christian life.
As you read and watch this dramatization of the Book of acts, put yourself in the place of the disciples: Identify with them as they are filled with the Holy Spirit, and experience the thrill of seeing thousands respond to the Gospel message. Sense their commitment as they give every ounce of talent and treasure to Christ. And as you read and watch, see the Spirit-led boldness of these 1st Century believers, who through suffering, and in the face of death, take every opportunity to tell of their crucified and risen Lord. Then decide yourself to be a 21st Century version of those men and women of God.” Life Application Bible
This video shows the purity of heart of this 10 year old girl and reminds me of what God said in His Word in Luke 18:16-17: “But Jesus called the children to Him and said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.'”
New Believers Are Tempted to Doubt Their Salvation
Mature Christians, Used By God, Are Tempted Too
Romans Road Gospel Message:
Romans 3:10 “There is no one righteous, not even one…” Romans 3:23 “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Romans 5:8 “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 6:23 “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 10:9-10 “If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord”, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Romans 10:13
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Jude 24-25 – “Now to Him Who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”
Holy God we humble ourselves in repentance and call out to You for mercy
Holy God in Heaven,
Please humble our nation that we may know that You alone are God so that we may draw close to You in repentance that You may have mercy upon our nation – may Your will be done:
Isaiah 5:20 says:
‘Woe to those who call good evil and evil good,
who put darkness for light and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter,’
but that is exactly what our nation has done.
Because of our sin we have lost our spiritual equilibrium
and reversed our values:
when we exploit the poor and call it the lottery –
when we promote unproductive lives and call it welfare –
when we support abortion, the death of a precious baby in the womb and call it a woman’s own personal choice –
when we agree with those who hate and kill abortionists and call it justifiable –
when we neglect to lovingly discipline our children and call it building their self esteem –
when we allow the abuse of power in our government by false representation and empty promises and call it politics –
when we covet our neighbor’s possessions and positions and call it ambition –
when we pollute the air with profanity and pornography and call it freedom of expression –
when we ridicule the Biblical values of our forefathers who have been used by God to build the foundatin of our free nation and call it enlightenment –
Holy God, please ‘Search us, and know our hearts;
test us and know our anxious thoughts –
See if there is any offensive way in us,
and lead us in the way everlasting.’
Psalm 139: 23-24
Jesus says: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
Matthew 4:17
Holy God, may we listen to You speak to us and repent!
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