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Participatory Bible Study

Acts Lesson 1: Pentecost

Acts Study Outline
This lesson is part of the online Acts Study Outline for use with the participatory study method.

Reading

Main Selection: Acts 1 & 2
Optional Epistles: 1 Peter

Objective

Learn what it means to be part of a church that received the gift of the Holy Spirit, both in understanding ourselves and our relationship to God, and in understanding and carrying out our mission in the world.

Study and Thought Questions

1. Why do the disciples feel that they must immediately fill the place of Judas?
2. Why does Luke tell us about Matthias, and then never mention him again? (Consider who else may have replaced Judas, and whether or not it was required that there always be 12 apostles, no more and no less.)
3. What is the purpose of the gift given in this passage that allows everyone to hear in their own language? Is this the same gift as described in 1 Corinthians 12-14? Why?
4. Why do the disciples wait until they received the gift (Acts 1:4, 7-8)?
5. If you read 1 Peter, compare the tone and style of the sermon in Acts 2 with the epistle (Acts 2:14-36).

Reference Exercises

1. Bible Dictionary - look up pentecost and/or feast of weeks in the Bible Dictionary. Is there a relationship between what was celebrated by the feast of weeks and Pentecost?
2. Read the introduction to Acts in a study Bible, Bible handbook, or commentary.

Participatory Exercises

1. Imagine yourself in the upper room on the day of Pentecost before the tongues of fire appear. How do you feel? What are your hopes? What are your fears? Who are you? Are you important to God? What is the purpose for your life?
2. Imagine yourself at the end of the day of Pentecost, after Peter has preached and thousands have believed. How will you answer the same questions?
3. Put yourself in the place of someone in the crowd. Think about how you would have responded to the preaching if you knew about the crucifixion. Think about how you would respond if you had not heard of it.
4. Imagine a church acting in its community as though it had just been filled with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. What would the members act like? How would they act in their community? How would they act toward one another?

Energion Publications Author Page - Henry Neufeld