Acts - Week 18

Week 18 Acts 5, 6 

Day 1 

READ 

Acts 5:40 

40 The others accepted his advice. They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go. 

Gamaliel had presented the possibility that this movement might come to nothing or if it was of God the religious leaders might be found fighting against God. He suggested they let the apostles go. Even though letting them go, they beat them first. Again they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus. Peter and the others had already refused to obey this order, but now they had been flogged.  The high council hoped this would change the minds of the apostles. 

REFLECT 

Have you ever suffered the consequences of speaking out for Jesus? Did this make you more timid or bolder? 

RESPOND 

Talk with your disciple about the possibility of opposition for being a testimony for Jesus. Talk about what your response should be if that happens. 

Day 2 

READ 

Acts 5:41-42 

41 The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. 42 And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.” 

Instead of being intimidated, the apostles rejoiced! They felt honored that they were able to suffer for telling about Jesus and His resurrection. Notice that it did not decrease their enthusiasm. Insight about what the early church was like is seen in that the apostles continued to preach in the temple and from house to house about Jesus. They preached “Jesus is the Messiah,” which the Jewish Supreme Court was denying. The flogging had not been successful. 

REFLECT 

Are you in the Bible at least four times a week? Research has shown this reduces various temptations. 

RESPOND 

The apostles rejoicing that they had suffered with Christ is a reminder of 2 Timothy 2:11-13. Read and discuss this with your disciple. 

Day 3 

READ 

Acts 6:1 

6 But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food. 

The subject changes now from the apostles suffering persecution to the differences among believers. Greek had become a universal language by this time and many had adopted this language. Others were still clinging to the Hebrew language. Historically, such changes have made conflict. Now the complaint by the Greek speakers is that their widows were being discriminated against. The complaint was about the distribution of food to the poor. 

REFLECT 

Whereas opposition by outsiders had brought believers closer together, now there was disputing within the group that was causing discontentment. 

RESPOND 

Read John 13:34-35 that records Jesus’ command for believers to love each other and what that would show the world. 

Day 4 

READ 

Acts 6:2-4 

2 So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. 3 And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. 4 Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.” 

Now the apostles needed to decide how to resolve this problem. They did so by dividing up responsibilities. They would continue to spend their time in the spiritual ministry of prayer and teaching the Word of God and appoint others to take care of the food problem. Notice the qualifications for those handling the physical problems: they were to be well respected and full of the Spirit and wisdom. That is, they needed to be spiritual men to do a physical ministry.  

REFLECT 

Think about the need for everyone handling responsibilities among fellow believers to be well respected and full of the Spirit and wisdom. Unless this is true, other problems will develop. 

RESPOND 

Talk with your disciple about this. Is this true of the group in which you serve? Would it be true of you if you were asked to handle physical aspects of ministry? 

Day 5 

READ 

Acts 6:5-6 

5 Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith). 6 These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them. 

Everyone agreed with this solution. All of the apostles were Jews and likely Hebrew speakers. Notice, however, their wisdom in whom they chose to serve the Greek speakers who were having the problem. By the Greek names listed it is apparent that the Jewish apostles chose Greek speakers—likely even before conversion—to care for their own widows. The only names appearing elsewhere in the New Testament are Stephen and Philip.  

REFLECT 

Does the wisdom of the apostles impress you? Knowing what to do is one thing; knowing how to do it well is quite another. 

RESPOND 

Read James 1:5-8 about asking God for wisdom and who should expect to receive it.