Please forgive this rough draft format, as these are my raw study notes on the book of Acts. I felt a great sense of urgency to publish them rather than waiting until I had the time to pretty them up. Thank you and I pray that God blesses and encourages you through this material. Stay strong. Live in the Spirit. Encourage each other. Pray. Jesus is coming…
Stacey
Take a few minutes to pray and savor chapter 4 of the book of Acts. Read it with the thought in mind that this is the first display of the power of the Holy Spirit working through man – aside from Christ, that is. Imagine what the Spirit can do through you if you let Him! Then return here and ponder the thoughts, answer the questions, and be sure to leave comments about your own revelations…
4:5 – this is the same assembly that condemned Jesus.
4:6 – Annas retained the title of High Priest, but he was deposed by the Romans in AD 15.
4:7 – when Caiaphas asked by what power they healed the beggar, he was implying the use of a “magic potion.”
Do you think that the Sanhedrin actually suspected they would learn the “secret” of Jesus’ power? They would have known these men were His disciples. Perhaps they would give up the secret?
4:9 – Peter and John were, essentially, imprisoned for an act of kindness.
4:12 – Everyone needs Jesus.
See John 14:6.
4:13 – Their accusers were astonished by the courage Peter and John showed despite their lack of education. The Holy Spirit made them smarter than they were. They recognized the authority with which Jesus spoke during His ministry.
4:18 – When the Sanhedrin was “schooled” by these uneducated followers of Jesus, they sought to save face by ordering them not to preach in Jesus’ name. This went directly against Jesus final instruction to be His witnesses in 1:8, proving that the origin of the Sanhedrin’s order came directly from Satan.
4:22 – 40 years old – a healing at this age was unheard of. This would’ve been like “Cocoon”.
4:24 – together – same mind and passion.
4:25-26 – The newborn NT church prayed scripture.
4:31 – shaken – saleuo – to rock. Was this an earthquake?
They were filled with the Holy Spirit – weren’t they already filled? Did they need refilling after the discouragement of Peter and John’s imprisonment?
Boldness comes after the filling with the Holy Spirit.
• The book of Acts teaches us much about what the Holy Spirit is capable of doing through a mortal life. What have you learned about how He wants to work through you today? What will you do to give up a bit of control to Him?
• What attributes of God do you see in this book?
• What verse of scripture seemed to be God speaking directly to you? What is He teaching you in these verses? How does He want you to respond?
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