TITLE

Scripture Text

PICTURE

Reminder: Pray to God to set your heart right as you engage His word. The text you are about to study was not written to you but is written for you. So, before applying, we must ask the following questions:

What did it mean to the original reader or original audience?

READ THE SCRIPTURE (Multiple times & translations, and notice the words that stand out)

Biblegateway (NIV, CSB, NLT) (My choice of all-round site. It is a great app, better on computers or on a smartphone)

Biblia.com (New Century Version) (Great on a computer, especially if you have a Logos account)

Summarize the main story: Describe the events and context of the chapter in your own words.

Review and retell the story.

Themes

Topics

Hashtags:

#Hashtags

Topical Bible Search Tool

Kevin's Teaching Blog About Acts 4

Potential Sermon Titles: ??

Intro Questions to get us thinking:

OBSERVATIONS (Reflect on the topic and build the concept the writer is trying to communicate to the original audience)

Pericopes and links to deeper study

Outline for Chapter

SECTION OUTLINE FOUR (ACTS 4)

The religious leaders arrested Peter and John and demanded to know by what power they healed the cripple. Peter says it was Jesus’ power! Ordered never again to preach about Jesus, the believers pray for courage, and still more people believe.

I. Frustration (4:1–3)

A. The anger of the Jewish leaders (4:1–2): They are disturbed because Peter and John are proclaiming that there is a resurrection from the dead.

B. The arrest by the Jewish leaders (4:3): Peter and John are seized and jailed overnight.

II. Multiplication (4:4): Despite persecution, the number of believers now reaches a new high of 5,000 men!

III. Interrogation (4:5–22): Peter and John are questioned by the high priest.

A. First ordeal (4:5–12)

1. Question (4:5–7): “By what power, or in whose name, have you [healed this cripple]?”

2. Answer (4:8–11): “He was healed in the name and power of Jesus Christ.”

a. The power (4:8–10): Invoking the name of Jesus alone is sufficient.

b. The prophecy (4:11): David predicted this (see Ps. 118:22).

c. The pardon (4:12): His name and his name alone results in redemption.

B. Private meeting (4:13–17)

1. The dismissal (4:13–15): The two apostles are sent out of the room for a while so the religious leaders can confer together.

2. The dilemma (4:16): The leaders agree that they cannot deny the healing of the cripple, because everyone in Jerusalem is aware of it.

3. The decision (4:17): They decide to call the apostles back in and threaten them.

C. Second ordeal (4:18–22)

1. The threats (4:18, 21–22): The religious leaders warn Peter and John never again to speak about Jesus.

2. The testimony (4:19–20): The apostles respond, “We cannot stop telling about the wonderful things we have seen and heard.”

IV. Supplication (4:23–30)

A. The believers acknowledge God’s sovereignty in dealing with his enemies (4:25–28).

1. David wrote of it (4:25–26): See Psalm 2:1–2.

2. The disciples witnessed it (4:27–28): They saw Pilate, Herod, and the Jewish leaders conspire against Jesus.

B. The believers ask for God’s strength in dealing with their enemies (4:23–24, 29–30).

V. Demonstration (4:31): God’s mighty power shakes the building!

VI. Cooperation (4:32–35): The believers sell their possessions and freely share with each other.

VII. Exemplification (4:36–37): A godly believer named Barnabas is singled out as an example of this sacrificial sharing.

ebible (NLT) (Best for having Bible sections divided by "pericope" or sections by thought)

Bible Project (NLT) (Helpful videos and instructions for the bigger picture)

Thematic Bible (Books and Chapters Structure)

Bible Hub = Outline, Themes, Topics, People, Locations, and Questions

Aria

STUDY RESOURCES (This takes some work, and here are more resources than you can go through completely)

Rhys N. Thomas @ Thomas Theology Hub has written on Acts.

Going Deeper: Go to the "Pericope" for more specific study.

God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?

Link to More Questions

APPLICATION (God wants us all to arrive at action, life-changing faith)

ESV (English Standard Version) Good translation with some helpful resources.

Biblegateway (CSB, NLT, The Message, ERV, CEV) has some application resources.

Virtual Bible Study

Heartlight (Great for practical application of scripture)

Precept Austin Devotionals

Verse of the Day

Scripture Graphics

Bible.org search site

https://www.openbible.info

I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
What transformative move needs to be made?
You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.

Take Away Challenges

What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?
Whom do you know who needs to hear this?
What is God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What beliefs, thoughts, or actions need to be addressed or changed?

PRAYER: In the Name of Jesus.