The Book of Acts Series
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The book of Acts is one of the most intriguing and powerful books of the New Testament.
Following directly the events that transpired upon the death and resurrection of Christ.
All things to this point where the events leading up to his death and resurrection and the teaching of Christ while he was upon this earth.
This was the fulfillment of prophecy given long ago.
The scepter or leadership shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh [the Messiah, the Peaceful One] comes to Whom it belongs, and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.
We know that Christ came from the tribe of Judah.....
Judah was the fourth tribe or son of Jacob and Leah.
The actual church began after the death of Christ.
The plan that was implemented which would be the new covenant…or the new agreement
Mans’ new plan of restoration to God
The new plan for mankind that could only happen after the death of Christ.
Prologue (1:1–5))
We see Luke has emphasized the unity between the story of the ministry of Jesus and the story of the beginning of the church.
the beginning of the new covenant
The Gospel tells what Jesus began to do and teach; Acts relates what he continued to do and teach through the agency of his witnesses.
introducing a new way and a new experience.
A salvation plan that had never been possible before
The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
Luke dedicates his book to Theophilus. The name actually means ‘dear to God
Luke is simply telling us that the former treatise or teachings where now about to be superceded by the new covenant that was only possible because of the crucifixion of Christ
A new covenant of blood.
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Jesus had also given commandment to his disciples....after his resurrection
Not only had he given instruction to his disciples but he also showed himself to them by many infallible proofs.
To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
So at this point, the apostles would have been considered the authority on the kingdom of God and on Jesus’ teachings after his resurrection.
Now in verse 4, Jesus commanded that they should not depart Jerusalem but to wait for the promise.
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
We see in this scripture the same wording that was used in the book of Joel
And it shall come to pass afterward, That I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions:
And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids In those days will I pour out my spirit.
We see the promise of the Holy Ghost from the book of Joel, also repeated in the book of Acts.
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
This infilling, experience and transformation could only be given to those who where born again
Those who had been made righteous through his blood
His apostles thought that Christ would then restore the Kingdom of Israel
In some ways he would establish his kingdom but not exactly in the way they thought at that point.
Jesus answered them in a kind of vague way......
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Christ was then taken up from them into heaven.
Two men then appeared to them in white apparel proclaiming and giving assurance that Christ would return in the same manner as he left.
I want to bring out an important point in verses 12-14
Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.
And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
Even though they where given instructions, they stayed in Jerusalem and waited for the promise that was to come in prayer and supplication.
Isn’t this what we are doing now…we are waiting for the promise of the father and the return of Christ as prophesied.
Just as the apostles waited so should we be waiting…not in doing nothing, but in prayer and supplication..
for someone that wants the Holy Ghost, this is a glimpse.
We are to seek with prayer and supplication.
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
We oftentimes fail at this but the purpose for this approach is to grow and to mature.
To understand, if only slightly, the manner in which we should pursue our God.
In this manner ought we to seek after God and his mercy
In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;
In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.
And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;
We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:
In this, Daniel claims no status but that of a chastened believer before a great God.
Seeking direction and strength through the mercy of God.
Peter then stood up and began to explain that the previous events involving Judas where necessary and that another must be chosen to take his place.