Follow the LeaderActs 1-21 (An Overview)

Message 6 in our 14-part series on the Acts of the Apostles.

Sunday, August 10, 2014Speaker: Peter Benjamin

Acts 1:1-2a

1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up...

Acts 1:7-8

7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Key Themes From Acts 1:8

The Holy SpiritOur call to be witnessesA community of diversitySuccess (with suffering)

The Holy Spirit in Acts 1-21

Specifically referred to over 50 timesA few of His activities that get the most

attention in Acts:1. Dwelling within believers2. Directing believers and the church3. Filling believers to empower bold

proclamation of truth

The Holy Spirit Within Believers

2:17, 18, 38 - Peter’s message at Pentecost5:32 – Peter’s response to the Sanhedrin8:15, 17 – Philip brings the gospel to Samaria9:17 – Saul’s conversion10:44, 45, 47; 11:15, 16; 15:8 – Cornelius’

conversion19:2, 6 – Ephesian disciples who followed

John the Baptist receive the gospel

The Holy Spirit Directing Believers and the Church8:29 – Leading Philip to the Ethiopian man8:39 – Taking Philip away to Azotus10:19, 20; 11:12 – Telling Peter to go with

Cornelius’ servants13:2, 4 – Telling the Antioch Elders to sent

Paul and Barnabas 0ff to plant churches15:28 – Setting out the requirements for

gentile believers16:6, 7 – Forbidding Paul from entering Asia

and Bythinia

The Holy Spirit Directing Believers and the Church19:21; 20:22, 23; 21:4, 11 – Directing Paul to

go to Jerusalem20:28 – Directing the choosing of Elders

Filling Believers to Empower Bold Proclamation of Truth2:4 – Peter’s Preaching at Pentecost4:8 – Peter speaking to the Rulers and Elders4:31 – The believers’ faithful response to

persecution6:3, 5, 10, 55 – Stephen’s defense against false

accusations, and his death9:17-20 – Paul’s conversion11:24-26 – Barnabas and his ministry in Antioch13:9 – Paul confronting Elymas at Paphos(13:52) – The disciples in Antioch of Pisidia

Our Call To Be Witnesses2:14 – Peter at Pentecost3:12 – Peter’s message after healing the crippled

man4:8 – Peter’s defense to the Rulers and Elders4:31 – Believers’ response to Peter and John’s arrest7:2 – Stephen’s defense8:4 – The scattered believers preach wherever they

go8:5 – Philip preaches in Samaria8:35 – Philip explains the gospel to an Ethiopian man

Our Call To Be Witnesses9:20 – Paul begins to preach in Damascus days

after his conversion9:28 – Paul preaches in Jerusalem10:34 – Peter preaches to Cornelius and his

household11:19-20 – Scattered believers preach in many

places13-21 – Paul preaches in Salamis, Paphos,

Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, Troas, and other places

Community of Diversity2:42 – The church made up of Hebraic and

Hellenic Jews after Pentecost4:32 – The church a community of rich and poor6:1 – The church resolves ethnic tension between

Hebraic and Hellenic believers8:14 – Samaritans become believers8:39- The gospel makes its way to Ethiopia10:44 – The gentile Cornelius and his household

believe11:20 – The first church made up of Jews and

gentiles planted in Antioch

Community of Diversity11:29 – Grecian Jews and gentiles provide

financial help for the church in Jerusalem13-21 – Paul plants churches made up of Jews

and gentiles in Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, Philippi, Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, and others

15 – The Jerusalem church officially accepts gentile believers

Success (With Suffering)2:41 – Response of the crowd at Pentecost4:3,4 – Response of the crowd at the crippled

man’s healing; Peter and John arrested5:14 – More and more people believe5:17 – The apostles arrested5:40 – The apostles flogged6:7 – Many more believe after the church settles

tension between Hebraic and Hellenic believers6:12; 7:58 – Stephen falsely accused and then

killed

Success (With Suffering)8:1 – The church scattered by Saul’s

persecution8:14 – The church is planted in Samaria8:38 – An Ethiopian man believes9:23 – Hebraic Jews conspire to murder Paul9:29 – Hellenic Jews try to murder Paul9:31 – Many believe in Jerusalem9:42 – Many believe in Joppa10:44 – Cornelius and his household believe11:19, 20 – Scattered believers preach in many

places and many believe

Success (With Suffering)12:2 – James the brother of John is martyred by

Herod12:4 – Peter imprisoned by Herod13-21 – Many believers added and churches

planted all over Greece, Macedonia, Asia14:5 – A plot to stone Paul is foiled14:19 – Paul is stoned and left for dead16:22, 23 – Paul and Silas beaten and imprisoned17:6 – Jason and other believers falsely accused18:6, 12 – Paul opposed by abusive people and

taken to court

Follow the LeaderLuke 3:22; 4:1, 14 – Jesus lived and acted in

the power of the SpiritHe proclaimed the good news of the KingdomHe preached to Jews, Samaritans, and gentilesHe gathered around him a diverse group of

disciples:Rich and poorMen and womenEducated and uneducatedHe suffered and He succeeded