Bible in one year 2/11/2022 Book of Acts 1-2 By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

 Bible in one year 2/11/2022 the Book of Acts 1-2

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce    

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical Precepts & Gospel music   

The book of Acts    Introduction

Authorship

That the author of Acts was a companion of Paul is clear from the passages in the book in which “we” and “us” are used (16:10-17;20:5-21:18;27:1-28:16). These sections themselves eliminate known companions of Paul other than Luke, and Colossians4:14 and Philemon 24 point affirmatively to Luke, who was a physician. The frequent use of medical terms also substantiates this conclusion (1:3;9:18,33:13:11;28:1-10).Luke answered the Macedonian call with Paul, was in charge of the work at Philippi for about six years, and later was with Paul in Rome during the time of Paul’s house arrest. It was probably during this last period that the book was written. If it were written later it would be very difficult to explain the absence of mention of such momentous events as the burning of Rome, the martyrdom of Paul, or the destruction of Jerusalem.

Importance of the book:

1) Acts gives us the record of the spread of Christianity from the coming of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost to Paul’s arrival in Rome to preach the gospel in the world’s capital. In this regard, then,, it is the record of the continuation of those things that Jesus began while on earth and that He continued as the risen Head of the Church and the One who sent the Holy Spirit (1:2;2:33). The book is sometimes called The Acts of the Holy Spirit.  2) The thirty years covered by the book were important years of transition. The gospel was preached first only to Jews, and the early church was composed largely of Jewish believers. As more and more Gentiles were included, the church became distinct from Judaism.  3) Doctrines that  are later developed in the epistles appear in seed form in Acts (the Spirit, 1:8; the kingdom, 3:21;15:16; elders, 11:30;Gentile salvation, 15:14). However, the book emphasizes the practice of doctrine more than the statement of doctrine. 4) Acts furnishes principles for missionary work. 5) The book reveals patterns for church life. 6) Archaeological discoveries confirm in a remarkable way the historical accuracy of Luke’s writing.

The contents

  In the first twelve chapters of the book the important figures are Peter, Stephen, Philip, Barnabas, and James. From Chapter 13 to the end, the dominant person is Paul. The book may also be divided according to the geographical divisions mentioned in the Great Commission (1:8)

Chapter 1 Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven (1:1-11)

1In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

 

6Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11“Men of Galilee,” they said, “Why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

 

Verse 1 my former book. The gospel of Luke. Theophilus means “dear to God” or “friend of God.” He was probably a Roman official, since the title “most excellent” (Luke1:3) indicates an official position in Acts 23:26; 24:3;26:25). Forth days.(v.3) The only reference to the length of Christ’s ministry on earth between His resurrection and His ascension.  

Verse 5 Baptized with the Holy Spirit  This promise was first fulfilled on the day of Pentecost (11:15-16) and affects every believer by joining him to the body of Christ (1Cor.12:13). This was accomplished in two sections (1) all the Jewish believers were baptized in the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (2:4).  (2) All the Gentile believers were baptized in the house of Cornelius. (10:44-47; 11:15-17). In these two sections all genuine believers in Christ were baptized in the Holy Spirit into the one Body of Christ once for all universally (1Cor.12:13).

Verse 6 the kingdom to Israel. The messianic, Davidic, millennial kingdom on earth; The time of its coming is unrevealed (Matt.24:36,42) for which the apostles and other devout Jews were looking, was a material kingdom , unlike God’s kingdom of life, which is mentioned in  v.3 and which Christ is building up through the preaching of His gospel.

Verse 7 There is no rebuke in Christ’s answer, for God is not through with Israel, and the kingdom will eventually come (Rom.11:26). In the meantime the gospel must be preached throughout the whole world (Acts.1:8)

Verse 8 Receive power…upon you   this is to be baptized in the Holy Spirit (v.5) for the fulfillment of the promise of the Father (v.4). Different form in you (John14:17). The Holy Spirit was breathed into the disciples on the day of the Lord’s resurrection (John20:22) to be the Spirit of life (Rom.8:2) to them essentially. The same Holy Spirit would come upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost to be the Spirit of power to them economically. Witnesses  Lit, martyrs, those who bear a living testimony of the resurrected and ascended Christ in life, differing from preachers who merely preach doctrines in letters. In His incarnation Christ carried out His ministry on the earth by Himself, as recorded in the Gospels, to sow Himself as the seed of the kingdom of God only in the Jewish land. In His ascension He would carry out His ministry in the heavens through these martyrs, in His resurrection life, and with His ascension power and authority, as recorded in the Acts, to spread Himself as the development of the kingdom of God from Jerusalem, as a beginning, unto the uttermost part of the earth, as the consummation of His ministry in the New Testament. All the apostles and disciples in the Acts were His martyrs, His witnesses, of this kind.

Verse 11 Luke’s Gospel ends with the Lord’s ascending into heaven (Luke24:51), and his Acts begins with it. His Gospel is a narrative of the ministry of the incarnated Jesus on earth; his Acts is a record of the continuing ministry of the resurrected and ascended Christ in heaven, carried out through His believers on earth. In the Gospels His ministry on earth, carried out by Himself, only sowed Himself as the seed of the kingdom of God into His believers, with no church being built up yet. In the Acts His ministry in heaven, carried out through His believers in His resurrection and ascension, spread Him as the development of the kingdom of God for the building up of the church (Matt.16:18) throughout the entire world to constitute His Body, which is His fullness (Eph.1:23) for His expression, and which is even the fullness of God (Eph.3:19) for God’s expression. The Lord’s ascension points to His coming back. Between these two events is the dispensation of grace that He, as the pneumatic Christ, the life giving Spirit (1Cor.15:45), might apply His all-inclusive redemption to God’s chosen people for their full salvation, that He might produce and buildup the church as His Body for the establishing of the kingdom of God on earth. In the same day The second coming of Christ, like the ascension, will be personal and visible (Rev.1:7;19:11-16).

 

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas (1:12-26)

``12Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 13When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. 15In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”

 

Verse 14 the disciples might have prayed to be clothed with the spirit of power, the promise of the Father, for which the Lord had charged them to remain in Jerusalem (Luke24:49; Acts1:4), and might also have prayed for the commission given to them by the Lord in Luke24:47-48 and 1:8 of this book to bear His testimony to the utter most part of the earth. God wanted to pour out His Spirit for the carrying out of His New Testament economy and had promised to do it. Yet He still needed His chosen people to pray for this. As God in heaven, He needs men on earth to cooperate with Him for the carrying out of His plan. The one hundred twenty disciples’ praying for ten days met this need of God’s.

 

18(With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20“For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms: “ ‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and, “ ‘May another take his place of leadership.’  21Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” 23So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

 

Verse 15 Peter had made a full recovery of confidence and authority from the night of his denial and was now fulfilling Matt.16:19. The Lord’s death Peter often spoke nonsensically (Matt.17:24-26;26:33-35).But now, after the Lord’s resurrection, he could expound the Old Testament prophecies properly in their correct significance (vv.16-20). This too is proof that the disciples , before they received the Spirit of power economically on the day of Pentecost had received the Spirit of the life essentially on the day of the Lord’s resurrection.

 

Verse 17 Mention also in v.25 referring to the ministry that bears the testimony of Jesus (v.8). Though the apostles were twelve in number, their ministry was uniquely one –this ministry, a corporate ministry in the principle of the Body of Christ. All the apostles carried out the same ministry to bear the testimony not of any religion, doctrine, or practice but uniquely of the incarnated, resurrected, and ascended Jesus Christ, who is the Lord of all.

 

Verse 26 After the Lord’s ascension and before the day of Pentecost the apostles were in a transitional period, as shown by the way they sought the Lord’s guidance. They had received the indwelling Spirit on the day of the Lord’s resurrection (John20:22) and had been trained by the Lord for forty days before His ascension to practice and become accustomed to His invisible presence (v.3).Yet it was still difficult for them to drop the old traditional way of seeking God’s leading by casting lots (Lev.16:8; Josh.14:2; 1Sam.14:41; Neh.10:34;11:1;Prov.16:33). They were still not accustomed to the leading and guidance of the indwelling Spirit (Rom.8:14), unlike the apostle Paul later, in 16:6-8. They were still in the initial stage of God’s New Testament economy before the day of Pentecost.    

 

Chapter 2 the Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13)

1When the day of Pentecost came; they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.  7Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?  8Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11(both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

Verse 1 the day of Pentecost. The fourth of the annual feasts of the Jews (after Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First fruits), it came fifty days after First fruits (A type of the resurrection of Christ, (1 Cor.15:23). Pentecost was the Greek name for the Jewish Feast of weeks, so called because it fell seven ( a week of ) weeks after First fruits. It celebrated the wheat harvest (Ex.23:16). This day of Pentecost in Acts 2 Marked the beginning of the church (Matt.16:18)

 

Peter Addresses the Crowd (Acts 1:14-41)

14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17“ In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood

and fire and billows of smoke. 20The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

 

Verses 16-21 the fulfillment of this prophecy will be in the last days, immediately preceding the return of Christ, when all the particulars (Rev.6:12) of the prophecy will come to pass. Peter reminded his hearers that, knowing Joel’s prophecy, they should have recognized what they were seeing as a work of the Spirit, not a result of drunkenness.

Verse 21 In the New Testament, calling on the name of the Lord was first mentioned by Peter, here, on the day of Pentecost, as the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy. This fulfillment is related to God’s outpouring of the all –inclusive Spirit economically upon His chosen people that they may participate in His New Testament jubilee. Joel’s prophecy and its fulfillment concerning God’s New Testament jubillee have two aspects: on God’s side, He poured out His Spirit in the ascension of the resurrected Christ; on our side, we call on the name of the ascended Lord, who has accomplished all, attained unto all, and obtained all. Calling on the Lord’s name is vitally necessary in order for us, the believers in Christ, to participate in and enjoy the all –inclusive Christ with all He has accomplished, attained, and obtained (1Cor.1:2). It is a major practice in God’s New Testament economy that enables us to enjoy the processed Triune God for out full salvation (Rom.10:10-13).

 

22“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 

                    25David said about him:

‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.26Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, 27because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. 28You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’

29“Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 

34For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,“‘The Lord said to my Lord:  “Sit at my right hand 35until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’ 36“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

Verses 22-36 Peter reviewed the life and death of Jesus of Nazareth (vv.22-24) and then recited the prophecy of the resurrection, (vv.25-31), quoting Ps.16:8-11. Since David was speaking of the Messiah (v.31), Peter continued, and since Jesus was raised from the dead (v.32), Jesus must be the Messiah (v.36) .

 

 37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

 

Verse 38 Repent . To change one’s mind: specifically, here, about Jesus of Nazareth, and to acknowledge Him as Lord (God) and Christ (Messiah). Such repentance brings salvation. There is also a repentance needed in the Christian life in relation to specific sins (2Cor.7:9;Rev.2:5). Be baptized…for the forgiveness of your sins. One baptism see note on Matt.3:11. Water baptism is the outward sign of repentance and forgiveness of sin. Forgiveness is through faith in Christ, not through the act of baptism (for may here mean “because of” as in Matt.12:41). The gift of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is a gift to all who be3lieve, not a reward to some. 

The Fellowship of the Believers (Acts 2:42-47)

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Verse 46 In the initiation of God’s New Testament economy, the early believers and even the first group of apostles were not clear that God had forsaken Judaism with its practices and facilities, including the temple (Matt.23:38-“ you home”, referring to the God-forsaken temple). Hence, according to their tradition and habit, they still went to the temple for their New Testament meeting. The early believers remembered the Lord by breaking bread daily in their houses; this showed their love and enthusiasm toward the Lord. Or at home; in contrast to in the temple. Meeting in home as the Christian way of meeting together is fitting to God’s New Testament economy. This way differs from the Judaic way of meeting in the synagogues (6:9). It became a continual and general practice in the churches (Rom.16:5; 1Cor.16:19; Col4:15; Philem 2). Verse 47 together This indicates that from the very beginning of their Christian life the early believers were brought into the corporate church life; they did not live individualistically as Christians separated from one another.  

Bibliography,

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.