Acts 1:1-11

Bible Study Questions

Acts 1-11

Paul J. Bucknell

Bible Study Questions
Acts 1:1-11
Getting a Right Life Focus

Paul J. Bucknell

Purpose: The Holy Spirit has not only commanded these disciples here in Acts 1 but also called and equipped each of His followers with the Holy Spirit so that they would take part in His strategic work in these last days to expand His kingdom.

Acts 1:1-11

1:1 ¶ The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when He was taken up, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. 3 To these He also presented Himself alive, after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. 4 And gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “You heard of from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:1-5).

  1. What is the basic difference between the Book of Acts and the Gospels?

  2. Who was it that wrote Acts? Who did he write to? Why?

  3. Read Acts 1:1-3 carefully and observe where the Gospels end and Acts begins. (Compare Luke 1:1-4 if you wish).

  4. What do we know of what Jesus taught from His resurrection to His ascension? Look at Luke 24 if needed.

  5. Over how long a period did Jesus reveal Himself and teach His disciples (Acts 1:3)? Where else is this number used in the scriptures?

  6. What is it that Jesus spoke of during this time period (Acts 1:3)? What does this phrase mean? Do we think of our faith in these terms? Why or why not?

  7. What was the command to Christ’s disciples in Acts 1:4? Did they obey?

  8. What was the reason for this command? Did Jesus say (Acts 1:5)? What does it mean?



Acts 1:6-11

6 ¶ And so when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8 but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” 9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was departing, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them; 11 and they also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:6-11).

What is it that the disciples asked Jesus in verse 6? Why do you think they asked this question? (If time allows, go through the Book of Luke and pick out verses that spoke about the disciples’ expectations and how they often got them into trouble).

Tell the meaning of Jesus’ words in verse 7 in your own words. Do you ever have such questions? Does it matter? Why or why not?

What does Jesus say in Acts 1:8 that they will experience?

What does the phrase ‘receive the Holy Spirit’ mean? Was this only for them or for others like us? In what way? Didn’t they already have the Holy Spirit? Compare Ephesians 1:13.

How was this work of the Spirit going to help them? Where will they be His witnesses?

What does ‘witness’ mean (cf. Nu 35:30; De 19:15; Rev 3:14)? Were they? How does it apply to us or should it?

What other Biblical passages have this same or similar meaning?

What happened after Jesus said these things (1:9-11)?

Where is Jesus now? What does it state about the future? What does Jesus leave His disciples to do in the meantime? How does that expectation affect our own lives?

Further Discussion on Missions

  1. Why is it that this passage often used to mobilize Christians in missions? How do we know that these words are not only for those early Christians?

  2. This word for witness is the same as martyr (e.g. Rev 3:14). What does this say about the determination to openly accept God’s claim to testify of Christ throughout the world.

  3. How should these last words of Jesus shape the world perspective of all Christians? Explain.

  4. How does the work of the Holy Spirit relate to the work of missions?

  5. What is Jesus doing now? Read how Jesus Christ was a faithful witness in Revelation 1:5. How does He relate to His church?

  6. Application

  • Have each person share either how they need the Spirit of God to more effectively work in them so that they are a better witness or how they can be more strategic in their ‘witnessing.’


Acts: Other BFF Articles
Acts                Introduction and Outlines
Acts Map:       Paul's 1-2 Journeys
Acts Map:       Paul's 3 & Rome Journeys
Acts_07_        Stephen's Defense
Acts_8.2-25    Persecution & Evangelism
Acts_8.14-24  Simon & Gnosticism
Acts_8.25-40  Ethiopean Eunuch
Acts_9:1-22   Saul the Terrorist
Acts_8-9        Perspectives on Conversion
Acts_10:1-48:       Intersecting in Time: Vision #1
Acts_10:9-16        Vision #2 Peter
Acts_10:17-48      The Meeting that Changed History
Acts_10:34-44      The Christian Historical Message
Acts_13-14           Paul's First Missionary Journey
Acts_13:1-3          Sending Out Missionary Church
Acts_13:4-12        Power Encounter in Cyprus
Acts_13:13-50      Gospel Message in Antioch
Acts_13:51-14:28 Other Missionary Stops
Acts 20:28-30       Detecting Error in the Church


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Biblical Foundations for Freedom

Paul J. Bucknell

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