Sunday School Lessons: Acts 1 Pt. 1

Lesson Two:
Section One:  Jerusalem

Jesus Christ at Work by the Holy Spirit through the Apostles in Jerusalem

OUTLINE Chapter 1  
The Coming of the Spirit
        1.  Intro 1:1-2
        2.  Post resurrection ministry of Jesus (40 days) 1:3-8
        3.  Ascension and Promised return 1:9-11
        4.  Waiting for the Spirit 1:12-15
        5.  Appointment of an Apostle 1:16-26

Review:

Who wrote the Book of Acts:
What is it about?
How is the book divided according to Acts 1:8:

    But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Read Acts 1:1-2 (Intro)

1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

Vs 1.    “the first account” is the Gospel of Luke
    Theophilus is also mentioned in the introduction of Luke’s Gospel
    “all that Jesus began to do and teach”—that is the Gospel!
        Jesus is still doing and teaching!

Vs. 2 just because he was taken up into heaven doesn’t mean he stopped “doing and teaching.”  Now he works through the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father—the seat of authority.  (Prophet, Priest, King)

40 day ministry of Jesus (1:3-8)
 Read:

3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  (that’s our key verse!)

Vs. 3  “he presented Himself alive”
There are 10 recorded appearances of Jesus between His resurrection and His ascension.  This was important to those living during this period of time in history.

This is important to us today—we have a living Savior (He ever lives to make intercession for us)

Vs. 4-5 the believers are gathered together and commanded by Jesus to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the Promise of the Father.  The promise of the Father was that they would receive the Holy Spirit that Jesus had told them about.

This is a spiritual baptism and an important part of the birth of the church.

Vs. 6 “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
    This was not a foolish question.  They were looking for the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament who would establish and everlasting kingdom. (vs. 3—kingdom of God).  Jesus had just been talking to them about “things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

Vs. 7 He lets them know that they will not have all the answers.  Neither will we.  This was not what Jesus was talking to them about at this time.  It is not up to us to know the future.  It is our responsibility to obey what is clearly taught in the Bible.  Jesus is giving them a commission—a job to do.  (Review from last week)

Vs: 8 This is a command to the church as a whole and to individual believers.  The church is a body made up of individuals.  We will see and understand this more and more as we go on in the study of the book of Acts.

So, what is the command?

To be a “witness of me” means to tell people about who Jesus is and what he has done and is doing.  That is the Gospel!

We are to share what we are learning so that others can learn and know Christ!  

We need power from the Holy Spirit
        To understand the Gospel
        To tell others about Jesus
        To obey His commands

*These lessons are written for use with elementary aged students.  You can find lessons for previous chapters here.