ST 1-5. Scripture Study/Discussion of Questions

Scripture Study/Question Discussion

Please read the passage "Acts 1:1-26" and then discuss the following questions together. ＊Observation (O), Interpretation (I), Application (A)

1.What did Jesus command His disciples to do in the future before He ascended into heaven? (O) Answer: (1) They were commanded to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit; (2) when they were empowered, they were to be witnesses of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.  

2.How does Acts 1:1-11 describe (1) the sovereignty of God the Father, (2) the works of the Holy Spirit, and (3) the words and actions of Jesus, the Son of God? (O)

Answer: (1) Verse 4 points out that God the Father had promised to give the Holy Spirit, which would certainly be fulfilled, so the disciples had to wait. And verse 7: "It is not for you to know the times or the dates that the Father has set by His own authority;" further points out that the revival of Israel and the time of the final judgement are set by God the Father and cannot be measured by man.

(2) Verse 5 says that all disciples will be baptized by the Holy Spirit; while verse 8 points out that when they receive the Holy Spirit, they will be empowered to go around the world to witness for the Lord.

(3) After the resurrection of the Son of God, Jesus "showed himself alive to the apostles with many proofs, and appeared to them forty days," which was a physical testimony of God's reality and power over death, and "spoke to his disciples of the kingdom of God" (v. 3), commanding them to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit, and then, when they had received power, to go to the ends of the earth to testify to the Lord Jesus. He "spoke to the disciples about the kingdom of God" (v.3), and told them to wait for the Holy Spirit to come, and when they were empowered, they were to go to the ends of the earth to testify about the Lord Jesus.

(4) In a few short verses, the different persons and works of the Holy Trinity are presented in summary and in relation to us: the Father has all sovereignty over the past, the present, and the future; the Son is incarnate to give us a concrete account of the Kingdom of God; and the Holy Spirit gives us power. Our response is to go forth in the power of the Holy Spirit to witness to the Son until the day God the Father has appointed for the return of the Lord Jesus.

  3.The Book of Acts begins with the final dialogue between Jesus and his disciples (verses 6-8). What is the connection between the disciples' question about the "restoration of the nation of Israel" and Jesus' discourse on the Kingdom of God?

(I) A: The disciples' question to Jesus about the "restoration of the kingdom of Israel" at this point in time shows that they did not understand the "Kingdom of God" and the "coming of the Holy Spirit" that Jesus was talking about. For the Jews, the restoration of the nation of Israel was their main concern, and the disciples believed that the coming of the Kingdom of God and the coming of the Holy Spirit would be the restoration of the nation of Israel, and they used this as the last question they asked Jesus before He left. Jesus did not respond to them directly, but taught them not to focus on the timing of the restoration of the kingdom of Israel, which was under the control of God the Father, and could not be known and should not be investigated. Until the coming of the kingdom of God, the disciples should witness to the Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit; the coming of the kingdom of God is not only about the nation of Israel, but also about all mankind. Jesus asked the disciples to remain in Jerusalem, but only as a starting point for their witness, which would gradually extend to the ends of the earth. The Kingdom of God in Jesus Christ is the true Kingdom of God in power.  

4.What did the disciples do when they returned to Jerusalem after Jesus' ascension? Why did they do this? (O/I)

Answer: (1) The disciples waited for God's promise according to the Lord's command (verse 4). They "persistently prayed with one mind," showing that they attached great importance to God's promise; it also shows that they understood that the most important thing in "waiting" for God's work was prayer. (2) Peter proposed to select a replacement apostle. They knew that after the Holy Spirit came, they would be "my (the Lord Jesus') witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (verse 8). Peter proposed to select a replacement apostle in order to make their witness more complete. Psalm 109:8 foretold that Judas's position would be replaced, so Peter proposed to select one person from among those who had always followed Jesus (verse 22) (see the reference materials for this lesson).

  5.What does it mean to bear witness to Christ and His Kingdom? What qualities do we need to possess to serve in this way? (A) A: "Witnesses" are those who witnessed the events and made the truth known to the world. The resurrected Jesus Christ pointed out that His disciples would be His witnesses because He expected them to bear witness to His death and resurrection before the world. Nowadays, to be a witness for Christ means to share with others one's own experience of salvation through faith in Christ's death and resurrection, as well as the life-changing effects of salvation. The word "witness" comes from the Greek and is synonymous with the word "martyr". From the word's meaning, to be a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ, one must be willing to endure persecution and even sacrifice for the Lord, and continue to preach the Gospel of salvation and the Kingdom of God even under adverse circumstances. The message of salvation and the kingdom of God. Anyone who believes in the death and resurrection of Christ and accepts the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in his heart can be a witness for Christ. The power to witness does not lie in human ability. Christ has promised to send the Holy Spirit to empower His disciples to witness for Him. Therefore, whether or not a person can be a witness depends on whether or not he is willing in his heart. Moreover, the point of being a "witness for Christ" is not to share one's personal experience, but to tell of Christ's salvation.

6.The end of Judas shows that "betraying the Lord for His glory" is a tragic end. What kind of behaviour do you think is considered betrayal of the Lord Jesus today? Can you give us some examples? What are some ways that you can keep yourself from falling into Judas' situation? (A) Answer: (1) Those who betray the Lord Jesus have their own personal interests at heart; (2) Those who think that Jesus is a good man but do not accept His sovereignty over their lives; (3) Those who only want to benefit from religion may be caught in the trap of betrayal. The point of this question is not to discuss who are the betrayers and to avoid targeting individuals, but how to avoid falling into the trap of betrayal. Physically pray quietly and ask the Lord to give you the opportunity and ability to witness for Him; examine your past testimonies to see if they were Christ-centred.