Lesson Notes

Introduction

• Studying the Book of Acts to see how the Holy Spirit empowered and propelled the early church out into a hostile world that it turned “upside down”
  • I pray that will happen again now and that we’ll be part of it!
  • We’ve looked at the early church in Jerusalem, particularly the apostles transformed by the Holy Spirit
  • But the church still hasn’t gone anywhere! That’s about to change!
• Key verse – Acts 1: 8 – the structure and plot of the book of Acts

Challenges of an Ethnically Diverse Church

Read Acts 6: 1-7

• Verse 1 – Church was rapidly growing and some ethnic tensions arose
  • There was a daily distribution of food to widows as a ministry
  • Greek-speaking Jewish widows living in Jerusalem were being neglected by native Hebrew/Aramaic-speaking leaders
• Verse 2 – Apostles summon the whole church for a business meeting!
  • You can make a case that this is an example of congregational church structure
  • The leaders lead, bu the congregation makes and affirms decisions
  • Apostolic priorities – can’t both serve tables and preach the Word!
  • Not being insensitive – being aware they can’t do everything and need to be obedient to what they’re specifically called to
• Verse 3 – They tell the congregation to pick 7 men to serve
  • Good reputation, full of the Spirit, and wise –
  • People already leading and serving – by definition
  • High standards – these men did more than just serve bread
• Verse 4 – So apostles can devote themselves to prayer and preaching
  • The importance of lay leadership and congregational ministry – because pastors can’t do it all
  • If we can’t focus on what we’re called and gifted to do, the whole church and the advance of the gospel suffers
• Verse 5 – They chose 7 Greek-speaking men to handle this ministry
  • Remember, there was a threat to the unity of the church; a split along ethnic lines
  • Rather than pretend it didn’t exist, they leaned into it to resolve it
  • Appointing people from that ethnic group to minister equitably
• Verse 6 – Prayed and laid hands on them
  • An ordination – many of us interpret this as a prototype of deacon ministry
• Verse 7 – what happens when we get this stuff right!
  • Word increased; disciples multiplied in Jerusalem;
  • A great many priests believed – because of the compassionate care ministry – hardened opponents converted
  • The church adapted to a crisis and it prepared them to go outward – these newly appointed ethnic leaders would lead the way in fulfilling Acts 1: 8
  • So what sent them outward? We’ll see in a moment…

Stephen’s Day in Court

Read Acts 6: 8-15

• Stephen’s Arrest
  • Verses 8-9 – Stephen, one of those servant leaders was working miracles and debating with many people in the grace and power of the Holy Spirit
    • As a native Greek-speaking Jewish Christian he was debating other Greek-speaking Jews from modern day Turkey, Egypt, and Libya
    • Verse 10 – they couldn’t withstand the wisdom and Spirit at work in him
      • Note – it isn’t highlighting his sarcasm, shade-throwing, insulting, etc – wisdom and the Spirit
      • This is how we must also be described as representatives of Christ during this ugly time in America!
      • There’s so much awful speech/writing out there – and it’s only going to increase – resolve to speak with wisdom and God’s Spirit – not anger, bitterness, pettiness, etc.
  • Doesn’t mean you’ll be appreciated, persuade the enemy, or even survive! People hated Stephen for these qualities – that’s what made him so impactful
    • Verses 13-14 – They gathered false witnesses to accuse him of blasphemy related to teaching about Jesus
    • Accusations carrying the death penalty
    • Verse 15 – But once again – people could tell there was something different about him because of the Spirit – face like an angel!
• Summary of Acts 7: 1-50
  • Appearing before the Sanhedrin, Stephen gives a lengthy speech covering the major history of Israel beginning with Abraham
  • Recurring theme: How people of Israel rejected the most important and godly people in Israel’s  history
    • Joseph sold to Egypt by the other 11 patriarchs of Israel
    • Moses rejected after intervening to protect an Israelite from an Egyptian
    • Moses rejected in the wilderness despite being sent by God
    • Moses who promised another prophet like him would arise
    • Moses who was rejected when the people pursued false gods
• Stephen’s Conclusion – Read Acts 7: 51-60
  • Verse 51 – Stephen accuses them of doing exactly what the Jewish people had always done – resisting the Holy Spirit
    • Uncircumcised in heart and ears – physically Jewish, but mentally and spiritually opposed to God
    • Stiff-necked – stubborn and unwilling to listen and believe
  • Verse 52 – Your ancestors persecuted all the prophets
    • Killing those who announced Messiah was coming – Jesus
    • Whom they so recently betrayed and killed
    • Verse 53 – Who received God’s perfect law but didn’t obey it
  • Verse 54 – They’re enraged – but don’t start to kill him just for this
  • God gave him a vision – that’s what triggers their killing frenzy
    • Verse 55 – Full of the Spirit, saw God’s glory in heaven and Jesus standing right there at God’s right hand
    • Verse 56 – Almost quoting Daniel, he describes His vision of Jesus
    • Verse 57 – They are overwhelmed by what they believe to be blasphemy
      • Because they’re too stiff-necked to believe it might be true!
      • Mob rush, what he accused them and their ancestors of doing
      • Dragged him out of the city and stoned him to death
    • Verse 58 – Laid their clothes at the feet of Saul, who we’ll discuss next week
    • Verse 59 – Similar to Jesus, Stephen cries out to Jesus to receive his spirit
    • Verse 60 – He forgives his killers and intercedes for them with Jesus

Samaria At Last

Read Acts 8: 1-25

• Verses 1-3 – Persecution breaks out
  • Saul approved of Stephen’s killing and led violent persecution of the church
  • Notice what God does – uses persecution to scatter the church from Jerusalem all throughout Judea and Samaria – to fulfill the next steps of Acts 1: 8
  • Everyone but the apostles – probably not literally every Christian, but the Greek-speaking ones, presumably the leaders and particularly these other prominent figures mentioned earlier in Acts
  • Verse 2 – They buried Stephen – the first Christian to give his life for the faith – a martyr, which is a word meaning witness
  • Verse 3 – Saul was going house to house – probably breaking up house churches – arresting men and women (which was over the top for that era)
• Verses 4-8 – The Gospel goes to Samaria
  • Verse 4 – the Christians went preaching – they had the boldness they’d prayed for
  • Would we be so faithful? I hope and pray so!
  • Philip – from the 7, not the apostle, since the apostles stayed in Jerusalem – went to Samaria, aka “Philip the Evangelist”
    • Proclaimed to them Christ
    • Big cross-cultural moment – because of Jewish contempt for Samaritans
    • Viewed as ethically and religiously corrupt – plus centuries of bitterness
    • Philip brought them good news anyway – just as Jesus had done in John 4
  • Verse 6 – Note the crowds were really focused on his words and miracles
    • Verse 7 – Casting out demons and healing paralyzed and handicapped
    • Verse 8 – There was much joy in Samaria in hearing this good news that included them
• Read Acts 8: 9-25
• Verses 9-13
  • Verses 9-11 – Simon – a reformed magician – used magic to draw attention
  • Verse 12 – When they believed Philip they were baptized, as was Simon who continued to hang around Philip
  • What do we see about baptism?
    • It’s immediate upon belief in Christ – no extensive training or testing
    • It’s for men and women (not babies) who believe
• Verses 14-17 – The Holy Spirit comes
  • Verse 14 – the apostles learn about people in Samaria accepting Christ
    • This was probably surprising, even after Jesus told them to go there
    • Sent Peter and John down to investigate and confirm
  • Verse 15 – they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit
    • Verse 16 – they hadn’t yet received the Spirit despite being baptized
    • Verse 17 – Laid hands on them to receive the Spirit
    • Why was this necessary? Is it necessary now?
      • Nobody imagined Samaritans becoming Christians and receiving the Spirit- Christianity was still a strictly Jewish phenomenon
      • Proof that outsiders were included in the New Covenant of grace
      • Jews and non-Jews alike are one in Christ (see Ephesians 2)
      • Apostles (2 of them so their testimony will be accepted) validate report so the established church will believe it – think of the debates when Kanye West proclaimed himself a Christian
      • It isn’t necessary now because we know anyone can accept Christ and receive the Holy  Spirit
• Verses 18-24 – Simon commits simony
  • Simon is so impressed by their power, he wants to be like Peter and John and figures he can buy that power – common with sorcerers then
  • Verses 20-23 – Peter’s rebuke – your heart isn’t right – you might or might not have accepted Jesus but your heart is still focused on money, power, and status – not the things of God
  • Rather than learning, Simon just wants the prestige
  • Verse 24 – Simon begs for them to pray for him
• Verse 25 – Peter and John preached, then went to Jerusalem preaching throughout Samaria
  • After Philip showed them they should do it, they did it!
  • Already many Christians leave their comfort zone reluctantly and only under God’s pressure

First  Taste of the Ends of the Earth

Acts 8: 26-40

• Verse 26 – Philip is told to walk away from a hugely successful ministry bearing tons of evangelistic fruit and go to – a low-traffic road in the desert near a ruined ancient city
• Verse4 27 – He went and encountered an Ethiopian – in classical literature the end of the earth!
  • Not geographically identical to modern-day Ethiopia – Africa south of Egypt
  • A wealthy and powerful kingdom that had existed since 750BC – Rome settled for a peace treaty rather than conquest – in the Sudan region
  • A eunuch and high official of the queen of the Ethiopians – in charge of treasure
  • A “God-fearer” – not Jewish, but likes YHWH, the God of Israel
  • As a eunuch, could never become a baptized Jew or fully permitted into the temple – a permanent outsider
• Verse 28 – Reading Isaiah
• Verse 29 – Spirit told Philip to go and approach him – which had to be nerve wracking – there would have been security alert to a highway robbery
• Verse 30 – Philip’s evangelistic bridge – he listens and asks if he understands what he’s reading out loud
  • Verse 31 – He invites Philip to join him and help him understand
  • He’s reading Isaiah 53: 7-8 – a prophecy of the suffering servant
  • Verse 35 – Philip started there and told him about Jesus
  • Did they get to 56: 3-5? On the inclusion of eunuchs and foreigners? It’s such a close passage and so relevant!
• Verse 36 – The eunuch clearly embraces the good news of Jesus and asks to be baptized
  • A Spirit-driven and timed encounter – there isn’t generally much water in that part of the desert
  • Note the phrasing – what prevents me?
    • The Law prevented him from being included in Judaism
    • Nothing prevented him from being a Christian
  • Verse 38 – They go down in the water – no sprinkling in the Bible!
  • Verse 39 – Coming out of the water, the Spirit carried Philip away
  • The eunuch rejoices at it all and heads home to the end of the earth
• Verse 40 – Philip finds himself on the coast in Azotus, then preaches the gospel all the way north to Caesarea where he settles down permanently

Homework

Read Acts 9 in preparation for Ends of the Earth: The Conversion of Paul