Acts 5:33-42
ACTS STUDY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
In what ways were you encouraged or convicted from our study of Acts 5:33-42 on Sunday?
Why are the religious leaders so enraged (cf Acts 5:33)? Despite increasing and escalating rage in Acts (cf 4:25, 5:33, 6:54) what continues to happen with the gospel (cf. Acts 5:40-42, 6:7)? What encouragement and hope does this offer us in our day where it seems rage is the new norm?
What are the various ways you can observe that the religious leaders stand in stark contrast to the apostles? Whose glory is each group concerned about? What does each group think about honor, shame, and power? Which group is truly free?
What do you notice about Gamaliel’s honesty (cf Acts 5:38-39)? John Chrysostom (4th Century Bishop of Constantinople) said Gamaliel “all but preached the gospel.” How so?
The flow of the text moves from rage through honest confession to rejoicing. What does this teach us about the gospel and gospel transformation?
Does following Jesus mean we will avoid suffering or persecution?
In Acts 5:20-21, when the Angel of the Lord told the apostles to “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life,” we see that their allegiance is neither to the religious leaders nor even to themselves. They neither obeyed the religious leaders (staying in prison) nor did they obey their own desires (running for safety and security). Instead, they showed total allegiance and undying loyalty to God alone despite the social and personal cost. What do we learn from this? What are some practical examples that come to mind where allegiance to man, or even allegiance to our own desires, is more important to us than allegiance to the will of God?
How are Luke 9:23 and Galatians 2:20 relevant to this discussion and evident in the apostles in Acts 5? How can we cultivate the same heart disposition in our own lives and in community together?
