Acts of Apostles in the Early Church 

Acts 1:1-14 Introduction and the 40 days from resurrection to ascension

Luke's "first book" (his Gospel) is an account of all that Jesus began to do and teach during his life on earth. Acts continues the story of his work after the ascension by the power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the apostles. It shows how the promise in verse 8 was fulfilled in Jerusalem and in Samaria and way beyond. 

A cloud (verse 9): all that human eyes could see of the glory of God's presence.

Sabbath day's journey (verse 12): the law limited travel on the sabbath to 2,000 cubits, about two thirds of a mile.

Mary...and his brothers (verse 14): this is the last time Jesus' mother is mentioned in the New Testament, and the first time his brothers are associated with the disciples. We know at least one of them, James, had seen the risen Jesus. 

Acts 1:15-26 A twelfth apostle is chosen

As far as we know, this is the last time the apostles use the time-honored method of casting lots. It 's a decision is made after much prayer. The twelfth man had to have been with Christ throughout his earthly ministry, and to have seen him after the resurrection.

Acts 2:1-13 Pentecost: coming of the Holy Spirit

With the coming of the Holy Spirit -- made evident by inward transformation and signs that all can see and hear -- the waiting is over. The apostles and disciples become the new church, full of life and power, as different from their former fearful selves as can be imagined.

Pentecost (verse 1): the old Jewish festival of first-fruits, which took place at the start of the wheat harvest. It was 50 days after Passover, the time of Jesus' crucifixion.

Each heard in his own language (verse 6): the audience of Jews and converts were from many countries, though all would speak either Greek or one of the Aramaic dialects. Normally the apostles' difficult Galilean speech would have been had to follow. Now, to their astonishment, everyone in this mixed audience heard his own language being spoken. The curse of Babel is reversed.  

Acts 2:14-47 Peter's sermon and what follows

The sermon evokes an immediate response. Baptism is followed by a new, joyous sense of community. And spiritual unity finds practical expression in readiness to share money and possessions. 

The third hour (verse 15): 9 a.m., and on that day there was fasting until mid-morning.

Acts 3-4:31 Healing of the lame man, and Peter and John taken into custody.

Healing and teaching together were made possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. It's the teaching, centering as always on the risen Christ, which annoyed the Sadducees as they denied the resurrection. Paul divided the Pharisees and Sadducees over the very same question.

The resurrection was the core of the Christian message from the very earliest days. The apostles spoke about Jesus and the resurrection everywhere,  so much that the Athenians thought Paul was talking about two new deities. 

The ninth hour (verse 3:1): 3 p.m. Prayer times were early morning, afternoon (as here) and sunset. The fist two coincided with the morning and evening sacrifices.

Annas...Caiaphas (verse 4:6): Annas was senior ex-high priest, his son-in-law, Caiaphas, ruling high priest.

This is the stone (verse 11): a quotation from Psalm 118:2.

Acts 4:32-5:11 Ananias and Sapphira

The pooling of property was quite voluntary, but some were prompted less by real generosity than by a desire to impress. In lying to the church, Ananias and Sapphira were practicing deceit against God himself. The terrible consequences served as an example to the whole church.

Acts 5:12-42 Apostles before the council

It was like the days of Jesus in Galilee all over again, so many were being healed by the apostles. No wonder the Jewish authorities grew jealous of their enormous influence.

But threats, imprisonment, even the lash was no weapons with which to resist the power of God.

Solomon's Portico (verse 12): it was common practice for groups to meet for teaching and discussion in the courts of public buildings, and for the disciples to listen to their teachers in the courts of the temple.

The Christians met in Solomon's porch, but knowing the authorities' hostility towards them, the bystanders kept their distance.

This man's blood (verse 28): the apostles openly held the council responsible for Jesus' death, and they feared reprisals. 

Gamaliel (verse 34): leader of the Pharisees and Paul's teacher.

Acts 6 Seven appointed, and Stephen arouses opposition

Complaints came from the Greek-speaking, non-Palestinian Jews of unfairness in the daily share-out. The apostles' answer was to let them choose seven of their own number -- men of spiritual strength -- to oversee these practical matters.

At least two left a permanent mark on the young church: Stephen, a powerful preacher, the first martyr, and Philip the evangelist.

The charge against Stephen was blasphemy -- the very charge that was brought against Jesus. Stephen seems to have been among the first to foresee the inevitable break with Jewish worship that the new teaching entailed.

Acts 7-8:1a Stephen's defense and death

The defense took the form of a review of the nation's history. The court knew the facts, but the interpretation was revolutionary. 

Israel of old rejected the prophets from Joseph and Moses onward. The present generation rejected the Messiah himself. Verses 44-50 are Stephen's answer to the charges about the destruction the the temple. A permanent building to "house" God was never more than second-best. 

The witnesses...Saul (verse 58): the prosecuting witnesses by law had to cast the first stones, though in other respects particular affairs was little more than a lynching. The "young man" Saul was probably in his thirties and appears here for the first time.