Convincing proofs

44 Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 “You are witnesses of these things. 49 “And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” 50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple praising God.

These events that as I mentioned were leading up to His ascension (v.2)

That these events he presented many convincing proofs of His resurrection (v.3) but we have not read that yet, so let’s read the passage together first

Acts 1:1–3 NASB95

1 The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. 3 To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.

The resurrection was of first importance (1Cor15:1-14) it is a key point to the teaching of the apostles and the preaching of the gospel message for without it we would still be in our sins.

(transition) today we will look at the convincing proofs and will be all over in the bible even though this is a study of the book of Acts.

The appearances of Christ

To Mary Magdalen

Mark 16:9–11 NASB95

9 Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. 10 She went and reported to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it.

You can read more in (Jn20:11-18), too.

It was here she saw Jesus, talked with him, and cleaved to Him.

To the other women

As seen in Matthew (Mt28:9-10)

Matthew 28:9–10 NASB95

9 And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

Here Jesus told them again what the angel had previously said.

The disciples on road to Emaus

See Mk16:12-13

Mark 16:12–13 NASB95

12 After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country. 13 They went away and reported it to the others, but they did not believe them either.

you can read more on this in (Lk24:13-32).

Here the disciples on the road talked with Him and ate with Him, then they went back and reported to the others what they saw and heard.

To Peter alone

See what Luke had to see (Lk24:33-35)

Luke 24:33–35 NASB95

33 And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, 34 saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

Or you can look up 1Cor15:5 that we read a few minutes ago.

Then to the apostles without Thomas

See again (Lk24:36-43)

Luke 24:36–43 NASB95

36 While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be to you.” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 “See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; 43 and He took it and ate it before them.

Also can look at (Jn20:19-25).

They saw jesus, he ate food in their presence.

Then to the apostles on another first day of the week with Thomas present

See (Jn20:26-31)

John 20:26–31 NASB95

26 After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” 30 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

Convincing proof to Thomas who refused to believe without touching Jesus, by the way when he appeared Thomas did not reach out and touch, but believed and fell before Him.

Then there is the disciples, the fishers of men, fishermen by the sea of Galilee

Long passage we will not turn to, but it is (Jn21:1-25) where it includes Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, James, John and two unnamed disciples.

They all had breakfast on the beach with the Lord.

Or the 500 that He appeared to as described by Paul (1Cor15:6)

1 Corinthians 15:6 NASB95

6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;

Could have been in Galilee after Jesus instructions to go ahead to Galilee (i.e. Mt16:7; Mt28:10) or even when He charged the people with the great commission (Mt28:18-20)

I think I should keep this in context (Mt28:16-20)

Matthew 28:16–20 NASB95

16 But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

I know I have not forgotten we are in the book of Acts, but all of this is still early in setting up the book for our verse by verse study. We will be going a little deeper than we did on the Sermon on the Mount or the parables.

Then as we read in Luke a little while ago of the commission they were given to be His witnesses and this couples with what we read here in Act1:3-8, which we will get more into next week.

Finally, there is those who were at the ascension (Mk16:19-20)

Mark 16:19–20 NASB95

19 So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed. And they promptly reported all these instructions to Peter and his companions. And after that, Jesus Himself sent out through them from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.

This is also covered here in Acts in (vv.9-12) but too, that we will get to in the weeks to come so will not elaborate on that any more at this time. Luke records this too, and we already looked at that in Luke-24, so no need to read that again, this is just for information about the convincing proofs given.

Convincing proof: The disciples testimony

Their testimony appealed to the convincing proofs.

What they saw, what the heard, what they touched as noted in (1Jn1:1-2).

That they ate and drank with Him (Act10:40-41)

Acts 10:40–41 NASB95

40 “God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.

Convincing proofs by the mass number of people, and the times that could not be denied, people could not be deceived or deluded. (re: 1Cor15:6).

This eyewitness testimony is the same type of testimony that would be admissible in court of law today. This evidence would be presented to be considered as true or not.

Convincing proofs by their transformed lives.

One denied, all fled (Mt14:66-72; Mk14:50)

Some mourned (Lk23:27); others were sad (Lk24:13-17) and the all hid behind closed, locked doors (Lk24:52-53)

I love the transformation of Paul as he describes it (Gal1:13ff)

After the ascension and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost from being afraid to being bold, proclaiming Christ despite any persecution they may face (i.e. Act5:28-32).

Their transformation is a strong proof, a convincing proof of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Their transformation came with great personal cost to them and suffered many things for the testimony of Christ and him crucified and resurrected (i.e 1Cor4:9-13; 2Cor11:23-28) - we don’t have time to turn there today, we are about out of time.

Convincing proofs (Conclusion)

Jesus gave His apostles many convincing proofs over the 40 day period, showed, spoke, ate, touch, teach, charge

The convincing proofs were infallible proofs in the aspect that there was no challenge to the validity of them, to the truthfulness of them. Also, that one would not be willing to suffer and die for a lie, but they were for the truth!

The convincing proofs that are many because of the

Nature of the witnesses testimony

The transformation that happen to the disciples

And the personal sacrifices, suffering they endured for the gospel.

(Prayer) (Close)

Related Media

Related Sermons