29

Acts 1–2

Introduction and Timeline

For a period of 40 days, the resurrected Savior visited His disciples and spoke to them “of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). Though Acts presents little detail of those days, it appears that during that time Church leaders received instruction on how to lead the Church in the Lord’s absence. Near the completion of those 40 days, Jesus Christ commissioned His Apostles to “be witnesses unto me … and unto the uttermost part of the earth” and was then “taken up” into heaven (Acts 1:8–9). Ultimately, the lives of many thousands were transformed by the ministries of these apostolic witnesses of Jesus Christ.

The events recorded in Acts 1–2 begin to show how the resurrected Jesus Christ led the Church through the ministration of the Holy Ghost. After seeking the Lord’s direction, Peter presided over the selection of a new Apostle. The Spirit was poured out upon the Apostles on the day of Pentecost. On that day about three thousand souls “were pricked in their heart” (Acts 2:37) by the Holy Ghost and, as instructed by Peter, repented and were baptized. The young Church was flourishing.

Chapter Overviews

Acts 1

Jesus Christ ministered to His Apostles for 40 days following His Resurrection. The Apostles witnessed Him ascend into heaven. The Apostles and others united in prayer and supplication. Peter presided over the calling of Matthias as a new Apostle.

Acts 2

The Apostles were filled with the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost and experienced the gift of tongues as they preached the gospel. Peter proclaimed that Jesus is both Lord and Christ and invited people to repent, be baptized, and receive the Holy Ghost. About three thousand souls were converted and baptized that day and continued steadfast in the Church.

Suggestions for Teaching

First Day of Class

For most institute classes throughout the world, this will be the first lesson of a new semester. It is important to help students have a meaningful experience on their first day. Try not to spend too much time discussing the course outline or other expectations. On their first day of class, give students a glimpse of what they can expect in this course by teaching a meaningful lesson from the scriptures.

Introduction to Acts through Revelation

Consider beginning class by giving students a short quiz on their overall knowledge of the second half of the New Testament. Give each student a small sheet of paper and ask them to write answers to the following questions. Pause briefly after each question to allow students time to write their responses:

1. Who was the Lord’s servant who presided over the Church following the Savior’s death? (Peter.)

2. Name three or four of the writers of the books found in the second half of the New Testament. (Luke, Paul, Peter, James, John, Jude.)

3. Which single author wrote the majority of the books in the New Testament? (Paul.)

4. Most of the cities mentioned in Acts through Revelation are located in what modern countries? (Turkey, Greece, Italy, Israel.)

5. Do you have a favorite scripture from the second half of the New Testament? If so, what is it?

After briefly discussing student responses and the correct answers, have students read Acts 1:8, looking for the places where the Savior told His disciples to take the gospel message. Explain that Acts 1:8 outlines a general framework for the book of Acts and the writings of the Apostles. Acts 1–7 describes the Church’s growth in Jerusalem; Acts 8–9 highlights the labors of the Apostles in Judea and Samaria; and Acts 10–28, along with the epistles and Revelation, relates the Apostles’ ministry to “the uttermost part of the earth.” Ask:

• What phrase in Acts 1:8 describes what the disciples were to do throughout the world? (“Be witnesses unto me.”)

• What does it mean for a member of the Church today to be a witness of Christ?

Write the following on the board:

Peter: Acts 2:22–24, 32–33, 36

Paul: 1 Corinthians 15:3–8, 21–22

John: 1 John 1:1–7

Explain that Peter, Paul, and John were Apostles and were three of the major writers of the second half of the New Testament. Ask students to study the scripture references on the board silently, looking for what the writings of Peter, Paul, and John have in common. Students should be able to express this truth in their own words: The books written by the early Apostles contain their witnesses and testimonies of Jesus Christ. Ask students what impresses them most about the witnesses of Jesus Christ expressed by these three Apostles.

After students share what impressed them most about the testimonies of Peter, Paul, and John, challenge students to set a goal to read from the New Testament daily and to look for what the early Apostles taught of Jesus Christ.

Daily Personal Scripture Study

Seminaries and Institutes of Religion teachers are to help students develop the habit of daily personal scripture study. Encourage your students to read the New Testament during this course. You might also encourage them to read the assigned chapters before they come to class. When students do this, they are more likely to participate in the lesson and to be taught by the Holy Ghost.

Note to teacher: Before you teach Acts 1–2, students might benefit from hearing you share a few of the details you find most important in the section “Introduction to the Acts of the Apostles” in chapter 29 of the student manual.

Acts 1

The Resurrected Savior Prepared His Disciples to Lead the Church

Help students understand the context of the book of Acts by reminding them that throughout the first books of the New Testament, we learn how Jesus established the Church and prepared His followers for the time when He would not be physically present to lead them. Invite students to turn to the student manual commentary for Acts 1–2, and ask a student to read the statement by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. Ask the rest of the class to follow along and consider how Jesus Christ led the ancient Church after He ascended into heaven and how He leads the Church today.

• How does Jesus Christ lead His Church today?

• What are some examples of how Jesus Christ leads the Church today through the Holy Ghost?

Testify that the Lord continues to direct His Church through the Holy Ghost today.

Ask students to read Acts 1:1–5, 8 silently, looking for how the Lord continued to prepare His Apostles for their assignment to preach the gospel to all the earth.

• What does Acts 1:4–5 teach was the Father’s promise to the Apostles and the reason the Apostles were to remain in Jerusalem? (To receive the Holy Ghost.)

• Why do you think the Apostles would need the Holy Ghost as they went forward with the responsibility of leading the Church? (After hearing student responses, write this truth on the board: The Lord directs the Church through the ministration of the Holy Ghost.)

Encourage students as they read the book of Acts at home to watch for instances of Jesus directing Peter and the other Apostles, as well as other Church members, through the Holy Ghost. Ask students:

• What are some things a Church leader might do when acting under the direction of the Holy Ghost? When have you seen a Church leader acting with divine help or power from the Holy Ghost?

• When have you experienced divine help or power from the Holy Ghost?

Summarize Acts 1:9–20 for your students by pointing out a few details from these verses, such as the following: after teaching His Apostles for 40 days, Jesus ascended into heaven (verse 11); the Apostles returned to Jerusalem and continued together in prayer and supplication with other followers of Jesus (verses 12–14); Peter explained to about 120 disciples that they needed to select a man to replace Judas Iscariot as an Apostle (verses 15–20).

Note to teacher: As you consider the needs of your students, you might want to use the short supplemental teaching idea for Acts 1:6–11, found at the end of this lesson.

Invite students to search Acts 1:21–26 silently, looking for how the Apostles determined who would become the new Apostle. Record student answers on the board. The board might look something like the following:

The Apostles identified men who were qualified to be witnesses of the Savior.

They counseled together.

They prayed to know whom the Lord had chosen.

They each gave an inspired recommendation (“gave forth their lots”).

Refer to the statement you wrote on the board earlier—the Lord directs the Church through the ministration of the Holy Ghost—and ask the following questions to help students analyze the actions of the Apostles:

• How does the procedure the Apostles followed illustrate the truth written on the board?

• How do you think this procedure might be similar to how Apostles are chosen today? (Consider reading with students the student manual commentary for Acts 1:21–26.)

• How does being aware of this process increase your faith that modern Apostles are called of God and directed by Him?

Acts 2

Manifestations of the Holy Ghost in the Church

Prepare students for the next activity by having a student read the student manual commentary for Acts 2:1. Ask students if any of them feel confident in summarizing the events described in Acts 2. If no student volunteers, give students a brief overview of Acts 2, perhaps by reading the chapter overview for Acts 2, found at the beginning of the lesson.

Divide your class into three groups. Assign one group to study Acts 2:4–11, another to study Acts 2:14–24, and the third to study Acts 2:37–47. Ask students to look for and consider marking in their scriptures various ways people were blessed because they heeded the influence of the Holy Ghost. Explain that they may not find direct references to the Holy Ghost, but they may need to look for how the Holy Ghost influenced what occurred.

After a few minutes, have students share with the class what they found. Answers might include the following:

Acts 2:4–11. The gift of tongues enabled the Apostles to preach the gospel in the various languages of the people.

Acts 2:14–24. Peter expounded the scriptures and testified of Christ by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:37–47. The people believed Peter, were pricked in their hearts by the Holy Ghost, gladly received the word, sought baptism, and “continued steadfastly” in faithfulness.

Help students state a principle taught in Acts 2 by asking:

• What can we learn about the Holy Ghost from what happened on the day of Pentecost? (After hearing student responses, write this principle on the board: When we receive the Holy Ghost, we increase in spiritual power and ability.)

You can deepen student understanding of how the Holy Ghost increases our spiritual abilities by asking additional questions such as:

• What did Peter do to prepare his listeners to feel the Holy Ghost? (He taught from the scriptures; he taught about Jesus Christ and bore testimony of Him.)

• What did the people do that allowed them to be converted through the power of the Holy Ghost? (They exercised their agency by listening with open hearts, exercised faith in an Apostle’s testimony, repented, were baptized, and continued to faithfully follow the doctrine taught by the Apostle.)

• How could remembering the actions of Peter and those converted on the day of Pentecost help us in our institute class and Sunday meetings?

Testify that doing the things that helped the Holy Ghost influence the ancient Apostles and other members will also strengthen our testimonies today. You might also help students to feel the importance of having and responding to the Holy Ghost in their lives by asking:

• What is an experience you have had recently when you felt the Holy Ghost strengthen your testimony or increase your spiritual abilities?

Conclude by sharing your testimony that modern Church leaders are led by the Holy Ghost.

Supplemental Teaching Ideas

The Books of Acts through Revelation Are Relevant Today

As an introduction to the second half of the New Testament, you could use this teaching idea to show how the apostolic writings are relevant to challenges and conditions in today’s world. Organize students into small groups, and have each group study one set of the scripture passages listed below. As they study, ask students to (1) identify what gospel subject the early Apostles were discussing, and (2) consider how this gospel subject is relevant in our day. (Some gospel subjects addressed in these scriptures are shown in parentheses.) After sufficient time, lead a class discussion on what students discovered. Students should be able to understand this truth: The Church at the time of the early Apostles dealt with some of the same issues that the Church deals with today.

• Colossians 2:8; 2 Timothy 3:1, 7 (Avoiding being misled by philosophies of men)

• 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:4 (Treating the body as sacred)

• 1 Corinthians 7:3; 11:11; Ephesians 5:25, 28, 33 (Honoring marriage relationships)

• Acts 5:27–29; Romans 1:16; 2 Timothy 1:7–8, 12 (Being unashamed of the gospel)

• Romans 1:24–27; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Peter 2:11 (Avoiding sexual sins, including homosexual relations)

Ask students how knowing that the ancient Church dealt with some of the same issues that are dealt with in the Church today can help them in their study of the New Testament.

Acts 1:6–11. Jesus Christ’s Ascension into Heaven

Show students a picture of the Savior’s Ascension, such as The Ascension of Jesus (Gospel Art Book [2009], no. 62; see also LDS.org), and invite them to read Acts 1:6–11. Ask a few initial questions about the Savior’s Ascension, such as: What is happening in this picture? What thoughts and feelings do you think the Apostles might have had as Jesus Christ ascended into heaven? Then show students a picture of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, such as The Second Coming (Gospel Art Book, no. 66), and ask students what truth concerning the Second Coming of Jesus Christ they learn from Acts 1:6–11. Students should be able to state this truth: At His Second Coming, Jesus Christ will return to the earth in the same manner as He was taken up.

Acts 2:5–11. The Apostles Preached the Gospel in Various Languages

If you wish to help your students learn more about the gift of tongues, consider asking a returned missionary in your class who learned a foreign language on his or her mission to answer questions such as: What experiences did you have learning a foreign language in the Missionary Training Center and in the mission field? What was most difficult about learning the language? How long was it before you felt you could preach the gospel in your new language? Then have your class look in Acts 2:5–11 and the map found in the student manual commentary for Acts 2:5–11 to find answers to the following:

• How many nationalities were in the multitude of people who heard the gospel preached in their own language?

• Why were people who spoke so many different languages able to understand the Apostles, who did not speak these languages?

Read together the student manual commentary for Acts 2:5–11. Help your students to understand this doctrine: The gift of tongues is a spiritual gift that helps us preach the gospel to people of all nations. Consider having some of the returned missionaries in your class share their thoughts about the gift of tongues and their experiences with this gift.

Acts 2:36–38. First Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel

Have students read Acts 2:36–38, and ask them to find where the first four principles and ordinances of the gospel are mentioned. You might consider leading a short discussion on why faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost are considered “the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel” (Articles of Faith 1:4). Some points to discuss include: faith in Jesus Christ leads to a knowledge of other gospel doctrines and principles; our faith in Christ motivates us to repent and seek baptism; baptism is the initial ordinance leading to salvation; following our baptism, we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost through a priesthood ordinance; the Holy Ghost confirms in our minds and hearts all gospel truths. Ask:

• Think about each of the principles and ordinances Peter mentioned in Acts 2:38. How is each one essential to receiving the full blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ?

• How can knowing that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel were essential in Peter’s day help you share the gospel with others today?