ACTS - WEEK 3
Pentacost
OPTIONAL: Watch Bible Project Video - Holy Spirit
READ ACTS 2:1-13
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested[a] on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
DISCUSS
1. What stands out to you from this passage? What questions does it raise?
2. Divide up the following passages. Exodus 3:1-16
Exodus 19:16-18
Exodus 40:34-38
Ezekiel 1:1-4
Luke 3:21-22
3. Read over them in groups of two or three then report back to the group what the passage was about and what similarities there are to the Acts 2:1-4
4. Pentacost shows that God is now present with his people. Do you tend to think about the reality of Gods presence? Why/ why not?
5. Read over Acts 1:8. How do you start to see this being fulfilled in the Pentacost account?
6. What does this miraculous speaking of other languages demonstrate about the power of the Holy Spirit.
7. In verse 7 its pointed out that those speaking are Galileans (just ordinary, relatively uneducated people from a relatively insignificant rural area)…
8. Why do you think this matters?
Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-28
26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.
9. How does the story of Pentacost give us confidence that God will empower those who might feel weak?
Apply & pray
1. In what ways would you like to be more aware of God’s personal presence with you?
2. What ways do you want to be praying that the Holy Spirit would be empowering you?
PRay
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APPLY.
PRAY.