Earlier this year we began studying through the Book of Acts in our Saturday Morning Bible Study at The Blue Point Bible Church. The goal of our study was of course to read and understand the ‘acts of the Apostles’ in context, however we also chose to to focus on application insights that could be drawn from the text. Below will be a summarizing of the details we had marked out as we studied through the Book of Acts.
Acts 1
cf. Isaiah 49
https://eschatology.com/clouds.html
Acts 2
v.2-3 – wind filling house and tongues of fire (God’s presence/ God is here) cf. Exodus 13:20-22; Ezekiel 1)
https://biblehub.com/commentaries/acts/2-2.htm
Outpouring of the Spirit
“In fact, there is not a topic of a theme that is more intensely eschatological, or more directly tied to the restoration of Israel than this subject”. – Dr. Don K. Preston
“The outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost was un fulfilment of Acts 1, and even more importantly , of Joel 2:28-32. Peter’s words leave no room for controversy…”This is what was spoken of by the prophet Joel”…Joel foretold the consummative last days, the coming of the Lord, the salvation of the remnant and the calling of the nations…but Joel was alone in predicting the outpouring of the Spirit in the last days, for the restoration of Israel. Isaiah 32 and Ezekiel 37 and Micah 7 are but a few of the significant OT prophecies of the outpouring of the Spirit in the last days”. – Dr. Don K. Preston
Enemies Your Footstool (cf,. Psalm 110)
“Psalm 110 is cited and quoted more times in the NT than any other OT prophecy, and without disputation, is affirmed as fulfilled in Christ who was raised from the dead and seated at the right hand of the Father in heavenly places (cf. Ephesians 1:19)”.
Acts 5:12-6:7
“Go stand in the Temple courts and tell the people about the new life (Acts 5:20)”
v.13 – be numbered with persecuted Believers
v. 15 – some presuppositions stick (despite miracles and truth happening right in front of them – we can be encouraged by that, as some of our presuppositions stick)
v.28-29 cf. Matthew 27:25 – they had declared their own guilt
v. 40 – 42 – an usual privilege (cf. Luke 6:22 – 23)
6:1-7 – Reason for electing deacons (they were considerate of ethnic disputes)
– purpose structure (apostles – doctrine and prayers; deacons – service)
– we should always be considering creative ways to serve those in our midst so there won’t be “murmuring”
– honest men, full of the Holy Spirit, and wisdom (cf. Romans 16:1; 1 Timothy 3:8-13)
We had highlighted that that these details help give us insight regarding difficult situations and “murmurs in our midst”
Acts 6:8 – 8:1 – Stephen’s witness and martyrdom
6:11-14 – charges against Stephen
7:5 – “But God promised…”
7:9 – “But God was with Him…”
* In Stephen’s narrative sermon we basically hear him highlighting that all of this is what the prophets had spoken of. He highlighted that they do not listen to the prophets.
7:39 – 42 – who did God give over? The Jews! (cf. Romans 1:18-26)
7:54-56 – What did Stephen actually see? Daniel 7:13-14
“Why is the Son of Man “standing” rather than seated (contrast Luke 22:69)? Witnesses would stand and judges could stand to render their verdict; this may imply that it is Stephen’s accusers and not Stephen who are really on trial before the Lord (Ancient writers sometimes depicted unjust judges as the ones really on trial before God or the bar of truth” – Cultural Background Study Bible
Interesting correlations between Acts and Jeremiah:
Acts 7:51 cf. Jeremiah 6:10
Acts 7:42 cf. Jeremiah 8:2
Acts 7:51 cf. Jeremiah 9:26
Acts 7 cf. Jeremiah 11
Acts 8 – restoration of Israel and the bringing in of the Gentiles
The first thing that came to mind as I read Acts chapters 7-8 was Romans 1:16, in talking about the Gospel, the Apostle Paul makes it clear that that God’s manner of revealing wasn’t “first the Jew, then the Gentile”. God had given Israel laws and statutes that demonstrated His presence, those laws would either be either life to them, or death. Instead of blessing the Jews as they demonstrated the wisdom of God, God brought judgment upon them for their obstinance (cf. Acts 7) and through that judgement God was making known the truth to the Gentiles (cf. Acts 8).
Acts 8:1-4 – Saul (cf. Acts 26:10; 1 Corinthians 15:9)
Acts 8:5-8 – Philip and Samaria (“Akin to a Jewish Christian going and preaching to Palestinian Muslims today).
Acts 8:9-24 – Simon the Sorcerer
(8:15,19 – “receive the Holy Spirit” – observable signs versus John 20:29) – Does this have to be our reality today?
(8:14-17 – Why did Peter and John need to come? Validation and unification
Acts 8:26 – 40 – Baptism of the Ethiopian Eunuch
What was there eunuch reading? (v. 3–32 cf. Isaiah 53:7-8)
What dd this come to mean to him? (v. 25-36; Deuteronomy 23; Isaiah 56, 68)
How do you understand Philip “preaching Jesus” using this passage?
1.) The nature of the Messianic Temple was never intended to be physical
2.) All men, any nation, welcome into the Messianic Temple
3.) All men, any condition can produce “fruit” unto God
Resources:
https://adammaarschalk.com/2015/05/06/book-of-acts-the-hope-of-israel-is-fulfilled-part-2/
Application:
- How do you explain the message of Jesus to those around you, or even to those outside your cultural background, in a manner that it brings joy?
- Philip “rose and went” without being given all the details. Have you ever just followed God in obedience without understanding or knowing all the details?
- Philip’s gospel presentation included: using the Scriptures to proclaim Jesus, the command the believe, necessary confession that Jesus is Lord, going down into water (namely because the eunuch asked). How do you proclaim the gospel? (cf. Romans 6:4)
Review
1.) Philip – deacon or Apostle? Compare Acts 8:5 with Acts 9:32
The disciple named Philip was, along with Peter and Andrew, from Bethsaida in Galilee (John 1:44; 12:21). Jesus called Philip, who had been a disciple of John the Baptist’s (John 1:43), and then Philip went and found Nathanael and told him about Jesus. Nathanael also became Jesus’ disciple. The Bible does not contain much biographical detail about Philip or any of the other disciples, but John records several times when Philip spoke to Jesus. Philip’s first recorded act as a disciple of Jesus was to go and tell his friend Nathanael. Later, Philip was approached by some Gentiles, more specifically, Greeks from Bethsaida who asked Philip to introduce them to Jesus (John 12:20–22). Philip was the disciple who calculated the amount of money it would take to feed the 5,000 (John 6:7). After the Last Supper, Philip requested that Jesus show them the Father, leading to Jesus’ statement, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:8–9). The last time the Bible mentions the disciple Philip is as one of those gathered in Jerusalem to pray after the Lord’s ascension (Acts 1:13). Tradition states that Philip went to Phrygia (in modern-day Turkey) as a missionary and was martyred there in Hierapolis.
The other Philip is usually distinguished from the disciple of the same name by calling him “Philip the evangelist” or “Philip the deacon.” It is often assumed that this Philip was one of the seventy-two men whom Jesus sent out in Luke 10:1, although the Bible doesn’t make that connection. We do know that Philip was one of the original seven deacons selected to serve in the Jerusalem church (Acts 6:5). Philip had a heart for evangelism, and, when the “great persecution” arose in Acts 8:1, Philip left Jerusalem to become an evangelist in Samaria (Acts 8:5–12). After the church in Samaria was started, Philip was used by the Holy Spirit to bring the gospel to an Ethiopian eunuch, a member of the court of Candace, the Ethiopian queen. Philip found the eunuch sitting in his chariot, reading Isaiah and trying to make sense of the prophet’s words. Philip offered to explain, and the eunuch invited him to come up and sit with him. In the end, the eunuch was saved and baptized (Acts 8:26–39). Immediately following the baptism, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away to Azotus, where he continued to preach the gospel in the towns from there to Caesarea (Acts 8:40).
Twenty years later, Philip is mentioned again, still in Caesarea (Acts 21:8–9). Paul and Luke and others were traveling to Jerusalem, and they stopped at Philip’s home in Caesarea. They stayed with Philip for several days. Philip had four unmarried daughters at that time, all of whom had the gift of prophecy. That is the last time the Bible mentions the evangelist Philip.
2.) Is there a difference between believing, being baptized, and receiving the Holy Spirit?
Convo with Bob Minner. Details in Romans 8 are transitional details, not our current reality. Holy Spirit was a temporary reality until the Spirit of Christ would indwell the Church.
Acts 8:13 – “Even Simon himself believed; and (KAI – that is to say) after being baptized (passive voice) he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.”
Firstly, all admit there are different applications for “baptize” in the scripture – baptized into Moses, Luke 12:50 concerning Jesus’ scourging / death. Neither of which obviously have water. So linguistically baptism carries the idea of being covered, stained, dyed, etc or in short, a change of condition. Having said that, as is typical with the language used in NT, a statement can be made and immediately reinforced with another statement, basically a parallel thought or statement. And there’s the agreed upon use of the Greek conjunction KAI, which can mean “and”, but also readily means “also, that is to say, of which, etc”. An example would be here in the South, where we call soda “pop”. In NT language It would sorta go like this: “Hey, hand me that pop and (Kai, that is to say) the Pepsi.” Doesn’t mean 2 different sodas, it reinforces the statement that one is equal to and means the same thing. So in Acts 8:13, that’s what I’m seeing. Also, “baptized” is in the passive voice, meaning the subject has no participation in it. As for the injection of water, that’s assumed. It’s nowhere in the text. Also, it’s an assumption to assume Phillip dipped him in water – it’s not mentioned in the text (which one would assume it would be). However there are plenty of verses that qualify the “hearing=believing=baptized motif. In short, Simon heard and believed the gospel, by which he was “baptized” into Christ and then continued with Philip.” – Bob Minner
3.) Why did Peter and John need to come from Jerusalem to Samaria?
The best explanation of this occurrence has to do with the special nature of the Samaritan religion and its relationship to the Jews. The Samaritans had their own religious system that was a rival to the Jews. They had their own temple and their own center of worship. The two groups did not interact. For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans (John 4:9).
Identify With Apostles
It was important for the Samaritans who believed in Christ to identify with the apostles in Jerusalem. Likewise, it was important for the Jewish element to see that the Samaritans were part of the same body of Christ. When the Holy Spirit was given by the laying on of hands of Peter and John, who were personal disciples of Jesus Christ and the leaders in the Jerusalem church, there was no doubt that these two groups were one in Christ. This delay in the Samaritans’ receiving the Holy Spirit kept the early church from having two centers of authority, Samaria and Jerusalem.
4.) How are you bringing the Gospel of joy to other people?
Acts 9:1-31 – From Saul to Paul
cf. Galatians 1:11-24; Philippians 3:2-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Acts 22:1-21; Acts 26:9-18
- What did Paul see on the ‘road to Damascus’? cf. Acts 9, 22; 1 Cor. 9:1 (see, 2013 debate with Sam Frost 1:41:49 – 1:46:30)
- Power of divine grace – “No fall so deep that grace cannot descend to it”. – Johann Peter Lange
- Note the contrast between righteousness by Law or righteousness by grace (a big issue in the ministry of Paul)
- To the Gentiles (obviously called beyond the northern tribes) cf. Isaiah 49:6
- “You start Saul, you end up Paul. When you’re a youngin your Saul, but let life whoop your head a bit and you start trying to be a Paul – though Saul is still around on the sides” – Ralph Ellison
- ‘Road to Damascus’ has become a popular literary devise meaning change
- How fearful Ananias must have been!
Acts 9:32 – 12:24 – Peter’s Ministry & the Advancing, Flourishing Church
The answer to “what is clean” could rightly summarize the ministry of the Apostle Peter
- Cornelius and his house (cf. Acts 10:1-8, 17-48) – God’s providence (God sent them); “a gentile”; “do not call unclean…”
- Peter’s vision (cf. Acts 10:9-16) – significance of the number 3 (by God’s miraculous power); expounded upon in Acts 10:34-45; Gospel preaching (cf. Romans 1:16; 9, 15)
- Peter explains his vision (cf. Acts 11:1-18)
- Church in Antioch (cf. Acts 11:19) – “The Lord’s hand was with them”; first called Christians,
Acts 13 -14 (taking place around the time of 46- 48 AD) – 1st Missionary Journey
Acts 12:25 – Saul and Barnabus (cf. Acts 11:30 (donations to brethren in Judea)
Acts 13:3 – Paul, Barnabus, and John Mark (missionary work)
– Cyprus (consider how Paul responds to the sorcerer)
– Pisidian Antioch (v. 15 – law & prophets exhortation (Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 55:3; Psalm 16:10; Habbakuk 1:5; Isaiah 49:6 – rehearses ‘covenant history’; gives context to the Gospel; v. 46, 48 – “appointed”)
– Iconium (while the Apostles preach, hater’s plot, but they continued to preach!)
– Lystria & Derbe (v. 16 -17 “in the past…”; stoning of Paul and he got up and went back into the city
– Returning to Antioch (strengthening and encouraging the disciples)
Acts 15:36 – 18:22 – 2nd Missionary Journey
v. 36, 41 – reason for the 2nd missionary journey (the importance of follow up)
Acts 16:3 – Timothy becomes a part of the story; after the destruction of the Temple in AD 70 such practices would no longer be necessary
“A Christian man is the most free lord of all, and subject to none; a Christian man is the most dutiful servant of all, and subject to every one.”- Martin Luther
- Philippi, Macedonia (Lydia; Paul & Silas thrown in prison; conversion of the jailer (“..he was filled with joy because…” – Acts 16:34)
- Thessalonica (cf. Acts 17 – go to synagogue and reason through Scriptures; Jews, God-fearing Greeks, and prominent women
- Berea (synagogues and noble Bereans who “searched the Scriptures)
- Athens (“a city full of idols – reasons in synagogues and marketplace, and the city council (Aeropagus)
Acts 17:21 – do not be like them but rather find foundation and purpose for teachings (“prove all things”)
“The unknown God” – being ignorant to the very thing you claim to worship
Acts 17:26 – cf. Genesis 10 (“table of nations” – nations in covenant land); “and He made from one, every nation)
Acts 17:27 – God did this so they would seek Him.
– Corinth (every sabbath Paul reasoned with Jews in Corinth (not as Gentile focused as many think)
Acts 18-23 – 3rd Missionary Journey Ephesus (baptism of John or Christ?; spoke boldly about the Kingdom of God, riot in Ephesus)
– Macedonia & Greece
– Troas (Eutychus falls and is healed; “in a hurry to be at Jerusalem (for Pentecost) cf. Acts 20:16
– Asia Minor – “You know how I lived among you…I served the Lord…not hesitating to preach anything that would be helpful…finishing the race”
– Arriving in Jerusalem – lies against Paul
Acts 23-26 – Paul’s continued defense and appeal to Rome
23:6 – “hope of the resurrection of the dead”
24:15 – “same hope as these men” (cf. Daniel 12)
24:25 – Gospel of “righteousness, self-control, and judgment to come”
26:3 – “I beg that you listen to me patiently”; hope of Israel (cf.Acts 28:20)
– what God promised to our ancestors
– this promised the 12 tribes are hoping to see fulfilled
– nothing beyond what Moses and the prophets said
– Messiah would suffer, 1st to rise and would bring message of light to His people and to the Gentiles
Acts 28
278:23 – Kingdom of God, law and prophets = Jesus Christ!
28:31 – proclaim the Kingdom of God, teach about Jesus with boldness
* We had also used an RBC booklet ‘The Book of Acts’ as a resource. You can either contact RBC ministries or simply request one from me. For a small donation to The Blue Point Bible Church we will send you a printed copy of this study and one of the RBC booklets.