In this Episode, Arnie and Fred discuss the first chapter of Acts. There seem to be many people who don't consider this book to be very important. But there is a great deal of important information in this first chapter of Acts that relates what occurred in the 40 days Jesus was with His apostles and other disciples before His ascension, and the remaining 10 days before Pentecost. Have your Bible handy so you can verify what we discuss and take about 30 minutes to listen in.
In this Episode, Arnie and Fred discuss the first chapter of Acts. There seem to be many people who don't consider this book to be very important. But there is a great deal of important information in this first chapter of Acts that relates what occurred in the 40 days Jesus was with His apostles and other disciples before His ascension, and the remaining 10 days before Pentecost. Have your Bible handy so you can verify what we discuss and take about 30 minutes to listen in.
spk_0: 0:00
Fred This is the presentation of the Woodland church of Christ, meeting at 3370 Broad Street in Sumter, South Carolina. We meet for worship on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. 5 30 p. m. We meet for Bible study at 9:30 a.m. On Sunday, 7 p.m. on Wednesday, If you have questions or comments on this lesson. You may email them to Fred Gosnell at fgosnell@ftc-i.net or to Arnie Granke at agranke 44 0718@twc.com
spk_1: 0:32
Arnie Good afternoon. This is Arnie Granke and Fred Gosnell with Woodland church of Christ. And this is What does The Bible Say? Many people mistakenly think the New Testament book known as Acts of the Apostles or what we commonly just refer to as Acts. is not very important because it's not part of the gospel quote unquote the "gospel". But the very first chapter of Acts proves it is. And besides telling what Jesus did and what the apostles did, it begins an account of the work many other disciples also did so. It's not just Acts of the apostles, it's acts of the Lord and of the Apostles and Holy Spirit and other disciples and and all of that in fulfilling Christ's great commission during approximately the middle years of the first century between some around AD 30 and AD 70. Here's some of what we learned just from the first chapter of Acts. Fred, you want kick it off?
spk_0: 1:40
Fred Sure Well, of course, Acts is written by a Luke, and he begins the letter in acts. Chapter one, Verse one says the former treatise have I made both 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 into the apostles whom he had chosen to whom also, he showed himself alive after his passion, by many infallible truths, being seen of them 40 days And speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. Of course, he began Luke Chapter one verses one through four and, and he's writing to Theophilus. This is the first time he wrote to him. He says, for as much as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things, which are most surely believed among us, even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning, were eye witnesses and ministers of the word it seemed good to me. Also having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first to write unto thee in order most excellent Theophilus that that mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed. So here Luke refers to Theophilus, as most Excellent Theophilus, and that's a that's an official term. When he writes Acts Chapter one, he says, O , Theophilus. So evidently Theophilus had been instructed in these things, and he had evidently become a Christian by the time Luke wrote Acts chapter one.
spk_1: 3:15
Arnie So, Luke doesn't need to refer to him by an official title there. As maybe we would write to our Congressmen say, the Honorable Joe Doe or whatever, like, Yeah, I agree. I agree with that. That's what has apparently happened. And then after that section, there's about a 10 verse section from Verse three down to it through 12 that begin to outline Christ's activities after his resurrection. Let's read that section together here. To whom also, he showed himself alive after his passion, by many infallible proofs, being seen of them 40 days and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God, 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 you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost, not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked him, saying, Lord wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? and he answered unto them it is not for you to know the times or the seasons with the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power. after that, the Holy Ghost is come upon you and you shall be witnesses unto Me in Jerusalem and in Judea, all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the Earth. And when He had spoken these things while they beheld, he was taken up and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so also come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven. Then returned they to Jerusalem from the Mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a Sabbath day's journey. So that passage embraces all of the rest of the first half, practically of Chapter one, after after verse 12, we come into a different section there, and Christ activities after his resurrection and up until his ascension and then a few of the things that the Apostles did after the ascension are mentioned up through verse 12.
spk_0: 6:10
Fred Yes, right. And remember in Chapter one, Verse three, it says that he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs and being seen of them 40 days and speaking of things pertaining to the kingdom. And one of those proofs there is in John 20: 24 through 29.. and of course. This is the place where Thomas was not with the disciples we begin in verse 24, but Thomas, one of the 12 called Didymus was not with them when Jesus came, the other disciples therefore said unto him we have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails and thrust my hand into his side. I will not believe, and after eight days again His disciples were within and Thomas with them. Then came Jesus, the doors being shut and stood in the midst of them and said, Peace be into you then said saith He unto Thomas. Reach hither thy finger and behold my hands and reach hither thy hand thrust it into my side and be not faithless but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God, Jesus answered him. Thomas, because thou has seen me thou hast believed. Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed. Course we have this, uh, situation with Thomas, he said. I wouldn't believe it unless I can touch Him. But evidently he did. And then he said, My lord and my God. He identified him as such.
spk_1: 7:39
Arnie That's not very different from the other apostles either. As a matter of fact, they hadn't said that they wouldn't believe, Although Mark points out the fact that that there were a number of them evidently that did not believe the testimony of those who were witnesses. But, uh, there were a number of witnesses that did see Jesus that are not mentioned just in the in the biographical accounts concerning concerning the Lord, there were the women who came to the tomb. There were Peter and John. There were a couple people walking on the road to Emmaus and and so forth. But that's just a small group. There were actually a number of witnesses who had seen Lord the Lord, after he was resurrected. And Paul, refers to those in first Corinthians 15 beginning and in verse three. And he said I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, that he rose again the third day. According to the Scriptures, According to the scriptures, doesn't mean the Bible says so. So that's all I guess I believe it. What What it says is these were things that were prophesied and fulfilled there and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the 12. After that, he was seen of above 500 brethren at once of whom the greater part remain unto this present,. But some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James and of all the Apostles and last of all, he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. So there were literally hundreds of people that saw him just on one occasion. And we don't probably have a list of all of the occasions. When when Jesus was, was seen. You know, was he not seen at all during the day? Did he go into a cave or something during the days that aren't mentioned in the Bible? You know, we don't know how many people actually actually observed Him. But it was a significant number of witnesses,
spk_0: 9:59
Fred Right. Exactly. And also, uh, at the end of verse three tells us that he spoke things concerning the kingdom. And, uh, when we go to Matthew 16, 17 through 19 Jesus mentions that he says, an answer. Jesus said it to him to Peter. Blessed Art thou Simon Bar-jonah for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father, which is in heaven, and I say also unto thee that thou art Peter.. The word for Peter is Stone, By the way, and upon this rock, I will build my church. He's not talking about building His church on Peter. He's talking about building the church on the rock, that he's the son of God and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee, notice The keys of the kingdom of Heaven and whatsoever Thou shalt bind on Earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Of course. Uh, the correct translation Whatsoever thou shall bind on Earth shall have been bound in heaven. So whatever Peter was going to preach was already in heaven. Uh, I think the psalmist says forever. Thy word is settled in heaven.
spk_1: 11:10
Arnie Yeah, the Lord the Lord doesn't say, Oh, well, Peter said it's gonna be this way. So that's how it's gonna bay. No, that Peter says. The Lord said, It's going to be this way, and that's how how it's going to be it shall have been bound in heaven or he wasn't to say it or do it. It's context is everything. And it certainly is in that case that the church and the kingdom are the same entity there. He wouldn't build the church or the called out body literally, uh, and then and then give the keys to something else there to, to Peter and also to the other apostles, as well in other passages. Rather, they both are the same thing. First, in Colossians, Chapter one and verse, section that begins at Verse 13 is a context that points that out, too. Verse 13 says, who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of His Dear Son.. So that's a statement about the kingdom. But the context goes on and down at Verse 18 it continues by saying, and he's the head of the body, the church, that called out body again, Who is the beginning that first born from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence. So again the church and the kingdom are one and the same. We don't We don't have one, and we're waiting on the other they're both here and they're both Now they were then and there now, and they will continue to the last enemy, by the way, is is destroyed. But I suppose that's another topic.
spk_0: 12:56
Fred Yes, And during during this 40 days that Jesus was with his apostles. He also gave him, gave them some final commands and in Acts 1, 8 there, he says to them, he says, But you shall receive power. After that, the Holy Ghost has come upon you and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in Judea and in Samaria and empty unto the uttermost part of the Earth. And then we find a similar description given by Luke and Luke 24, 45 through 49. And there, he says, then opened he their understanding that they might understand the scriptures and said unto them. Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, to rise from the dead the third day that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem and ye are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of the Father upon you. But tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until you be endued with power from on high. So these are his final instructions to the apostles before he ascended. And that's what we're being told about here in Acts. Chapter one,
spk_1: 14:05
Arnie Fred. Jesus, very often went up to the garden Gethsemane there on the Mount of Olives. Would have been okay for them to cross over the, uh, Kidron Valley and just go on up the hill there for a little while.
spk_0: 14:18
Fred I don't think so
spk_1: 14:19
Arnie Because he said to stay in Jerusalem. Staying in Jerusalem is not going outside of Jerusalem is it?. And so yeah, I don't think that they that they went anywhere anywhere else. So these were Jesus final commands. And of course, it turned out that within 10 days after his ascension into heaven was the time when they received the Holy Spirit. One of the things that Jesus talked about here in Acts Chapter one is a subject that confuses a lot of people. Even even today, he explained baptism of the Holy Spirit beginning and in verse, four. 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 hath heard of Me, for John truly baptized with water. But ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days, hence. When they therefore were come together. They asked him saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time, restore the kingdom to Israel. 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 you shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth. So So here he connects that with with the baptism of the Holy Spirit that was going to come upon them not very far in the distance in that in the future. That's why they were to be re, remaining right there in Jerusalem because they didn't know what that day was was going n to be. And receiving the Holy Spirit, served the apostles kind of as their badge of authority to be declaring the things concerning concerning Christ and his church and his kingdom. And they what needed to be done in order for people to benefit from his death and receive the salvation that he had promised. So Jesus explained the Holy Spirit. People confused about that. Think it, that the gift of the Holy Spirit, that now that you become a Christian, you speak in tongues or do miracles or things of that sort. That's just not what the Bible Bible teaches. But that's another subject for another day. Also,
spk_0: 17:07
Fred Exactly. And and so at the end of these these 40 days that that Jesus was with them, Hey, ascended And it tells Luke tells us about that in Acts Chapter one, beginning in verse nine, said when he had spoken these things while they beheld, he was taken up and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel, which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven. It's interesting to me how many times that we're told that he goes into heaven.
spk_1: 17:49
Arnie He went into heaven.
spk_0: 17:50
Fred There's no question about no question. And then Luke ends his ah letter as well in Luke 24, 50 and 51 there, it says. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them and it came to pass while he blessed them. He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. So he ascended and they watched him and he went into the clouds. And, uh, we're told that he's consequently went into heaven.
spk_1: 18:19
Arnie Interestingly here, of course, in In Luke 24 Luke had given Theophilus a sort of a limited overview of the of the ascension into heaven. That's really all that Theophilus needed at that point. But now he gives him a more detailed explanation of the events that were associated with that in acts Chapter one. Same account. It's not like he's giving two different accounts. He's just providing additional supplemental information there for for this new disciple, apparently a new a new disciples. So these are Christ activities there in verses three through 12, after His resurrection and until His ascension. Then beginning in verse 13 and up to first verse 26 to the end of the end of the chapter, chapter one, the activities of the apostles and disciples after Jesus ascension are are laid out, uh, for us. It begins in verse 13 with with Luke naming the original 11 surviving apostles beginning Verse 13 when they were come in, they went into an upper room where abode both Peter James, John, Andrew, Philip and Thomas Bartholomew. And Matthew James, the son of Alphaeus, Simon Zelotes and Judas, the brother of James. There are if you read all four of the biographical accounts concerning Jesus and this list in Acts chapter in, Acts chapter one verse 13 and you'll notice that there's some variance in the names, not different people. It's just that some people are known by by different names. You know, a lot of us have a nickname. Peter had a nickname. Peter, in fact, was his nickname his given name was Simon.. Jesus said thou art Peter, and at that point he received his nickname. So, uh, for example, when you when you see the name Bartholomew, you say, Well, who is he that that's Nathan, ah Nathaniel, I mean. That's Nathaniel, that's talked about there. So a couple of them have have different names. Don't let that throw you as you study Acts Chapter one and and see this list that's there.
spk_0: 21:11
Fred Yes. And of course, they continued in some spiritual activities here, according to Acts one, Verse 14 and says that they all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brethren. And then Luke tells us. Luke, 24, 52 and 53 says there that they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. Of course, that's what Jesus told them to do. To go to Jerusalem and stay there until they were endued, with power from on high.
spk_1: 21:52
Arnie And that's when they were up there on the on Mount Olive was when Jesus was assembled that they worshipped him. Go ahead.
spk_0: 22:01
Fred And then and then they went. They went to Jerusalem, as he told them to do and to wait until that. Course, there were. There were some things that they they had to do before the end of the book here.
spk_1: 22:16
Arnie That's right. They didn't just kind of sit around wondering what to do. They were busy every day. Mark. Chapter six makes a an interesting statement, and I call that to our attention because of Verse 14 here in In Acts Chapter one. Let me let me go find verse14 very quickly. I don't know how quickly I can how quickly, I can get to that. But the reason that I'm referring to that these continued with one accord and prayer and supplication with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus and his brethren. That's that's important to understand. Jesus had brothers and sisters. In Mark, Chapter six, for example, and Matthew mentions this as well. In Mark Chapter six. The neighbors there at the synagogue in Nazareth are saying, is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joses and Judah and Simon. And are not his sisters here with us? What somebody says. Maybe that's a word for cousins. No, there are two Greek words for cousins, and they are not the same word for brother. These our brothers and sisters. Let's not try to create a Bible doctrine that conflicts with the word of God that says that Mary had other children. These weren't necessarily older brothers and, and sisters. Remember Jesus was the firstborn there. So these aren't children from another marriage of Joseph These are Jesus',, not half brothers. There's half brothers mentioned in the Bible. These are Jesus' full brothers and full sisters.
spk_0: 24:25
Fred Yes, Mary had other Children after Jesus. Other Children after Jesus. There are those that said she did not. That's not what the Bible says. The Bible is very clear, as we have just read. So.so in Acts one. Verse 15. It, ah tells us there that there were some ah number of disciples that were there with them and says in verse 15. And in those days, Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples and said the number of names together were about 120 he began men and brethren. So So? So we're going to be reading about the purpose of this why we were told that there were 120 there. And, uh, what Peter here is is about to do.
spk_1: 25:12
Arnie Well and and as a as a matter of fact, there there was going to be a need to replace that missing 12th Apostle because of the fact that that Judas had committed suicide after he betrayed the Lord. So so verses 16 down through 19 give us an overview off the treachery off, uh, of Judas There and in betraying the Lord, Men and brethren, this Scripture must needs have been fulfilled Which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David Spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus for he was numbered with us. And had obtained part of this ministry. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known unto all the dwellers in Jerusalem, in so much as the field is called in their proper tongue Aceldma which is to say, the field of blood. So, So there's there's a need to replace, uh, this missing Apostle with someone who has certain qualifications. We'll look at those those qualifications who can pick up the work. that was abandoned by Judas when, when he betrayed the Lord. And then when he, uh, slew himself,
spk_0: 26:56
Fred Yes. And of course, Peter, Luke writes, and Peter says here, the reason why that they're doing this in Acts. Chapter one, Verse 20 says for it is written in the Book of Psalms. Let his habitation desolate and let no man dwell there in and his oversight, let another take. So So the prophecy was already there, written by David. And that's in Psalm 109 verse eight that this would have to be done and they had to replace him. And then Peter's gonna tell them that there are certain qualifications in order to be an apostle. You just can't identify as as an apostle and be right according to what the Bible said.
spk_1: 27:40
Arnie And by the way, we have substituted the word oversight, which is really the meaning of the Greek word that appears there in the place of what the King James version calls his bishopric. There were no bishops in the New Testament. Nobody walking around with with bishops, mitres. They were overseers, and that's what that that word means and for the protection of the church. All of those that were overseers needed to be needed be doing their their job. And that was the need for the replacement of of Judas. Acts chapter 21 beginning and er Acts chapter one where beginning in verse 21 says wherefore these men which have accompanied with us all the time, all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John unto the same day that he was taken up from us. Must one be ordained to be a witness with us off his resurrection. And they appointed two, Joseph, and I need to turn my page here, called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justice and Matthias. So, uh, here is, uh, here again is a need to replace the fallen apostle and requisite qualifications are given. He has to have been with them the entire time. From the baptism. Jesus, baptism by John the Baptist. Up until he was taken up to Apparently there were more than just the 11 apostles there at Jesus Ascension. There must also have been some of these others as well who met the qualifications.
spk_0: 29:31
Fred Yes, and so Verse 24 and 25 says, and they prayed and said now Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, show whether of these two thou hast chosen that he may take part in this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell that he might go to his own place. So the Lord's, the one that's going to make this selection for them.
spk_1: 29:53
Arnie This is not in the election. This is as you said a selection, and it's the Lord who is doing it. This was not something done without authority. If we think that it was done without authority. Then we don't believe what the Bible says. And the outcome of this was that they gave forth there their lots. The lot fell upon Matthias and he was numbered with the 11 apostles. Well, how did the Apostles know, that they should have casted lots on on on this choice? Because the word told them. Luke just hasn't written it all down for us, every item there. What color? Clay? The pottery shards were that were that were used or anything of that sort. So Acts chapter one starts telling a little bit about Theophilus, tells about Jesus' activities after His resurrection and then discusses the activities of the apostles and disciples after Jesus' ascension. We hope you benefitted from this brief study. We hope you'll listen with us again next Lord's Day. Have a good week.