or “ Acts of the Holy Spirit ”

Acts of the Apostles or “Acts of the Holy Spirit”

Review • Who is the author of the Acts of the Apostles? • Luke • What other book in the Bible did he write? • Gospel of Luke • Who was his main audience? • Gentiles • Which Apostle was Luke associated with? • Paul

Acts: General Info • What are the two main themes in Act? • the restoration of the Kingdom of David (Israel) • The empowerment of this Kingdom through the Holy Spirit. • Who are the two main characters of Acts? • Peter & Paul • Why could Acts be subtitled the “Acts of the Holy Spirit”? • The numerous times the Apostles are described acting at the prompting or in the power of the Holy Spirit • Why do some scholars argue for Acts being written before 70 AD or even before 63 AD? • There is no mention of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple • There is no mention of the Peter and Paul being martyred

Pentecost • What did the Jewish feast of Pentecost celebrate? • The gift of the Law to Moses at Sinai. The Law is what formed them as a people and a nation. • Why is Pentecost important to the growth of the Church in its infancy? • The growth of the Church required the power of the Holy Spirit • What is the Great Commission? • Jesus commissioning the Apostles to evangelize the entire world. • Describe the phenomena of the Holy Spirit coming down upon the Apostles? • Tongues of fire, mighty wind, and speaking in languages they did not know.

Pentecost cont. • Peter says Pentecost is the fulfillment of the prophet Joel? Explain. • What was happening to them was the beginning of the Holy Spirit being given to everyone, not just important leaders of the Jews. • What are the four elements of the Kerygma • Jesus is the Son of God and Messiah • Jesus died on the Cross for our sins • Jesus rose from the dead proving He is God and has conquered sin and death • Believe in Jesus, repent and be baptized • Describe how the Apostles were different after they received the Holy Spirit? • Emboldened

Why did Jesus want the 12 Apostles to symbolize the 12 Tribes of Israel? • Jesus was creating the New Israel by establishing the Church • Give several examples of Peter using his authority that he received from Jesus? • Decided to fill Judas’ office • Preached to the entire crowd at Pentecost • Spoke for the Apostles before the Sanhedrin • Decided to have deacons • Announced God’s punishment on Ananias and Sapphira • First to baptize Gentiles • Had final word at Council of Jerusalem • Why did Ananias and Sapphira die? • Lying to God when they lied to Peter?

Common Life • Why were deacons chosen? What was their role? How did this help the Apostles? • They were chosen to serve the poor widows and their children. Their work freed the Apostles to continue to preach and teach. • How is the “common life” of the first Christians different than Socialism (no private property)? • They had freedom to keep all or some of their property, or sell some or all of their property. It was voluntary.

Christian Idenity • What religion did the first Christians consider themselves? • They considered themselves Jews that had the fullness of God’s revelation. • For what reason were Jewish Christians persecuted by their fellow Jews? • They were seen as heretics and blasphemers who were infecting the faith God had revealed to the forefathers. • Why didn’t the Romans persecute the Christians at first? • They were simply seen as a sect within Judaism. Jews at this time were given exemption from having to worship the Roman Emperor

St. Paul • What role did Paul have in the execution of Stephen? • He gave his approval by accepting the crowd’s cloaks. • What did Paul do after the death of Stephen? • Went to the Sanhedrin to get authority to persecute the Christians in other cities? • How was Paul converted to Christianity? • He met Jesus on the way to Damascus • Why did he become such a zealous Christian after zealously persecution the Church? • He was always zealous for God. Now he knew Jesus was God?

Paul cont. • Why is Saint Paul an Apostle? • He was specifically chosen by Jesus to preach the Gospel • What is his specific mission given to him by Jesus? • Preach to the Gentiles • Why is Saint Paul so important to Christianity? • Greatest theologian of the Apostles & tireless evangelist to the Gentiles? • Why would Jesus choose the Paul, a zealous Pharisee and student of Gamaliel? • To have an Apostle who would understand fully how Jesus fulfills the Law of Moses. Also look at above answer.

What is Necessary for Salvation • What was the dispute between Christians of Jewish background and Christians of Gentile background? • Do Gentile Christians have to be circumcised to be saved? • Why would Jewish Christian argue to keep the Mosaic Law even after Jesus had risen from the dead? • God’s revelation had been given to Abraham and his descendants over 1600 years. This revelation created them as a people and prepared the way for Jesus. It did not make sense to many Jewish Christians that so much Tradition would all be thrown out. • God gave Peter a vision with unclean animals in a sheet. What was God’s purpose in giving Peter that vision? • To prepare him to bring Gentiles into the Church, Gentiles who were previously seen as unclean.

Salvation ? Cont. • Why did Peter know God wanted Cornelius and his household baptized? • As he was preaching the Holy Spirit came upon them like it had on the Apostles at Pentecost • Why did God choose Peter to be the first to baptize Gentiles? • To prepare him to make the decision at the Council of Jerusalem that circumcision is not necessary to be saved. • What was Peter’s role in the decision at the Council of Jerusalem? • He had the final word that ended debate and was the decision of the Council. • According to the letter from the Council, who made the decision that Gentiles did not need to be circumcised to be saved? • The Holy Spirit and us (the Apostles). They see their decision as the Holy Spirit’s decision. They understand their Magisterial authority to teach infallibly.

Paul’s Theology • According to Paul circumcision doesn’t save Jews because both Jews and Gentile are under the power of : • sin. • According to Paul, Abraham was made righteous by faith not • circumcision . • For Paul the “flesh” describes: • Human nature damaged by original sin • Our inheritance from Adam is: • Sin and Death

Paul’s Theology • Our inheritance from Jesus is: • Forgiveness of Sins and Eternal Life • According to Paul how are we made righteous? • Through the Grace of Jesus received with Baptism • What made the Old Testament rituals like circumcision obsolete? • They did not forgive sins or perfect anyone so they can have eternal life

Death of Peter & Paul • How were Paul and Peter both martyred? • Paul was beheaded/ Peter was crucified upside down • Why did Nero kill them? • He began to blame the Christians for the burning of Rome • Who established the Church in Rome? • Peter

Fall of Jerusalem • Why were there several Jewish uprising in the 1st century? • It was expected that the Messiah would come and re-establish the Kingdom of David by defeating the Romans and drive them out of Israel. • In what year was Jerusalem and the Temple destroyed by the Romans? • 70 AD • Why did the Romans destroy Jerusalem and the Temple? • A Jewish revolt in 66 AD drove out the Romans. • How did the loss of the Temple and Jerusalem affect the Jewish people? • The city and central place of worship were gone. They had to find a new way to protect their identity and remain a people

Thesis

or “ Acts of the Holy Spirit ”