Acts Study: 1:6-11
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Context/review: why are the disciples anticipating the Kingdom? Why do they think it is about to come?
The King just defeated death.
He has been talking to them all about the Kingdom for 40 days.
He has told them to wait in Jerusalem; He has told them that the baptism of the Spirit, as promised in the OT, is about to happen.
(Vs. 6) Is the disciples’ question a fair one, or a dumb one?
(Vs. 7-8) Is Jesus’ answer a yes or a no?
“It is not for you to know times...” - this part of the answer seems to be more “No.”
“But you will”
“receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you”
until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is deemed a forest.
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.
The context of these and other OT passages about the baptism of the HS is a context of the kingdom of Israel being restored… what are we to make of that?!?!
“be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”
he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
So… the kingdom, in Acts, will take the form of a Spirit-empowered witness of the Light of Christ to the nations.
This is what is meant by the “already-not yet” kingdom.
Why? Why not a politically triumphant Kingdom right away?
Perhaps because the citizens of the kingdom are to reflect the pattern of Jesus - sufferings as the road to glory.
Perhaps because political triumph could only destroy God’s enemies - not reconcile them.
(Vs. 9-11) Are these verses a historical footnote to keep the story moving, or is there more significance to them?
Why is Jesus returning to heaven?
“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
He is returning to his receive his throne!
The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
Jesus’ reign over all things has begun! And, at the time appointed by God, he will return. But how does he exercise his reign right now? The rest of the book of Acts answers that question.