Acts 1-13 Walking in Power

Jesus tells the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promised baptism of the Holy Spirit who will give them power to witness. He then ascends into heaven while they watch Him be lifted into the clouds. Two angels tell the disciples that Jesus will return in the same way. The disciples return to Jerusalem, devote themselves to prayer, and select Matthias as Judas’s replacement.

50 days after Jesus’s ascension He baptized His disciples with the Holy Spirit who appeared as tongues of fire. The disciples miraculously spoke in the tongues (languages) of Jews from 16 countries gathered in Jerusalem. Peter preached Joel’s prophecy was being fulfilled as God poured out His Spirit on believers. Peter preached prophecy yet to be fulfilled. Peter preached Jesus is the  prophesied, crucified, resurrected, ascended, and returning Lord.

Peter declared prophecy fulfilled, proof of Jesus’s deity, personal accountability, and to repent for the forgiveness of sin and to receive the Holy Spirit.

Peter heals a lame man in the name of Jesus, explains prophecy, and calls on people to repent and be saved.

Acts 4:1-31 Peter and John are put in jail for teaching the resurrection from the dead in Jesus. They proclaim to the Council there is no other name but Jesus’s by which a person can be saved.

Acts 4:32-5:42 Believers experience abundant power and grace. Satan fills Ananias and Sapphira’s heart to lie to the Holy Spirit. An angel frees the apostles after being jailed by the jealous priests. Arrested again, Peter tells the Sanhedrin they must obey God rather than men. Gamaliel recommends freeing the apostles, but first they are flogged. The apostles rejoice that they are worthy to suffer for Christ and continue right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Saul’s persecution of Christians causes Philip to take the gospel to Samaria, an Ethiopian eunuch, and cities from Azotus to Caesarea.

Saul is converted from persecuting Christ to being Christ’s witness. Jesus uses the house of Judas, “go-so” Ananias, and encouraging Barnabas.

Peter heals paralyzed Aeneas, raises disciple Tabitha from the dead, and preaches Jesus to Cornelius’ family and friends, who are saved.

Believers are first called Christians at Antioch. The Lord delivers Peter from prison.

The Holy Spirit sets apart and sends Barnabas and Paul from Antioch, Syria to Cyprus and Pisidian Antioch where the Word of the Lord is met with both faith and opposition.