STUDY GUIDE for The Acts of the Apostles by Ellen G. White Prepared by E. G. White Estate Silver Spring, MD 20904 INTRODUCTION Of the five volumes in the Conflict of the Ages set of books written by Ellen G. White, perhaps the most important for the remnant church is The Acts of the Apostles. This volume should be re- quired reading for every minister, church leader, and member at this point in the history of God’s people—the time when the church looks forward to the second Pentecost and the falling of the latter rain. In The Acts of the Apostles and the biblical book of Acts, the remnant people of God find their spiritual roots. To understand what God expects of His church today, believers should study these two books. Here can be found the spiritual model for the modern church. Under the power of God’s Spirit, the church of God today is called to service for the purpose of completing the work begun by the apostles twenty centuries ago. The Study Guide for The Acts of the Apostles is designed for use in several ways, depending upon the interests of the user. Certain lessons provide a deeper understanding of the working of the Holy Spirit, or of the growth of the Christian church. Others focus on the lives and ministries of Paul, Peter, or John, or the books that came from the pens of these apostles. For those who wish to get an overview of the entire book of Acts, the Study Guide can be followed in a systematic way through lessons 1 to 29. The following subjects and chapters are suggested for shorter studies: (cid:127) Experience of the early Christian church: Lessons 1, 4, 5, 6, 10, 16, 20, 29. (cid:127) Ministry (paid, self-supporting, and lay): Lessons 17, 18. (cid:127) Holy Spirit: Lessons 1, 2, 3, 4. (cid:127) Paul: Lessons 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24. (cid:127)Peter: Lessons 4, 8, 10, 25, 26. (cid:127) John: Lessons 4, 27, 28, 29. (cid:127) New Testament Letters: Lessons 13, 15, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29. Several lessons include sentences with blank spaces for which words must be supplied. These sentences were carefully chosen because of the spiritual truths they contain. Completing these sentences should not be considered busywork; the sentences were designed to help fix important truths in the mind. It would benefit the student if these sentences were to become “memory verses.” Finally, a number code is given after each question to help the student find the answer to the question. For example, (153:4) indicates that the answer can be found in paragraph 4 on page 153. We believe that through a study of The Acts of the Apostles, the student will obtain a sense of mis- sion and the vision of a completed work. Ellen G. White Estate June, 1999 LESSON 1 Reading: The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 9-34; John 15 1. List six objectives for which God has organized the church (9:1). a. b. c. d. e. f. 2. How does God look upon any betrayal of His church on earth (11:2; 1 Cor. 3:16, 17)? 3. Complete the following sentence: “Enfeebled and _____ as it may appear, the _____ is the one _____ upon which God bestows in a special sense His __________” (12:1). 4. What is meant by the statement, God’s church “is the theater of His grace” (12:1)? 5. In what ways did ancient Israel rob God and man (14:2-15:0)? 6. What kind of people did Jesus choose to carry on His work on earth (17:1)? 7. At what point was the first step taken in the organization of Christ’s church (18:1)? -3- 8. What was the “middle wall of partition” that separated Israel from other nations (18:1- 19:3)? 9. How did Jesus propose to bring the disciples into a unity that would make it possible for His work to be done on earth (20:2)? 10. What made the work of the disciples so efficient (22:2; 29:1)? 11. Name two conditions essential to success in spreading the gospel (29:1). 12. Why must the influence of the Holy Spirit accompany the preaching of the gospel (31:1)? 13. Why was the preaching of the gospel to begin in Jerusalem (31:2-32:0)? 14. What assurance do we have that Jesus will return for His people (32:3-34:1)? Thought Question: Evaluate your own local congregation in view of the reasons why God has organized His church. How does it measure up? -4- LESSON 2 Reading: The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 35-46; Acts 2:1-39 1. List seven steps the apostles followed in preparation for the Day of Pentecost. (Share the steps you have chosen with others to see if they are the same.) a. 35:2 b. 35:2 c. 36:1 d. 36:1 e. 37:1 f. 37:2 g. 37:3 2. Complete the following graphic statement which describes what the Holy Spirit is capable of doing: “The sword of the _____, newly edged with _____ and bathed in the _____ of _____, cut its way through ________” (38:1). 3. What was the result of wielding the newly-edged Sword (38:1)? 4. What ceremony took place at Christ’s ascension (38:3)? 5. Of what was the descent of the Holy Spirit a token (39:0)? 6. What was the significance of the tongues of fire (39:1)? -5- 7. For what purpose was the gift of tongues given (39:2-40:0)? 8. How did the gift of tongues affect the disciples’ speaking in their own language (40:0)? 9. How do we know the gift of tongues on Pentecost was the gift to speak foreign lan guages (40:2; Acts 2:8)? 10. Based on the information about tongues given in this chapter, how would you under stand the experience of tongues-speaking as recorded in 1 Corinthians 14? 11. What enabled the people to see the truth contained in the apostles’ preaching (44:1)? 12. Give a description of the apostles before Pentecost, and then following Pentecost (45:2; 46:1). Thought Question: What would the gift of the Holy Spirit accomplish in God’s church today? -6- LESSON 3 Reading: The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 47-56; Acts 2:1-39 1. What will the gift of God’s Spirit bring within the reach of Jesus’ followers (47:1)? 2. What was the result of the giving of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (48:1)? 3. Complete the following sentence: “So _____ can God work when _____ give them selves up to the _____ of His _____” (49:1). 4. After receiving the power of God’s Spirit, to what degree were the early followers of Jesus freed from temptation and trial (49:3)? 5. What unhappy results prevail when the Spirit is a matter little thought of by the church (50:1)? 6. What answer would you give to Ellen White’s question (50:2), “Why do we not hunger and thirst for the gift of the Spirit?” 7. Definition of holiness: “Holiness is not ______: it is an __________ of the will to God: it is _____ by every word that ______ from the mouth of _____; it is _____ the will of our _____ _____; it is trusting God in ______, in _____ as well as in the _____; it is _____ by __________ and not by sight; it is _____ on God with _____ _____, and _____ in His love” (51:2). 8. Why is silence golden when it comes to the nature of the Holy Spirit (52:1)? -7- 9. What is the office of the Holy Spirit? a. 52:2 b. 52:3 c. 52:4 d. 52:5-53:0 10. Through whom has the Holy Spirit worked in past ages, and for what purpose (53:1)? 11. What is the Spirit enabling God’s people to do today (53:2-54:0)? 12. For what are some Christians waiting, and why is it dangerous to wait (54:1)? 13. In the time of the end, what will accompany the earnest efforts of God’s people while doing His work (54:2)? 14. With what periods in church history are the early and latter rains identified (54:2-55:1)? a. Early rain b. Latter rain 15. What will the latter rain accomplish (55:1)? 16. Who will receive the latter rain (55:2-56:2)? Thought Question: What steps are you presently taking to prepare yourself for the latter rain? If you cannot think of any, what changes can you make in your life so you will beprepared to receive the promised power? -8- LESSON 4 Reading: The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 57-69; Acts 3; 4:1-31 1. As the disciples began their work, how did they look upon themselves, and how was the problem resolved (57:1)? 2. Give the two preparatory steps taken by Peter and John that placed them in a position where they could be used by God as instruments of healing (57:2). 3. What was it in the crippled man’s background that led him to respond quickly to Peter’s command (57:2-58:1)? 4. Why were the Sadducees upset with the preaching of Peter and John (60:1-61:1)? 5. Why did the Jewish leaders refuse to recognize that the Holy Spirit was directing the preaching of the apostles (61:-62:0)? 6. Give two reasons why the wrath of God is declared against unrepentant sinners (62:1). a. b. 7. As Peter stood before the Sanhedrin, what was he determined to do (62:2-63:0)? 8. What course did the religious leaders decide to follow in dealing with Peter and John (66:2-67:1)? -9- 9. How many times were the apostles filled with the Holy Spirit, and what do you think was the purpose for each infilling? a. John 20:22 b. Acts 2:1-4 c. Acts 4:31 10. Under what circumstance have Christians found that they must defy the laws of their countries (68:1-69:1)? Thought Question: In what ways might God’s people today find themselves opposing truth and the working of the Holy Spirit? -10-