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Objective

In this lesson, we’ll see how the Holy Spirit empowered the early church to grow dramatically through bold preaching, faithful fellowship, and miraculous signs that demonstrated God’s power.

Key Verse

Acts 2:42: And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Introduction

One of the most exciting stories in all of Scripture is the explosive growth of the early church. In our previous lesson, we saw the disciples waiting in Jerusalem for the promise of the Holy Spirit that Jesus had given them before His ascension. Now we witness the dramatic fulfillment of that promise as the Spirit descended on the Day of Pentecost and transformed a small group of fearful followers into bold witnesses who turned the world upside down.

The book of Acts shows us that God desires His people to live and minister in the power of the Holy Spirit. What happened in those early days wasn’t meant to be a unique historical event that we only read about—it was meant to be the pattern for how the church should function in every generation. The same Holy Spirit who empowered Peter to preach with boldness, who enabled Philip to perform miracles, and who sustained Stephen through martyrdom is available to empower us today.

When we study the first twelve chapters of Acts, we see a remarkable demonstration of what God can accomplish through ordinary people who are filled with His Spirit and committed to His purposes. The church didn’t grow because of clever marketing strategies or impressive buildings—it grew because the Holy Spirit was working powerfully through believers who were devoted to prayer, committed to God’s Word, and willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of the gospel.

As we examine this thrilling period of church history together, we’ll focus on six key developments that show us how God built His church:

• The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost
• The growth patterns and priorities of the early church
• The martyrdom of Stephen and its impact
• The ministry of Philip in Samaria and beyond
• The dramatic conversion of Saul of Tarsus
• The expanding ministry of Peter to both Jews and Gentiles

The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit

The Day of Pentecost marks one of the most significant moments in human history—the birth of the New Testament church. The Holy Spirit came upon the believers who had been waiting, praying, and unified in the upper room, just as Jesus had promised. This wasn’t a gradual process or a quiet experience—it was a dramatic, unmistakable demonstration of God’s power that got the attention of the entire city of Jerusalem.

Acts 2:1-3: When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

Notice the powerful symbols that accompanied the Holy Spirit’s arrival. The sound of wind represented the Spirit’s invisible but irresistible power. Fire has always been a symbol of God’s presence and power throughout Scripture—from the burning bush where God spoke to Moses, to the fire that consumed Elijah’s sacrifice on Mount Carmel. Now that same divine fire rested upon each believer, marking them as vessels chosen to carry God’s presence into the world.

The immediate result of the Spirit’s outpouring was that the disciples began to speak in languages they had never learned. This miraculous gift enabled them to communicate the gospel to Jews who had come to Jerusalem from many different nations for the Pentecost festival.

Acts 2:4-8: All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?”

The crowd’s reaction reveals the supernatural nature of what was happening. These were simple Galileans—people who weren’t known for their education or sophistication—yet they were speaking fluently in languages from across the Roman Empire. The visitors to Jerusalem heard praises to God being proclaimed in their own native tongues.

Acts 2:11: We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!

Some in the crowd tried to dismiss what they were witnessing by suggesting that the disciples were drunk. (Notebook Moment: Why do you think people often try to explain away obvious miracles? What does this teach us about the human heart’s tendency to resist acknowledging God’s supernatural power?) But Peter stood up with the other eleven apostles and boldly addressed the crowd, explaining that this was the fulfillment of the prophet Joel’s ancient prophecy about the last days.

Acts 2:16-18: No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.’

Peter then preached the first Christian sermon, demonstrating from the Old Testament Scriptures that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the promised Messiah. He boldly declared that the same Jesus whom they had crucified was both Lord and Christ, risen from the dead and exalted to the right hand of God.

Acts 2:36: Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.

The response to Peter’s sermon was immediate and overwhelming. Three thousand people believed in Christ and were baptized that very day, becoming the founding members of the Jerusalem church.

Acts 2:41: Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

The Growth of the Early Church

The rapid numerical growth of the early church is impressive, but even more important are the principles and priorities that guided their development as a spiritual community. Luke carefully records the characteristics that marked these early believers, giving us a blueprint for healthy church life that remains relevant today.

The foundation of the early church’s growth was their commitment to four essential priorities, which we find clearly outlined in Acts 2:42:

Acts 2:42: They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

First, they were devoted to the apostles’ teaching—the Word of God. These new believers had an insatiable hunger to learn about their faith. They didn’t treat Bible study as an optional activity for particularly spiritual people; they understood that growth in Christ requires a steady diet of God’s truth.

Second, they committed themselves to fellowship—genuine Christian community. This wasn’t casual socializing, but deep, meaningful relationships built around their shared faith in Christ. They spent time together, cared for one another’s needs, and bore each other’s burdens.

Third, they regularly observed the breaking of bread—the Lord’s Supper. This practice kept them focused on Christ’s sacrifice and reminded them of their unity as members of His body.

Fourth, they devoted themselves to prayer. They understood that everything they accomplished must flow from their dependence on God, so they made prayer a central part of their corporate life.

The early church continued to grow even when they faced intense persecution. When Peter and John healed a lame man at the temple gate, the religious leaders threw them in prison and commanded them to stop preaching about Jesus. But instead of being intimidated, the apostles boldly declared that they must obey God rather than men. Their courage in the face of opposition actually attracted more people to Christ.

Acts 4:3-4: They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.

The Holy Spirit not only empowered the church for witness and growth—He also purified and disciplined the community when necessary. The story of Ananias and Sapphira demonstrates that God takes the integrity of His church seriously. When this couple lied to the Holy Spirit about their financial gift, claiming to give everything while secretly keeping back part of the proceeds, God’s judgment was swift and severe.

Acts 5:3-5: Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died.

This dramatic incident reminds us that God’s holiness demands honesty and integrity from His people. The fear that fell upon the whole church was healthy—it was reverent awe for a God who sees everything and will not tolerate deception among His people.

As the church continued to grow, the apostles faced the practical challenge of managing an increasingly complex ministry. The solution they chose reveals important principles about leadership and organization in the church. When Greek-speaking widows complained that they were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food, the apostles didn’t try to handle everything themselves. Instead, they appointed seven qualified men to serve as deacons, allowing the apostles to focus on prayer and the ministry of the Word.

Acts 6:2-4: So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

Two of these newly appointed deacons, Stephen and Philip, would soon become key figures in the expanding ministry of the church. Their stories show us that faithful service in smaller responsibilities often leads to greater opportunities for ministry.

The Martyrdom of Stephen

Stephen emerges from the pages of Acts as a remarkable man of faith whose brief but powerful ministry had a lasting impact on the early church. He was described as being full of faith, full of the Holy Spirit, and full of grace and power. His preaching was so compelling that his opponents couldn’t argue against the wisdom and Spirit by which he spoke.

Acts 6:8-10: Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.

When Stephen’s enemies couldn’t defeat him in debate, they resorted to false accusations and dragged him before the Sanhedrin. This gave Stephen the opportunity to preach one of the greatest sermons ever recorded in Scripture. In his defense, he traced Israel’s history from Abraham through Moses and the prophets, showing how God’s people had consistently rejected the leaders God sent to them. His message culminated in a bold accusation that pierced his listeners’ hearts.

Acts 7:51-53: You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him—you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.

The religious leaders’ response to Stephen’s sermon revealed the hardness of their hearts. Instead of repenting, they became furious and dragged Stephen outside the city to stone him. But even in his final moments, Stephen displayed the grace and forgiveness that characterizes true followers of Christ.

Acts 7:59-60: While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Stephen’s martyrdom had profound consequences for the spread of the gospel. The persecution that followed scattered the believers throughout Judea and Samaria, but instead of stopping the church’s growth, it actually accelerated the expansion of Christianity beyond Jerusalem. (Notebook Moment: How does Stephen’s example of forgiveness toward his enemies challenge your attitude toward people who have hurt or wronged you? What would it look like to show such grace in your current circumstances?)

Among the witnesses to Stephen’s death was a young man named Saul, who would later become the apostle Paul. While Saul approved of Stephen’s execution at the time, it’s likely that Stephen’s faithful witness and forgiving spirit made a lasting impression that God would later use in Saul’s conversion.

The Ministry of Philip

Philip, like Stephen, was one of the seven deacons chosen to serve the early church. But God had plans for Philip that extended far beyond distributing food to widows. When persecution scattered the believers from Jerusalem, Philip took the gospel to Samaria, becoming the first Christian missionary to cross significant ethnic and cultural barriers.

The Samaritans were despised by the Jews, who considered them to be religious and ethnic half-breeds. For centuries, there had been hostility between these two groups. But Philip boldly proclaimed Christ in Samaria, and God confirmed his message with miraculous signs and wonders.

Acts 8:5-8: Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city.

The response was overwhelming. Even Simon the sorcerer, who had amazed the Samaritans with his magic, believed and was baptized. When word reached Jerusalem about what was happening in Samaria, Peter and John came to see for themselves and to pray for the new believers to receive the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:14-17: When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

After this successful ministry in Samaria, God gave Philip a very different assignment. An angel directed him to travel south on the desert road from Jerusalem to Gaza, where he encountered a single individual—an Ethiopian eunuch who was returning home from worship in Jerusalem.

Acts 8:26-31: Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandace (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

The Ethiopian was reading from Isaiah 53, the great messianic prophecy about the suffering servant. Philip used this perfect opportunity to explain how this passage speaks about Jesus Christ. The man believed and was immediately baptized, then continued on his journey rejoicing in his newfound faith.

Acts 8:35-39: Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

Philip’s ministry demonstrates an important principle about evangelism: sometimes God uses us to reach large groups of people, and sometimes He sends us to minister to just one individual. Both kinds of ministry are equally important in God’s kingdom. The Ethiopian eunuch likely carried the gospel back to Africa, becoming the first Christian missionary to that continent.

The Conversion of Saul

The young man named Saul who watched approvingly as Stephen was stoned would soon become the most effective missionary in the history of the church. But at this point in the story, Saul was Christianity’s most feared enemy. He was completely committed to destroying the church and was systematically arresting and imprisoning believers.

Acts 8:3: But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

Acts 9:1-2: Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

Saul’s persecution of Christians wasn’t motivated by mere prejudice or politics—he genuinely believed he was serving God by trying to stamp out what he saw as a dangerous heresy. This makes his conversion all the more remarkable. Only God could transform such a zealous enemy into an equally zealous apostle.

The story of Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus is one of the most dramatic testimonies in Scripture. As he approached the city with letters authorizing him to arrest Christians, a light from heaven suddenly blazed around him, and he heard the voice of the risen Christ.

Acts 9:3-6: As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

This encounter reveals a profound truth: when we persecute Christians, we are actually persecuting Christ Himself. Jesus so identifies with His people that He takes their suffering personally. Saul thought he was fighting against misguided followers of a dead rabbi, but he discovered that he was actually fighting against the living Lord of the universe.

The men traveling with Saul witnessed the supernatural nature of this encounter, but they couldn’t understand what was happening. They heard the sound but couldn’t make out the words, and they saw the light but couldn’t see the Person who was speaking.

Acts 9:7: The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.

Saul was left blind by his encounter with the glorified Christ and had to be led by hand into Damascus. For three days he waited in darkness, neither eating nor drinking, until God sent a reluctant disciple named Ananias to minister to him.

Acts 9:10-16: In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

God’s words to Ananias reveal His amazing plan for Saul’s life. The man who had been causing Christians to suffer would now suffer himself for the sake of Christ. The persecutor would become the persecuted. But through his sufferings, Saul—who would become known as Paul—would carry the gospel to the far corners of the Roman Empire.

When Ananias laid hands on Saul, his sight was immediately restored, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. The transformation was so complete that Saul immediately began preaching that Jesus is the Son of God, amazing everyone who heard him.

Acts 9:20-22: At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

The Ministry of Peter

While the conversion of Saul represents a dramatic new chapter in the church’s mission, most of the early chapters of Acts focus on the ministry of Peter. The fisherman who had denied Christ three times during the crucifixion had become the bold spokesman for the early church.

Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost marked the official beginning of the church, just as Jesus had prophesied when He told Peter that He would build His church and that the gates of hell would not prevail against it.

Matthew 16:18: And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

Throughout the early chapters of Acts, we see Peter exercising the spiritual authority that Christ had given to the apostles. He healed the sick and even raised the dead through the power of the Holy Spirit. At Lydda, he healed a paralyzed man named Aeneas who had been bedridden for eight years.

Acts 9:32-35: As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

In nearby Joppa, Peter raised a beloved disciple named Dorcas (also called Tabitha) from the dead. This woman had devoted her life to caring for the poor, and when she died, the believers were heartbroken. They sent for Peter, who came and prayed over her body.

Acts 9:40-42: Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

But perhaps the most significant event in Peter’s ministry was his encounter with Cornelius, a Roman centurion who feared God but had not yet heard the gospel. This episode represents a crucial turning point in the early church’s understanding of God’s plan for salvation. (Notebook Moment: The story of Cornelius shows how God sometimes has to overcome our prejudices to accomplish His purposes. What barriers or biases might God be asking you to set aside so that His love can reach others through you?)

Through a series of visions, God prepared both Peter and Cornelius for their meeting. Peter received a vision of various animals being lowered from heaven in a sheet, with a voice commanding him to kill and eat. When Peter protested that he had never eaten anything unclean, the voice replied that he should not call unclean what God had made clean.

Acts 10:13-15: Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

At the same time, Cornelius received a vision instructing him to send for Peter. When Peter arrived at Cornelius’s house and preached the gospel, the Holy Spirit fell upon all the Gentiles who heard the message, just as He had fallen upon the Jewish believers at Pentecost.

Acts 10:44-48: While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

This event demonstrated that the gospel was indeed for all people, not just for Jews. It was an important first step in the church’s understanding that God’s salvation was available to every nation, tribe, and tongue.

Conclusion

The dramatic events we’ve studied in Acts 1-12 reveal several crucial truths about how God builds His church. First, we see that spiritual growth and ministry effectiveness depend entirely on the power of the Holy Spirit. The same disciples who had hidden in fear after the crucifixion became bold witnesses when they were filled with the Spirit. This teaches us that we cannot accomplish God’s work through human wisdom, talent, or effort alone—we need the supernatural enablement that only the Holy Spirit can provide.

Second, we learn that healthy church growth requires commitment to essential priorities: the Word of God, genuine fellowship, regular communion, and fervent prayer. The early church didn’t grow because they had perfect programs or impressive facilities—they grew because they devoted themselves to the fundamentals that God has established for spiritual development.

Third, we discover that persecution often becomes the catalyst for expansion rather than an obstacle to growth. When believers were scattered from Jerusalem by persecution, they carried the gospel to new regions. Stephen’s martyrdom, though tragic, opened doors for the gospel to reach the Samaritans and eventually the Gentiles. This reminds us that God can use even our most difficult circumstances to advance His kingdom purposes.

One of the most encouraging developments we see in these chapters is the emergence of the church in Antioch, where followers of Christ were first called Christians. This thriving fellowship represented the beautiful diversity of the early church, bringing together Jews and Gentiles in genuine Christian community.

Acts 11:26: And when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Even as the church grew and flourished, persecution continued. King Herod imprisoned Peter again, intending to execute him after the Passover. But the church united in fervent prayer, and God sent an angel to deliver Peter from prison in a miraculous way.

Acts 12:5: So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

Throughout these exciting chapters, we see the power of the Holy Spirit working as God’s people join together in prayer. This pattern continues to be God’s design for His church today. When believers unite in prayer, seek God’s face, and commit themselves to His Word, the same Spirit who empowered the early church is ready to work powerfully through us.

The story of the early church challenges us to examine our own lives and churches. Are we depending on the Holy Spirit’s power, or are we trying to accomplish spiritual work through human methods? Are we committed to the same priorities that marked the Jerusalem church? Are we willing to suffer for the sake of the gospel? Are we united in prayer and devoted to God’s Word?

The God who poured out His Spirit on the Day of Pentecost is the same God we serve today. The Jesus who appeared to Saul on the Damascus road still transforms lives through the power of the gospel. The Holy Spirit who empowered Peter to preach boldly and heal the sick is available to work through us as we surrender our lives to His purposes. May we learn from the example of these early believers and allow God to use us to continue the amazing story of the church’s growth in our own generation.

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