GO, STAND, AND TELL THE MESSAGE

Acts 5:17-6:7                                                                                                              Key Verse: 5:20 

"Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life."

Read verses 17-21a. Who arrested the apostles and why? How did they get out of jail (Heb 1:14)? What command was given to them? What can we learn about God as our commander in chief? Consider each command or statement: 1) “Go,” 2) “Stand in the temple courts,” 3) “the full message,” and 4) “this new life.” What did they do at daybreak? 

Read verses 21b-26. When did they know about what's going on? Read verses 27-29. How did the high priest rebuke them? What was the apostles' answer (compared with 4:19, 20)?  

Read verses 30-32. How did they make the most of this opportunity to witness about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit? What did they try to teach the Jewish leaders? Did the listeners repent (33)? 

Read verses 34-39. Who was Gamaliel and how did he help the apostles? Read verses 40-42. Why did they rejoice even after they had been flogged? What can we learn from them (1Peter 4:13)?

Read 6:1-4. As the church grew, what problem arose? (1) How did the apostles decide to deal with it? Why was this an important decision? What was the result? (7)