Acts 5:12-42 (Wednesday Evening Bible Study)

Acts 5:12-42

• Acts 5:12-16
• 12 Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared to join them, but the people spoke well of them. 14 Believers were added to the Lord in increasing numbers—multitudes of both men and women. 15 As a result, they would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 In addition, a multitude came together from the towns surrounding Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
  • What was purpose of the signs and wonders the apostles were working?
    • To draw attention to themselves
    • To show compassion to the sick and afflicted
    • To validate the their message was from God
    • B & C
  • What do you think it means, in verse 13, “No one else dared joined them.” and why would people act that way?
    • It is possible that this statement was directed more to the apostles rather than all the believers.
      • What happened earlier in Acts 5:1-11 that brought about great fear?
  • Why do you think the apostles and the church were highly regarded by the people?
  • What is happening to the church in verse 14?
    • Who is it specifically that is being added to the Body of believers?   
    • Consider how women were treated in the first Century.  Could woman become a Christian apart from her husband?  See Galatians 3:27-29 & Romans 10:11-13
  • Verse 15 begins with, “As a result,” what does Luke have in mind?
    • As a result the  growth of the church
    • As result of being highly  regarded by the people
    • As result of the signs and wonders performed by the apostles
  • Were the sick people hoping the shadow of Peter would fall exhibiting faith or superstition?
• Acts 5:17-21a
• 17 Then the high priest rose up. He and all who were with him, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 So they arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple, and tell the people all about this life.” 21 Hearing this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.
  • Why did the high priest and those that were with him have the apostles arrested?
    • Jealousy (of what?)
  • What did the apostles do when God freed them and sent them to the temple?
• Acts 5:21b-24
• When the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin—the full council of the Israelites—and sent orders to the jail to have them brought. 22 But when the servants got there, they did not find them in the jail; so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing in front of the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 As the captain of the temple police and the chief priests heard these things, they were baffled about them, wondering what would come of this.
  • The next morning, they sent for the apostles in the jail, and what did they find?
  • The captain and the chief priests were baffled when they heard this. What would you have been thinking here?
• Acts 5:25-28
• 25 Someone came and reported to them, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then the commander went with the servants and brought them in without force, because they were afraid the people might stone them. 27 After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest asked, 28 “Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name? Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
  • It’s reported that the apostles are already in the Temple courts, teaching the people
    • The chief priests and the temple police can’t even defend their own home turf from the name of Jesus
  • Who goes after the apostles?
    • Captain of the guard, 2nd in command to the chief priest, along with servants
  • How did they bring the apostles back to the gathering of the Sanhedrin?
    • Without force because they were scared of the people
  • The high priest starts the questioning. What does he seem most upset about
• Acts 5:29-32
• 29 Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people. 30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had murdered by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted this man to his right hand as ruler and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”
  • Peter again is the spokesperson. What’s his reply?
    • Have to obey God rather than people
    • Then he goes into another sermon about Jesus.
      • He mentions the God of our ancestors, tying Jesus to OT Israel
      • That they murdered Him by hanging Him on a tree
      • God raised Him and exalted Him to His right hand as ruler and Savior
      • To draw Israel to repentance and forgiveness of sin
      • And then he finishes that they are witnesses of all of this, along with the Holy Spirit who is a gift from God to those in obedience
• Acts 5:33-40
• 33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered the men to be taken outside for a little while. 35 He said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful about what you’re about to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, and all his followers were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and attracted a following. He also perished, and all his followers were scattered. 38 So in the present case, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of human origin, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him. 40 After they called in the apostles and had them flogged, they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them.
  • The Sanhedrin went from annoyed to mad pretty quickly. What was their initial response?
    • Wanted to kill the apostles
  • Where else do we hear about the Pharisee Gamaliel?
    • When Paul is giving his defense in Acts 22, he states that he was educated at the feet of Gamaliel
    • Gamaliel is believed to have been the grandson of Hillel, one of the wisest and most well known Pharisees
  • What was Gamaliel’s advice?
    • Was his advice from himself or was it from God?
  • What was the end result of the trial before the Sanhedrin?
    • The apostles were flogged (39 stripes) and released with orders to stop speaking the name of Jesus
• Acts 5:41-42
• 41 Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name. 42 Every day in the temple, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
  • What was the reaction of the apostles?
    • They didn’t cower in fear, they rejoiced that they were worthy of being mistreated in the name of Jesus
  • Did they heed the warning to stop speaking in the name of Jesus?
    • No, they continued on a daily basis, in the Temple and in various homes.
• TAKE AWAY
  • What does this scripture show us about the apostles?
  • What was God doing for His church?
  • What good might God be doing in the midst of our storm we are in?
  • Is the Lord still concerned about His church, His people?