ACTS - WEEK 9
When God is big and people are small.

ALPHA STARTS NEXT WEEK!

Start the study by asking if anyone attended the Alpha Preview night, as well as praying for anyone who has been invited.

ALPHA WEEK 1 - Monday Night - 22nd May - 7:30-8:30 pm. Includes Dinner… Bring your friends!

Read Acts 5:17-42

17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.

Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, 40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

DISCUSS:

Intro Question: When is a time you have done something/ or not done something because you were worried what people would think?

1. What stands out to you from the passage?

2. What are the disciples commanded to do by the angel? What would they risk by obeying this?

3. What reason does Peter give for disobeying the Sadducees instruction to not preach the Gospel?

4. Why do you think we are often more concerned with what others think of us / want us to do, than we are of what God thinks of us / calls us to do?

5. Look at Gamaliel’s insight in verse 35-39. How has this been proven true over the last 2000 years?

6. How should the knowledge that the spread of the Gospel is an Act of God encourage and embolden us?

7. Why did the disciples rejoice in in verse 41?

8. What is it about the gospel that would enable the disciples to be able to respond to suffering dishonour by rejoicing?

APPLY

Is there anyone in your life, who’s approval or disapproval means more to you than God’s
Is there anyone whom if you feared them less, you would be more active in speaking the Gospel to?
Is there anyone in your life whom you would like the courage to speak to this week, or even invite along to Alpha?

PRAY

Pray that we would fear God more than people, and that we would have the courage to invite along to Alpha.