Acts Notes

Acts

 

Background

 

Author:  Luke

Colossians 4:14

Philemon 24

2 Timothy 4:11

He was a:

1.  Doctor

          A. Used the medical term “convulsions” in Luke 4:35

          B. Used the word for doctor visiting a patient in Luke

          9:38

C. Used the word for surgeon’s needle instead of tailor’s or household needle in Luke 18:25 (Unlike Matt. 19:24 and Mark 10:25)

2.  Companion and helper of Paul

3.  Most likely a Gentile (Colossians 4:11-12- he is listed with

    Gentiles)

 

Recipient:  Theophilus

1.  Not his real name but a secret name for a lover of God (Greek: theos- “God” and philein- “to love”). This was to protect his identity against persecution.

 

2.  This was a real name for a high government official of the Romans

 

Purpose:

1.  To commend Christianity to the Roman government

A.  Shows how courteous Roman magistrates were to Paul: Acts 13:12; 18:12; 16:35; 19:31.

B.  Shows that Christians were good and loyal citizens:  Acts 18:14; 19:37; 23:29; 25:25.

 

2.  To demonstrate that Christianity was for all men of every country

3.  To show the expansion of Christianity from Palestine to Rome in a 30 year period

 

 

Key Verse:  Acts 1:7-8

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

 

Outline of Acts based on Growth of the Church

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

 

 

1:1- 6:7                  Church at Jerusalem- Pentecost and

                             Peter

And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith

 

6:8- 9:31                Spread of Christianity through

                             Palestine- Stephen and Samaria

So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

 

9:32- 12:24            Extension of Church to Gentiles- Conversion of Paul and reception of Cornelius

But the word of God increased and multiplied.

 

12:25- 16:5            Churches in Asia Minor and Galatia- Paul’s first missionary journey and Jerusalem council

So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.

16:6- 19:20            Gospel reaches Europe- Paul’s second missionary journey: Corinth and Ephesus

So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

19:21- 28: 31          Paul in Rome and Imprisonment- Paul’s third missionary journey, arrest in Jerusalem, and trials before: Felix, Festus and Agrippa

 

He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and

welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of

God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all

boldness and without hindrance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acts 1: 1-11

 

1.  Jesus’ Resurrection and Appearances

·        Importance of the Resurrection

1.  Jesus was not deceptive.

2.  Jesus has authority over death and hell.

3.  Jesus is the first fruits of those who have fallen

asleep.

4.  Jesus is our perfect sacrifice and mediator.  (1 Tim.

2:5; 1 Pet. 2:24; 2 Cor.5:21)

Luke 24:39; John 20:19-20; John 2:19-21; 1 Cor. 15

 

·        Denials of the Resurrection

1.  Jesus was only raised spiritually.

2.  Jesus was only a manifestation in physical form.

3.  Jesus could not raise himself from the dead.

 

These deny the trinity and the deity of Jesus. These deny

the humanity and sacrifice of Jesus.

 

2.  Coming of Christ’s Kingdom

·        What to watch for…

1.  The Father’s promise of the Holy Spirit.  (John 16:5-15)

2.  The opportunities to witness to the world (God’s plan for the Gentiles).

 

·        What to avoid…

1.  Speculation about the LORD’s return.

2.  Opposition to God’s plan.

 

3.  Apostles’ Mission and Mandate

·        Jesus’ commission  (see also Matt. 28:18-20)

1.  Be witnesses both in word and deed.

2.  Go to all the world- start in your own backyard and

then beyond.

 

·        Angels’ charge

1.  “Go” is implied in, “Why do you stand looking up

into heaven…”

2.  Anticipate is implied in that he will return in the same

way.  (Zech. 14:4)

 

The ascension was important because it gave a farewell and

closure to Jesus’ first visit and it also pointed to his way of

return.

 

 

The Matthias Selection

Acts 1:12- 26

 

From Mount of Olives to the Upper Room

• A Sabbath days walk

 

 

 

• Who was there?

 

 

 

 

 

• What was on their mind?

 

 

 

The Judas Situation

• Sovereign appointment- Fulfillment of Scripture

 

 

 

• Human Intensions- Why did Judas betray Jesus?

 

 

 

 

The Matthias Selection

• Qualifications for an Apostle (1: 21-22)

 

 

 

 

• Human plans meet God’s selection and direction
  • Dreams, Urim, and Prophets..Oh my!  1Sam. 28: 3- 6
  • Urim and Thummim-Ex. 28:13-30; 29:1-37; Lev. 8:7-8;  Numbers 27:21
  • Inquiring of the LORD or NOT: Josh 9:14; Judges 1:1-2; 20:18,26-28; 1 Sam 10:22; 14:3, 18, 36; 2 Sam 2:1; 5:19,23.

 

 

Application:

 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the spirit.
Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
even the wicked for the day of trouble.

Proverbs 16:1 -4

Many are the plans in the mind of a man; but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.             Proverbs 19:21

 

1.  When times are difficult rest in God’s sovereignty.

 

 

 

 

 

2.  When making decision use God’s prescribed ways to discern your direction.

 

 

 

 

 

3.  Use your “waiting time” constructively.

 

Pentecost

Acts 2:1-13

Feast of Pentecost

• 50 Days after Passover or the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan (May or June).
• One of the three feasts that Jews would travel to Jerusalem (others are Passover and Tabernacles)
• Ten days after our Lord’s Ascension
• Commemorate the receiving of the Law or the sealing of the Old Covenant on Mount Sinai.
• Also called Feast of Weeks, the Feast of Harvest, Shavuot and the Latter First fruits.
• Shavuot is traditionally a joyous time of giving thanks and presenting offerings for the new grain of the summer wheat harvest in Israel.
• The name “Feast of Weeks” was given because God commanded the Jews in Leviticus 23:15-16, to count seven full weeks (or 49 days) beginning on the second day of Passover, and then present offerings of new grain to the Lord as a lasting ordinance.
• O.T. references Exodus 34:22, Leviticus 23:15-22, Deuteronomy 16:16, 2 Chronicles 8:13 and Ezekiel 1.
• N.T. references Acts 20:16, 1 Corinthians 16:8 and James 1:18.
• Throughout Jewish history, it has been customary to engage in all-night study of the Torah on the first evening of Shavuot. Children were encouraged to memorize Scripture and rewarded with treats. The book of Ruth was traditionally read during Shavuot. Today, however, many of the customs have been left behind and their significance lost. The public holiday has become more of a culinary festival of dairy dishes. Traditional Jews still light candles and recite blessings, adorn their homes and synagogues with greenery, eat dairy foods, study the Torah, read the book of Ruth and attend Shavuot services.

 

The Church

• Began at Pentecost: the church needed the finished work of Christ and the empowering of the Holy Spirit.
• Christ will build His church (Matt 16:18)
• Mystery concealed in OT and revealed in NT (Eph 3:1-11)

 

Holy Spirit Indwelling

• Every true believer (1 Cor. 12:13)
• Baptism of Holy Spirit (John 3: 11; Acts 1:5)
• Different from filling of Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18)
• The role of the Holy Spirit in the believers life
  • John 14:16-17
  • John 15:26-27
  • John 16:7-14
  • Luke 11:13
• Tongues (see 1Cor. 14)
• Fire- purifying (Isaiah 6:6-7)

 

Men from every nation under heaven

Gen 17:4-6; 18:18; Isa 49:6; Rev 5:9; 7:9

Peter’s Sermon

Acts 2: 14 – 41

Imagine yourself at the Jewish temple on the day of Pentecost. What would have been your reaction to these believers speaking in your native tongue and calling Jesus the Messiah?

1.  Prophecy Fulfilled

• We are not drunk!  It’s only 9AM.
• This is God’s work (Joel 2:27)
• Joel’s prophecy (Joel 2: 28-32)
  • In the last days
  • Begins with signs
    • Prophesies, Visions, Dreams
    • On all people groups: men and women, young and old, slave and free (Gal. 3:27-29)
  • Ends with sign in heavens (Matt 24)
  • Call on the name of LORD to be saved

 

2.  Jesus Revealed

• His Ministry
  • a man attested to you by God (Matt 12:23; Heb 2:3-4)
  • mighty works and wonders and signs

 

• His Death and Resurrection
  • God’s plan and man’s responsibility
  • Death could NOT hold him
  • Quote Psalm 16:8-11

 

• His Ascension
  • David prophesied it (30-31)
  • David is still in the grave physically (29, 34)
  • Quote Psalm 110:1
  • Ramifications of the resurrection (31-33)
    • His flesh see corruption
    • We all are witnesses
    • He is exalted at the right hand of God
    • We have received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit
    • That you yourselves are seeing and hearing

 

 

• His Position
  • Lord
    • he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has
      power of deciding; master, lord
    • the possessor and disposer of a thing
    • the owner; one who has control of the person, the master
    • in the state: the sovereign, prince, chief, the Roman emperor
    • title of honor expressive of respect and reverence, with which servants greet their master
    • this title is given to: God, the Messiah
  • Christ
    • Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God
    • anointed

 

3.  People’s Response

• Cut to the heart
• What shall we do?
• Repent and be baptized

Peter’s instructions in Acts 2:38 have often been used by those who say that you must be baptized in order to be saved. Review these four points in contrast:

1.  It would contradict other clear Scriptures, which teach that salvation is by grace through faith alone. (Romans 10:9; 13; John 3:16)

2.  The Lord Jesus Christ never told His converts to be baptized.

3.  The thief on the cross who believed was not baptized and yet the Lord said He would be with Him in Paradise.

4.  The apostle Paul could never have written 1 Corinthians 1:14-17 if baptism was necessary for salvation.

Biblical archeology reveals that a great number of small pools (mikvaot) used for Jewish ritualistic cleansing have been excavated in the temple area. These pools were perfect for Christian baptism.