Acts 3-7

Notes compiled from my study group:

Acts 3–4

John 10:10b

Romans 10:17

Ephesians 2:1, 5, 8

Inspirations from the physical and spiritual healing of the crippled man:

- The man was not only able to walk, but also jump! Likewise, God gives us not just life, but life to the full (Acts 3:8, John 10:10b).

- Physical healing comes from faith (spiritual healing) in Jesus Christ and His message: It is by FAITH in the name of JESUS that the man was healed. Likewise, it is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through us that will save us (Acts 3:16, Romans 10:17).

- Despite being crippled, God still healed him. Likewise, despite being dead in our transgressions, God still saves us (Acts 3:2, Ephesians 2:5).

- It is by grace ALONE that the man was healed. Likewise, we are saved through faith alone and NOT from our own works (Acts 3:12-13, Ephesians 2:8). God, in His mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we are dead in transgressions. (Ephesians 2:1). Jesus saves. By grace, we are saved. We are saved through faith, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-10). Instead, we do good works BECAUSE we were created in Jesus Christ. We do good works BECAUSE we have faith in Jesus--NOT the other way around! We cannot defeat death without Jesus.

The name of Jesus is very powerful. It isn’t just the name though. His name is powerful only when we place our whole faith in Jesus. For when we do thing in the name of Jesus, we would be blessed with the Holy Spirit to accomplish our missions. These are some examples:- It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see (Acts 3:16)- This is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer (Acts 3:18)

Jesus is the only way of salvation. These are examples found within this chapter:- Peter said, “Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people” (Acts 3:23).- Peter said, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

The filling of the Holy Spirit astonished and confounded the rulers who arrested Peter and John. Peter and John were uneducated, yet they knew the Scripture. Furthermore, they were able to heal a cripple, who stood before their eyes (Acts 4:8-14).

Acts 4:24–31

The apostles prayed, “They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:28-30). This is a model prayer for me because I also need the Lord to enable me to speak the Word with great boldness, to not be afraid to share God’s Word with others, to not waver in sharing God's Word even when my earthly life is threatened--I'd give up my earthly life for my eternal life with God any time, anywhere!

Acts 4:32–37

When people are filled with the Holy Spirit, personal changes take place. These are examples:- All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.- There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

Acts 5:1-11

Ananias and Sapphira were deceptive and cunning in sharing their financial wealth with their brothers and sisters in Christ. They lied about their actions even when Peter asked them to tell the truth, and so, they died in response to the righteousness of the Holy Spirit.

- When Ananias heard Peter's rebuke, "he fell down and died" (Acts 5:5).

- When Sapphira heard Peter's rebuke, "she fell down at his feet and died" (Acts 5:10).

We learn from Ananias and Sapphira that nothing can be hidden from God; no deeds go unnoticed by God. God does not tolerate evil deception.

Zondervan NIV footnote:

5:1 Ananias...Sapphirs. Given as bad examples of sharing (Barnabas was the good example; see note on 4:36). Love of praise for (pretended) generosity and love for money led to the first recorded sin in the life of the church. It is a warning to the readers that "God cannot be mocked" (Gal 6:7). Compare this divine judgment at the beginning of the church era with God's judgments on Nadab and Abihu (Lev 10:2), on Achan (Jos 7:25) and on Uzzah (2Sa 6:7).

5:2 kept back part. They had a right to keep back whatever they chose, but to make it appear that they had given all when they had not was sinful.
5:3 Satan has so filled your heart. The continuing activity of Satan is noted (see Lk 22:3; Jn 13:2, 27; 1 Pe 5:8). lied to the Holy Spirit. A comparison with v. 4 shows that the Holy Spirit is regarded as God himself present with his people.

5:9 to test the Spirit of the Lord. If no dire consequences had followed this act of sin, the results among the believers would have been serious when the deceit became known. Not only would dishonesty appear profitable, but the conclusion that the Spirit could be deceived would follow. It was important to set the course properly at the outset in order to leave no doubt that God will not tolerate such hypocrisy and deceit.

5:11 church. The first use of the term in Acts. It can denote either the local congregation (8:1; 11:22; 13:1) or the universal church (see 20:28). The Greek word for "church" (ekklesia) was already being used for political and other assemblies (see 19:32, 41) and, in the Septuagint (the pre-Christian Greek translation of the OT), for Israel when gathered in religious assembly.

Acts 5:32

"We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."

Acts 5:29-32

John 15:26–27

- It was recorded in John that Jesus said, “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning” (John 15:26-27).

- The following verse about the apostles is a direct fulfillment of the above statement: “Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than men!  The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him” (Acts 5:29-32).

Acts 5:33–42

The apostles demonstrated their love for Christ by standing firm in their faith to God, even when they faced death. Their love for Christ was so strong that they proudly suffered for Jesus’ name. Despite them being disgraced and beaten for their faith in Christ, they never stopped teaching the gospel, that Jesus is the Christ (Acts 5:41-42). 

Acts 6

- The number of disciples increased so rapidly, the apostles had troubles feeding them all (Acts 6:1).

- The apostles therefore delegated feeding of the people to men full of Spirit and wisdom, so that they can continue to pray and minister to the world (Acts 6:2-4).

- The apostles asked their brothers in Christ to choose 7 men to be in charge of feeding of the people. The whole group was pleased about this proposal, resulting in a great blessing through prayer (Acts 6:5-6).- Qualifications required of the first deacons of the church are 1) men, 2) full of Spirit, 3) and full of wisdom (Acts 6:2). Qualifications of deacons of the church in general are 1) men, 2) worthy of respect, 3) sincere, 4) not indulging in much wine, and 5) not pursuing dishonest gain. They must 6) keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience, and 7) first be tested. A deacon must be 8) the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well (1 Timothy 3).

Acts 7:1–38

This part of Stephen's rebuke summarized events of the Old Testament, describing fathers of Israel, from Abraham to Isaac to Jacob, and how Moses led Israelites out of Egyptian captivity.

Acts 7:39–50

This part of Stephen's rebuke summarized how Israelites rejected God. However, through Joshua, David, and Soloman, God continued to provide for His people.

Acts 7:51–53

This part of Stephen's rebuke summarized how Israelites betrayed and killed Jesus and continued to reject God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. They received the law but they had not obeyed it with their heart.

Zondervan NIV foot note:

7:2-53 See Introduction: Characteristics, 5. Effective use of speeches. Since the author of Acts gives more space to Stephen’s speech than to any other, it is safe to assume that he considered it particularly important. Broadly speaking, it is not meant to be a personal defense with the hope of conciliating Stephen’s accusers (see vv. 51-52) but an attack on the foundations of Judaism by citing the history of failures. It deals with the three great pillars of Jewish piety: (1) the land (vv. 2-36), (2) the law (vv. 37-43) and (3) the temple (vv. 44-50), and ends with a resounding denunciation of Stephen’s accusers (vv. 51-52). The speech marks a decisive break between Judaism and Christianity and points forward to the vigorous explanations of the differences between the old faith and the new faith found in the writings of Paul and the author of Hebrews.

Stephen turned the Sanhedrin’s charge against him by saying, “You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him—you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it” (Acts 7:51-53). When the Sanhedrin heard Stephen’s rebuke, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him” (Acts 7:54).
Sanhedrin’s response to Stephen’s charges was to produce false witnesses to lie in their favor (Acts 6:11-14). Despite these false accusations, “All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel” (Acts 6:15). That is, unlike the Sanhedrin who couldn’t do anything but get mad and gnash their teeth under Stephen’s rebuke, Stephen was shown to be righteous through the Holy Spirit despite Sanhedrin’s attempt to accuse Stephen of wrong-doing.

God comforted Stephen during this trying period by allowing him to see, through the Holy Spirit, the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Stephen exclaimed, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” Acts 7:55-56).

I don’t think Stephen suffered much when he died. When he was being stoned, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59). And when he cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them,” he fell asleep (Acts 7:60), suggesting that God saved him from suffering through the pain of being stoned to death.