Acts | 1:1-11 | 1:12-26 | 2:1-13 | 2:14-36 | 2:37-47 | 3:1-10 | 3:11-26 | 4:1-12 | 4:13-22 | 4:23-37 | 5:1-11 | 5:12-26 | More Coming Soon |


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 o