Acts

Week 3 Worship Together (September 26-October 2)

Scripture: 4:23-31

Background: In Acts Chapter 3, God uses Peter and John to heal a man who had been lame from birth. That man immediately went with them “into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.” When the people in the temple courts saw this, they ran to Peter and John, but instead of taking any glory, Peter pointed them to Jesus and to the Gospel and many who heard believed. Chapter 4 opens with the priests, the captain of the guard, and the Sadducees having Peter and John arrested and the next morning the rulers, elders, teachers and the high priest and his family all questioned Peter and John. Once again Peter points them to Jesus. Peter and John are commanded “not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus” but they respond, “we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 4:21-22 say that, “after further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.” As we take a look at the verses that follow these events, we’ll find the disciples “lifting their voices together to God” in worship and prayer. Let’s read Acts 4:23-31.

Insights:
4:1 Captain of the Temple see online resource
4:6 Annas the High Priest see online resource
4:6 Caiaphas see Matthew 26:57
4:7 ‘By what power or by what name did you do this?” meaning… see online resource
4:24 Sovereign Lord = Despota (Greek) term for Absolute Ruler

Questions:

Last week we were challenged to be devoted to doing Christian life together. Are there any stories or testimonies of how this played out last week?

Peter and John didn’t keep the praise report of the healing or the report of their persecution by the rulers to themselves. Instead, they went “back to their own people and reported all…” Do you tend to keep things to yourself? What are some of the risks that come with sharing our life experiences with one another? How about the risks of not sharing?

Only a few short months ago, the disciples had seen Jesus crucified at the hands of the religious and political leaders. Now these same leaders were beginning to arrest and question them. What can we learn from their reaction to this found in Acts 4:24?

Observe and study the prayer the disciples offer in vs 24-30. In light of the events of the crucifixion and of their recent persecutions, how do the disciples view God? In this prayer, how do they view those doing the persecuting? What do (and what don’t) they ask for themselves?

CHALLENGE: After worshiping and praying together, the disciples “were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” This week, plan and schedule some time to pray and worship together with other believers. As we do this, let’s take note of how the Holy Spirit moves in and through us throughout the week. Perhaps he will open doors for us to speak the word of God boldly!