Church-Lesson02

THE FIRST-CENTURY CHURCH
Based on the Book, Acts of the Apostles

LESSON TWO

Chapter 3

DAY ONE:

Peter Challenges Worshippers

VERSE 1�� Although Peter and John were now Christians, they continued to go to the Jewish __________________ to see who they could teach.

VERSE 2�� At the time of their arrival, someone was carrying a severely crippled man to beg from the worshippers.� He had been crippled how long?� ___________________________________________

VERSE 7-8�� How long did it take this man to gain strength in his ankles?� ___________________________________

�� b.�� This miracle was performed by Peter, one of the original __________ _________________________ (Acts 1:13).

VERSE 9-12 People from all over the Temple came to _________________ at the man and those who healed him. Now that Peter had their attention, he explained that the miracle was not by their own ______________ or ______________________.

DAY TWO:

VS. 13-15�� Note the things Peter accused these Temple worshippers of doing to Jesus.� List below all the phrases which Peter begins with "You...."

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Peter also reminded them that Governor Pilate had decided to ___________ Jesus ________ and not crucify him.

VERSE 16 The crippled man had had faith in who? ______________ Therefore, he received ______________ healing.

VS. 17-21�� Even though Peter told the crowd they had acted in ______________________________, he still told them to __________________ and turn to God so their sins will be _____________________________

�� a.�� Peter said two things (two "times") would occur when people repented.� What are they?� _________

�� _________________________________________ and _______________________________________

VERSE 21�� What is Peter talking about Jesus restoring?� (Look back at Acts 1:6)� ___________________________ __________________________________________� What else is the kingdom called in the Bible?� (Look at Colossians 1:13 & 18). ________________ ___________________________________________

DAY THREE:

VS. 22-23�� About 1440 BC, Moses predicted a prophet like him that "you must __________________________ to."

VS. 24-25�� All the ____________________ who lived hundreds of years before Jesus predicted that through one of Abraham's descendants, ____________________ the ___________________ on ______________ would be ________________________________________.
VERSE 26 Since Jesus is called God's servant, what should we followers of Jesus be willing to be? _________________

b. The gospel was preached first to the Jews. Although many of them believed, many more did not. so who was the gospel preached to second? (See Acts 13:46) ___________________________

Chapter 4

Peter Challenges Religious Leaders

VERSE 1-2�� Who angrily approached Peter and John while they were talking to the people?� _______________, _______________ of the ________________ _______________________ and the _____________

�� b.�� The Sadducees did not believe in what (see Matthew 22:23)?� ___________________________________

VERSE 3-4�� Even though Peter and John were put in jail for preaching the resurrection, how many defied the Jewish leaders and believed anyway? ______________________________

DAY FOUR:

VERSE 5-6�� These same elders, chief priests, and teachers had tried ________________ about two months earlier (see Mark 14:53).� Their governing body was called the S______________________ (Mark 14:55).�

�� b.�� Who was Annas (see John 18:12-13)? __________ ___________________________________________�

�� NOTE:�� Josephus said Ananus was appointed high priest by Rome when Jesus was about 13 years old.� He held it about three years.� Then Ananus' son, Eleazar, became high priest.� Caiaphas, Ananus' son-in-law, was high priest from 18-36 AD.� Ananus always controlled.� Ananus had five sons, and all five were high priest at some time (Antiquities of the Jews, Book 18, 2:1,2, 3:1,5; Book 10, 9:1).

VERSE 7-9 Peter and John had apparently not been told on what charged they were arrested and jailed, because Peter said, "_________ we are being called to account...."

VERSE 10�� Who did Peter accuse of killing Jesus?� _________ __________________________________________

�� b.�� Who apparently showed up in court the next morning to boldly help defend Peter and John?� __________________________________________

VERSE 11�� Peter quoted David, who predicted about 1500 BC that builders would reject a stone that would be Jesus.� Who did he call the builders? ___________________________________________________________

�� _________________________________________________________________________________

VERSE 12�� There is no other ______________________ under heaven by which we must be saved.� That includes every other religious founder in the world.

DAY FIVE:

VS. 13-15�� (See John 11:48)� The Sanhedrin did not want this new Christianity to grow because they were afraid _______________________ will believe in Jesus, and then the ________________ will ___________ their jobs and perhaps even destroy their nation.

VS. 16-17�� The same thing that kept them from harming Peter and John at this time is what kept them from harming Jesus for so long.� Look up Matthew 21:46.� What was that reason?� _______________________ __________________________________________

�� b.�� Jesus had warned just before his crucifixion that his disciples would be hated because the world _________________ Jesus ____________________.� (See John 15:18)

VS. 18-20�� When warned not to talk about Jesus any more, Peter and John replied that we should ___________ _____________ and not man.�

�� THOUGHT QUESTION:� These were religious leaders Peter and John were talking to.� If religious leaders tell us something different than what Jesus said (adding to his commands or taking from his commands), should we blindly follow the religious leader?

VS. 21-22�� For how long had the healed man been lame? __________________________

�� THOUGHT QUESTION:� Surely there were many in the Temple that day who needed healing.� Why do you think Peter and John singled out this man?

VS. 23-24�� Even church leaders need encouragement.� Where did Peter and John go to when they were released?

�� ____________________________________________________________________________

VS. 25-26�� These followers of Jesus quoted one of the Psalms declaring that any nation that rages and plots against God do so in ________________.

�� b.�� By arresting, jailing, and harassing Peter and John, the rulers were arresting, jailing, and harassing God and his ___________________________ _______________.

�� NOTE:� In those days, the Jews inaugurated each new high priest and crowned each new king by anointing them.

DAY SIX:

VERSE 27�� Herod was the governor of Galilee in the north part of Palestine where Jesus lived.� Pilate was the Roman governor of Judea in the southern part of Palestine where the Temple was.� They ________________ against _________________, God's anointed one.

VERSE 28�� The Jews executed by stoning (John 10:31). Yet, it had been prophesied centuries earlier that Jesus would be pierced (Zechariah 12:10 in the O.T.).� Only the Romans had the power to pierce or crucify as a means of death.� It was by God's ___________ and ______________ that this government would be in power when Jesus came.

VERSE 29�� These early Christians knew that what people consider as threats, God can turn in to his good use.� Therefore they asked God to help them keep spreading the word about Jesus with great _______ _______________________.

VERSE 30�� Was the purpose of healing just to heal or to accomplish something else?� (Look up John 20:30 & 31)� ____________________________________ __________________________________________

VERSE 31�� Because the New Testament had not been written yet, the early Christians had to rely on external things to know they were in God's will.� God answered their prayer by making their meeting place __________________________________________.

VERSE 32�� The believers (they were not called Christians yet) loved each other so much that no one claimed his ___________________________ were his _______ ______________, but ________________________ everything they had.

VERSE 33�� Who was it who displayed power as they testified that Jesus came back to life?� _________________

VS. 34-37�� Among those who sold possessions to help out poor believers was a Jew from the island of Cyprus named _______________________.� His name means ____________________________________.

�� Who in your life is being a personal Barnabus to you?� ____________________________

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