The final years of the thirty year narrative of Acts finds its focus on what I refer to as Paul's fourth and final missionary journey. In Acts 20:16, we see that Paul is seeking to put the pedal to the metal because he desires to arrive in Jerusalem by the day of Pentecost. A side note to consider is how the earliest and final chapters of Acts both begin on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem roughly 25 years apart. I think it is worthwhile to notice and perhaps contrast the differences. Leaders were the primary persecutors in the early years when Peter first proclaims the gospel, but it is much more of a rejection by the masses by the time Paul proclaims it.
Paul knew what was coming his way. From an uninformed view, these final chapters seem to detail a sad and tragic ending for Paul. He is first nearly killed by an angry mob who reject his proclamation. He is questioned before a corrupt leadership within Jerusalem. Next, he appears before two corrupt Roman officials and a local king. Finally, he barely survives a shipwreck to arrive in Rome imprisoned and awaiting his day before Caesar to state his case. Not spoken of within Acts, but widely accepted as history, is the fact that at some point within the next few years, Paul is executed in Rome.
The difference between the above version which sounds like the ending to a Greek tragedy, and the insights we are given as we read through chapters 21-28 allow us to see things quite differently. Paul, as stated earlier, knew something like this would happen. He even learns in Acts 23:11, years before he leaves, that God intends for him to proclaim his message in Rome. We see God protecting him and those around him every step of the way. We see God providing for his needs again and again, sometimes miraculously. In Acts 20:18-24, Paul states the single greatest thing that transforms the final years of his life. From the outside Greco-Roman (worldly/unbelieving) world, his ending affirms a sort of sad inevitable tragedy that seems in their minds to undermine the hope he claimed to have. However, in verse 24, Paul opens up to the leaders of Ephesus and us the key to seeing his final days with clarity.
"But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."
Also, in the letter(written while he was imprisoned in Rome) to the church of Philippi, Paul writes,
"I want you to know brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear." Philippians 1:12-14
and
"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21
Showing posts with label Acts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Acts. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Acts Part 4 (Chapters 15-20)
The shift of proclaiming the gospel to the gentiles has its first major push back over the issue of circumcision. A group commonly referred to as the circumcision party, also referred to as Pharisees in chapter 15 verse 5, begins teaching to the gentiles that have embraced Christ through faith that they must be circumcised. Paul and Barnabas initially argue with them, but it is wisely decided to resolve the dispute by travelling to Jerusalem and holding what becomes known as the Jerusalem Council. The decision in Jerusalem by a meeting of the elder leaders of authority, including James the brother of Jesus and Peter, is found in verse 9, "...having cleansed their hearts by faith," and verse 11, "...we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."
The leaders from Jerusalem send out a list of four things to abstain from, and there is a reference to synagogues located in many different ancient cities. This seems to point to some practical considerations. We are not bound by the Mosaic covenant, but there are still many things we can and should learn from the old testament to more fully grasp our new covenant. Paul and Barnabas return with the leaders judgment regarding circumcision.
There is an intense argument that takes place upon their return between Paul and Barnabas about whether to take John Mark with them on a second missionary journey which causes them to part ways with Barnabas and John Mark going to Cyprus, and Paul and Silas going north through Syria and the eastern shore of the Mediterranean into modern day Turkey. This break causes me mixed feelings because it seems so tragic for such great friends and men of God to be divided by passionate disagreement, but in a strange way, it comforts me to know that they are just humans like us and that God can obviously use flawed humans in such a powerful way.
Anyhoo, Paul sets off with Silas and soon meets a young man named Timothy who becomes like a son to Paul (we see this in the letters to Timothy from Paul, first and second Timothy, found later in the Bible). They go off on more missionary journeys revisiting some cities and spreading the gospel to some new locations. Paul visits and stays in many of the cities he later writes to. These letters become preserved for our benefit. We see him in Philippi in Acts 16:12, in Thessalonica in 17:1, and in Galatia, which is an entire region rather than a city, in 16:6. We see Paul stay in Corinth for over a year and a half in chapter 18. He visits Ephesus more than once in chapters 18 and 19, and in Acts 20:31, he mentions having spent three years there. A more exhaustive look at all three of Paul's missionary journeys would no doubt be fruitful, but I am primarily going to simply point out that by the end of the 50's A.D., Paul and others have truly spread the gospel throughout the Roman empire and beyond. This can be seen not only through the narrative of Acts itself, but by how, in the later chapters, people react in ways that show they are aware of the disciples and Christ and Christians. Compare the Jewish leaders response to invite Paul to speak in the synagogue in Acts 13:15 to the response Paul gets from Jewish leaders in the Temple in Acts 21:28, "....Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people(Jews) and the law and this place(Temple)..."
The final push of the gospel's reach "to the ends of the earth" begins with Paul and Barnabas in chapter 13 and is still going on today. Paul's "final missionary journey" will be with an armed guard and increasingly, his audience will be those with greater and greater authority.
The leaders from Jerusalem send out a list of four things to abstain from, and there is a reference to synagogues located in many different ancient cities. This seems to point to some practical considerations. We are not bound by the Mosaic covenant, but there are still many things we can and should learn from the old testament to more fully grasp our new covenant. Paul and Barnabas return with the leaders judgment regarding circumcision.
There is an intense argument that takes place upon their return between Paul and Barnabas about whether to take John Mark with them on a second missionary journey which causes them to part ways with Barnabas and John Mark going to Cyprus, and Paul and Silas going north through Syria and the eastern shore of the Mediterranean into modern day Turkey. This break causes me mixed feelings because it seems so tragic for such great friends and men of God to be divided by passionate disagreement, but in a strange way, it comforts me to know that they are just humans like us and that God can obviously use flawed humans in such a powerful way.
Anyhoo, Paul sets off with Silas and soon meets a young man named Timothy who becomes like a son to Paul (we see this in the letters to Timothy from Paul, first and second Timothy, found later in the Bible). They go off on more missionary journeys revisiting some cities and spreading the gospel to some new locations. Paul visits and stays in many of the cities he later writes to. These letters become preserved for our benefit. We see him in Philippi in Acts 16:12, in Thessalonica in 17:1, and in Galatia, which is an entire region rather than a city, in 16:6. We see Paul stay in Corinth for over a year and a half in chapter 18. He visits Ephesus more than once in chapters 18 and 19, and in Acts 20:31, he mentions having spent three years there. A more exhaustive look at all three of Paul's missionary journeys would no doubt be fruitful, but I am primarily going to simply point out that by the end of the 50's A.D., Paul and others have truly spread the gospel throughout the Roman empire and beyond. This can be seen not only through the narrative of Acts itself, but by how, in the later chapters, people react in ways that show they are aware of the disciples and Christ and Christians. Compare the Jewish leaders response to invite Paul to speak in the synagogue in Acts 13:15 to the response Paul gets from Jewish leaders in the Temple in Acts 21:28, "....Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people(Jews) and the law and this place(Temple)..."
The final push of the gospel's reach "to the ends of the earth" begins with Paul and Barnabas in chapter 13 and is still going on today. Paul's "final missionary journey" will be with an armed guard and increasingly, his audience will be those with greater and greater authority.
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Acts Part 3 (Chapters 10-14)
As mentioned in my previous Acts post, the stage is set by the end of chapter nine for the disciples to move into a full awareness of the scope of God's intentions for the world and how the gospel truly flips everything on its head and begins a new day for humanity.
It starts with God's man praying on a rooftop. He gets confused and even initially resists God's message to him. Even as the vision concludes, he is left pondering its meaning. God then uses external forces to finish making the point He began making on the rooftop. Visitors arrive and take him away to receive full clarity of what God was intending for him to grasp. The gospel is to be proclaimed to the gentiles!
As we will see in future chapters, this new development is one of THE primary tensions within the church and becomes a chief tool to bring persecution against the church. You see the many questions and tensions addressed in many of the New Testament letters. The door opening to the gentiles for redemption underlies the circumcision controversy which shows up in the Jerusalem Council in chapter 15. It also seems, when read closely, to be the primary thing that incited the masses at Paul's arrest in chapter 22. The development ushers in a whole new wave of issues that had to be sorted through. The relationship that the Old Covenant under Mosaic law has with the New Covenant under Jesus. This new development seems to also have drawn a sharper line between those Jews who submit to the New Covenant and those who would not.
A new center of gentile Christianity emerges in Antioch(present day Syria). Paul and Barnabas seem tasked with being among its leadership. A prophet named Agabus announces that there will soon be a famine, and a collection is taken up by the gentile church and taken by Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem for the relief from the coming famine. Around this same time, there is a new wave of persecution that is launched by Herod that takes the life of James the brother of John and leads to the imprisonment of Peter. Peter is miraculously rescued from execution by an angel and briefly visits the mother of John Mark to make it known to the Jerusalem church before fleeing from Herod. Paul and Barnabas then return to Antioch after fulfilling their delivery. They take the young John Mark with them back to Antioch.
Chapters 13 and 14 tell of the first missionary journey of Paul around the Mediterranean world to both Jews and gentiles. Barnabas is Paul's companion for this first trek, and John Mark accompanies them for the initial leg of their trip. An interesting thing to contrast is how they are welcomed and even given a place to speak in many synagogues. You will notice this becoming an increasingly rare thing as more and more Jews harden their conviction either for or against the gospel throughout the Roman empire.
It starts with God's man praying on a rooftop. He gets confused and even initially resists God's message to him. Even as the vision concludes, he is left pondering its meaning. God then uses external forces to finish making the point He began making on the rooftop. Visitors arrive and take him away to receive full clarity of what God was intending for him to grasp. The gospel is to be proclaimed to the gentiles!
As we will see in future chapters, this new development is one of THE primary tensions within the church and becomes a chief tool to bring persecution against the church. You see the many questions and tensions addressed in many of the New Testament letters. The door opening to the gentiles for redemption underlies the circumcision controversy which shows up in the Jerusalem Council in chapter 15. It also seems, when read closely, to be the primary thing that incited the masses at Paul's arrest in chapter 22. The development ushers in a whole new wave of issues that had to be sorted through. The relationship that the Old Covenant under Mosaic law has with the New Covenant under Jesus. This new development seems to also have drawn a sharper line between those Jews who submit to the New Covenant and those who would not.
A new center of gentile Christianity emerges in Antioch(present day Syria). Paul and Barnabas seem tasked with being among its leadership. A prophet named Agabus announces that there will soon be a famine, and a collection is taken up by the gentile church and taken by Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem for the relief from the coming famine. Around this same time, there is a new wave of persecution that is launched by Herod that takes the life of James the brother of John and leads to the imprisonment of Peter. Peter is miraculously rescued from execution by an angel and briefly visits the mother of John Mark to make it known to the Jerusalem church before fleeing from Herod. Paul and Barnabas then return to Antioch after fulfilling their delivery. They take the young John Mark with them back to Antioch.
Chapters 13 and 14 tell of the first missionary journey of Paul around the Mediterranean world to both Jews and gentiles. Barnabas is Paul's companion for this first trek, and John Mark accompanies them for the initial leg of their trip. An interesting thing to contrast is how they are welcomed and even given a place to speak in many synagogues. You will notice this becoming an increasingly rare thing as more and more Jews harden their conviction either for or against the gospel throughout the Roman empire.
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Acts Part 2 (Chapters 5-9)
At first glance, the jaw dropping evidence of the profound mercy of God that I spoke of in the last post seems to be undermined with the story of Ananias and Saphira, they are clearly struck down by the power of God. Just stick with me through this post, I will show how it not only does not undercut my claim but establishes it.
We also see Stephen introduced, hear his passionate narrative of Israel's history as he defends his belief that Jesus is the Christ, and witness his execution and amazing final moments and words. We will start with this and come back to chapter five in a few paragraphs.
A man named Chuck Missler help me to see the pattern within Stephen's speech that I had never noticed before. It is more than a recounting of Israel's history. It is a specific focus on a pattern that reemerges. God promises. God prophecies. God's prophecies are fulfilled and their deliverer emerges specifically because the people initially reject this deliverer sent by God.
1. God prophecies that Abraham's people will sojourn within a foreign land for 400 years. Joseph's brothers betray him and sell him into slavery. This choice on their part ends up being the very thing that places Joseph in the position to have power and deliver his people. Joseph's betrayal by his brothers was known ahead of time by God and is the very thing that fulfils the prophecy. This does not relieve them of responsibility, but it shows the power of God.
2. God prophecies that he will deliver Israel from Egypt. Israel not only initially rejects Moses as their deliverer but continue to reject God and Moses within the wilderness, but of course, the people now know that Moses was God's deliverer. Once again, the very rejection of Moses in the beginning was what God used to send Moses into the wilderness to prepare him to lead the people through the wilderness.
Point 1--This pattern which is shown here and which Stephen alludes to as reappearing in the lives of the prophets is the pattern of God's ultimate deliverer, Jesus. Jesus's life falls precisely within the pattern of all or most of Israel's great deliverers. Coicindence???
Another truth that Stephen brings out of their scriptures (Old Testament) is about the tabernacle and the temple. God initially gives the pattern for the tabernacle, and it is built and brought in by the people of God into the promised land. As foundational as this tent is, it is eventually replaced by the temple which is basically a much more permanent and grand version of the tabernacle. The point that Stephen focuses in on is a quote by Solomon that God is too big to actually dwell within a temple made by man's hands. The idea is that the temple itself is by Solomon's own admission a very limited thing in accomplishing the service and worship of God.
Point 2--Jesus not only fulfils the pattern of Israel's deliverer, but He fulfils the purposes of the temple better than the temple itself does in regards to redemption and intercession before God.
As I stated earlier, Stephen is violently rejected and killed, but he provides in his death two great examples to pray for ourselves. He clearly sees that Jesus is intently aware of his plight, and he mirrors the words of Jesus on the cross in his request for his persecutors to be forgiven of their actions.
The killing of Stephen launches a new, more intense wave of persecution that scatters many within the church. As we read of Philip in Samaria throughout chapter 8, it is a good idea to revisit the specific names mentioned in Acts 1 of the ever expanding circle of influence that the disciples were called to move. There are quite honestly some strange aspects to Philip's interactions that I am fascinated by. Apparently, the people of Samaria were not given the gift of the Holy Spirit until Peter and others came to town in spite of Phillip having proclaimed the gospel to them. Also, Phillip seems to be led about by God with amazing supernatural power and specificity. He is led to the Ethiopian eunuch and is providentially placed in his path at the precise moment that he is reading a specific passage in Isaiah prophetic of Jesus. God led this gentile believer to Christ even before the official breakthrough about the Gentiles that was to come in Acts 10. Since we know what is coming in the later chapters, it is easy to see also in chapters 8 and 9 that God is setting the stage for mo gentiles, mo gentiles. In the conversion of Saul(Paul) and the positioning of Peter, everything is in place for God to drag the first generation church kicking and screaming into genuinely grasping what Jesus meant in chapter 1 by "....the ends of the earth." Everything is about to be flipped on its head.
Now, as promised to revisit chapter 5, I would like to point out why I don't believe that the judgment imposed on Ananias and Saphira undermines the notion of God's unfathomable mercy as the foundation for EVERYTHING that takes place in Jesus's life, the book of Acts, and onto today. Chapters 5-9 begins with the death of these two, proceeds with a faithful man of God killed precisely as he faithfully proclaims the gospel and seeks to persuade and open the eyes of his listeners, continues on with a renewed persecution of the church, sees one of the chief persecutors captured by God's mercy for his causes. What is the common denominator that winds its way through these events? Why did God judge Ananias and Saphira? It was not because they did not give enough. Read it carefully. It was because they lied to God. Even this seems strange, but think it through. Why did they lie? They lied to get the benefit of being seen as someone who gives something they did not. By doing this, they were attaching themselves to the ongoing miracles and transformation being accomplished by God through his disciples. How much harm has been done by people who gain a position of leadership and honor within the church only to eventually show, their hearts were in NO WAY intent on making Jesus their Lord? Pedophile priests, sleezy con man televangelists, unfaithful pastors, greedy and unethical leaders....this couple was a forerunner of all of this. See the way Peter deals with Simeon of Samaria in chapter 8. OK....now look at the rest of the violence that God allows to happen not only in chapters 5-9 but throughout the book of Acts. Why?? There is a common theme. It is that ANY thing that stands in the way of God's proclamation of mercy is in grave danger. The internal influence of Ananias and Saphira would have corrupted the church from the inside out. Historically, this is always the greatest real threat for the church. The martyr of Stephen and subsequent persecution of the church served to push their influence outward, and the mercy shown to Paul ends up establishing a servant who is used to thrust the gospel out effectively to the larger gentile world. You will see later that Herod gets a taste of this reality as he seeks to obstruct God. God's mercy came at and comes at a horrific price. He intends for us to extend this to our generation. This is priority number 1. Don't get in the way of it. I believe the more we are gripped by this not only in our heads but in our hearts, we will grasp the will of God more clearly and walk with Him more closely. I pray he will patiently work with my hardened heart to do just this.
We also see Stephen introduced, hear his passionate narrative of Israel's history as he defends his belief that Jesus is the Christ, and witness his execution and amazing final moments and words. We will start with this and come back to chapter five in a few paragraphs.
A man named Chuck Missler help me to see the pattern within Stephen's speech that I had never noticed before. It is more than a recounting of Israel's history. It is a specific focus on a pattern that reemerges. God promises. God prophecies. God's prophecies are fulfilled and their deliverer emerges specifically because the people initially reject this deliverer sent by God.
1. God prophecies that Abraham's people will sojourn within a foreign land for 400 years. Joseph's brothers betray him and sell him into slavery. This choice on their part ends up being the very thing that places Joseph in the position to have power and deliver his people. Joseph's betrayal by his brothers was known ahead of time by God and is the very thing that fulfils the prophecy. This does not relieve them of responsibility, but it shows the power of God.
2. God prophecies that he will deliver Israel from Egypt. Israel not only initially rejects Moses as their deliverer but continue to reject God and Moses within the wilderness, but of course, the people now know that Moses was God's deliverer. Once again, the very rejection of Moses in the beginning was what God used to send Moses into the wilderness to prepare him to lead the people through the wilderness.
Point 1--This pattern which is shown here and which Stephen alludes to as reappearing in the lives of the prophets is the pattern of God's ultimate deliverer, Jesus. Jesus's life falls precisely within the pattern of all or most of Israel's great deliverers. Coicindence???
Another truth that Stephen brings out of their scriptures (Old Testament) is about the tabernacle and the temple. God initially gives the pattern for the tabernacle, and it is built and brought in by the people of God into the promised land. As foundational as this tent is, it is eventually replaced by the temple which is basically a much more permanent and grand version of the tabernacle. The point that Stephen focuses in on is a quote by Solomon that God is too big to actually dwell within a temple made by man's hands. The idea is that the temple itself is by Solomon's own admission a very limited thing in accomplishing the service and worship of God.
Point 2--Jesus not only fulfils the pattern of Israel's deliverer, but He fulfils the purposes of the temple better than the temple itself does in regards to redemption and intercession before God.
As I stated earlier, Stephen is violently rejected and killed, but he provides in his death two great examples to pray for ourselves. He clearly sees that Jesus is intently aware of his plight, and he mirrors the words of Jesus on the cross in his request for his persecutors to be forgiven of their actions.
The killing of Stephen launches a new, more intense wave of persecution that scatters many within the church. As we read of Philip in Samaria throughout chapter 8, it is a good idea to revisit the specific names mentioned in Acts 1 of the ever expanding circle of influence that the disciples were called to move. There are quite honestly some strange aspects to Philip's interactions that I am fascinated by. Apparently, the people of Samaria were not given the gift of the Holy Spirit until Peter and others came to town in spite of Phillip having proclaimed the gospel to them. Also, Phillip seems to be led about by God with amazing supernatural power and specificity. He is led to the Ethiopian eunuch and is providentially placed in his path at the precise moment that he is reading a specific passage in Isaiah prophetic of Jesus. God led this gentile believer to Christ even before the official breakthrough about the Gentiles that was to come in Acts 10. Since we know what is coming in the later chapters, it is easy to see also in chapters 8 and 9 that God is setting the stage for mo gentiles, mo gentiles. In the conversion of Saul(Paul) and the positioning of Peter, everything is in place for God to drag the first generation church kicking and screaming into genuinely grasping what Jesus meant in chapter 1 by "....the ends of the earth." Everything is about to be flipped on its head.
Now, as promised to revisit chapter 5, I would like to point out why I don't believe that the judgment imposed on Ananias and Saphira undermines the notion of God's unfathomable mercy as the foundation for EVERYTHING that takes place in Jesus's life, the book of Acts, and onto today. Chapters 5-9 begins with the death of these two, proceeds with a faithful man of God killed precisely as he faithfully proclaims the gospel and seeks to persuade and open the eyes of his listeners, continues on with a renewed persecution of the church, sees one of the chief persecutors captured by God's mercy for his causes. What is the common denominator that winds its way through these events? Why did God judge Ananias and Saphira? It was not because they did not give enough. Read it carefully. It was because they lied to God. Even this seems strange, but think it through. Why did they lie? They lied to get the benefit of being seen as someone who gives something they did not. By doing this, they were attaching themselves to the ongoing miracles and transformation being accomplished by God through his disciples. How much harm has been done by people who gain a position of leadership and honor within the church only to eventually show, their hearts were in NO WAY intent on making Jesus their Lord? Pedophile priests, sleezy con man televangelists, unfaithful pastors, greedy and unethical leaders....this couple was a forerunner of all of this. See the way Peter deals with Simeon of Samaria in chapter 8. OK....now look at the rest of the violence that God allows to happen not only in chapters 5-9 but throughout the book of Acts. Why?? There is a common theme. It is that ANY thing that stands in the way of God's proclamation of mercy is in grave danger. The internal influence of Ananias and Saphira would have corrupted the church from the inside out. Historically, this is always the greatest real threat for the church. The martyr of Stephen and subsequent persecution of the church served to push their influence outward, and the mercy shown to Paul ends up establishing a servant who is used to thrust the gospel out effectively to the larger gentile world. You will see later that Herod gets a taste of this reality as he seeks to obstruct God. God's mercy came at and comes at a horrific price. He intends for us to extend this to our generation. This is priority number 1. Don't get in the way of it. I believe the more we are gripped by this not only in our heads but in our hearts, we will grasp the will of God more clearly and walk with Him more closely. I pray he will patiently work with my hardened heart to do just this.
Wednesday, January 06, 2016
Acts Part 1 (Chapters 1-4)
These represent a few thoughts I have had recently as I have listened to (audio Bible) the book of Acts repeatedly in the past few weeks.
Chapter 1
If you are unaware, the book of Acts is basically the gospel of Luke part deux. Luke picks up basically right where he left off. This is at the end of Jesus' time on Earth post-resurrection. This post-resurrection time period lasted for 40 days. The first thing to jump out to me is that the disciples are still somewhat clueless even now regarding the scope of how Jesus has redefined all of life as they know it and are still thinking that maybe now Jesus will re-establish the kingdom in the way they have always dreamed he would. This ushers in what strikes me as an incredibly crucial point made by Jesus.
7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 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.”
He says NOT this BUT that. Even though, I actually believe that we may very well live in a generation that will see and has seen some fulfilment of signs that point to living in the "end times", this redirection would serve us all well. I strongly believe that not only the disciples but all who follow Him in this age are called to expect to "receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses...." Note the primary purpose of receiving the power. Can you honestly say you are walking in power? I, for one, cannot. He is transforming me, but I don't see the kind of power at work within and through me that is alluded to here. This admission humbles me, but only the power of God genuinely at work in our lives as Christians has the chance at transforming not only us but our generation before they are called to judgment.
The next thing that jumps out at me is their appointing of a replacement for Judas. Peter points to a scriptural mandate and limits the options to one who has been with them from the beginning.
21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
The only quick point I want to make here is that even at this early stage, the disciples seemed to grasp the importance of guarding the integrity and accuracy of representing who Jesus was, what he had taught, what his work on the cross had accomplished, and, of course, the FACT that they had all seen Him resurrected.
Chapter 2
Consider the genius providential hand at work to cause the day the Holy Spirit came down to coincide with one of the three original feast days within the Jewish calendar year. Many, many devout Jews did not live in or even near Jerusalem at this time in history. They had been scattered all around the Roman empire and beyond by the many conquests that had happened over the last several hundred years. However, this was one of three weeks of the year that many of those Jews would take it upon themselves to travel into Jerusalem to observe the feast. Also consider, as we will see later within Acts, that because this phenomenon of scattering the Jews had occurred, there were now synagogues or places of the teaching of the old testament in many of these areas because of this Jewish presence. This perfectly placed and perfectly timed event is further made amazing because perhaps the key characteristic of the coming of the Holy Spirit was not only power, but specifically, the news of Jesus, the kingdom of God, and Jesus's resurrection was announced in the native tongues of these visiting Jews! They were brought to the exact right place at the exact right time and told the news in the exact right language even though those who spoke it would not normally have been able to in their own understanding. The number grew from 120 to 3000 the first day!....They immediately began being consumed with Jesus and their new found family and making sure everyone was taken care of. Many more were added daily.......anyhoo, that's chapter 2. :)
3 and 4
I obviously was trying to point out the supernatural intelligence and power of God in bringing about the events of chapter 2. However, chapters 3 and 4 highlight what may very well be an even more amazing act by God. Imagine if you would that your child was sent BY YOU to people to warn them and try to save them from a horrible event that was quickly coming their way. Now imagine that after your child spent years in a far away country living in conditions that were hard and scary, these same people, including the very ones who were your child's closest friends, wrongfully convicted, tortured and killed your child. This is what happened to God. He was not caught off guard when it happened. It was all part of His plan. But it happened nevertheless, and no one was pulling the strings of the people who killed Jesus except the devil and their own sin.
Now fast forward to two months later. These EXACT same people are standing before Peter and John in chapters three and four. What is God's message for these people? Wrath? Judgment? No, NO, NO! He cries out to them by way of Peter to repent. He STILL longs to save them! Here some excerpts from 3 and 4.
Chapter 3
13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.
26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
Chapter 4
And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
As you consider the book of Acts going forward in this and future posts, please, Please, PLEASE keep this one thing in mind. God continues to pour out opportunities to any and all who will hear and respond again and again and again. He does this IN SPITE of what they did to Jesus. He does this in spite of how they beat, imprison, torture, and kill his disciples. Right to the end, the book of Acts is first and foremost a jaw dropping example of God's mercy. I am constantly challenged as I compare His ability to pour this out and my desire to constantly mete out "justice". Again, I am being transformed by His Spirit, but I honestly am humbled and broken as I see the chasm between who He is and who I am. What is genuinely amazing is that He calls us to become like Him in this respect also. This I know. That will only happen, even partially, by His power not mine.
Chapter 1
If you are unaware, the book of Acts is basically the gospel of Luke part deux. Luke picks up basically right where he left off. This is at the end of Jesus' time on Earth post-resurrection. This post-resurrection time period lasted for 40 days. The first thing to jump out to me is that the disciples are still somewhat clueless even now regarding the scope of how Jesus has redefined all of life as they know it and are still thinking that maybe now Jesus will re-establish the kingdom in the way they have always dreamed he would. This ushers in what strikes me as an incredibly crucial point made by Jesus.
7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 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.”
He says NOT this BUT that. Even though, I actually believe that we may very well live in a generation that will see and has seen some fulfilment of signs that point to living in the "end times", this redirection would serve us all well. I strongly believe that not only the disciples but all who follow Him in this age are called to expect to "receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses...." Note the primary purpose of receiving the power. Can you honestly say you are walking in power? I, for one, cannot. He is transforming me, but I don't see the kind of power at work within and through me that is alluded to here. This admission humbles me, but only the power of God genuinely at work in our lives as Christians has the chance at transforming not only us but our generation before they are called to judgment.
The next thing that jumps out at me is their appointing of a replacement for Judas. Peter points to a scriptural mandate and limits the options to one who has been with them from the beginning.
21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
The only quick point I want to make here is that even at this early stage, the disciples seemed to grasp the importance of guarding the integrity and accuracy of representing who Jesus was, what he had taught, what his work on the cross had accomplished, and, of course, the FACT that they had all seen Him resurrected.
Chapter 2
Consider the genius providential hand at work to cause the day the Holy Spirit came down to coincide with one of the three original feast days within the Jewish calendar year. Many, many devout Jews did not live in or even near Jerusalem at this time in history. They had been scattered all around the Roman empire and beyond by the many conquests that had happened over the last several hundred years. However, this was one of three weeks of the year that many of those Jews would take it upon themselves to travel into Jerusalem to observe the feast. Also consider, as we will see later within Acts, that because this phenomenon of scattering the Jews had occurred, there were now synagogues or places of the teaching of the old testament in many of these areas because of this Jewish presence. This perfectly placed and perfectly timed event is further made amazing because perhaps the key characteristic of the coming of the Holy Spirit was not only power, but specifically, the news of Jesus, the kingdom of God, and Jesus's resurrection was announced in the native tongues of these visiting Jews! They were brought to the exact right place at the exact right time and told the news in the exact right language even though those who spoke it would not normally have been able to in their own understanding. The number grew from 120 to 3000 the first day!....They immediately began being consumed with Jesus and their new found family and making sure everyone was taken care of. Many more were added daily.......anyhoo, that's chapter 2. :)
3 and 4
I obviously was trying to point out the supernatural intelligence and power of God in bringing about the events of chapter 2. However, chapters 3 and 4 highlight what may very well be an even more amazing act by God. Imagine if you would that your child was sent BY YOU to people to warn them and try to save them from a horrible event that was quickly coming their way. Now imagine that after your child spent years in a far away country living in conditions that were hard and scary, these same people, including the very ones who were your child's closest friends, wrongfully convicted, tortured and killed your child. This is what happened to God. He was not caught off guard when it happened. It was all part of His plan. But it happened nevertheless, and no one was pulling the strings of the people who killed Jesus except the devil and their own sin.
Now fast forward to two months later. These EXACT same people are standing before Peter and John in chapters three and four. What is God's message for these people? Wrath? Judgment? No, NO, NO! He cries out to them by way of Peter to repent. He STILL longs to save them! Here some excerpts from 3 and 4.
Chapter 3
13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.
26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
Chapter 4
And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
As you consider the book of Acts going forward in this and future posts, please, Please, PLEASE keep this one thing in mind. God continues to pour out opportunities to any and all who will hear and respond again and again and again. He does this IN SPITE of what they did to Jesus. He does this in spite of how they beat, imprison, torture, and kill his disciples. Right to the end, the book of Acts is first and foremost a jaw dropping example of God's mercy. I am constantly challenged as I compare His ability to pour this out and my desire to constantly mete out "justice". Again, I am being transformed by His Spirit, but I honestly am humbled and broken as I see the chasm between who He is and who I am. What is genuinely amazing is that He calls us to become like Him in this respect also. This I know. That will only happen, even partially, by His power not mine.
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