These small group Bible studies of Acts 1 contain commentary, discussion questions, and practical application. Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.
Acts 1 Bible Study Guide – The Great Commission
Outline
I. Introduction to the book of Acts (1-3)
II. The promise of the Holy Spirt and Great Commission (4-8)
III. The ascension (9-11)
I. Introduction to the book of Acts (1-3)
Discussion Questions
• What is the “first book” mentioned in verse 1?
• Who is Theophilus?
• Who wrote the Book of Acts?
• What do we know about Luke from Scripture?
• What was his stated purpose in writing this book? Compare this with his purpose in writing the Gospel of Luke (Luke 1:1-4)
• Why is Luke’s carefulness and credibility important for our faith and for Scripture’s veracity?
• What key facts are given in Luke’s summary of the life of Jesus?
• Why are these specific facts essential to the gospel?
Cross-References
Luke 1:1-4 – Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.
1 John 1:3 – That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:3-6 – For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. In the first book O Theophilus – The first book is a reference to the Gospel of Luke. The introductions to Luke and Acts are very similar. In both of them, Theophilus is mentioned. This name means “loved by God.” It is unknown who this character is, although he may have had an important rank since Luke calls him “most excellent” in Luke 1.
Luke wanted to give a detailed, organized, thorough, and historically accurate account of Jesus’ life and the subsequent ministry of the apostles. The book of Acts is a natural follow-up to the Gospel of Luke. While the ending of Luke does mention the ascension, in Acts Luke goes into more detail about it and continues the narrative. He also gives a short review in the opening verses of Acts about the life and resurrection of Jesus in Acts 1:3.
Luke was Paul’s “beloved physician.” (Colossians 4:14). When Paul was facing trial and the death sentence, most of his friends abandoned him. Luke did not. Paul’s doctor and friend accompanied him in his times of most extreme persecution.
While Luke is not mentioned by name in Acts, there are four passages that shift from using “they” to using “we.” This has led many scholars to conclude that the writer, Luke, was with Paul during these events.
These four “we” passages include the following.
• The second missionary journey in Philippi when Paul and Silas were thrown into prison (Acts 16:10-17).
• The end of Paul’s third missionary journey (Acts 20:5-15)
• Paul’s trip back to Jerusalem (21:1-18)
• Paul’s voyage from Caesarea to Rome as a prisoner when his ship was wrecked (Acts 27:1-28:16)
We can see that Luke was an important member of Paul’s ministry team and often accompanied Paul on his travels. He humbly does not mention himself by name or inject himself into the story, instead focusing on Paul. The fact that he was a firsthand witness to many of the things he recorded, makes his carefully written record even more credible.
Luke was not the star of the show. The spotlight was on Paul. However, Luke had a very significant role. He was likely Paul’s personal doctor. When many abandoned Paul, he stayed on and encouraged him. And not least, he painstakingly researched and recorded Jesus’ life and the apostles’ ministry.
God uses all kinds of people on His team. Not everybody is the star. But He entrusts spiritual gifts to each believer for a specific reason. We are to then use these gifts for building up the church. He uses artists, musicians, singers, writers, actors, engineers, doctors, teachers, and more. Some serve in the spotlight and some serve in the background. All are important and have a vital role.
Application – God has gifted you in a specific way for a specific reason. How are you using your gift to glorify Him? How are you serving Him through your vocation and the natural talents He has given you?
2. He presented Himself alive…by many proofs –
After His resurrection, Jesus didn’t just send an angel with the message, “Just believe,” or “You don’t need any evidence.” He appeared “by many proofs.” Some of those proofs include allowing them to touch Him and eating food in their presence to verify that He wasn’t a ghost.
Some people may think it is spiritual to say, “I don’t need any evidence. I just believe.” Jesus did not ask them to abandon reason to believe in Him. Throughout His ministry, He made a point to give them signs and evidence. One example is in John 10.
John 10:25 – The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me.
He encouraged them to look at the facts, the miracles, the evidence and to weigh all of it in making a decision.
God does not ask us to have a blind faith. Do not fall into the world’s trap of thinking that Christians have a weaker position. We don’t. There is every reason to believe God exists. And here Jesus points out that there is every reason to believe that He is the Son of God, the Messiah.
Jesus proved to them without a shadow of a doubt that He indeed had arisen from the dead. That was important because if they doubted they likely would not have been willing to preach the gospel to the point where most of them were eventually martyred. The apostles were the foundation of the church (Ephesians 2:20). If the foundation was shaky, the whole church would be in trouble.
Application – It is good for us to look at the facts. If someone asks you, “Why do you believe in God?” could you answer? If they ask you, “Why do you believe the Bible is true?” could you answer?
• Here is one reason I believe in God. The design theory.
Perhaps when you were growing up, your mom told you, “God gave you a brain; use it.” That is true. God gave us a mind and He wants us to use it. We are commanded to defend the faith.
1 Peter 3:15 – But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.
We should be prepared to defend our faith with evidence.
II. The promise of the Holy Spirt and Great Commission (4-8)
Discussion Questions
• When did Jesus say these words in verses 4 and 5?
• We will read about being “baptized with the Holy Spirit” more as we go through Acts. What did Jesus say that it is not?
• What does the word “baptism” mean?
• When the disciples got together with Jesus, what was their expectation of the next step in Jesus’ plan?
• How was their expectation different from God’s plans?
• Share about a time when your expectation was different than God’s plan.
• Why is it that our expectations often don’t match God’s purposes?
• What should we do when our hopes and aspirations are not fulfilled?
• How can we better conform ourselves to God’s plans instead of imposing our own?
• How did Jesus answer their question? Why did He evade it?
• Why might God not answer all of your questions? What information does He give us?
• What task did Jesus leave with the disciples?
• How would they be equipped for this task?
• Is this task finished?
• What do you see about the progression geographically and culturally in this mission (verse 8)?
• What role does the church worldwide have today in this mission?
• What is your role?
Cross-References
John 14:25-26 – These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
John 20:22-23 – And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
Matthew 28:18-20 – And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 24:14 – And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
2 Corinthians 5:20 – Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. Do not depart Jerusalem but wait for the promise –
Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to the disciples many times (Luke 11:13, 24:49, John 7:39, 14:16, 26, 15:26, 16:7). Here He made it clear that they were not to leave Jerusalem until they had received the Holy Spirit.
That was important because, in the process of fulfilling the Great Commission, they were going to have to leave Jerusalem (Acts 1:8). But they were not to start this huge task without the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.
This was not a mission they could accomplish by their own power and they were not to try. If they had gone forth in their own power, wisdom, talents, and speech they would have failed miserably. The Holy Spirit is the one who changes lives. He is the one who gives His messenger the words to say.
Luke 12:11-12 – And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.
He is the one who anoints those words so that they cut to the heart of the listeners (Hebrews 4:12).
After the disciples received the Holy Spirit, their ministry truly began. Thousands of people were soon saved in Jerusalem as they preached. But they did this in the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2).
Without the Holy Spirit they, and we, cannot be successful.
Application – When you have a mission to accomplish, do you wait for and rely on the Lord? Or do you seek to do it by your own power? Can you share a time when you acted on your own and it didn’t go well?
We are dependent on God’s power for success in our lives and we should recognize that truth. He is the Good Shepherd and we are to follow Him. That means He is in front and we are following. Sometimes we take the lead and move too quickly or in a direction He is not leading. There are times when the best thing we can do is wait for the Holy Spirit.
This is true in every area of our lives, but here are a few specific examples.
• Do not buy a house or start a business without extensive prayer and patience (James 4:15).
• Before you begin a relationship to pursue marriage, pray and ask godly counsel.
• If you teach or preach, soak it in prayer. Ask for the Holy Spirit’s leading. Don’t pridefully think, “I’ve got this,” and rely on your own wisdom.
• When you share the gospel, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading and timing.
2. John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit –
Water baptism is external. The Holy Spirit’s baptism is internal. He regenerates our heart and makes us new.
Titus 3:5 – He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.
Water baptism points to the internal change God brings about in our hearts. That is accomplished through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We will learn more about this as we go through Acts.
3. Will you at this time restore the kingdom of Israel? –
For much of His earthly ministry, people around Jesus hoped and believed that He was going to physically deliver Israel out of Roman control and set up His kingdom on earth reigning from Jerusalem. The disciples were expectant that now was finally the time. Jesus had arisen from the dead and was ready to reveal His power to the nations! He was ready to proclaim His victory and declare Himself king!
Or so they thought.
But Jesus’ plan was far different. Here is His answer.
Acts 1:7-8 – He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
He did not answer their question directly, telling them that this information was classified and above their pay grade. Instead, He gave them a task. They were going to be sitting back to watch Jesus overthrow Rome. They were going to be on the front lines.
Can you imagine how the disciples must have felt after hearing this answer? And then after seeing Jesus leave and ascend to heaven?
It is a bit like telling someone who thought they won the lottery, “You need to go and get a job.”
When I was a kid, we received a letter in the mail. In big print on the front of the envelope, it said something like, “MILLION DOLLAR SWEEPSTAKES. YOU ARE A WINNER.” My siblings and I were over the moon with excitement. All day we looked forward to my parents coming back so that we could tell them about our amazing luck. We were going to be millionaires!
When my parents returned, we broke it to them and they laughed. They opened the letter and showed us the contents. The big win was a chance to enter this sweepstakes and potentially take home the jackpot. Our dreams of beach vacations were crushed.
Jesus’ plans were very different from the disciples’ expectations. His plans are far better. If Jesus judged the world and set up His kingdom then, think how many millions or billions of people would not have had the chance to hear the gospel and be part of that kingdom.
Though our hopes are sometimes not realized, we need to have faith that God knows best and that His plans, though different from ours, are the best.
Isaiah 55:8-9 – For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Reflect – Were you ever disappointed because God’s plans for you did not fulfill your own expectations? What did you learn from this?
4. You will be my witnesses –
Acts 1:8 – But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
Here the Great Commission is repeated (Matthew 28:18-20) in different wording. The disciples were to be Jesus’ witnesses.
The definition for witness: “To bear witness to; testify to; give or afford evidence of.”
Another definition is: “To see, hear, or know by personal presence and perception.”
The disciples did see, hear, and know of Jesus through their personal presence. They were then called to testify and give evidence about Him.
We too are witnesses of many things that God has done in this world and in our lives. He does not want us to be silent, but to testify of these things to the world.
Notice also the progression of where they were to witness. They were to start in Jerusalem, then in Judea, then in Samaria, and then to the end of the earth. Geographically, we see an ever-expanding circle of influence. After starting where they were, they were to go farther and farther away until they reached the furthest corners of the globe. It would indeed be impossible to reach the ends of the earth without going. “Go” is one of the clear commands of the Great Commission.
Matthew 28:19-20 – Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
So there is a clear geographical element to the Great Commission.
But there is also a cultural element. Jerusalem was the capital of Judea. It was the cultural leader of that region. Culturally, people in Jerusalem would have been most like them. Various rural areas of Judea may practice different customs, eat different food, and have different values. We know that even today urbanites think very differently than those from rural areas. But all of Judea was still united in the language and the core beliefs of their religion.
Samaria then was one step further away culturally. Samaritans were familiar with the Old Testament. They claimed Jacob as their ancestor. Samaritans, though mixed with other peoples, were relatives. Jews, though perhaps loathe to admit it, had more in common with Samaritans than with Greeks or Romans.
From there, the ends of the earth represent people groups that had little in common with the Jews. They didn’t share the same language, culture, religion, or values. These were the most difficult people to go to and the hardest to reach.
What can we learn from this?
Firstly, God cares about all people, not only Jews. He wanted the gospel to go to the ends of the earth.
Secondly, this task is not possible without going.
Thirdly, it may require leaving one’s comfort zone geographically and culturally.
We should note that this mission is given not just to the disciples, but to the church as a whole. It is not yet finished. Researchers believe that around 28% of people groups in the world are still unreached. Progress has been made in the last one hundred years, but the task is not finished.
Application – How will you contribute to this Great Commission? Whom will you go to?
We should start with those closest to us. If we don’t share with our families, who will? We also have co-workers, classmates, towns, and neighborhoods who need the gospel. But even that is not enough. There are people in the world who have no access to church, the Bible, or the gospel. They don’t know the name of Jesus. What can you do about it?
• Care. The first step starts with caring. Ask God to give you a heart for the nations.
• Pray. Everybody can and should pray.
• Support and send workers. You have a say in where your giving goes. Should we build more and more buildings in the West (where we have excess numbers of church buildings), or should we funnel our giving to the really needy places of the world? Statistics show that only around 1.7% of all giving goes toward reaching the unreached.
• Go. Did you ever consider that you may be called to go? Even if you are not called to go full-time, you could take a mission trip. Your talents, skills, and gifts can be used for building the worldwide church. All abilities can be used. What is needed is a heart of love.
III. The ascension (9-11)
Discussion Questions
• Is there any spiritual significance in the way that Jesus ascended into heaven?
• Why did He leave instead of staying with them and helping them in the Great Commission?
• Wouldn’t Jesus be better at preaching the gospel and winning the nations than the disciples? Why does God often use people to accomplish His purposes instead of doing it Himself?
• What was the message to the disciples from the two angels?
• How is it a comfort to know Jesus will return?
• How does that knowledge challenge you?
• Should the disciples continue to stand looking into heaven? What were they supposed to do instead?
• What are we to do while we are waiting for Christ’s return?
Cross-References
John 16:28 – I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.
John 7:33 – Jesus then said, “I will be with you a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me.
Revelation 1:7 – Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
Luke 12:37, 43 – Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. The ascension – Jesus’ last words to the disciples were to be a witness of Him throughout the world. He then ascended into heaven, being lifted up into the air and going up like a hot air balloon until He was out of sight.
Jesus had told the disciples ahead of time on multiple occasions that He would be returning to the Father (John 7:33, 16:28) so it should not have come as a surprise. However, based on their question right before this (1:6), they did not expect this, at least not yet.
Though Jesus would be absent in person, He would send the Holy Spirit who would help them. He had also promised to be with them until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). Though He would be absent in physical form, He was not abandoning them. We know that Jesus is even now interceding for us in the presence of God.
After seeing Jesus arise from the dead, the disciples had already witnessed more than enough to place total faith in Him. But this was one more miracle attesting to Jesus’ power.
2. Two angels appear to the disciples – While the disciples were staring at the sky after Jesus disappeared, two angels came with a message. It was a subtle reminder that they had work to do as well as a promise that Jesus would return.
In addition, the appearance of the angels also was reassurance that God had not abandoned them. He would still give them the resources and help they needed to fulfill the task confronting them.
As believers, we look forward to Jesus’ return. However, we are not to stand around wasting time staring at the sky. There is work to be done.
Once a new believer in Asia shared with me that his parents were strongly against his faith. Upon deeper probing, we realized the reason why. In the village where they lived a group of self-professed Christians did very little. They apparently didn’t work and had withdrawn from social life. Their time was spent praying and talking about Jesus’ return. While prayer is good, their behavior was misguided. Nowhere in Scripture are believers commanded to “Stop working and wait for Jesus’ return.” In fact, it is just the opposite.
John 9:4 – We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.
We are commanded to work for Him while we still can. The life of a monk in a monastery may appear spiritual, but it is certainly not what Jesus had in mind for the disciples.
Application – Work. Make an impact on this world. Invest in Christ’s eternal kingdom. Your life is temporary. Don’t waste it. Make it count.
