Acts - Week 6

Week 6 Acts 2 

Day 1 

READ 

Acts 2:26-28 

26 “No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope. 27 For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave. 28 You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.” 

As Peter was preaching on the Day of Pentecost, he continued quoting what David wrote in the Psalms. In verse 27, the word “dead” is the Greek word hades, which was an unseen place known in the Old Testament as Sheol. It referred generally to a pit or grave. This predicted that the Father would not leave His Son in the grave. At His death, even though the body of Jesus went to the grave His soul went to heaven. He told the thief on the cross, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (see Luke 23:43).  

REFLECT 

Marvel again at how statements in the Old Testament were used to refer to New Testament events. The 66 books of the Bible is actually one book revealed by the heavenly Father. 

RESPOND 

With your disciple, read Luke 23:35-43 to be reminded of the words of Jesus on the cross. Thank the Lord for giving His life for you. 

Day 2 

READ 

Acts 2:29-31 

29 Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. 30 But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne. 31 David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave. 

Peter now continued his sermon by telling his listeners to think about what he just cited from David. Peter emphasized that David was not speaking of himself but of the Messiah. Peter reminded his Jewish listeners that God had promised “that one of David’s descendants would sit on his throne.” For this to be true, it was necessary the Messiah be resurrected and that’s what they had witnessed. Jesus was not left in the grave nor did his body decay in the grave. 

REFLECT 

Rejoice that the Savior was resurrected from the dead after giving His life as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind.  

RESPOND 

Read Luke 1:31-33 to see these promises about the Messiah were also promised to the Virgin Mary. This ties in with what Peter was referring to in Acts 2:29-31. 

Day 3 

READ 

Acts 2:32-33 

32 “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. 33 Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. 

Peter reminded his listeners that they were eyewitnesses of the Jesus’ resurrection and describes the exalted position Jesus now has with the heavenly Father. Now Jesus is highly exalted and is with the Father. For the help of believers, Jesus had promised to send the Holy Spirit and Peter reminds them that today the Spirit has been “poured out upon us.” Jesus had told the disciples that the Spirit was “with” them and would be “in” them. Pentecost seems to be that day when the Holy Spirit came to indwell all believers. Never before had He indwelt all believers. 

REFLECT 

Thank the Lord that the Holy Spirit lives in you to empower you to live the Christian life and reveal the fruit of the Spirit through your life. 

RESPOND 

Read John 14:16-17 to see Jesus’ promise about the coming of the Holy Spirit to be “in” the believing disciples. Also read Galatians 5:22-23 to see the fruit of the Holy Spirit that is seen in true believers. 

Day 4 

READ 

Acts 2:34-35 

34 For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit in the place of honor at my right hand 35 until I humble your enemies, 

making them a footstool under your feet.”’ 

Jesus humbled Himself by taking on the form of mankind so He could die on the cross for their sins. Now He was sitting on the right hand of the Father until Jesus’ enemies were humbled. People will either bow in their life and trust in Jesus as Savior, or they will bow later and declare Him to be Lord. Remember that Peter was addressing the unbelieving nation of Israel as well as fellow believers. He was presenting the unbelievers with a decision they had to make.  

REFLECT 

As a believer, Are you not pleased that you have made the decision now for Jesus rather than being forced later to call Him Lord as an unbeliever? 

RESPOND 

Read Philippians 2:5-11 where Paul writes about having the same attitude Jesus had and what unbelievers will someday be forced to do.  

Day 5 

READ 

Acts 2:36-37 

36 “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!” 37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 

Peter now drives home his point to the Jewish unbelievers. He referred to Jesus and said, “whom you crucified.”  In spite of this, God had made Jesus “both Lord and Messiah.” Think of this. The Jews had long been waiting for the Messiah to come and now they had killed Him! These words brought conviction. They asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Only the Holy Spirit can bring such conviction, but He used Peter’s message. 

REFLECT 

Even though only the Holy Spirit can regenerate a soul, Is it your desire that you can so present the gospel that He will be able to use your words in the process? 

RESPOND 

Read John 3:1-16 to see the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. Notice especially verse 6 that it is the Holy Spirit who gives birth to spiritual life. Talk with your disciple about the importance of being clear on the gospel message so the Spirit can use your words in the process.