Acts - Week 11

Week 11 Acts 4 

Day 1 

READ 

Acts 4:8-9 

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, 9 are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed?” 

Peter was emboldened because he was filled with the Holy Spirit. He put the Jewish elite leaders on the spot by asking them a question: Were they wanting to persecute him and John for doing something good? Or was it they really wanted to know by what means the lame man was healed. The leaders could not deny his healing because he was standing where they and others could see him. Peter was about to tell them more than they cared to know. 

REFLECT 

In times of pressure, such as Peter was facing, you also can have boldness because you have the indwelling Holy Spirit to empower you.  

RESPOND 

As you work your way through the book of Acts, keep watching for the times it is mentioned about people being filled with the Holy Spirit. Since the Day of Pentecost, believers have been indwelt by the Holy Spirit and the “filling” refers to being controlled by Him (read John 14:16-17 and Ephesians 5:18).  

Day 2 

READ 

Acts 4:10-11 

10 “Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. 11 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’” 

Peter continues addressing the rulers and elders of the people. He made it clear what power healed the lame man, it was “by the powerful name of Jesus Christ.” Peter added that they had killed Him but God raised Him from the dead. The leaders, and especially the Sadducees, did not believe in the resurrection. Now they were brought face to face with it. The “cornerstone” was the essential stone to complete a structure, and they had rejected it by rejecting Jesus. Here Peter was citing Psalm 118:22 that was now fulfilled by what these leaders had done. 

REFLECT 

Notice again how important it is to believe in the resurrection of Jesus. He is essential to the belief in the gospel. Without Jesus’ resurrection, Paul said one’s faith is useless (see 1 Corinthians 15:14). 

RESPOND 

With your disciple, read Romans 1:3-5; 10:9 that tell what Paul considered part of the gospel (the Good News). By Jesus’ resurrection He was shown to be the Son of God.  

Day 3 

READ 

Acts 4:12 

12 “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” 

This is an important verse to know. There were religious leaders in Jesus’ days on earth that preached other ways of salvation, just as there are today. But it is only by the name of Jesus that salvation is possible. Peter was a Jew speaking to Jews, and he revealed the way of Judaism would not save them; only Jesus could save them. Those today who reject what the Bible says, are only devising other false ways of salvation.  

REFLECT 

Thank the Lord that you have learned about the only name, which represents the only person who provides the way of salvation.  

RESPOND 

With your disciple, focus on verses that show there is only one way of salvation. In addition to Acts 4:12, see also John 6:29; 14:6; Galatians 1:8-9. 

Day 4 

READ 

Acts 4:13 

13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. 

The members of the Jewish Supreme Court were amazed at Peter and John’s boldness. Without any special training in the Scriptures as these superiors had, Peter and John did not back down when given the opportunity to boldly give their testimony about the power of Jesus. Notice what most impressed the leaders: “They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.” This serves as an example to all Christ-followers. Knowing what Jesus said is most important. 

REFLECT 

If you have not had Bible college training, do you feel inferior to those who have? You need not. You have the Bible and it is your way of being with Jesus.  

RESPOND 

People often ask where they should begin reading in the Bible. For those young in the faith, recommend they begin with one of the gospels, because there they learn about Jesus. One will never know more about Jesus than he knows about the Bible. 

Day 5 

READ 

Acts 4:14-16 

14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there among them, there was nothing the council could say. 15 So they ordered Peter and John out of the council chamber and conferred among themselves. 16 “What should we do with these men?” they asked each other. “We can’t deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it.” 

Now the religious leaders had a problem. They could not deny the lame man had been healed because they and others could see he had been. They admit that “everybody in Jerusalem knows about it.” But it so went against everything they believed that they had to do something to keep the news from spreading. What could they do? They dismissed Peter and John and had a secret meeting to decide what could be done to these two men. 

REFLECT 

Have you experienced how the unbelieving world is sometimes baffled and horrified at the way a Christ-follower may be living and what the person may be saying? Give an example. 

RESPOND 

The religious leaders asked, “What should we do?” That’s also what unbelievers ask when they realize they are under the judgment of God. Read John 6:27-29 and Acts 2:36-38.