None of Your Business

The New International Version Chapter 1

1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Passage

SR

Acts 1:1–11 NIV

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Passage begins and ends with Jesus going to heaven. Luke says he wrote about Jesus’ time on earth and all the things he did and said.

Acts: An Introduction and Commentary a. Prologue (1:1–5)

His death is described as his passion, literally ‘suffering’, a word that is not infrequent in the New Testament and brings out the element of torture inflicted on the innocent Jesus at his death (17:3; 26:23)

The New International Version Chapter 17

2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead.

Gave many convincing proofs that he was alive:

Gave many convincing proofs that he was alive:

Gave many convincing proofs that he was alive:

Matt and Mark: appears to the women who had gone to the tomb and appeared on a mountain with the disciples

Luke

John: he shows up behind locked doors, appears to the disciples, appears specifically to Thomas. Calls out to Peter and telling him to cast his nets on the other side of the boat. After Peter brought in the large haul of fish, Jesus had breakfast with them. “Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them.”

In Luke it’s walking with some of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, sharing the scriptures with them and also breaking bread with them which ultimately leads to their recognizing him.

And certainly many more stories and occasions that weren’t written down — “40 days” worth. The subject that Jesus spoke about often was “the Kingdom of God” which was also how the beginning of his ministry was described (). Maybe he spoke more in parables and used analogies in nature like before: pearls, mustard seeds, birds of the air, flowers. Maybe his teachings seemed to make more sense in the light of his resurrection. The KOG is also the subject of the apostles preaching and teaching in the book of Acts. They followed Jesus example, and they too seized on the idea of the KOG as their focus. is a good example:

The New International Version Chapter 8

12 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

There was one special time, Luke tells Theophilus, that Jesus commanded them something specifically: stay here and wait. Jerusalem was certainly the place chosen by God to give his special gift of the spirit. It was the place where Jesus was “despised and rejected”--the place of religious authority and the local seat of Roman rule. Maybe for the disciples, and maybe for us it would be easy to return to the old and the familiar, to the old job back in Galilee, the fishing nets, to the places that are more comfortable. God places us where he wants us and tells us to wait for him and his power to descend so that we can be his witness and can be partners in doing his will.

Waiting on God found in several Psalms.

, . Perhaps they read together — Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

37:7. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Jesus recalls John the Baptist’s testimony about himself. John was just baptizing with water, but Jesus would baptize with the HS. And when Jesus harkens back to John the Baptist they “gathered around.” Seems like they leaned in a bit. Remember the old “My broker is E.F. Hutton” commercials? They have their own assumptions and questions about the KOG. “OK, we’ve been listening to you Jesus and we’ve got a few of our own questions.” *Is this the time you’re going to restore the Kingdom? Their questions have to do with: 1) control, and 2) clout.

Jesus recalls John the Baptist’s testimony about himself. John was just baptizing with water, but Jesus would baptize with the HS.

Then they “gathered around.” Seems like they leaned in a bit. Remember the old “My broker is E.F. Hutton” commercials? They have their own assumptions and questions about the KOG. “OK, we’ve been listening to you Jesus and we’ve got a few of our own questions.” Their questions have to do with: 1) control, and 2) clout.

They’ve pulled out their Google Calendars on their phones, and they want to get the dates jotted down so they can be ready and invite their friends (and their enemies).

They want God’s power to be about them (restore the kingdom to Israel). Forget about the KOG, what about the Kingdom of Israel?

C+C are about who’s in charge. Our exact issues/questions/concerns are likely different than the disciples, but we still are wrestling with God on the same principals: who has the control and who is this all about? “God, I’m going to need to know the exact day/time/location/circumstance of your working? Oh yeah, and I’m assuming your working is all about me and my power and authority (aka “blessing”) in this world.”

Like the disciples, we’re not all that comfortable with “wait here until God’s power comes on you.” Too passive. Too vague.

God, what is your plan, when will you act, do you see my situation? I’m going to need to fill in the gaps on the plan a bit. Jesus answers both the “C’s” with a nice “nonya” Ever do that trick? “What kind of chips are those?” “Nonya.” None of your business.

We don’t need to know specifics. Can you even imagine if you knew all the times/dates/specifics of God’s acting powerfully in your life? That wouldn’t exactly be “walking by faith.” There is a lot in life that we can know and that we want to know and plan for. A certain amount of knowing and planning is certainly good. That’s wisdom. But sometimes there could be less striving to know and more striving to trust.

If you want to know something, know and remember who has the power. Jesus reminds the disciples that God is working “on his own authority.” He doesn’t need anybody’s permission and he doesn’t need to inform anyone.

You don’t get control, you don’t get clout, but you do get power. So if you’re in a situation this AM where you’re really wondering about what God is doing and when he’s going to get around to do it, know that he hasn’t left you powerless in your situation. He’s not going to let you know the details maybe, but he’s going to give you his power. It may not be the type of power that we readily think about. Right at the end of Luke, Jesus tells his disciples to stay in the city until they have been “clothed with power from on high.” Acts opens with the fulfilling of this promise. Power is coming to you: 1) it’s from on high 2) it’s going to enable you to be a witness. It’s all starting right here in Jerusalem and it’s going to move throughout the area, spread to the Samaritans, to the Gentiles, and even to the ends of the earth.

Of course the power from on high is the Holy Spirit that we see descend on the apostles and hear Peter get up and preach in .

Joel 2:28–29 NIV

“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

In Joel we see power coming to the people at the outpouring of the Spirit. Prophesy, dream, catch a vision.

That is of course the text that Peter relies on at the day of Pentecost. The power is about the mission of God for the spreading of his word, mercy, and healing by and through God’s people. The power is to show the world that lives in darkness the light of salvation and the path to peace, hope, justice and reconciliation with God and with our brother and sister.

That is of course the text that Peter relies on at the day of Pentecost. The power is about the mission of God for the spreading of his word, mercy, and healing by and through God’s people. The power is to show the world that lives in darkness the light of salvation and the path to peace, hope, justice and reconciliation with God and with our brother and sister.

For the disciples, the witnessing begins even know as they hear Jesus’s words. Luke notes, “right before their very eyes” Jesus suddenly was taken up. And nobody says, “well that’s that. Let’s get going.” They stand around looking. Disciples “looking intently into the sky” suggest a longing that is unfulfilled.

Back in our passage in , for the disciples, the witnessing begins even know as they hear Jesus’s words. Luke notes, “right before their very eyes” Jesus suddenly was taken up. And nobody says, “well that’s that. Let’s get going.” They stand around looking. Disciples “looking intently into the sky” suggest a longing that is unfulfilled.

Apparently they’re staring so long that God sends two angels. “Um, why you guys standing around”? Jesus is coming back in the same way you have seen him go. The implication is you’ve seen him, you’re a witness go and testify. You’ve got some work to do.

Lastly, not only does the spirit empower us to do God’s work in the world, the spirit is a down payment on our eternal dwelling place.

Not only does the spirit empower us to do God’s work in the world, the spirit is a down payment on our eternal dwelling place.

2 Corinthians 5:4–5 NIV

For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Apparently so long that God sends two angels. “Um, why you guys standing around”? Jesus is coming back in the same way you have seen him go. The implication is you’ve seen him, you’re a witness go and testify. You’ve got some work to do.

2 Corinthians 5:1–5 NIV

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Ever “groaned”? Waking up in the morning? Bending down to pick something up? Getting up out of the chair? Ever creak or crack? Got an ache or pain that is just now sort of permanently with you? If so you can relate to this passage. We realize this earthly life is a temporary gig. We live in a tent. Oh so many tempting Scout analogies . . . How many nights have I spent cold, on the hard ground, in the wind or rain in a flimsy, temporary shelter, wishing for my soft, warm bed. The tent is not a place where you want to spend a lot of time. You want to go to your real home.

And so it is with this life as great and wondrous as it is. So much to see and do. Yet it is not our permanent home, what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. The Spirit is a comforting presence allowing us to gain a glimpse of God’s working and to let us be firm and assured of what is yet to come.

“The Father’s promise” is the Holy Spirit, a “deposit guaranteeing what is to come.”

I am going to prepare a place for you

Who sits at the Father’s right hand

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