Acts 12-32
ACTS STUDY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What were your takeaways from our study of Acts 5:12-32 on Sunday?
What accompanies the apostles' message according to Acts 5:12, and what purpose do they serve according to Mark 16:20, Hebrews 2:3-4, and Acts 5:14? While the previous summary texts in Acts 2:42-47 and 4:32-35 focused on signs and ministry within the early Christian community, what do you notice now about the apostles’ testimony and witness in verse 16? If physical signs point us to greater spiritual realities, what does this tell us about the liberating good news of the gospel?
How do we understand the phrase “no one dared join them” in verse 13 in light of verse 14 and the statement, “And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women...” (cf. Acts 5:11 and Lk 14:27-28)? Despite fear and persecution, what do we learn about the beauty and attractiveness of the gospel in these verses?
How does the scene in Acts 5:14-15 make Peter’s words in 1 Peter 5:5-6 even more remarkable and encouraging (cf Matt 20:26-27)? How does meditating on the gospel and daily preaching it to ourselves cultivate gospel humility?
How does the exchange with the religious leaders in Acts 5:18, 33, and 40 escalate from the exchange we saw in Acts 4:3, 17-18, and 21? What encouragement do we receive in 1 John 3:13, John 15:18-21, 16:33, and 17:14?
Ananias and Sapphire were filled with the lies of Satan, and they “kept back” something for themselves (cf. Acts 4:1-3). The religious were filled with jealousy (cf Acts 5:17), and they are attempting to keep back the apostles. In contrast, the apostles are filled with the Holy Spirit, and they are “filling” Jerusalem with teaching about Jesus (cf Acts 5:28). What does this teach us about the way of Satan versus the way of our Savior Jesus and the way of the flesh versus the way of the gospel?
How do we reconcile verses like Romans 13:1-7, Titus 3:1-2, and 1 Peter 2:13-17 with Peter’s words in Acts 5:29? What do we learn in Acts 5:29 about respectful disobedience to man and faithful obedience to God?
How does Acts 5:31-32 provide us with a micro-summary of the gospel, and how is it helpful for us in sharing the gospel with friends and family?
Were there any particularly convicting points from our study of Acts 5:12-32? What will you take away and apply from this study? What can we pray and encourage one another with from this text?
