What was happening with the number of members of the church in those days?
Who had a complaint? Who were they complaining against? Why?
Who summoned the disciples? How were the disciples described in verse 2?
What did they say they didn’t want to leave doing?
How many men were they supposed to seek out? What characteristics were they looking for?
What were the apostles going to do instead?
Did the church members (disciples) accept this idea?
Name the seven men they chose.
What two things did they do for these seven men?
Then, what three things happened? Where were the disciples multiplied? A great many of what specific group of people were obedient to the faith?
How is Stephen described? What did he do?
From what groups of people were there those who disputed with Stephen?
What were they not able to resist?
What did they secretly induce others to accuse him of?
Who did they stir up? What did they do to Stephen? Where did they bring him?
What did the false witnesses accuse Stephen of saying?
What did Stephen’s face look like then?

Thought Questions

Is your church big or small? What organizational problems do you feel the church faces? Do you think they have done a good job in trying to solve them? What solutions would you propose?
Do you believe everyone in the church should do the same thing, or have different jobs? What role do you think you are best at? Are you fulfilling it? Are some roles better or more important than others?
Is feeding the hungry more important than preaching, or the other way around? Or are they equal?
When your church chooses officers, what requirements do they look for?
Read verse 7 again. What were the results–including some possibly unexpected ones–of this action? Do you think there was a direct correlation? How can you put this example to work in your church?
Why do people dispute with Christ’s followers? Have you seen examples of this personally? Did the words in verse 10 apply in that situation?
What would you do if someone falsely accused you of saying something you didn’t say, or twisted your words?
Why do you think Stephen’s face looked like the face of an angel? Could yours?

My prayer is:
that the Holy Spirit would give power to the people in my church to be able to solve problems of organization in an effective way;
that God would show my my role in the church, and that I would carry it out faithfully and contentedly,
and that I would always reflect Christ even when falsely accused.

Where were the apostles found? What were they doing there?
Who brought them back again? Were they forced violently? Why?
Who were the apostles brought to stand before?
What did they say to them? What were their accusations?
Who did Peter and the others say that they ought to obey?
What did Peter have to say about Jesus this time?
Who are the witnesses Peter mentions in verse 32?
Who does God give the Holy Spirit to?
How did the council react to Peter’s words?
Who was Gamaliel? What did he command?
Who was the first character Gamaliel mentioned? What did he claim? How many followers did he have? What was his end?
Who was the second character? What was his end?
What did Gamaliel advise the council to do with the apostles?
According to Gamaliel’s advice, if the apostles’ plans or work were their own, what would happen to them?
But, if the apostles’ were sent by God, what would happen?
Did the rest of the council agree with Gamaliel? What three things did they do?
How did the apostles feel about this experience?
Did they quit teaching? What did they do, and where?

Thought Questions

What kind of mindset did the priests have to have, to arrest the apostles again right after they had mysteriously and miraculously been released?
How would you respond in that type of situation? What might have given the apostles courage?
Do you think you ought to obey God or men? What if there is a conflict? Under what circumstances, that you might face in your own life, would you be willing to obey God rather than men, regardless of the punishment you might face from men? Can you think of any conflicts between the law of God and the laws of men in your society?
Read verses 30-32 again and list the main points. How does Peter’s short statement encapsulate Christ’s ministry? Would you be able to come up with such a profound, short summary under those circumstances? Where did Peter find the words and the courage? (Again, compare John 18:25-27, from just a few weeks before.)
Read verse 32. Are there some things you need to change, if you want to truly receive the Holy Spirit?
What kind of person do you think Gamaliel was? What do you think of his advice? Do you think he will be saved?
As you think through the history of various religious movements, do you see Gamaliel’s principle applying? Why do you think Christianity and Judaism has survived so many centuries? Is every long-standing religious movement true?
Are there some things in your life that you are fighting against? Are they from God or from human invention, whether your own or others’? Have you applied Gamaliel’s principle to those things?

My prayer is:
that I would have the boldness to go right back to the work God has called me to do regardless of the threats of humans;
that I would have the courage to obey God rather than human law if there is a conflict;
that I would obey, in order to receive the Holy Spirit and His power to stand up under such conflict;
and that I would have the wisdom to apply Gamaliel’s principle to the things in my life that I am fighting against–that is, if they are from humans, to know that they will pass away on their own, but if they are from God, to know that I cannot fight against God.

How were the signs and wonders done among the people?
Where were they assembled?
How did the people feel about the apostles?
Were there very many believers?
What did the sick to to be healed?
Where did a multitude of people come from? Why?
Who was filled with indignation?
What did they do to the apostles?
Who opened the prison doors and let them out?
Where did the angel want the apostles to go? What did he want them to do?
Is that what they did?
Who did the high priest call together in response?
Where did the priests go to look for the prisoners?
What did they discover when they went to the prison?
How did the priests respond to the news?

Thought Questions

What does it mean that “through (by) the hands of the apostles” these miracles were performed? Where did the miracles originate? Why is this important to know, and how can we apply this for God’s work in our lives?
Why didn’t the rest dare to join them? Would you have joined them?
Although “none of the rest dared to join them,” the next verse says that there was a multitude of believers. How do you explain that? (read verse 15) Would you be a believer despite the risks, or just for the healing?
Why did the angel release the apostles? Why does God not always release His people from prison?
Was there a risk in doing what the angel asked them–to go right back under the priests’ noses? Why did they obey anyway?

My prayer is:
to have the willingness to do God’s works through my hands;
to have the boldness to preach Christ wherever He leads me to, despite the risks;
and to know that God will make a way for me to do His works for Him, no matter how impossible the situation may seem, even if He has to send an angel to help.

What are the names of the characters we meet in this chapter?  What did they do (verse 1)?
How much of the proceeds did they give to the apostles?
Whose spirit did Peter say will filling Ananias’ heart?
Who did Ananias lie to?
Could Ananias have done whatever he chose with the money? What was his sin?
What happened to Ananias when he heard Peter say these things? What was the peoples’ reaction?
What did they do with his body?
How much later did his wife Sapphira come in? Did she know what had happened?
Were her actions the same as her husband’s?
What did Peter say to her?
What was the end of her story?
Who else was afraid?

Thought Questions

Does this story make you afraid of God? Does it make you question His judgment?
Why, in your opinion, did God do this?
What sin did Ananias and Sapphira actually commit? Were they allowed to do anything they wanted with their own money and property? Did they do what they said they were going to do? Who were they trying to lie to?
What do you think were their motives for doing what they did?
Think about the setting and surrounding events of this story. What had just happened recently, and what important task were the apostles trying to accomplish? What was God trying to accomplish?
Does greater power come with greater responsibility?
Compare this story to another similarly disturbing story, in Leviticus chapter 10. Read especially 9:6-7, 23-24, and 10:1-3. What elements are similar? What had just previously happened in this story (chapter 9:24) that could compare to what had just previously happened in the story of Ananias and Sapphira (see Acts 2:3-4)?
What do you think might have happened if God had not taken action at this situation?
What two groups of people did great fear come upon in verse 11? What are the two definitions of fear? Which kind of fear do you think it was, or do you think it might have depended on the person?
Why do you think these kind of things don’t happen today? Or do they?

My prayer is:
that God would help keep me from falling to the temptation of trying to lie to Him for my own greed, or to keep what I want for myself without giving generously to His cause;
to take the task of accomplishing God’s will on earth seriously and sacredly, knowing the holiness of God;
and, with holy fear, understanding that there are questions about God’s works that I may not fully be able to answer, but to follow Him anyway.

What did Peter and John do as soon as they were released?
What did they say to praise God in response to the news?
Whom did they quote? What questions were raised in the quotation in verses 25-26?
Who was “against Your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed?”
What was to be done to Him? Whose purpose was it?
What were the apostles asking God for now?
What two other things did the apostles want to be able to do in Jesus’ name?
What happened after they had prayed?
How are the believers described in verse 32?
What did they do with their possessions?
What did the apostles do with great power?
Why didn’t anyone lack anything?
Who was Barnabas? What did he do?

Thought Questions

What were the apostles quoting in verse 24? Why would they quote that? What is it about this commandment that tells of the power and glory of God?
Why do the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? What is your answer to that age-old question? What do you think the apostles’ answer was?
Did God the Father plan out Jesus’ death? Why was it God’s purpose and what He had determined (counseled) beforehand (verse 28)? Does that make God the murderer of His Son, or does it simply show that He knew how things must play out?
Have you ever prayed the prayer in verse 29? How about in verse 30?
Did God answer the apostles’ prayer? (See verse 31.) Do you think He would answer the same prayer for you? Why or why not?
Would you like to live the sharing lifestyle of the apostles? Were they Communists? What was the difference?
Is this lifestyle universally encouraged, or perhaps for a certain circumstance? How does it relate to the apostles’ work at that time? What circumstances might it be especially useful or necessary?

My prayer is:
That my response the the furious raging of the enemies of God would be to praise Him for His even greater strength and power;
that the Lord would “grant to Your servants that with all boldness [we, I] may speak Your word;”
And that I would be willing to share my possessions with others as You call.

As they were speaking to the people, what three entities came to arrest them?
What preaching, specifically, were they disturbed by?
How long did they have Peter and John in custody? Why?
However, what was the result among the people who heard Peter’s sermon?
How many men, by now, were believers?
Who all were gathered together in Jerusalem the next day?
Where did they position Peter and John to question them?
What question did they ask?
Who influenced Peter’s response?
What, according to Peter’s response, were they put on trial for?
Did Peter give a direct answer to the priests and rulers in verse 10? What was his answer?
How, in this passage, did Peter describe Jesus?
How did Peter elaborate on Jesus concerning salvation?
Why did the priests and rulers marvel?
Who did they realize they had been with?
Why could they say nothing against Peter and John?
Why did they want to severely threaten them?
What did the priests and rulers command Peter and John?
What was their response? What could they not help but doing?
Why couldn’t the priests and rulers punish them?
How old was the healed man?

Thought Questions

What was so disturbing about the idea of resurrection to the priests and Sadducees? How do you feel about it?
Compare this story to the story of Peter in the courtyard of the high priest in John 18. How long ago had that happened? What are the differences and similarities between those events? Think about who was involved in the questioning, where this was taking place, and what was at stake to him. How was Peter able to answer so boldly this time?
Would you be able to be that bold? What do you have to do to acquire that boldness?
Read verse 13. What made the priests realize that Peter and John had been with Jesus? Do you think other people would be able to tell, from being with you, that you have been with Jesus? How?
Read verse 19. In what circumstances do you think it is more important to obey God than men? What would you have done in this situation? Do you think you would have the courage to follow Peter’s example if this kind of situation were to come upon you?

My prayer is:
for the Holy Spirit’s power to be able to answer anyone with boldness in matters of Jesus Christ, in any situation;
for the conviction that it is more important to obey God than men, despite the cost;
and for God’s grace showing in my life so that others will immediately take note that I have been with Christ.

Whose God glorified Jesus?
But what did the people do to him?
Who was determined to let Jesus go?
What two descriptions of Jesus are found in verse 14? The one in verse 15?
Who did the people want let go instead of Jesus?
Who raised Jesus from the dead? How did they know this happened?
What made this man strong (referring to the lame man who was healed in vs. 1-12)? Did the people know him?
What excuse did Peter give for the people?
Who foretold that Christ would suffer?
What two things did Peter tell the people to do in verse 19? What two things did he say would come as a result?
Then, what would happen according to verse 20? Where did Jesus have to go in the meantime? Who, again, predicted this? Since when?
Who is an example of one of these prophets? What did he say?
What, according to Moses’ word, would happen to those who would not hear that Prophet?
Who is another example of a prophet who also foretold of Jesus?
Who were the people Peter was speaking to sons of?
What were they to be blessed by? How, specifically here?

Thought Questions

Compare Peter’s sermon here with his first one in the previous chapter. What are some similar points that he made? What are the differences?
Think about the points Peter made and the way he presented them that are common to both his sermons, and how we can apply them when preaching or speaking to others about Jesus.
In both situations, what had happened immediately before to get the people’s attention? Even if we don’t have a miraculous occurrence to help us, how can we use the testimony of God’s power to help others learn about Jesus?
So far, do you see a pattern in how much credit Peter and the apostles took for these miracles, and how much they gave to Jesus? Did they do anything to try to attract attention to themselves? How does that help you figure out the authenticity of “healers” in our time?
What did Peter tell the people that they needed to do in both sermons (2:38 and 3:19)? Is this important? What did he say would be the result? Can we receive the Holy Spirit without repentance and conversion?
What is conversion? See verse 26. Can we go on enjoying our sins again after being converted? How do we avoid them?

My prayer is:
to seek to find ways of presenting the living Christ to others in a convincing way which only focuses on Him;
to give God only all the credit for the miracles, large and small, that occur in my life and that I see in other places;
to fully seek repentance from my sins and conversion, being willing to fully turn away from them to seek Christ instead.

Who went up to the temple? When was the hour of prayer?
For how much of his life had this man been lame?
How did he get to the temple gate? What was he there to do?
What did he ask Peter and John for?
What two things did Peter do when he first encountered the man?
What did Peter say he didn’t have? What did he have?
How exactly was Peter’s command worded? In whose name?
How did Peter help him up?
What happened then?
Where did the the man leap and walk to first? What did he do?
How did the people around respond?
How, then, did the lame man relate to Peter and John?
Who ran to the porch where they were?
What was Peter’s response?
Whose power did the people think actually healed the man, according to how Peter said they were acting?
Thought Questions

Do you have an hour of prayer? Do you have a place of prayer?
When you meet a homeless person on the street, do you fix your eyes on him or her, or do you avert them, trying to avoid contact? What can we learn from how Peter and John initially made contact with the man here?
Do you think Christians now can have the power of Christ to heal people in miraculous ways? Why or why not?
What does the formerly lame man’s immediate reaction after being healed tell you about him? Would you respond the same way? What would you have done first?
How would you have responded if you were a witness to this event?
What does the crowd’s reaction tell you about their thoughts? Do you think God had a wider audience in mind when he healed the man, besides just the man himself?

My prayer is:
that I would have even more compassion for the poor and sick among us, prayerfully offering them whatever resources I have available;
that I would have the faith to believe that even I can see Christ’s miracles done in His name according to His will–but not through any of my power;
And that, upon receiving the merciful power of God in my life, I would respond by not only walking but leaping and praising Him.

What was Peter’s main message here? What word did he use to describe that generation?
With what attitude did the people receive his word? How many? What did they do after they had received his word?
What three things were involved with being in their group of believers?
What did the apostles do in verse 43? What was the attitude of the believers?
What did they do with their possessions?
Where were they?
What attitude did they have as they fellowshipped and ate?
Did they have favor with the people?
Who added to the church?

Thought Questions

How did Peter describe his generation in verse 40? Does that sound accepting, and even loving? But do you think he loved the people? Why did Peter preach that message the way he did?
When the people received Peter’s words, did they just think they were pretty good ideas and went on with their lives the same way? What did they do? What do you think they thought about “organized religion?”
Does your church practice all the things listed in verse 42? Is there any aspect that your church shies away from?
What kind of “fear” is mentioned in verse 43? Were they scared, or reverent? How is your level of reverence–personally, and at church? Do you think the “many wonders and signs” might have a connection to this fear?
What was the attitude of the church members in v. 44-47? Do you have that attitude about being a member of God’s Church?
Why do you think they shared everything? Do you think they chose to, or did someone tell them to? What attitude do you think they had about it? Would you be willing to do likewise?
What was the other people’s opinion of them in verse 47? We know that not only was Jesus Christ recently murdered, but that the church would very soon go through a time of harsh opposition and persecution. Why do you think this was spared at that time?

My prayer is:
that I would not only receive Christ’s Word, but receive it with gladness;
that my church would have the Spirit of God to continue steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers;
and that I, and my church, would have a holy fear of God that would give us His power to do His work.

Who spoke up to defend them from the accusations of drunkenness? What defense did he give?
Which prophet did Peter quote?
According to the Word of God through Joel, when would the Spirit be poured out? Who would receive it then?
What are the “signs and wonders” talked about in this prophecy?
What will the people have to do to be saved?
When Peter speaks to the men of Israel, how does he say Jesus of Nazareth was approved/attested by God to them? Did the people know of these?
Did God plan for Jesus to be delivered to them?
What did the people do to Jesus?
What, then, did God do? Why?
Who does Peter quote then?
What did David foresee? How did he react?
Where will God not leave His soul?
What would the Holy One not see?
Where did Peter say David is now?
Why did David know that Christ would be resurrected?
How did the disciples know the same thing–the fulfillment of David’s prophecy?
According to verse 33, what two things happened to Jesus after His resurrection? What, in turn, happened on earth?
Did David ascend to the heavens?
So, who is it that David was referencing, instead of himself?
How did the people respond to Peter’s sermon?
What two things did Peter say the people should do? Then, what would happen as a result?
What is baptism for?
Who is the promise for?

Thought Questions

Why did Peter quote the Old Testament prophets? Are the words from the Old Testament still relevant and useful today? Could there be times when a knowledge of the OT prophecies could come in handy in explaining God’s ways when you speak with others about Him? Do you feel that you know enough to use them properly?
Read the passage from Joel (ch. 2:28-32). Summarize it in your thoughts: How was Peter applying it? Could there be any other applications (“the last days”)? Have there been any fulfillments of these prophecies on Earth since then?
Read the passage from David (Ps. 16:8-11, as well as the rest of Psalm 16). Who was Peter applying it to? How does Peter reason that David intended this application? (Hint: verses 29-31 of Acts 2)
Is David in heaven? (see verse 29, 34) What did Peter believe about where people go after death, according to this verse? Who, apparently, is the only Person whose “soul was not left in hell (Hades)” because He was resurrected (read verse 31)?
What does verse 33 tell you about what Jesus did when He returned to Heaven? Do you believe He is still doing this job to this day?
What strikes you about verse 37? How were these listeners different from the Pharisees and rulers you find in the Gospels? If you were there, which way would you respond?
What is baptism, according to the Bible? What is baptism for? Therefore, what are we publicly stating when we are baptized? Can this happen as an infant? Would you be willing to be baptized, if you are not already? What, according to verse 38, can you gain from it?
Is salvation available only to a particular people group? What does it mean to be called by God? Can we choose to be called? What about what we just read in verse 38?

My prayer is:
that the Holy Spirit would guide me in my study of the Old Testament prophecies, so that I might be better prepared to understand their fulfillment;
To praise and adore Christ Jesus, the only One who has not remained in the grave, but has ascended to Heaven and is seated on the throne;
Thankfulness that Christ has given the gift of the Holy Spirit to all types of people, to as many as will hear His call.