Insights into Acts Chapters 1-2 Between newsletters showing the prophetic significance of current events and other Biblical perspectives of interest, we proceed through the scriptures a book at a time. This week we are starting the book of Acts. As we go thought the book of Acts, please reference those chapters in your Bible covered as this email will not repeat the text but add the context and historical setting and other significant meanings of the passages outlining key points. It is recommended that you follow along with the most accurate Greek to English extraction today, The Pure Word, but please feel free to use your preferred version of the Scriptures as well. We have recently finished the books of Matthew and James. If you missed them, send us an email and we'll be happy to send the insight outlines to you. Introduction The title of the book is “The Acts of the Apostles” and it should more appropriately be titled “The Acts of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the Apostles”. The book of Acts starts off where the book of Luke ended and covers approximately 30 years of the early church. The book of Acts is also a model for us today. It lays out general patterns, principles and precepts for us to follow to spread the Gospel. Luke, a companion of Paul, wrote the history of the early church as documented in the book of Acts. He wrote the two books (treatises) of Luke and Acts to “Theophilus” (a Greek name that means ‘lover of God’). Some believe that the books were not written to a person named Theophilus but to all those that love God. It is possible that Like was the personal physician to Theophilus who released Luke to be with Paul on his missionary journeys. Others believe that it was Luke that Paul saw in a vision when he was in Troas calling him to ‘come to Macedonia and help us’ because Luke was one of the first people that Paul met after he went to Macedonia, and the writings of Acts suddenly change from third person to first person since Luke is now a personal witness. The book is divided into two sections: - Chapters 1-12 shows the works of the Holy Spirit through Peter ministering to the Jews.
- Chapters 13-28 shows the works of the Holy Spirit through Paul ministering to the Gentiles.
Acts Chapter 1 v 1-11: The first section of chapter 1 is broken down into three sections: - The prologue (v 1-3): The prologue states that the former account (book of Luke) is written to Theophilus (meaning the friends or lovers of God, or the church in general). In Luke 1, Luke again says that he is writing to the “most excellent” Theophilus, implying that this is indeed a person Luke is writing to. That title always referred to people of power or of high rank. It is possible that Luke was Theophilus’ personal physician. Jesus had a 2-fold ministry: to DO and to TEACH in that order (this is our calling as well). Jesus was teaching the things regarding the Kingdom of God after the resurrection for 40 days by many infallible proofs. The Kingdom of God is heaven and within us.
- The promise of the father (v 4-8): The Father promised to send the comforter, the Holy Spirit to them. The Apostles were to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came “upon them” and baptized them in the Spirit. In John 20:22 the Apostles had already received the Holy Spirit for salvation (in their hearts); however, they are now to receive the Holy Spirit “upon” them. There is a baptism of the Holy Spirit when you are saved (in your heart for salvation) and there is also a future baptism of the Holy Spirit to “come upon you” (to empower your life and with gifts).
There is nowhere in scriptures where you are baptized “of” the Holy Spirit – you are only baptized “with” the Holy Spirit. There are three workings of the Holy Spirit: John 14:17 – You will know him because he dwells (1) with you (to come along side you to convict the world of sin and righteousness) and (2) in you (indwelling within you as you give your life to Christ); (3) Acts 1:5 that the Holy Spirit will come upon you (the filling or overflowing to empower the life of the believer and provide gifts). The Apostles expected Jesus to setup an earthly kingdom and that they would receive earthly power, but Jesus tells them that they are going to receive spiritual power when the Holy Ghost comes “upon them” to be witnesses (to be willing and able to die for the faith - a martyr). - The promise of the return of Jesus (v 9-11): While they were in Bethany on the southern slope when Jesus ascended into a cloud. Two men (angels) tell them that Jesus will return (the second coming) in the same manner they saw him ascend into heaven.
v. 12-14: As instructed, they returned to Jerusalem and to the upper room and continued with prayer and supplication with Mary, the women, and his brothers. This is the last time Mary, the mother of Jesus is mentioned in the New Testament. We also see that Jesus’ half-brothers ( James, Jude and other half-brothers of Mary & Joseph) now believe in Jesus. The upper room could be the room where they had the last supper or a room in the temple itself, since, after 10 days of staying in this room, the Holy Spirit descends upon them, and when they came out they preached to those in the temple. v. 15-26: In waiting, Peter tells them (about 120 in all) that they must find Judas’ replacement so that there are 12 Apostles again. He combines two different scriptures (Ps 69:25 and Ps 109:8) in justifying his position. Based on the requirements that the disciple must have been with Christ during his entire ministry and that they must have seen the risen Christ, they selected two people to choose between (Joseph called Barsabas and Matthias). They gave God two choices (both wrong of course) and they cast lots and selected Matthias to be numbered with the eleven apostles (we never hear of Matthias again). It’s sad when they thought they could select the replacement and not let God do it. God did select Paul as the 12th apostle later on the road to Damascus. Acts Chapter 2 v 1-13: The coming of the Holy Spirit occurred on this day of Pentecost which occurred 50 days after the Passover (10 days after Jesus ascended into heaven). There are three things to note: - The Holy Spirit appeared on the day of Pentecost to the Apostles and the 120 disciples in the upper room. They were there waiting for the Holy Spirit as instructed. The Holy Spirit came when Pentecost had “fully come”. This conveys the idea of completion and fulfillment. Each of the seven feasts commemorates a past event and each looks forward to a future fulfillment. Pentecost was one of the seven feasts:
- Passover (required to observe)
- Past: when the angel of death passed over in Egypt
- Fulfilled: by Jesus Christ (1 Cor 5:7) who conquered death
- Unleavened Bread
- Past: urgency in which the Israelites left Egypt
- Fulfilled: in Jesus Christ as unleavened bread represents sin
- First Fruits
- Past: commemorates the early barley harvest
- Fulfilled: resurrect in Jesus Christ as He became the first fruits
- Pentecost (required to observe - always fell on a Sunday)
- Past: took two loaves baked with leaven and waved them before the Lord (possibly representative of Jews & Gentiles coming together before God)
- Fulfilled: the birth of the Church and coming of the Holy Spirit
- Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah)
- Past: The head of the New Year
- Future: the rapture of the Church
- Day of Atonement (Yum Kippur)
- Past: the atonement of the sins of Israel by sacrificing the Lamb
- Fulfilled: death of Jesus Christ, redeemed by His blood
- Feast of Tabernacles (required to observe)
- Past: God’s provision for the Israelites while they wandered in the wilderness
- Future: the second coming of Christ and setting up the millennial kingdom
- When the Holy Spirit appeared: at Pentecost, 50 days after the resurrection. It was always on a Sunday
- How the Holy Spirit appeared: (1) It was audible, a sound “as” of a mighty rushing wind. Ps 29:3 “The voice of the Lord is over many waters … divides the fire …”. The disciples were sitting when they Holy Spirit came upon them as they were praising God. (2) It was visual as “divided tongues as of fire” and one sat upon each of them. The Holy Spirit is representative of oil and a dove in the Old Testament (a dove lands very gently). We never again see the “wind” and the “fire” come again with the Holy Spirit. We should no more desire to have another “Pentecost” as this event has already fully come.
- What happened When He Came: They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues. The Holy Spirit is “With us” & “In Us” & “Upon Us”. The Holy Spirit comes “upon” then to empower them to speak in tongues. (1) Rom 12:7-8 lists the Primary or motivational Gifts of the Spirit. (2) The five offices by which these gifts are exercised is given in Eph 4:7-12. (3) 1 Cor 12-14 The operation or diversities of the primary gifts are manifested.
- The Gift of Tongues:
- It is “a” gift of the Holy Spirit (only one of many possible gifts). It is one of the least of the gifts
- The purpose of the gift of tongues is to edify the church as a whole
- When we speak in tongues privately, we are speaking to God – we are praising God
- There are two types of speaking in tongues: (1) the tongue of human language – at in the day of Pentecost; or a (2) heavenly or angelic language
- Is the gift of tongues for today? Yes – 1 Cor 14:39 “do not forbid to speak in tongues”
- How should the gift be used? Let there be an interpreter and if there is no interpreter, let him be silent. [no-one is allowed to speak in tongues openly in a church unless there follows an interpreter. The purpose of speaking in tongues is to edify the church. If there is no interpreter, then there is no edification or message understood by the members]
- The balance that is needed in using the gift of tongues: (1) let all things be done; (2) If more desire to speak in tongues, then there should be order. 1 Cor 14:14 (ie, one speaks, followed by the interpretation; the second speaks, etc.)
- The reaction of the people who hear the speaking in tongues: (1) there were those who questioned, and (2) there will be those who will mock the speakers
v 14-21: Peter is now going to respond to the two responses of those who are asking questions and to those who are mocking. Peter started preaching immediately and was empowered by the Holy Spirit. This was not like Peter in the past who cowered in the courtyard while Jesus was being tried. Peter answers their questions by quoting scripture. Peter refers to the prophet Joel to explain what they are hearing. Joel 2:28-32 talks about the last days (we are living in those days today) and “the day of the Lord”. Peter explains that the Lord is pouring out the Holy Spirit upon them and tells everyone that whoever calls on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved! v. 22-36: Peter now expounds and tells them that Jesus of Nazareth was proven to be of God by His miracles that God did through Him in their midst. He tells them that Christ’s crucifixion was pre-determined by God by lawless hands. He tells them that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is the central message and hope for mankind. Peter quotes David and how David prophesied that his Lord would not leave David’s soul in Hades and that Christ (his Lord) would not see corruption (be raised from the dead). Peter tells them that God would raise up Christ to sit on David’s throne, and that the apostles are witnesses that Jesus has been raised from the dead and is sitting at the right hand of the Father and poured out his Holy Spirit upon them which everyone is now seeing and hearing. v. 37-39: The crowd was cut to their hearts and asked what they should do because they knew that they (being Jews) crucified Christ just 50 days earlier. Peter tells them “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized into (must have a relationship with) the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord, our God will call.” v. 40-47: This same day about 3,000 souls were added to the church. The early church had four practices: (1) The Apostles doctrine which is to the study of the Word of God; (2) fellowship or the coming together; (3) breaking of bread with each other to symbolize their inner relationship they all have with Christ; (4) and praying to develop a relationship with the Father The believers sold their possessions and came together “with one accord in the temple, breaking bread from house to house with gladness and simplicity of heart; praising God and having favor with all people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were to be saved.” Do you Want to Know God More? We Must Read His Word. I would strongly suggest that every Christian obtain a copy of The Pure Word and use it alongside your favorite Bible version to see the original meanings and open your eyes like never before. It is not a translation but a Pure extraction or substitution from Greek into English using the original meaning of each root word as closely as possible as it existed at the time of Jesus Christ and the Apostles Watch the official intro video to see how The Pure Word is an invaluable resource that should be used by every Christian, pastor, and Bible study group. Experience the gospel as they did in the first century, during the time of Christ, the Apostles, and the birth of the Church! Click Here for just a few of the thousands of reviews of The Pure Word. Revealing the Original Depth of Meaning as Written by the Apostles Over 1,900 Years Ago! | 
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