By Ken R. Speakman Member, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory Focal Passage: Acts 9:36-43 As we continue our study of Acts 9, we find Peter performing two miracles – he heals Aeneas and raises Dorcas from the dead. During the events of Saul’s conversion, Peter has been engaged in an itinerant ministry with John (Acts 8:25), and finds himself visiting the believers in Lydda, a city close to Jerusalem. 

By Ken R. Speakman Member, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory Focal Passage: Acts 9:3-9, 15-20 In Acts, chapter 9, the Scripture focuses on a zealous young Pharisee named Saul. He is mentioned in chapter 8 as the young man who guarded the robes of those who stoned Stephen. Saul had studied under the brilliant Pharisee scholar Gamaliel. Gamaliel was convinced that the apostles should be left alone (5:34). Saul

By Ken R. Speakman Member, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory Focal Passage: Acts 8:26-31, 35-39 The mandate of Acts 1:8 which Jesus gave the disciples is about to begin. Following the martyrdom of Stephen, persecution of the Jerusalem church intensified. Believers (except the apostles) flee Jerusalem for their lives into the nearby regions of Judea and Samaria.

By Ken R. Speakman Member, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory Focal Passage: Acts 6:1-10 The Jerusalem church was experiencing growing pains that impacted the apostles’ ministry.  The membership of the church had grown into the thousands and the staff of only 12 found it difficult to attend to the needs of so many. The first dissension in the church arises. There were two kinds of Jews in the early

By Ken R. Speakman Member, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory Focal Passage: Acts 5:25-35, 38-42 As word about the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira spread, a wave of godly fear swept over the church, which now has great power and great fear. Growth continued and believers were now meeting regularly at the Temple and house to house. God gave the apostles power to perform great miracles and many believed,

By Ken R. Speakman Member, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory Focal Passage: Acts 4:36-37; 5:1-11 In our last study we observed Peter and John standing before the Sanhedrin with the healed beggar. They had been commanded not to speak of Jesus. They went to the church and told their story. The church broke out in a spontaneous time of prayer (Acts 4:23). The church was growing in spirit and

By Ken R. Speakman Member, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory Focal Passage: Acts 4:1-13 We begin our lesson in chapter 4 by turning our attention to events of chapter 3. Peter and John are about to enter the temple when they encounter a lame beggar who has been lame since birth. In the name of Jesus the beggar is healed and begins to leap and jump. This story weaves

By Ken R. Speakman Member, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory Focal Passage: Luke 24:1-12 The importance of Jesus’ death is surpassed only by the wonderful news of His resurrection. Without the resurrection we would have no forgiveness of sin, and all preaching and faith would be in vain (I Corinthians 15:14). Since the Jewish leaders had heard Jesus would be raised from the dead, they called a meeting and

By Ken R. Speakman Member, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory Focal Passage: Acts 2: 41-47 Speaking boldly under the power of the Holy Spirit, Peter challenged those who heard him to repent and show the sincerity of their decision by being baptized. He told the crowd that Jesus was the Messiah, God had raised Him from the grave and they had seen Him. Peter’s words pierced their hearts and

By Ken R. Speakman Member, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory Focal Passage: Acts 2:1-15 Thousands jammed the streets of Jerusalem. Jewish law required all males living within 20 miles of Jerusalem to attend. Ordinary labor was prohibited during this national holiday, and all shops were closed. Many Jews had traveled from many other nations to stay for the Passover and Pentecost. Unknown to them, according to the divine plan