Acts 2 Studies

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each chapter is divided into a number of studies and each study or passage has a simple four-Part, verse-by-verse approach, to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Acts 2:1-13

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: ‘Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs – we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!’ 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, ‘What does this mean?’

13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, ‘They have had too much wine.’

A. Find Out:

1. What manifestations occurred on the day of Pentecost? v.2,3
2. What happened to the disciples? v.4
3. Who heard what? v.5,6
4. What was their reaction and why? v.7-11
5. What did this lead them to ask? v.12
6. But what did others say? v.13

B. Think:

1. How does 1:5 and 2:4 fit together?
2. How do the tongues here differ from those in 1 Cor 12:10?
3. What effect did this have on the surrounding onlookers?

C. Comment:

Pentecost was the celebration of “first fruits”. How apt therefore that God brings the first fruits of the new church into being, a Spirit filled community. When Jesus had spoken he said they would be “baptised” or immersed in the Spirit. Here there are “filled”. When you immerse a vessel in water it is filled. So it is with the Spirit.

Observe some of the details. First there is HEARD the sound of great POWER coming. Then there is SEEN the sign of HOLINESS coming. When the Holy Spirit comes upon a person He comes with power from on high. Note also that He “enabled” them to speak in other languages. They didn’t have to, but as He prompted them they responded, and He then enabled them to do what was naturally impossible. Not only that, the language given was to enable them to witness to and praise the Lord.

Now look at the response in the onlookers (and we assume the disciples spilled out of the house into the area round about). The general response is amazement, for they recognise the impossibility of what is happening. Then there are two reactions. The first is to wonder about the significance of what is happening. There will be those who are seeking and thoughtful. The second response was to mock, and there will always be those, not willing to think, who will mock and deride what is happening.

D. Application:

1. The activity of the Holy Spirit: The Spirit comes to separate off and empower Christians. Do I know that sense of being empowered and cleansed?
2. A need to know? What is our response to what we don’t understand? Do I feel i have to know and understand everything before I enter into it, or can I simply respond in faith to God’s leading?

Passage: Acts 2:14-21

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: ‘Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 ‘“In the last days, God says,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your young men will see visions,
    your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
    I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
    and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below,
    blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood
    before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
    on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

A. Find Out:    

1. To whom did Peter speak? v.14
2. In what twofold way did Peter refute the mockery? v.15,16
3. On who had God said He would pour His Spirit? v.17,18
4. What did He say would happen to them? v.17,18
5. What signs had He said would be seen? v.19,20
6. And what further would happen? v.21

B. Think:

1. What does this passage tell us about Peter?
2. What does it tell us about what has been happening?
3. What does it tell us about the “last days”?

C. Comment:

Peter, presumably under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (although it doesn’t say it) stood up to respond to the mockery that was coming from some of the onlookers. Notice that he doesn’t chide them but simply gives a reasoned argument. No, they can’t be drunk, it’s too early in the morning for that. (Note in passing that they had come together to pray and had presumably come together some time before, so we have the first recorded “early morning prayer meeting” here!).

No, he continues, this is a prophetic fulfilment of what Joel had said. (Note in passing that this fisherman knows his Old Testament and is using it – see also 1:20). First, note that Peter says that this is the fulfilment of Joel’s prophecy, so we ARE in the “last days” now. They started at Pentecost.

Second, note the characteristics of these days:

1. They are days of the Spirit, when He would come bringing revelation.
2. They will be times of signs and wonders at the end of the last times.
3. They will be times of salvation for all who call on God.
4. They will end with the coming of God for judgement. Challenges for the church today? Yes, consider below.

D. Application:

1. Holy Spirit revelation? These are to be times when the Holy Spirit releases revelation. Do we allow Him to?
2. Holy Spirit salvation? These are days when He wants to bring salvation. Do we allow Him to bring it through us?

Passage: Acts 2:22-32

22 ‘Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,[j] put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him:

‘“I saw the Lord always before me.
    Because he is at my right hand,
    I will not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
    my body also will rest in hope,
27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
    you will not let your holy one see decay.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
    you will fill me with joy in your presence.” 29 ‘Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.

A. Find Out:

1. How did God confirm who Jesus was? v.22
2. How did man and God work together in Jesus’ death? v.23
3. But what did God then do? v.24
4. What had God said about His Holy One through David? v.27
5. Why couldn’t it have applied to David himself? v.29
6. So what was Peter’s conclusion? v.31,32

B. Think:

1. How had God used man’s wrong intentions?
2. What does this passage therefore tell us about God?
3. How does that help in church building?

C. Comment:

With amazing understanding, in few words, Peter reveals the mystery of the plan of God. It had been God’s intention to have Jesus die on the Cross for our sins, and He achieved that by stirring up wicked men so that they would act against Jesus’ goodness and destroy him.

God knows just how far He can nudge and how He can nudge men into bringing about His overall goals. Then when they do what only they can do (for He cannot sin), He does what only He can do (for they cannot undo what they have done, only He can!).

Again Peter calls on the revealed word (Scripture prophecy) to show that this was all God’s fore-ordained plan. God makes no mistakes but instead relentlessly pushes ahead with His plans, using the free will of man to His own ends, even our wrong use of it!

If we are ever thinking of building or establishing a new church we must remember He is the Lord and it’s His plans that matter, not ours. Once He has decreed a new plant-out we can rest that it is more on His heart to achieve it than it is on ours. He will even take our mistakes and use them for His purposes. What a great God!

D. Application: 

1. God’s wisdom: God takes and uses man’s free will and wrong intentions and uses them for His own purposes. Have I learnt that?
2. Living in the Decreed Will of God: God decrees His will which He formulated even before the foundation of the earth, and then puts it into operation, however long it takes! Can I rest in that?

Passage: Acts 2:33-41

33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,

‘“The Lord said to my Lord:
    ‘Sit at my right hand
35 until I make your enemies
    a footstool for your feet.’”

36 ‘Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.’

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’

38 Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.’

40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

A. Find Out:

1. Where is Jesus now? v.33
2. How does Peter describe Jesus? v.36
3. What was the response of the people? v.37
4. What 2 things did Peter tell them to do? v.38a
5. What 2 things would they receive in return? v.38b
6. How many responded that day? v.41

B. Think:

1. Why do you think Jesus’ position today is important?
2. What part did baptism clearly play?
3. What do all new believers receive?

C. Comment:

There is an important sequence of events described here.

First, Jesus dies and is then raised from the dead, seen by many.

Second, he ascends to heaven, sits at the Father’s right hand, receives from Him and administers what he receives (note in passing that the Son still only does what the Father shows him – John 5:19).

Third, he pours out from heaven the Holy Spirit upon his followers.

Fourth, as a result, things happen and the Gospel is preached and, fifth as a consequence, people respond and are saved.

This reveals Jesus first as Lord, because (under the Father) he is ruler over all things, seated next to his Father in a place of authority. It then reveals him as Christ, the messiah, the anointed one, the one sent with a task to redeem.

When this message is made clear, the people respond and that day thousands did respond. What was required of them was quite clear: they needed to repent (turn back to God totally) and be baptised (make a public declaration of it by symbolically washing their sins away and dying to their old lives – see 1 Peter 3:21 , Rom 6:4, Col 2:12 ).

What they would receive was equally clear: forgiveness and the Holy Spirit. This is the inheritance of a believer in Jesus: their past is dealt with and the present is empowered to ensure the future is different! Hallelujah!

D. Application:

1. Jesus rules! It IS true. He IS Lord! Am I secure in that knowledge – whatever happens around me?
2. Jesus saves! It IS true. He is the redeeming Christ! Do I know this as an experience myself and do I rejoice as I see it happen to others?

Passage: Acts 2:42-47

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

A. Find Out:

1. What 4 things did the church do? v.42
2. What feeling was generally felt? v.43a
3. What did the apostles do? v.43b
4. How did the believers live? v.44,45
5. Where did they meet and what did they do? v.46,47a
6. What continued to happen? v.47b

B. Think:

1. What were the “spiritual” signs of this community?
2. What were the “social characteristics” of it?
3. How did God seem to be using them?

C. Comment:

In a time that must be considered equivalent to revival, we have here a snapshot of the church working at its best, when the Lord is powerfully moving and the believers are flowing with what He was doing.

First, note their PURPOSEFUL MEETING. They seemed to be a people who met regularly, and with a purpose: to learn, to worship, to pray and to remember Jesus. As they did this there was an awe among them in the awareness of the presence of the Lord, who led the apostles to perform the miraculous.

Second, note their CARING UNITY. Not only were they wanting to be together as much as possible, but they were very much aware of each other’s needs and they met each other’s needs, even selling their own possessions if necessary to provide for one another. Note that it was “as necessary” and not a forced thing.

Third, note their COMMUNITY EFFECT. They were approved of by the local community, and as they shared about Jesus many more were being saved each day. There would come a time when persecution would come but for now, they made the most of the peace that reigned, and saw much fruit. We need to make full use of our time of peace.

D. Application:

1. Fellowship? Do we long to be together, to express Christ’s love and life together? Is fellowship with other believers something I really appreciate?
2. Impact! Do we have an impact on our society? Am I being salt and light in the area where I live and work?