Acts - Week 2

Week 2 Acts 1 

Day 1 

READ 

Acts 1:10-11 

10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!” 

While the apostles were staring into the skies as Jesus disappeared, angels appeared to them. They were told that Jesus had been taken into heaven but assured them that He would return someday. Some deny that Jesus had a physical body after His resurrection, but He proved to them that He did. The apostles were told Jesus would someday return in the same way they had seen Him go. 

REFLECT 

The apostles were told that Jesus would return “in the same way you saw him go.” Do you believe what the apostles were told? 

RESPOND 

With your disciple, read Zechariah 14:1-5 that even tells of the spot on earth to which Jesus will eventually return. 

Day 2 

READ 

Acts 1:12-13 

12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile. 13 When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying. Here are the names of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the zealot), and Judas (son of James). 

The distance referred to is the longest Jews could travel on the Sabbath. This group of the apostles is the last listing of them in the Bible. Notice the missing person: Judas Iscariot. You also observe another “Judas” among the apostles, but he is described as the son of James. There were many common names in Bible times even as there are today. So it was necessary to distinguish which person is meant, either by a description or the context in the passage. 

REFLECT  

How many people can you think of who have the same name as you? 

RESPOND 

With your disciple, check out the other three listings of the apostles: Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; and Luke 6:14-16. What observations can you make about these lists? 

Day 3 

READ 

Acts 1:14 

14 They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus. 

It is important to dwell on this verse. Notice they were “constantly in prayer.” This gives insight into the spiritual concerns of the group at this time. “Mary” was a common name in Bible times so notice the description “the mother of Jesus.” The Bible never refers to this Mary as the “Mother of God,” even though Jesus is God. The mention of “the brothers of Jesus” after mentioning Mary surely refers to those born to Mary and Joseph after the virgin birth of Jesus. This is the last mention of the mother of Jesus in the New Testament. 

REFLECT 

Although private prayer is important so also is public prayer with fellow believers. This can be done through electronic devices also. 

RESPOND 

Talk to your disciple about the importance of individual and group prayer.  

Day 4 

READ 

Acts 1:15-17 

15 During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them. 16 “Brothers,” he said, “the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David. 17 Judas was one of us and shared in the ministry with us.” 

The time had now come to replace Judas Iscariot who had betrayed Jesus. Notice that Peter—who is always mentioned first in the listings of the apostles—took the lead at this time. The Old Testament Scriptures that Peter referred were ones that could be applied to Judas. Peter does not refer to Judas as a “betrayer,” but as one “who guided those” arresting Jesus. Rather than calling him an “apostle,” Peter described him as one who “shared in the ministry with us.” 

REFLECT 

As you think about Judas, betraying Him, thank Jesus for all He went through to provide salvation for you and others. 

RESPOND 

With your disciple, read Hebrews 12:1-4 that tells of what Jesus did for us and why He did it.  

Day 5 

READ 

Acts 1:18-19 

18 (Judas had bought a field with the money he received for his treachery. Falling headfirst there, his body split open, spilling out all his intestines. 19 The news of his death spread to all the people of Jerusalem, and they gave the place the Aramaic name Akeldama, which means “Field of Blood.”) 

The parentheses indicate author Luke added this to give more information about Judas and show it was not part of Peter’s message. The news about the death of Judas became known to “all” the people of Jerusalem. Using the Aramaic language, they called the place where his body fell the “Field of Blood.” Aramaic was understood and spoken by many Jewish people in those days, including Jesus. Mark 15:34 records that on the cross He cried out in Aramaic with an expression that means, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me.” 

REFLECT 

In His multi-lingual culture, Jesus likely spoke Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic. His Hebrew name was Yeshua; His Greek name was Iēsous. 

RESPOND 

Talk with your disciple about what he or she already knows about the book of Acts. Ask what would like to be learned during this study.