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This is the study page for this Thursday, August 23 (possibly).  We will be looking over Acts 2, which may take us more than a week.

As you read Acts 2, look for things that are out of place, or unexpected in a familiar story.  Ask yourself questions, and write them down to share Thursday.  Once through it, go back over it, prayerfully considering what might be God's point for inspiring this story (don't assume), the role of His Spirit in these events, and then what is the central event on which the others turn.  Then, on your third time through, consider the questions below.

• What does Pentecost celebrate (there's a link, but also look in any resources you have as well)?
• What senses (of the 5) are used to describe the Holy Spirit's arrival?
• Look up the word "filled" in Strong's (G4130).  What does it add to the English word, "filled"?
• What connection do you see between verses 4 and 5 if any?  Or is 5 just a transition?
• What does the assembled crowd tell you about the "sensory" details of the event?
• There is one popular area of the Mediterranean Sea missing in this list of peoples.  Which one?
• Two words are used in verse 7 for the "feelings" of the crowd, "amazed" (G1839) and "astonished" (G2296). How are they different, and what do you imagine the crowd doing?
• How did they know they were all Galileans? So what if they are?
• In verse 12 there are two others (or one different), "amazed" (G1839 again) and "perplexed" (G1280). How is this different from "astonished"?
• The term "new wine" is the translation of this word (G1098).  What seems odd about this suggestion?
• Look up Joel 2.  What is this chapter about?  Is that what's happening here?  How is it similar?
• What is the core claim of Peter about Jesus in verses 22-24?
•  Look up Psalm 16:8-11.  How does the meaning of the Psalm change if it's applied to Jesus?  What does that mean for its application in David's day?
• Peter makes a good case for not applying it to David.  How would the people of Israel understood it?
• The people respond with, "What do we do?"  What is Peter's answer?  Is that enough?
• What is church like in verses 42-47?  What's the core quality they have?
• What would it be like for our church to be like this?  What stops us?

That should do for now.  Remember to bring your questions.  Pray for each other this week.  Pray especially for Lyndsay.  She will be really busy preparing for Sunday because it's going to be all music all the time (except for Communion); very tiring, both preparing and performing.

I look forward to seeing you all Thursday!