Acts 4: Silence the Message
How do you think Temple leaders learned what Peter was saying and decided this was a problem that must be dealt with?
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King James
The best way to kill a message is to destroy its source. What did Temple leaders dislike about what Peter was saying?
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King James
How do you think Temple leadership was affected whenever people heard about the resurrection of Jesus and believed?
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King James
Of the leading priests, Temple guards, and Sadducees, who had the most to lose? Why? What would be lost?
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King James
Several hours passed between the healing at 3:00 p,m. and the arrest in the evening. What do you think must have happened during that time (1) with Peter and John before the crowd and (2) among those who were stirred against the message?
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King James
In the days after Passover and Pentecost, Pilate would have left Jerusalem for his home in Caesarea Philippi, and those arrested for misconduct in the Temple normally fell under Jewish, not Roman, jurisdiction, as with the stoning of Steven. What do you think conditions were like in the prison where Peter and John were locked up and spent the night?
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King James
On the day of Pentecost, three thousand people believed and were baptized. The count of five thousand in Acts 4:4 could have been the number added that day, or it could have been as most translations assume—the current total of Jesus followers. Which do you think is correct? Why?
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King James
To be recognized as believers, the new converts would have repented, been baptized, and received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Who do you suppose did the baptisms?
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King James
When Peter and John were brought before the Sanhedrin to answer for their conduct, what apprehensions might they have had?
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King James
Why do you think Peter and John were asked about their power and authority?
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King James
Did they need to be concerned about how they would answer?
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King James
How do you think the men of the Sanhedrin felt when they were told that the source of miracle power was the one they had crucified?
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King James
What is the significance of a builder’s rejected stone becoming the cornerstone?
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King James
Peter said a relationship with God is only possible through Christ. Do you think it’s possible for people who call themselves Christian to use the name but not know the person Jesus Christ? Is it possible for people who don’t call themselves Christian to know the person Jesus without using his name? Why?
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King James
What did the Sanhedrin think Peter and John’s eloquent speaking ability came from, since they had never attended seminary? To what extent was their judgment accurate or inaccurate?
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King James
When we share our stories, should we rely entirely on the Holy Spirit? How important is preparation and practice?
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King James
Along with Peter and John, the formerly lame man had been called before the Sanhedrin. What might he have said?
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King James
Why was the evidence so strong that nothing could be said against it?
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King James
Why didn’t the Sanhedrin want news of the miracle to spread? What result do you think they feared?
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King James
What kinds of threats might have been made to prevent Peter, John, and the man from telling their story?
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King James
The healing was undeniable, but the power could have been attributed to God and not Jesus. Why were Peter and John unwilling to remove the name of Jesus from their testimony?
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King James
The judgment to release the men was based on (1) a lack of evidence of any wrongdoing, legally, and (2) the men’s popularity. Which area do you think carried the greater concern? Why?
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King James
In telling the story, why was the healed man’s age important?
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King James
How might the perspectives differ when this story was told by the healed man, Peter, or John?
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King James
The news brought unified praises to God. Some of the believers’ songs were from scripture, while others were born out of spontaneous recognition of what God was doing. Why might that response be expected?
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King James
After praise came prayer. Given the nature of their praise, what do you think the nature of their prayer would have been?
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King James
The function of being “filled with the Spirit” was to boldly speak God’s word. How was this outpouring different from what happened on the day of Pentecost?
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King James
People make sacrifices only if they believe in the reward. What “single vision” do you think the believers had, which would cause them all to sell their assets and give to those in need?
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King James
With the sale of assets, Jesus’ followers possessed less. What had been gained that “showed God’s favor upon them all”?
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King James
From the sale of his land, Barnabas gave the entire amount to the apostles. Why do you suppose he wanted to give everything?