Christian Religious Studies · Lesson 9

Fellowship, Pentecost, mission and opposition in Acts

JAMBWAECNECO

What the syllabus asks

JAMB: 16 Fellowship in the early church: communal living (Acts 1:15-26; 2:41-47; 4:32-37); problems and solutions (Acts 5:1-11; 6:1-6); 17 The Holy Spirit and the mission of the church: Pentecost (Acts 1:8; 2:1-41); mission of the church (Acts 8:4-40); 18 Opposition to the gospel: Peter and John (Acts 3; 4:1-22; 5:17-42; 12:1-24); Stephen (Acts 6:8-15; 7); persecution by Saul (Acts 8:1-3)

WAEC: 18 Fellowship in the early church (Acts 1:15-26; 2:41-47; 4:32-37; 5:1-11; 6:2-6); 19 The Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2); 20 Opposition to the gospel (Acts 4:1-31; 5:17-42; 6:8-9; 7:1-10; 12:1-24). Acts 9 and 11:1-18 (mission to the Gentiles) are in cr10.

NECO: 18 Fellowship in the early church (Acts 1:15-26; 2:41-47; 4:32-37; 5:1-11; 6:2-6); 19 The Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2); 20 Opposition to the gospel (Acts 4:1-31; 5:17-42; 6:8-9; 7:1-10; 12:1-24). Acts 9 and 11:1-18 (mission to the Gentiles) are in cr10.

What you will learn

Describe the choice of Matthias and the communal life of the early church.
Narrate the events of Pentecost and summarise Peter’s sermon.
Identify the problems of the early church and how they were solved.
Narrate the arrests of Peter and John and explain their response to opposition.
Describe the ministry and martyrdom of Stephen and the persecution by Saul.
Describe Philip’s mission in Samaria and to the Ethiopian, and Herod’s persecution in Acts 12.

Key points

Acts 1:8 outlines Acts: Jerusalem, Judaea and Samaria, the ends of the earth.
About 120 believers prayed; Matthias was chosen by lot over Joseph Barsabas to replace Judas.
At Pentecost: rushing wind, cloven tongues of fire, speaking in other tongues; mockers said “full of new wine”.
Peter quoted Joel 2, preached the death and resurrection of Jesus, called for repentance and baptism; about 3,000 were added.
The believers continued in the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayers, and had all things common.
Barnabas (“son of consolation”) sold land; Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Ghost and died.
The Grecian widows’ complaint led to the choice of seven, including Stephen and Philip.
Peter healed the lame man at the Beautiful gate: “Silver and gold have I none”; first arrest; “none other name”.
Second arrest: angel freed them; “We ought to obey God rather than men”; Gamaliel’s advice; they rejoiced to suffer.
Stephen, full of faith and power, reviewed Israel’s history, saw the Son of man standing, prayed for his killers, and was stoned as Saul consented.
Saul made havock of the church; the scattered believers preached; Philip evangelised Samaria; Simon the sorcerer tried to buy the Spirit (simony).
Philip baptised the Ethiopian eunuch reading Isaiah 53; Herod killed James, Peter was freed by an angel, Herod died, and the word grew.

Start here: Waiting in Jerusalem and the choice of Matthias

The key verse of Acts

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, KJV)

This verse is the outline of the whole book: witness in Jerusalem (chapters 1–7), in Judaea and Samaria (8–12), and to the ends of the earth through Paul (13–28). Luke addresses Acts to Theophilus, as he did his Gospel (Acts 1:1; Lk 1:3).

The upper room (Acts 1:12-14)

The eleven returned from Olivet to an upper room. They “continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren” (1:14).

Choosing Matthias (Acts 1:15-26)

Peter stood up among the disciples, “the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty”. He explained that Judas’ fall fulfilled Scripture, quoting the Psalms: “his bishoprick let another take” (1:20; Ps 109:8). The replacement had to have accompanied them from the baptism of John until the ascension, so as to be “a witness with us of his resurrection”.

Two were nominated: Joseph called Barsabas, surnamed Justus, and Matthias. They prayed, “Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen”.

“And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” (Acts 1:26, KJV)

Lessons

Leaders were chosen with prayer and clear qualifications.
The number twelve was restored, showing the church as the renewed people of God (twelve tribes).
Casting lots was an Old Testament method (Prov 16:33). After Pentecost Acts never records it again; most churches today use prayer, discernment and election instead.
Unity and prayer prepared the church for the Spirit.

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Practice questions

1. Before Pentecost the apostles chose a replacement for Judas by

casting lots
a vote of the multitude
the word of Gamaliel
a dream

Show answer

A: casting lots
Acts 1:26.

2. On the day of Pentecost, the disciples were filled with the Holy Ghost and

went to the Temple to sacrifice
sold their lands
healed a lame man
began to speak with other tongues

Show answer

D: began to speak with other tongues
Acts 2:4.

3. Peter explained Pentecost as the fulfilment of the prophecy of

Jeremiah
Malachi
Joel
Isaiah

Show answer

C: Joel
Acts 2:16.

4. The early believers in Acts 2:42 continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship,

feasts and Sabbaths
breaking of bread and prayers
fasting and almsgiving
circumcision and sacrifice

Show answer

B: breaking of bread and prayers
Acts 2:42.

5. Ananias and Sapphira died because they

lied about the price of their land
refused to be baptised
persecuted the apostles
worshipped idols

Show answer

A: lied about the price of their land
Acts 5:1-10: Peter said Ananias had lied to the Holy Ghost.

Key words

Acts of the Apostles: The fifth book of the New Testament, written by Luke as a sequel to his Gospel (Acts 1:1).
Pentecost: The Jewish harvest feast fifty days after Passover (Feast of Weeks); the day the Holy Spirit came.
Holy Ghost / Holy Spirit: The third person of the Trinity; KJV says “Holy Ghost”, RSV “Holy Spirit”.
Glossolalia: Speaking in tongues.
Proselyte: A Gentile convert to Judaism.
Koinonia: Greek for fellowship, sharing or partnership.
Grecians / Hellenists: Greek-speaking Jews (Acts 6:1); KJV “Grecians”, RSV “Hellenists”.
Hebrews: In Acts 6:1, Aramaic-speaking Jews of Palestine.
Deacon: From Greek diakonos, servant; the seven of Acts 6 are traditionally seen as the first deacons.
Sadducees: A priestly Jewish party that denied the resurrection (Acts 4:1-2; 23:8).
Gamaliel: A Pharisee and respected teacher of the law who advised the council (Acts 5:34).
Martyr: One who dies for the faith; from Greek martys, witness.

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