ACTS OF APOSTLES.
PART FIRST.
THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM.
i. 1-viii. 4.
§ I. INTRODUCTORY STATEMENTS
(i. 1-26).
1.
STARTING
POINT OF THE
NARRATIVE,
1-5.
2.
PROMISE OF THE
HOLY
SPIRIT, AND THE
ACCOUNT OF THE
ASCENSION
REPEATED,
6-11.
- What meant by "restore the kingdom"?
6.
- Was the kingdom of Christ yet set up?
- Receive what power?
8, cf. 6.
- What the order of places?
8.
- What new items in the repetition of the ascension?
9-11,
cf. Luke xxiv. 46-51.
- Why the ascension mentioned by Mark and Luke who were absent,
and not by Matthew and John who were present?
3. NAMES AND
LODGING
PLACE OF THE
APOSTLES,
12-14.
4. THE
PLACE OF
JUDAS
FILLED,
15-26.
- Who were the one hundred and twenty?
15.
- In what sense were the words quoted spoken concerning Judas?
16, 20,
cf. Ps. lxix. 25; cix. 8.
- Whose words
verses 18, 19?
- In what sense did Judas obtain the field?
18, cf. Matt. xxvi. 3-7.
[2]
- What caused him to fall and burst asunder?
19.
See
Matt. xxvii. 5.
- Was the field bought before or after the death of Judas?
- Why sold so cheap?
- Reconcile the two statements of the reason for calling it Akeldama.
19; Matt. xxvii. 7, 8.
- What qualifications prescribed for the successors of Judas, and why?
21, 22.
- What should now be the qualifications of successors to the apostles?
- Did the eleven regard the choice made as their own, or as the Lord's?
24.
- How could it be either, when it was determined by lot?
- Why limit the choice to two?
23, cf. 21, 22.
- Was Matthias made a real apostle?
26.
- Show the fitness of each of the preceding paragraphs as part of the
author's introduction.
§ II. THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM ESTABLISHED
(ii. 1-47).
1.
THE
APOSTLES ARE
FILLED WITH THE
HOLY
SPIRIT,
1-4.
- What the day of Pentecost? and whence the name?
1.
- On what day of the week did it fall? Cf.
Lev. xxiii. 15, 16.
- Who "together in one place"?
1, cf. i. 26.
- What filled the house, and what house?
2, 1; Luke xxiv. 53.
- Significance [3]
of the fire-like tongues?
3, 4.
- In what sense was this a baptism in the Spirit?
4, cf. 5.
2. THE
EFFECT OF THE
MULTITUDE,
5-13.
- How were all Jews, yet born in other countries?
5, 8.
- In what sense were they "devout men"?
5.
- How did they know the apostles to be Galilaeans?
7.
- How many countries represented?
9-11.
- Were there as many different tongues?
- Meaning of proselytes?
10.
- What the principal question? and why?
12.
- Why the charge of the mockers?
13.
3. PETER'S
SERMON.
1. Introduction. The Miracle Explained,
14-21.
- Why notice the charge of drunkenness?
15.
- Conclusiveness of his answer to it?
- Conclusiveness of his explanation?
14-21.
- In what sense was the Spirit "poured" forth?
17.
- How "upon all flesh"?
- Does the mention of women by Joel imply that they were now inspired?
17, 18.
- What "that great and notable day"?
20, cf. 21.
- Why attach salvation to calling on the name of the Lord?
21.
- What did Peter gain by this introduction? [4]
2. Jesus Proclaimed as Christ and Lord,
22-32.
a. His Resurrection Declared,
22-24.
- What four facts here asserted?
- Which were known to the hearers, and which needed proof?
- Distinction between "mighty works," "wonders," and "signs"?
22.
- Who the "lawless men"? and why so called?
23.
- Meaning of "loosed the pangs of death"?
24.
- Why not possible?
24.
b. Resurrection of the Christ Predicted by David,
25-31.
- How is the case made out?
(1) David predicted the resurrection of some one before corruption,
26-28.
(2) Though speaking in the first person, he meant not himself,
29.
(3) The one he spoke of was the Christ,
30, 31.
- What is meant by his soul being in hades?
31.
- Bearing of this division on facts to be proved?
c. Resurrection of Jesus Attested by the Twelve,
32.
- Full force of this testimony? comp.
4, 16, 17.
- Was it merely asserted, or given in detail?
- Its logical connection with the preceding evidence? [5]
d. Jesus Exalted to the Throne of God,
33-35.
- What implied in His sending forth the Spirit?
- How could Peter's words prove this a reality?
- Value of the quotation from David?
34, 35.
e. Logical Conclusion,
36.
- What meant by Lord, and what by Christ?
- From what premises does each part of the conclusion spring?
3. Exhortation to Save Themselves,
37-40.
- What pricked them in the heart?
37, cf. 36.
- Do for what?
37.
- What told to do? and for what?
38.
- Does this answer allow remission of sins to precede baptism?
- Why not told to believe?
- What gift of the Spirit?
38.
- Extent of the promise? and what promise?
39.
- What children?
39.
- How save themselves? and how from that generation?
40.
- Plan of the whole Sermon?
- Is it constructed according to the rules of rhetoric?
4. EFFECT OF THE
SERMON, AND
PROGRESS OF THE
CHURCH,
41-47.
- Meaning of "received his word"?
41.
- How much time? and what facilities for the baptizing?
15;
L. of B., 189-201. [6]
- Were all the 3,000 baptized?
- What was the process of adding?
41.
- Define the four items of service in
42.
- What fear?
43,
and why?
- What the demand for so much giving?
44, 45.
- What their place of meeting?
46.
- Is the "breaking bread" of
46,
the Lord's Supper?
- Why their present popularity?
47.
- Meaning of "those that were being saved"?
47, cf. 40, 38.
§ III. THE FIRST PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH
(iii. 1-iv. 31).
1. A
LAME
MAN
HEALED BY
PETER,
III. 1-10.
- What were the hours of prayer?
1.
- In what wall was this door?
2.
- How did the people all know the man?
10.
2. PETER'S
SECOND
SERMON,
1. Introduction. The Miracle Explained,
11-16.
- What was the portico called Solomon's?
11.
- Why the disclaimer?
12.
- Points of contrast in the treatment of Jesus?
13-15.
- Whose faith?
16, cf. 5-7.
- Plan of this introduction?
2. Forgiveness of Sins Offered through Christ,
17-21.
- To what extent "in ignorance"?
17.
- In what sense did God do the fulfilling?
18.
- How were they to turn?
[7]
19, cf. 38.
- Meaning of "blotted out"?
19.
- What the "seasons of refreshing"?
19, cf. 38.
- On what conditions these blessings offered?
- What "the restoration of all things"?
21.
- What must occur then before the second coming of Christ?
3. These things were foretold by Moses and the Prophets, and
Promised to Abraham,
22-26.
- In what particulars was Jesus a prophet like Moses?
22.
- What the force of these citations in the minds of the hearers?
- Why "to you first"?
26.
- What the blessing promised in the seed of Abraham?
25.
See
26.
- Plan of the speech?
- Why no exhortation?
3. PETER AND
JOHN
ARRESTED,
IV. 1-4.
- Cause of the arrest?
2.
- Who the captain of the temple?
1.
See
I. Chron. xxiii. 5; xxvi. 1-19.
- Why the Sadducees in the lead?
- Force of the reason for delay?
3.
- Meaning of "put them in ward"?
3.
- Who included in the 5,000?
4.
4.
PETER'S
DEFENSE,
5-12.
- What rulers?
5.
- Who John and Alexander?
- Of what must Peter and John have been reminded?
See
John xviii. 15-18;
Matt. x. 17-20.
- Why no definite charge?
7.
- In [8]
what sense "filled with the Holy Spirit"?
8.
- Meaning of remark about the stone?
11, cf. Matt. xxi. 42.
- Exact force of the remark about salvation?
12.
5. A
PRIVATE
CONSULTATION,
13-17.
- What led to it?
13, 14.
- Why the man there?
14.
- Hypocrisy of the persecutors.
16.
- Their motive?
17.
6. MORE
PREACHING
FORBIDDEN,
18-22.
- Rule for obeying rulers?
19.
- Why fear the people?
21.
- What punishment could the Council lawfully inflict? See
v. 40.
7. REPORT OF THE
TWO
APOSTLES AND
PRAYER OF THE
TWELVE,
23-31.
- Why not prepare for resistance?
- Analysis of the prayer?
(1) The Invocation,
24.
(2) A Scripture fulfilled,
25-28.
(3) The Petition,
29, 30.
- Appropriateness of every part?
- How did they expect boldness to be given?
29, 30.
- Why the place shaken?
31.
- Why again filled with Holy Spirit?
31.
§ IV. PROGRESS OF THE CHURCH, AND SECOND
PERSECUTION
(iv. 32-v. 42).
1.
UNITY AND
LIBERALITY OF THE
CHURCH,
32-37.
- In what sense did the apostles now testify with more [9]
power?
33.
- Connection of this with the unity and liberality of the church?
32.
- What was now lacking of the unity which Jesus prayed for?
- Is this giving a precedent for us?
- Why called "son of exhortation"?
36.
- Why Barnabas especially mentioned?
2. A
CASE OF
DISCIPLINE,
V. 1-11.
- How did Satan fill his heart, if he conceived the thing in his own heart?
3, 4.
- What the motives of Ananias and Sapphira?
- Are they ever imitated?
- Why was it a lie to God and not to men?
3, 4.
- In what way was it tempting the Holy Spirit?
9.
- How was Sapphira kept ignorant?
7.
- Why the severity?
- Was it Peter's act, or the Lord's?
9, 10.
3. PROSPERITY OF THE
CHURCH
INCREASED,
12-16.
- Who durst not join the Apostles? and why?
12, 13.
- Why the increase of additions?
14.
- Why more miracles than before?
15, 16.
- When such sins are found in a church, how can it prosper?
4. THE
APOSTLES
IMPRISONED AND
RELEASED,
17-21.
5. THEY ARE
BROUGHT INTO
COURT,
21-27.
- What the council and the senate?
21.
- Why the prison still shut, and the guards still at its doors?
23.
- Point of perplexity?
24.
- Why danger of stoning?
26.
6. ACCUSATION AND
DEFENSE,
27-32.
- Meaning of "bring blood on us"?
28.
- How was the answer that of "the apostles"?
29.
- Did Peter deny the charge?
- How was repentance given?
31.
- How was the Holy Spirit a witness?
32.
7. THEY
ARE
SAVED FROM
DEATH BY
GAMALIEL,
33-42.
- Present feeling of the Pharisee?
34.
- Could the Theudas here mentioned be the one mentioned by Josephus?
26, 27,
cf. Ant. xx. 5; i. 18; i. 1.
- Who, then, was he?
- Merits of Gamaliel's policy?
38, 39.
- What more known of him?
xxii. 3.
- How could the Apostles rejoice?
41.
- Effect of all this on the people? [11]
§ V. FURTHER PROGRESS OF THE CHURCH, AND
THIRD PERSECUTION
(vi. 1-viii. 4).
1. SEVEN
MEN
APPOINTED TO
SERVE
TABLES,
1-7.
- Distinction between Grecian Jews and Hebrews?
1.
- What the daily ministration?
1.
- Why are widows specially mentioned?
- What meant by serving tables?
2.
- Who served the Lord's table?
- In what sense "full of the Spirit"?
3.
- Why not appointed sooner?
- From which class the seven selected? and why?
5.
- Meaning of "proselyte"?
5.
- Why the laying on of hands?
6, cf. 3.
- Is this a precedent for us?
- Were these men deacons?
- How are officers to be selected now?
2, 3.
- Cause of the increased prosperity?
7.
- Significance of the obedience of priests?
7.
2. STEPHEN
ARRESTED AND
FALSELY
ACCUSED,
8-15.
- Who the Libertines, Cyrenians, etc.?
9.
- Why a synagogue of these?
- Of what sect were they? cf.
vii. 58; xxiii. 6.
- What charges preferred, and on what ground?
11, 13, 14.
- What truth at the bottom of the charges?
14.
- What was the nature of the change in his face?
15.
- Why Stephen attacked, rather than Peter? [12]
3. STEPHEN'S
SPEECH,
1. The Introduction,
vii. 1-8.
2. A Series of Deliverers Persecuted by Israel,
9-34.
(a.) The Case of Joseph,
9-16.
(b.) The Case of Moses in Egypt,
17-36.
- The leading thought?
- Whence Stephen's knowledge of the education, words and works of Moses?
22,
cf. Jos. Ant. ii. 9, 10.
- How did he know the purpose of Moses?
25.
(c.) The Case of Moses in the Wilderness,
37-41.
- Meaning of "church in the wilderness"?
38.
- Meaning of "living oracles"?
38.
[13]
(d.) God's Final Rejection of Israel,
42, 43.
- In what "book of the prophets"?
42.
See
Amos v. 25-27.
- Leading thought in this?
3. The Tabernacle and the Temple,
44-50.
(a.) The Tabernacle Supplanted by a House,
44-47.
- How "unto the days of David"?
45.
(b.) The Temple Not God's Real Dwelling,
48-50.
4. Application,
51-53.
- Chief point in the application?
- Show its connection with the cases recited.
- How did they resist the Holy Spirit?
- Could his hearers foresee this application?
- Why conceal it till the close?
- Whole plan of the speech?
- Meaning of "uncircumcised in heart and ears"?
51.
- How was the law "ordained by angels"?
53.
4. THE
DEATH OF
STEPHEN,
VII.
54-VIII. 4.
- Was his death according to law?
- Why so exasperated?
54, 57.
- Purpose of the vision?
55, 56.
- Why did the [14]
witnesses lay down their garments? and why at Saul's feet?
58; Deu. xvii. 6, 7.
- Who buried Stephen?
2, cf. 1.
- Why dare to go abroad preaching?
4.
- Why did not the Apostles flee?
- Value to the church of Stephen's death?
- What now the prospects of the church? [15]
[CNSH4 1-15]
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