What's Going On, Where'd He Go, And Who are These Guys?

 This is the Weekly study guide for the Thursday Bible Study Group meeting November 18 to study Acts, Chapter 1. Hopefully, you've had a chance to read the whole book of Acts, at least once. If not, do that. 

After you've read the entire book, read through Chapter 1 carefully. Think through what Luke thinks is important. Try to imagine you are Theophilus, and imagine what he might think of this beginning. It may help to read the last chapter of Luke's Gospel.

As you read, jot down questions, and make notes to bring to the meeting. The Holy Spirit, having inspired these words, wants to illuminate our hearts and minds to understand them. It's so important to Him, that He preserved these words above all others on this planet, more than the words of any other culture. Consider what you read as that important.

Once you've gone through with a commentary or your study Bible notes. Make any adjustments to your questions and notes. Once you've done that, go back through with the few questions below:

• In Luke 1:3, Luke refers to Theophilus as “most excellent”, an honorific term he reserves for Roman governmental officials. That reference is missing here, in verse 1. Why do you think Luke would not feel the need for the honorific reference in his “second work”?
• In verse 3, Jesus speaks of the Kingdom of God, and in verse 6, the disciples ask about the Kingdom of Israel. Considering that Luke is a Gentile, and probably writing this for Gentiles, why do you think he chose this wording difference? Consider how new Gentile believers might have read and understood it, what do you think it meant to them?
• The term “baptism”/”baptize” occurs 26 times in the NASB translation of Acts. Only here is it used as “baptism of/in/by the Holy Spirit” in all of Acts. Prior to this, only John the Baptist uses the term to refer to Jesus, comparing his baptism (with water) and Jesus’ (with the Holy Spirit and fire). What do you think baptism of/by/in the Holy Spirit means? And how do you think it is like, or unlike, being baptized in water?
• Why the angels? Were the disciples there so long, it was necessary for an angelic appearance to move them along? The term means “messenger”, so consider their message. Why do you think that message was so important?
• Peter quotes Psalm 69 and 109 to explain that Judas needed to be replaced. Consider the context of the verses he uses (Psalm 69:25, Psalm 109:8). Why do you think those verses told Peter that Judas was to be replaced by someone else? 

Remember to bring your questions and notes to the group to share, and be ready to hear from others.

See you Thursday!