The Acts of the Apostles 3

Subtitle: The Tragedy of Judas

Acts 1:15-26.  This sermon was preached by Pastor Marty Bonner on May 15, 2022.

Today, we deal with the sad subject of a person who has ministered with Jesus, and yet, has not really believed in him.  Judas represents those who have had very high positions within the Church of Jesus, but in the end, serve to betray Christ himself.  Of course, this same dynamic existed from the very beginning of Creation.  Judas will forever be known as the betrayer of Jesus.

We can be tempted to read about the destruction of Judas, or others like him, with an attitude that says, “Good riddance!”  However, our attitude should be one of sorrow saying, “We’ve lost another one!”

Let’s look at our passage.

The end of Judas

The tragedy of Judas is inserted by Luke as an aside to the narrative.  It functions like a parenthetical statement to bring readers like the earlier mentioned Theophilus up to speed on why the apostles were doing what this part of the narrative describes.  Judas had betrayed Christ and then committed suicide.

I am going to deal with verses 18 and 19 first, and then circle back to verse 15 and following due to this parenthetical nature.  It will help the narrative flow better for our purposes.

There are several points of contention that some people try to make out to be contradictions.  The first has to do with the statement that Judas had “purchased a field with the wages of iniquity” (30 pieces of silver).  There is no doubt that the phrase in verse 18, “Now this man…” is referring back to Judas.  Some believe that this statement is in contradiction to Matthew 27:3-8.

In Matthew, Judas is remorseful because he did not expect Jesus to be condemned to death (vs. 3).  It is not disclosed what Judas hoped to achieve other than enriching himself with the imprisonment of Jesus.  Judas wants to return the money, but the priests refuse to accept it.  Judas then tosses the coins at them, leaves, and then hangs himself.

The priests are unable to accept the money into the treasury because it was blood money.  Thus, they solve the dilemma by purchasing the potter’s field where foreigners who die in the region can be buried.  So, who bought the field, Judas or the priests?  The key is in understanding that the money cannot be officially accepted by the temple.  The money still belongs to Judas and the field is essentially bought in his name.  A cemetery is all that Judas obtained with the wages of his sin.

The second “contradiction” regards the manner of death.  Did Judas hang himself as Matthew says, or did he fall headlong and split open with his guts pouring out?  Again, there is no real contradiction.  Judas did hang himself as Matthew states.  However, Luke never says that this is the way Judas died, nor is the text actually saying he was walking along, tripped headfirst onto something (rocks?) and was mortally wounded by it.  In fact, it is extremely unlikely that a stumbling person could injure themselves so badly that their entrails all gush out.  Even the word “falling” is an attempt to smooth over the translation.  It literally says that Judas came to be headfirst.  Of course, a common way of understanding that is a fall.  Luke is more focused on showing the gruesome end of Judas than establishing exactly how he died.  It is just as likely that Judas hung in there with his body decaying until the branch broke or the rope broke.  He could have then fallen headfirst and broke open due to the decay of the skin.  Luke is showing the aloneness and indignity of the place that Judas ended up.

As humans, we might gain some satisfaction over the death of a betrayer.  However, I don’t see this in Jesus.  He knew who and what Judas was from the beginning.  In John 6:70, right after everyone was tempted to leave him, Jesus challenged the Twelve.  “Do you also want to go away?”  Peter answered for the group, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.  Also, we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  Jesus then states, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?”  Peter’s answer is an answer of faith that is based on Jesus.  Judas had no such faith.  I don’t believe Jesus is saying that Judas wasn’t human, but was a devil masquerading as one.  Rather, I believe he is stating that Judas has given himself over to spiritual forces, devils, that were using him, and he was doing their bidding.

We should also notice some other passages.  Ezekiel 18:23 tells us that God doesn’t take pleasure in the death of the wicked.  He would rather they turned in repentance.  This is the same thing that Peter states in 2 Peter 3:9. “The Lord…is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  Whether Judas ever believed, Jesus clearly loved him and gave him a clear choice.  The end of Judas was the result of a series of selfish and wicked choices.

The field purchased by the priests in the name of Judas is also where Judas died.  Its name became Akel Dama, “Field of Blood.”  It would have been seen as a cursed place to avoid.  There is a sinister shade to the idea that the fruit of his betrayal was suicide in what would then become a cemetery for foreigners.

Judas is not the only betrayer of Jesus.  Jesus warned that many would betray him.  On the day that the Kingdom of Heaven is brought down to earth, Jesus describes the scene in Matthew 7:23. “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”  In John 6, Jesus made it clear that the problem for Judas was that he didn’t believe in Jesus.  There are many today who are betraying the cause and purpose of Jesus the Christ.  They do so all the while wearing a cloak of righteousness, but in the end, they are pursuing lawlessness. 

Do not focus on other to the detriment of your own soul.  If we believe in Jesus, then we will do what he commands.  Jesus held out a hand of redemption to judas to the bitter end, and so should we.

The position of Judas is filled by Matthias

In verse 15, the disciples are in Jerusalem waiting and praying for the Holy Spirit to be poured out, but someone needs to fill the position left vacant by Judas.  We are told that there are about 120 of them.  This could be broken down into The Eleven, The Seventy, and 39 others plus.

Peter broaches the subject of the vacant position by pointing to Scripture.  The Scriptures are quoted in verse 20 and they come from Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8. Both of these Psalms are written by David.  He is complaining in prayer to God that he has been hated by those close to him without a cause.  In fact, Psalm 109:5 states, “They have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.”

If you read these Psalms of David in their entirety, you can see David calling out to God for vindication.  David, who has been reproached like a cursed man, must endure those who have hated him seemingly being blessed.  They are entrenched in their inheritance in Israel all the while he is being pushed out of the inheritance that God has given him.  David asks God to give judgment and reverse the positions.

This idea of a portion, a lot, and an inheritance connects the story of David and his betrayers with that of Jesus and his.  It also connects back to the inheritance of the tribes of Israel.

In verse 17, it states that Judas had “obtained a part in this ministry.”  The word for “part” is connected to the Hebrew word for a Lot, A Portion, an Inheritance.  More on this later.

Scripture tells us that David was a prophet, and Peter declares that the Holy Spirit spoke by the mouth of David.  Though he was focused on his situation, the Spirit of God spoke through him regarding the ultimate Son of David who would also be betrayed.  Those with whom God made covenants all lived lives that became prophetic enactments of future events connected to Messiah.  David’s initial rejection and betrayal was prophetic of the rejection and betrayal that the Messiah Son of David would experience.  Thus, Peter sees David prophesying that another should take the place of his betrayer.

A final point of how Peter saw this connection necessitating a person to replace Judas has to do with the number 12.  Why did Jesus pick twelve disciples to become his apostles?  We intuitively know it is connected to the 12 tribes of Israel.  I’ve already stated that the concept of a portion, or lot, grammatically ties these together.  However, Jesus promised the 12 that they would sit on 12 thrones ruling over the 12 tribes of Israel in his kingdom (Matthew 29:28; Luke 22:30).  Just as the tribes of Israel became the foundation of the nation of Israel and drew their inheritance by Lot, so the 12 Apostles would inherit the 12 tribes.  They are not each from the different tribes.  This points to a new order that Messiah would set up that was not simply based on natural blood lines.

Peter mentions some prerequisites to whomever would be picked.  They had to have accompanied the 11 throughout the time of the ministry of Jesus from his baptism by John up to his ascension into heaven.  They thus would be witnesses of his ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension.  Just as the tribes of Israel had witnessed the glorious deliverance from Egypt brought about by the Lord, so these were witnesses of the glory of Messiah.  Along with Jesus, these 12 would become the foundation and lay the foundation of the Called-Out-Ones who belonged to Jesus. They are to be his Church.  They would also be a foundational witness to the earth and to the heavens of the power and love of God shown to the sons of Adam through Jesus. 

You might recall the image of the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven having 12 foundations, each one named for the 12 disciples.  One of them would have been named Judas, but he lost that glory.

Through this we can see the importance of having a 12^th apostle after Judas was lost.

Two men are chosen from among them, no doubt chosen from out of the 70. They are Joseph Barsabas and Matthias.  There is no electioneering here, and neither should there be.  Several men qualify, but only one can fill the post.  There were most likely others who qualified.  Serving God is not about the exact role or position that we receive.  It is not about the scope and number of people that it impacts.  It is simply about being faithful to whatever God gives you to do.  They would all go forth witnessing to the world of Jesus and the Resurrection, of the Gospel.

Matthias is the one who is chosen.  Two things stick out to me about the making of this decision.  First, the disciples prayed for God to reveal which of the two that He has chosen.  Two often, we can end up controlling who gets positions rather than letting God choose.  Prayer is essential in knowing the will of God.

Second, they cast lots to determine God’s will.  Historically, it was a common thing to cast lots in order to deal with decisions.  It served two purposes.  It was a way to satisfy strong, opinionated men.  They could all see how the lot fell and had a predetermined understanding of what its particular settlings would mean.  Though modern man would say that it is a random thing, the ancients often pointed to God controlling the lots.  We see this throughout the Old Testament, and as stated earlier, particularly with the inheritance of the 12 tribes of Israel.  There choice of casting lots is not by accident.  We never see them doing this again to make a decision (see Acts 15). 

Let us note that just as God had a portion for the 12 disciples, He also has a portion for you and me.  This lot in life involves our place in God’s Church, but also our place in the Age to Come.  Judas lost his place that day because he didn’t believe God.   Someone else ended up with a portion that could have been his.  Yes, this world can be a wilderness, but those who trust in Jesus will be blessed both now and in the Kingdom.  May we all serve in faithfulness in whatever post our Lord should give.

Tragedy of Judas audio

What is a Woman?

Genesis 1:26-27; 2:18, 20-22.  This sermon was preached by Pastor Marty Bonner on May 08, 2022, Mother's Day.

[Note: There is no audio available for this sermon.]

We will take a break from our series in the book of Acts in order to focus on mothers today.

It has come to my attention that there are some people who do not know what a woman is.  Since, moms are first women, it is important for us to understand exactly what a woman is.  Now, if these were just kids who couldn't define what a woman is, then we could rest at ease.  However, these are full-grown adults who have graduated from our "best" universities that are having a hard time defining what a woman is.  We have reached a point in our society where the definition of woman is essentially: you will just intuitively know it if you are one.

Of course, the halls of academia and the philosophers of our age are purposefully breaking down the clarity that God has built within His creation, within reality.  For them, there can be no “mothers” in the future.  Only professionals can perfectly create and train the next generation.  Only smart people can know how many kids we actually need.  It is humorous that, for all of their great wisdom, God did not agree with them.  Instead, He made man and woman as we really are.  In general, He gave the power of creating and raising children into the hands of moms and dads, and not to professionals.  This intelligentsia is currently muddling the definition of men and of women (similarly to how they have been muddling the definition of family and marriage) to the point that men can now be considered women and even mothers.  However, this is just a transitional stage.  The end game is to destroy the whole concept altogether.  Men, women, boys, girls, families are all doomed by the purposes of the current intelligence running this planet.

Let’s go back to the beginning in order to understand what a woman is.

An essential part of imaging God

Humans are unique among all living things on this planet because we were created in God’s image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-27).  The Image of God, or in Latin the Imago Dei, is the essential difference between us and all other things.  Though evolutionists try to make man just another animal, it really doesn’t pass the sniff test.  There is something essentially different about humans and the Bible calls it the Image of God.

Throughout Genesis, we should recognize that the Hebrew word “Adam” starts out as a descriptor and only later becomes a particular name.  It can be used to mean the name Adam, or it can mean “a man,” or it can refer to “a human,” even “humankind.”  We should be careful reading maleness into the word in verse 26.  God did not say, “Let’s make Adam in our image…”  It is being used indefinitely and should be translated a “a man,” or “a human.”  Older translations that simply put “man” are using it to essentially mean human.  It is interesting that God states His intention to make “a human” and then the next phrase is “let them have dominion…”  Chapter one of Genesis pictures the individual and plural aspect of humans altogether.  It is not until chapter two that we are given an expanded look that emphasizes the maleness and femaleness of men and women.

We should note the plural aspect that is connected to God both in this verse and throughout the Bible.  It makes sense that God would design humans with a plurality, if we are to be made in His likeness.  Image and likeness are most likely being used as synonyms.  However, the word “image” is more of an external resemblance.  Whereas, “likeness” has a more abstract sense to it.  The image of God is not only connected to the male, but rather to humans.  The imaging of God is something that men and women have individually, but also as we operate together.

Women, you were made in the image of God in a unique way.  You must reject this androgynous notion where we work to erase all the differences between men and women.  To do so is to attempt to erase God’s image within us.  Women image God in ways that men cannot, and we image God together in ways that we cannot alone.  Your greatest value is not in being married or in having children.  Your greatest value is being an imager of God.

God’s purpose was to give humans dominion over the earth.  This too goes back to the image of God.  Just as God exercises dominion over the heavens, humans would be His representatives upon the earth.  The way in which we exercise such dominion is important.  We either rightly reflect God’s image in our dominion, or we image something other than God.  We are not to destroy the earth and its animals, and yet neither are we to elevate them above ourselves.

For today’s purpose, notice that it is both men and women who are to have dominion over the earth.  It pictures a side-by-side dominion of two beings, who are in the image of God, working together in one accord.

Verse 28 gives another command to humans (men and women).  They are to be fruitful and multiply.

This involves the sexual aspect of a woman and a man.  The woman, Eve, would also become Adam’s wife.  Together they would begin to populate the planet.  By the way, Adam and Eve had many children beyond Cain, Abel, and Seth. 

However, fruitfulness and multiplying are about more than reproduction.  What would God think of a family that had 20 kids, but never taught them the way of the Lord and how to be a righteous person like the one pictured in Psalm 1?  I doubt that he would say that they had done a pretty good job.

Fruitfulness would connect to how they tended the garden and how they exercised their dominion as they increased numerically.  Were they a blessing like a fruitful tree, or were they a curse like a poisonous berry?  Does life flow in our wake, or does death and suffering follow us all the days of our life?  Physical fruitfulness should be paired with the greater fruitfulness that is in harmony with the God we are to image.

In light of this, mothering is one part of what women do, and the birthing of babies is only one component of giving life to our children.  We should recognize that, in general, men and women pair up and marry.  Many of those go on to have children.  However, even Jesus recognized that not all are called or “given” to be married, and “given” to have children.  Matthew 19:12 says, “For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven’s sake.  He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.”  Jesus points out that there are congenital reasons why some people don’t marry in adulthood.  There are also times like kings and masters who have control over another person’s experience in life.  Lastly, Jesus recognizes that some people choose to be single for the sake of doing God’s will.  Like Paul who counseled Christians to give thought to the single life, Jesus recognizes that some can “accept this.”  A woman does not have to marry and become a mother to have value.  Those things are valuable, and moms need to know that as a wife and as a mom they are of great value.  However, those valuable things are on a greater, foundational value of being an imager of God.  Single people who never marry or have children have not fallen short.  Rather, they have chosen a path that only a small percentage are able to choose.  Even the single among us are able to participate in being fruitful upon this planet in both natural and supernatural things.

Genesis 2:18-22 pairs the concepts of aloneness and help.  Adam would be alone if it were not for the woman Eve.  God did not choose to give Adam a petri dish and the knowledge of how to create another “man.”  He gave Adam a woman.  She would help him in the gargantuan task of imaging God, being fruitful, and subduing the earth.  She was God’s answer for his aloneness.  Notice that God let Adam experience aloneness before he let him experience the help of the Lord.  This is another aspect of being in His image and separates us from the animals.

It is easy to think of Eve being a helper as a subclass.  The term in Hebrew is ezer and is seen in names like Eliezer (My God is Help) and Ebenezer (Stone of Help).  It is always used in the context of great need.  When Israel was under military threat, they needed help and were tempted to look to the Egyptians or others to be their answer.  All throughout the Bible, Israel is counseled to look to God as their help, and not other people, other nations.  Here are several examples.  Deuteronomy 33:26, “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to help [ezer] you, and in His excellency on the clouds.”  Psalm 146:5, “Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God.” 

The woman is to be God’s help to do something that would overwhelm the man who is alone.  She is representative of God’s help.  It doesn’t come in the ways that we would create, but in a way that God creates.

The woman also represents humanity as a helper to God.  Christ and the Church are described as the Mystery that marriage is representing.  In a strange way, humanity is the helper that God has created for Himself in a display of His wisdom.  He who is the ultimate source of any Help creates a helper for Himself.

These things are all at the core of what a woman is, and is the foundation of what every mom is.  May God help us to honor the mothers in our lives and help them to image God as we all should.

The Acts of the Apostles 2

Subtitle: Jesus Ascends Into Heaven

Acts 1:9-14.  This sermon was preached by Pastor Marty Bonner on May 01, 2022.

We pick up where we left off last week.  Jesus has given his final instructions and now he leaves them in a manner that has more of a finality to it.

The Ascension (1:9-11)

The term “ascension” is generally used of this event because Jesus used it in John 20:17. He tells Mary Magdalene that, “I have not yet ascended to my Father.”  The Apostle Paul also emphasizes this term in Ephesians 4:10. “He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.”  This word is also used of the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11.  “And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here.’  And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies say them.”

It is important to note that the ascension ends this transitional time of Jesus proving his resurrection to his disciples and focusing them on the task ahead.  He will operate from heaven from now on- not that he can’t appear for particular purposes at particular times as he did with Saul of Tarsus- until His Second Coming.  But, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

The disciples watch this whole event.  There is no slight of hand happening.  We are not told how quickly or how slowly the event happened.  It simply states that Jesus was “taken up.”  This taken up aspect reminds me of the prophet Elijah.  He was taken into heaven in a fiery chariot.  However, he was also in a mortal body at the time.  Jesus has an immortal, heavenly body that has powers that are essential that of angels.  He can appear and disappear, and even ascend into heaven in a fashion that they would be able to see.  He does not need a fiery chariot to carry him to heaven.  I believe that the ascension of Jesus has a greater majesty to it than Elijah’s.  Yet, even it pales in comparison to the descriptions of his Second Coming.

Jesus ascends until he goes into the clouds and is thus out of sight.  This way of leaving would help them to psychologically make the transition.  He isn’t going to appear again like he has been doing.  We need to focus on the task at hand.  It will also serve to encourage them that things are as he said they were.

The clouds are in important reference in this description.  It has Old Testament connotations to it.  Yahweh led Israel through the desert as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.  Deuteronomy 33:26 tells us, “There is none like God, O Jeshurun, who rides through the heavens to your help, through the skies in his majesty.”  God riding through the heavens is connected to the clouds throughout the Psalms even referring to the clouds as God’s chariot (Psalm 104:3).  In Daniel 7, the Son of Man comes to the Ancient of Days “coming with the clouds of heaven.”

This is why the New Testament prophecies about the Second Coming of Jesus often mention Jesus coming on the clouds of heaven (Matthew 24:30; 26:64; Mark 14:62).  Jesus is that Son of Man who would ride the clouds of heaven in order to receive the kingdoms of the earth from the Father.

There is no telling how long they were staring into the sky looking for another glimpse of Jesus.  We are told that two men in white apparel appear.  They are no doubt angels.  We have seen many such appearances of such “men” in connection with the resurrection of Jesus.  However, it is their message that is most important.  Essentially, they ask them why they are still staring at the sky.  The disciples are most likely somewhat in shock.  This question will serve to knock them out of this state and focus them on what they should be doing now.

They emphasize that this “same Jesus” will return in “like manner” to how he left.  This is important.  We are not waiting for another Messiah who will get rid of the wicked rulers.  It is this same Jesus who died on the cross for us.  The suffering servant has earned the right to be our Avenging Kinsman who will come to judge the earth.

Now, the second coming will be far more glorious than the ascension.  We are told that every eye will see the Second Coming.  However, we can make some comparisons.  Jesus will return to earth in bodily form.  It is not merely a metaphor for him coming into our heart at salvation.  It will be visible, and not an invisible return.  He will come on the clouds of heaven.  He will return at the Mt. of Olives first.  Lastly, the disciples of Jesus will all witness this event one way or another.

Let me take a moment to encourage us to remember that our Lord is coming back, and this earth will not continue forever, as it has since then.  Also, though Jesus is coming in bodily form, visibly and actually on the clouds of heaven, there is an important spiritual aspect to all of these.  In other words, the metaphorical meaning behind these things is important too.  Jesus does come into the life of the believer in a very real way.  He is already invisibly here observing all that the world does.  Yet, we should not ridicule or reject the literal.  The literal and the metaphorical are both important.  In fact, you should recognize that the metaphor loses its true meaning if the literal never happens.

The disciples get back on mission (1:12-14)

The words of the angels serve well to snap them out of their stupor.  They now get back on mission.  Yes, the mission is to take the Gospel of Jesus to the ends of the earth, but they are also supposed to wait in Jerusalem for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit before they commence.  Verse 12 tells us that they returned to Jerusalem in obedience to the earlier words of Jesus.  They are supposed to be in Jerusalem when the Spirit of God is poured out.

Jerusalem was filled with places that one could rent due to the several feasts of the Lord that required all Israelite males to come to the city and celebrate.  Pentecost is at most 10 days away and people would be arriving and needing a place to stay.  The disciples have a place that is large enough to accommodate 120 people (see verse 15). 

Luke lists some of the people who are there.  The Eleven disciples are there, of course Judas Iscariot is no longer with them or alive.  “The women” mentioned are a group of people that would include the sisters Mary and Martha, Mary Magdalene, and others.  Mary the mother of Jesus is of course there.  Notably, the brothers of Jesus are there too.  Clearly the resurrection and appearances of Jesus have convinced them from their earlier skepticism.

We are told that these disciples continued in one accord.  This phrase pictures a group that is working as a unit with a passion for something.  In fact, Paul uses it of a mob in Acts 19.  The idol makers of Ephesus had stirred up the whole city and pictures them rushing into the theater “with one accord” in order to seize Paul and his companions.

The passion of the disciples was focused on receiving the Holy Spirit, and so they are spending their time in prayer asking for Jesus to send the Spirit.  Two words are translated “prayer” and “supplication” in the NKJV.  The first is a general word for prayer.  The second emphasizes a petition, or asking.  They are waiting for the Holy Spirit, but they are not inactive.  They are praying. 

We should note that their activity is not focused on their flesh.  Yes, they would have to sleep and eat, but they have a single focus and passion for receiving the Promise of the Father!  Is it possible that our lives are so full of other things to be passionate about that we are no longer as singular in our passion for the Spirit of God, like they were on that day?

Let us know that Jesus has gone into the heavens.  It does not help us to stand still staring at the heavens looking for his return.  He will come back at a time that we do not know.  Meanwhile, we must be about our Father’s business.  We must obey the commands of Christ in taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth in the power of the Holy Spirit.  We must be on mission, but also filled with the Holy Spirit.  When Jesus comes back, what will he find us doing?  May he find us being good and faithful to him and his work.

Acts- Jesus Ascends audio

The Acts of the Apostles 1

Subtitle: Jesus Promises The Holy Spirit

Acts 1:1-8.  This sermon was preached by Pastor Marty Bonner on April 24, 2022.

Today, we begin a journey through the book often called Acts.  We will take our time to go verse by verse, which will make this a long journey.  From time to time along the way, we will pause the series for special occasions.

The setting of the book (1:1-3)

First up, let’s talk about the setting and situation that gave rise to this book of our New Testament.

The author is not identified, but there is basically no dispute that the author is Luke the physician.  This is attested within the 2^nd century and there is no dispute from anyone at the time. 

We should note that even the Gospel of Luke does not identify the author in its verses.  However, the oldest copy of the Gospel of Luke that we have dates back to the 2^nd century (AD 100’s) and has written on it in Greek “According to Luke.”

In verse 1, the author refers to a former account, “The former account I made…”  He explains the subject matter of the earlier account.  It was about “all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up…”  This clearly describes a gospel account, and makes Acts a second volume that essentially starts where the Gospel of Luke leaves off.

As for the title of the book, there is no title given by the author.  It is simply an account describing what happened from the ascension of Jesus forward.  Thus, it is historical with a theological emphasis throughout it, much like the gospel.  Since the Gospel is about what Jesus did and said, so this book has been referred to as The Acts of the Apostles, and the shorter form Acts.  Of course, we should recognize that Jesus is still acting through his disciples by the help of the Holy Spirit.

Both the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts are addressed to an individual named Theophilus.  The name means “friend of God,” and is used only in Luke 1:3 and Acts 1:1.  It is a Latin name, so the person is most likely a gentile convert.  I say this because Luke states that he wants Theophilus to be certain of the things in which he had been instructed (Luke 1:4).  Also there, Luke states that he had a perfect understanding of all things from the very first that he was writing about.

All of the Gospels portray a transitional period after the Resurrection of Jesus.  There are 50 days between the feast of Passover and the feast of Pentecost (called the feast of Weeks in the Old Testament).  Note that Pentecost is a Greek word for 50.  During the first 40 days, Jesus appeared on multiple occasions giving them commands, proving that it was really him, and that he was not just a spirit.  Luke states in Acts 1:3 that Jesus gave them infallible proofs of his resurrection to establish its reality beyond a doubt.  We see this with Jesus having them touch him and eating food in their presence and yet appearing and disappearing within locked rooms.

These first appearances happened in and around Jerusalem.  Then, there was an appearance in the area of Galilee.  This seems to be the situation that Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians 15:6 in which he mentions Jesus appearing to “over 500 brethren at once.”  The end of the Gospel of Luke places the ascension of Jesus on the east side of the Mt. of Olives near Bethany.  This is a short distance from Jerusalem towards the east.

Verse 3 also tells us that Jesus used this transitional time to speak of things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.  This would be particularly important to the disciples because they were perplexed at how the crucifixion, and now resurrection, of Jesus would connect to the awaited Kingdom of God.

Jesus instructs the disciples (1:4-8)

This opens with the last appearance to them in this transitional period.  Jesus is giving them his last instructions before going into heaven.  Jesus commands them to wait in Jerusalem for the “Promise of the Father.”  This idea of waiting may seem strange or unimportant to us.  However, the followers of Christ (and even the followers of God throughout history) are to be characterized first as a people who have waited on God the Father. Isaiah 40:31 reminds us that those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength and be able to fly, run, and walk without growing weary.  We are not an inactive people, but we are not driven by the mission or task itself.  We wait upon the Lord and follow His leading like the righteous of every age.

The Promise of the Father is a reference to the prophecies regarding the pouring out of the Holy Spirit.  In Joel 2, the Father promises that a time will come when He will pour out His Spirit upon all flesh.  This is as opposed to being poured out on a few individuals hear and there, which was how it was experienced before then.

If there is any doubt about what promise Jesus means, it is put to rest in verse 5.  John the Baptist baptized people in water, but they were about to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.  We should remind ourselves of Matthew 3:11 at this point.  John himself said, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”  (NKJV). 

Salvation is sometimes pictured as the Spirit of God putting or baptizing a person into Christ.  The disciples present were all saved members of Christ and his body.  Here the picture is reversed and Jesus will immerse his disciples into the Holy Spirit.  Notice that this picture shows a person being completely surrounded by the Holy Spirit.

There is another picture that is used of the Holy Spirit and that is being filled with the Spirit.  At salvation, Christ dwells in the believer through the Holy Spirit.  However, being filled with the Spirit pictures the Spirit flooding forth and filling our whole inner being until it overflows.  Both these inner and outer pictures are pointing to the same idea. 

Of course, salvation and Spirit baptism can happen simultaneously or separately.  The reason the disciples had to wait was mainly about the fact that the coming of the Holy Spirit in this new outpouring needed to coincide with the feast of Pentecost.  Just as the death of Jesus happened on Passover and conceptually tied to the sacrifice they made in Egypt, so the coming of the Holy Spirit conceptually tied to Pentecost.  This was a celebration of the harvest that God had given up to that point and the further harvest that would be realized in the months ahead.  The baptism of the Holy Spirit is connected to the harvest of believers who would come into the Kingdom of God through the work of the apostles and the Early Church.  They would be like a rock in the pond causing ripples down through history to our very hour. 

We see in verse 6 that the disciples are more concerned about Israel and what Jesus was doing in regard to reestablishing the kingdom.  Old Testament prophecy pointed to a time when the Anointed One of God (Messiah/Christ) would: break off the Gentile dominion over Israel, bring back those of Israel who had been dispersed to Gentile lands, fix all that was wrong with Israel, and bring the world under his righteous administration.  They believed that this would happen up until the cross, where their hopes were dashed.  Yet, these hopes were now restored since the Resurrection of Jesus.  They are like kids often are, asking the Lord, “Are we there yet?” 

Jesus tells them that it is not for us to know the times or seasons that are under the Father’s authority.  The Father would determine when that would happen and He was not giving the disciples more information.  It is important that Jesus expects it to happen.  He doesn’t berate them for not understanding that the Kingdom was only a metaphor and would never happen literally.  This is the approach that many liberal Christians take with such prophecies.  However, Jesus refocuses them.  Our focus is not to be on the “when” of God’s Kingdom restoration of Israel. 

Instead, their focus is to be on receiving power to be witnesses of Jesus to the ends of the earth (verse 8).  This power would come when they were filled with the Holy Spirit.  We will talk more about this when we get to chapter 2.  However, we must always remember that the power behind our activity must always be the Holy Spirit.  We must not let the lesser power of institutional momentum and pride of a brand fuel the task of taking the gospel to the ends of the earth.  The pouring out of the Holy Spirit would essentially be about giving a witness to the world of who Jesus is, what he did, what he has made available to us presently, and what he will do in the future.  We can be filled with the presence of God because of what Jesus has done.

In verse 8, Jesus highlights the concentric circles of the expansion of this witness.  It would start in Jerusalem, move to Judea and Samaria, and then to the ends of the earth.  Imagine, here we are today at the ends of the earth from Jerusalem talking about Jesus!  Yet, there are still many who need to hear about Jesus, and they also need to see Jesus in us.

May God help us not to run ahead without the help of the Holy Spirit in doing this work.  Without Him we will fail, but with Him we will succeed at doing the work!  That said, neither do we want to hang back when the Spirit of God begins to move.  May God help us to walk in step with His Spirit, and to stop in sync with His Spirit.

Acts Jesus Promises audio