Inductive Bible Study - Acts 1

Inductive bible study is often viewed as the domain of conservative evangelicals. In my opinion, it should equally be the domain of progressive Christians. By simply using the text, you can allow students to see for themselves what the author is saying and how one text may differ from another.

Here are 12 questions from the first chapter of Acts. Try them out, use them with your own study group, or create your own. Just structure the questions so that the answer must come from the text you are studying, not from someone's personal opinion.

1. According to Luke, Jesus appeared to his disciples over what time period following his resurrection? What was the primary topic of his communication with his apostles?

2. What does Luke mean when he says Jesus was taken up into heaven?

3. How does the opening narrative in Acts modify Luke’s account of the resurrection in his gospel (volume 1of Luke/Acts)?

4. Why does Jesus command the disciples to stay in Jerusalem? How does this differ with the message given the disciples in Mark and Matthew?

5. How does Luke contrast the baptism of John with the baptism that the apostles will soon receive? How do you understand this subsequent baptism?

6. What is the key question the disciples ask Jesus? How does Jesus respond?

7. What teaching points are made by Luke in his narrative of the ascension of Jesus?

8. Who makes up the cadre of disciples that assemble together in Jerusalem following Jesus’ ascension? How many disciples are not named?

9. How is the death of Judas portrayed? How does this differ from other accounts?

10. What does the account of the death of Judas demonstrate about how the early Christians used scripture in relation to the events they experienced surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus?

11. What is the consequence of their reading of the Psalms passage for the organizational structure of the community?

12. What process is utilized in selecting a replacement for Judas? What criteria are utilized?