Acts 1
The Acts of the Holy Spirit
Although the book is called the Acts of the Apostles, an apt title would be Acts of the Holy Spirit. This book is written by Dr. Luke. He meticulously researched his work and therefore, provided enough evidences that people at that time could check for accuracy. Now, in this book, he himself is an eye witness and therefore relies more on his own direct evidence.
Acts 1:8 - will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will witness in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the Earth.
"Are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" His response closes the argument of several people who appear to know when He would come again.
After the resurrection, there were 40 days that he spent with his disciples until the ascension. It must have felt like heaven on earth. The disciples saw him go in a cloud. In Mark 21, Jesus says He will return in a cloud. The cloud is likely the Shekinah (glory) of cloud we saw in Exodus.
The book of Acts is nothing but a record of a one continuous prayer meeting - we can note that the disciples incessantly prays. Successful church major in corporate prayer. People always pray together.
Watch out for two Psalms prophecies that are narrated by Peter in Acts 1 (verse 20) - these come from Psalms 69:25 and 109:8. We can be sure that those who have read these psalms before the death of Judas may not have realized what they were reading. It is almost impossible to decipher prophecies before they happen. So, next time you see or read interpretations of the end times, beware - the bible just teaches us to watch out for the end times, but does not give specifics on a lot of things people claim as an interpretation (eg; 666 - as the computer).
Acts 1: 23 - choosing Matthias - The last mention of using 'lots' to determine God's will. The coming of Holy Spirit negates the need of the use of 'casting lots' to decide on matters.
Acts 2
The Upper Room
The Holy Spirit came 50 days after resurrection. Jerusalem, on the day of Pentecost, was crammed with people from all over the world. God chose the right day to send his Spirit.
Fire and wind are associated with the Spirit, even in the old testament. These symbols alerted the men and women in the upper room.
Old Testament - we meet God above
Gospels - we meet God beside us (Immanuel)
Day of Pentecost - we meet God in us (Holy Spirit)
The Spirit makes us one with Christ. A brand new age begins with Acts 2.
2 cor 3: 8-10 speaks of the glory that Holy Spirit brings to us - it lasts forever. Unlike the movement of the Holy spirit in the old testament (eg; to few people - Bezalel and Oholiab).
Note that the special fire and wind signs did not occur with the later 3000 who were filled with the Holy Spirit. The first 120 disciples were Christians before the day of pentecost.
John 7:39 - Holy Spirit was sent by Christ only after He was glorified.
The 3000 received Christ and the Holy Spirit at the same time. They are the patriarchs for the new church.
The gift of Holy Spirit is universal (for all Christians), permanent (does not come and go) - Galatians 4:6, Romans 8:9
Every Christian has the Holy Spirit in him. But not everyone is filled with the Holy Spirit.
The Acts 2 tongues are actual languages spoken by people in other nations. People could understand what was being said. The theology of speaking in tongues as the manifestation of the coming of Holy Spirit is bad exegesis. Clearly not biblical.
Acts 2:42-47: shows the oneness of the early Church. Something we should aspire to have.
Acts 3-4
Peter's trial
Peter heals a lame man. It is for everyone to see. But the Sanhedrin gets him arrested and places him on trial. One key point - why were so many miracles happening in the early church. Peter's message to early church confirms that miracles occur to establish the authority of the one who speaks for God. Nowadays, most 'confirmed' miracles happen in pioneering mission fields. This is not to say that miracles do not happen in us. But most happens in those who are standing on the outside looking into the church.
The role of miracles in confirming the message of Christ has somewhat diminished in the modern era, but remains true as in the apostolic era, in places of pioneering mission.
Acts 4:12: Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” - the key message of salvation. Also, points to the fact that Christianity is an exclusive faith - Salvation is found in no one else.
The Acts of the Holy Spirit
Although the book is called the Acts of the Apostles, an apt title would be Acts of the Holy Spirit. This book is written by Dr. Luke. He meticulously researched his work and therefore, provided enough evidences that people at that time could check for accuracy. Now, in this book, he himself is an eye witness and therefore relies more on his own direct evidence.
Acts 1:8 - will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will witness in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the Earth.
"Are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" His response closes the argument of several people who appear to know when He would come again.
After the resurrection, there were 40 days that he spent with his disciples until the ascension. It must have felt like heaven on earth. The disciples saw him go in a cloud. In Mark 21, Jesus says He will return in a cloud. The cloud is likely the Shekinah (glory) of cloud we saw in Exodus.
The book of Acts is nothing but a record of a one continuous prayer meeting - we can note that the disciples incessantly prays. Successful church major in corporate prayer. People always pray together.
Watch out for two Psalms prophecies that are narrated by Peter in Acts 1 (verse 20) - these come from Psalms 69:25 and 109:8. We can be sure that those who have read these psalms before the death of Judas may not have realized what they were reading. It is almost impossible to decipher prophecies before they happen. So, next time you see or read interpretations of the end times, beware - the bible just teaches us to watch out for the end times, but does not give specifics on a lot of things people claim as an interpretation (eg; 666 - as the computer).
Acts 1: 23 - choosing Matthias - The last mention of using 'lots' to determine God's will. The coming of Holy Spirit negates the need of the use of 'casting lots' to decide on matters.
Acts 2
The Upper Room
The Holy Spirit came 50 days after resurrection. Jerusalem, on the day of Pentecost, was crammed with people from all over the world. God chose the right day to send his Spirit.
Fire and wind are associated with the Spirit, even in the old testament. These symbols alerted the men and women in the upper room.
Old Testament - we meet God above
Gospels - we meet God beside us (Immanuel)
Day of Pentecost - we meet God in us (Holy Spirit)
The Spirit makes us one with Christ. A brand new age begins with Acts 2.
2 cor 3: 8-10 speaks of the glory that Holy Spirit brings to us - it lasts forever. Unlike the movement of the Holy spirit in the old testament (eg; to few people - Bezalel and Oholiab).
Note that the special fire and wind signs did not occur with the later 3000 who were filled with the Holy Spirit. The first 120 disciples were Christians before the day of pentecost.
John 7:39 - Holy Spirit was sent by Christ only after He was glorified.
The 3000 received Christ and the Holy Spirit at the same time. They are the patriarchs for the new church.
The gift of Holy Spirit is universal (for all Christians), permanent (does not come and go) - Galatians 4:6, Romans 8:9
Every Christian has the Holy Spirit in him. But not everyone is filled with the Holy Spirit.
The Acts 2 tongues are actual languages spoken by people in other nations. People could understand what was being said. The theology of speaking in tongues as the manifestation of the coming of Holy Spirit is bad exegesis. Clearly not biblical.
Acts 2:42-47: shows the oneness of the early Church. Something we should aspire to have.
Acts 3-4
Peter's trial
Peter heals a lame man. It is for everyone to see. But the Sanhedrin gets him arrested and places him on trial. One key point - why were so many miracles happening in the early church. Peter's message to early church confirms that miracles occur to establish the authority of the one who speaks for God. Nowadays, most 'confirmed' miracles happen in pioneering mission fields. This is not to say that miracles do not happen in us. But most happens in those who are standing on the outside looking into the church.
The role of miracles in confirming the message of Christ has somewhat diminished in the modern era, but remains true as in the apostolic era, in places of pioneering mission.
Acts 4:12: Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” - the key message of salvation. Also, points to the fact that Christianity is an exclusive faith - Salvation is found in no one else.
Acts 4:13 - When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
Chapter 4 also gives us a glimpse of the early church - all believers were one heart and mind.
Chapter 4 also gives us a glimpse of the early church - all believers were one heart and mind.
And finally towards the end of chapter 4, a key figure appears - Barnabas ("the son of encouragement").
Acts 5-6
Ananias or Stephen?
Seven deacons are chosen. All seven are having Greek background - which means that the church is growing rapidly. But first, the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Were they punished more harshly? These two gave the money voluntarily - no one forced them. The problem was that they lied and said they gave the entire sum. Why did God treat them so harshly? Joshua 7 tells us of Achan. There is a remarkable similarity between these two passages.
In the early church, God wanted to maintain it's zeal and purity. The Holiness of God and the holiness of his church are of prime importance at that time, and even now. We probably do not see that nowadays because our churches have already become less holy.
Notice that only the apostles and a few others closely associated with them (Stephen) performed the miracles. Only those who performed miracles and signs can be called apostles (2 Corinthians 12:12). In the time of Jesus and the early church, all who came were healed. The apostolic gift of healing is very different from the occasional healing that we see now.
Gamaliel comes up here as an instrument of deliverance for the apostles. He helps save them - we can only hope he discovered that this group of faithful people were in fact correct.
Ananias or Stephen?
Seven deacons are chosen. All seven are having Greek background - which means that the church is growing rapidly. But first, the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Were they punished more harshly? These two gave the money voluntarily - no one forced them. The problem was that they lied and said they gave the entire sum. Why did God treat them so harshly? Joshua 7 tells us of Achan. There is a remarkable similarity between these two passages.
In the early church, God wanted to maintain it's zeal and purity. The Holiness of God and the holiness of his church are of prime importance at that time, and even now. We probably do not see that nowadays because our churches have already become less holy.
Notice that only the apostles and a few others closely associated with them (Stephen) performed the miracles. Only those who performed miracles and signs can be called apostles (2 Corinthians 12:12). In the time of Jesus and the early church, all who came were healed. The apostolic gift of healing is very different from the occasional healing that we see now.
Gamaliel comes up here as an instrument of deliverance for the apostles. He helps save them - we can only hope he discovered that this group of faithful people were in fact correct.
Acts 7
The first martyr
The deacons were chosen by the apostles to serve the church. The apostles were restricted to prayer and preaching. The deacons were asked to work on the church in service. This pattern of decentralization is most important in today's church as well.
As much as Stephen is an important part of the early church, another key person comes to prominence in this chapter - Saul of Tarsus.
Stephen's speech summarizes the history of Israel. He is reminding the Jews that they do not honor their founding fathers, patriarchs, by curtailing the early church. And finally, Stephen reminds that God does not live in a temple. Often when we worship God, we end up worship things that represent him.
Much of what he said then, is relevant to the modern church:
“You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
The first martyr
The deacons were chosen by the apostles to serve the church. The apostles were restricted to prayer and preaching. The deacons were asked to work on the church in service. This pattern of decentralization is most important in today's church as well.
As much as Stephen is an important part of the early church, another key person comes to prominence in this chapter - Saul of Tarsus.
Stephen's speech summarizes the history of Israel. He is reminding the Jews that they do not honor their founding fathers, patriarchs, by curtailing the early church. And finally, Stephen reminds that God does not live in a temple. Often when we worship God, we end up worship things that represent him.
Much of what he said then, is relevant to the modern church:
“You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
