Study Guide and Notes for Acts 3

Horton Road Church of Christ / Spring 2010

Connecting Themes (from Introduction to Acts)

1. The Holy Spirit [Theme #1] (seen in the sign of the kingdom and preaching)
2. Evangelism [Theme #3] (seen in the sign of the kingdom and the preaching)
3. Fulfillment of scripture & God's purpose [Themes #4 & #6] (in Peter's preaching)
4. Prayer [Theme #5] (sets the stage for ministry and proclamation about God)

The Sign of the Kingdom (3:1-10)

1. As this scene opens, where were Peter and John going and why? Is this
significant? Why or why not? [Prayer created the context for the ministry and
teaching opportunity.]
2. What did Peter and John encounter? How did they respond?
3. Why is there a strong emphasis on "looking" (4 x in 3:4-5)?
4. What was Peter's point in saying they had no silver or gold (3:6)? Would he have
given silver or gold if he had it?
5. Is offering a sign of the kingdom instead of giving financial help a valid
evangelism strategy? Does this override Jesus' commands to help those in need
(i.e., Luke 12:33; 19:8; etc.)? Why or why not?
6. How was the man healed? What was the result of this healing? [The people
experienced wonder and amazement.] Was this a common result for Jesus?
(cf. Luke 4:36; 5:26; 7:16; 8:37; 11:14; etc.)

Explaining the Sign of the Kingdom (3:11-26)

1. So far in Acts, preaching has followed a sign of the kingdom (ch. 2; ch. 3). Why?
Is this necessary? Why or why not?
2. What was the people's response to the sign (3:11-12)?
3. How does Peter attribute the man's healing (3:16)? How does the healing
function as a main point of the sermon (3:12-16)? [The man was healed
because of Jesus' name and faith in that name; Jesus was God's man, the

© 2010 Jeremy Hoover / www.jeremyhoover.com / jeremyhoover@gmail.com

 Holy and Righteous One (3:14); they killed him, but God raised him,
reversing their mistake.]
4. How does Peter say God worked with their action in order to fulfill scripture
(3:17-18)? If this was foretold, why/how are the people held accountable?
5. What response does he call them to (3:19)? For what purposes? How are sins
wiped out? What is missing? How do you reconcile this verse with Acts 2:38?
6. What is God's purpose is converting people to Jesus (3:20-21)?
7. How do you understand the phrase "turn to God" (3:19)? [Turning to God
means committing to Jesus and faith in his name (3:16), which is why they
weren't “turned” to God even though many would have thought they were.]
What is the result of not turning to God in Jesus (3:23)?
8. What is the mission they are involved in? [God's blessing of the world in
Jesus.] How would they join in this mission? [By blessing others in Jesus'
name.] How do we join in this mission?

Notes
1. This chapter continues themes and provides continuity from Acts 2:42-47. 1)
The apostles are praying (2:42; 3:1); 2) they have no money (2:44-45; 3:6); 3)
they perform signs and wonders (2:43; 3:6-7); and 4) they elicit a positive
response from the people (2:43, 47; 3:11).
2. This passage describes Peter healing and teaching. Peter performs a sign of the
kingdom and then explains it. How did Jesus do this? How might we? What signs
of the kingdom can we perform? How would we explain them?
3. If they were to be involved in God's mission of blessing the world in Jesus, how
would they carry this mission out? How would we?

© 2010 Jeremy Hoover / www.jeremyhoover.com / jeremyhoover@gmail.com