Chapter 1: The Explosion of the Local Commission: Jerusalem

A. Reminder: 1:1-14

1. Jesus’ Ministry: 1:1-5

a) Wrote to “O Theophilus”.

1) Gospel of Luke – written to tell what Christ DID while on Earth as the Son of man through His physical body. Luke 1:1-4

2) Book of Acts – written to tell what Christ was DOING in Heaven through the Holy Spirit and His spiritual body, the Church.

3) “O Theophilus” means “lover of God”.

a. Prominent Gentile in Rome.

b. Anyone who loves God.

b) Work and Teaching. “Jesus began both to do and teach” 1:1b

c) Ascension. 1:2a “Until the day in which he was taken up”

d) Authorization. 1:2b “through the Holy Spirit had given commandments unto the Apostles” -

After Christ ascended, He now continues to do and teach by speaking through the Holy Spirit.

“Apostle” means “a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders”.

Christ gives the authority to SPEAK for the One who sent them away to the messengers of the church.

e) Awareness. 1:3

1) Seen – “shewed himself alive after the passion by many infallible proofs” (Acts 10:40-41)

a. He appeared to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18).

b. He appeared to the women running to tell the disciples about the empty tomb (Matthew 28:8-10).

c. He appeared to Peter, probably to assure him of his restoration (Luke 24:34; 1 Cor. 15:5).

d. He appeared to the two Emmaus disciples sometime in the early evening (Mark 16:12; Luke 24:13-42).

e. He appeared to the disciples with Thomas absent (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25).

f. One week later, He appeared to the disciples who had gone fishing (John 20).

g. He appeared to 500 believers (1 Cor. 15:6).

h. He appeared to the apostles (Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-18).

i. He appeared to James, the Lord's half-brother (1 Cor. 15:7).

j. He appeared to the believers at His ascension (Mark 16:19-20; Luke 24:44-53; Acts 1:3-12).

It should be remembered that since Jesus' ascension He has appeared at least two other times.

k. He appeared to Stephen at his martyrdom (Acts 7:55-56).

l. He appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3f).

2) Heard – “speaking of things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”

Kingdom of God = Kingdom of Heaven = eternal life = salvation.

Refers to God’s rule and reign and authority in the LIVES of believers. (Ephesians 1:18-23; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:13)

Offered to man through Jesus Christ.

Received as a child. (Mark 10:14-15)

Experienced only by NEW birth. (John 3:3)

Entered now and received now. (Mt. 21:31; Mark 10:15)

Is a spiritual, life-changing blessing. (Romans 14:17)

First thing sought by believers. (Mt. 6:33)

f). Assembled. Acts 1:4

1) Commanded to WAIT in Jerusalem

2) Confirmation of promise. “the promise of the Father”

John 14:15-26; 16:7-15; Romans 8:1-17

a. Holy Spirit’s ministry in the Old Testament was primarily of special empowerment upon special individuals for special tasks for special times. The Holy Spirit played a role in SALVATION in drawing men to faith, but apparently did not permanently indwell all believers as He does today.

b. Holy Spirit’s ministry in the New Testament is:

1. Universal on ALL nations and believers. (Romans 8:9; I Cor. 2:12; 3:16; 6:19)

2. Permanent. (Eph. 4:30; 1:13; John 14:16-17; 2 Cor 6:16)

3. Perfecting as with purity.

4. New Blessings. Such as corporate power for the church, special power for soul winning, and the outpouring of spiritual gifts.

c. baptism - Immerse, submerge for a religious purpose, to overwhelm, saturate. It is the baptism brought by Christ Himself, the immersion of the believer into the Spirit of GOD and of the Spirit into the believer.

2. Jesus’ Last Day: 1:6-11

a) Request – 1:6 “Lord, wilt thou at this time RESTORE again the kingdom to Israel?”

1. Natural response and question to Jesus’ reference to the outpouring of the Spirit in 1:4-5, since the Old Testament often associated the Kingdom and the outpouring of the Sprit. (Isaiah 32:15-20; 44:3-5; Ezekiel 39:28-29; Joel 2:28-3:1; Zech 12:8-10)

2. Apostles misunderstanding.

They misunderstood 2 outpourings of the Spirit just as they misunderstood there would be 2 comings of the Messiah and 2 phases of the Kingdom.

1) Christ’s 1st Coming, He established His Spiritual Kingdom and POURED out the Spirit on Pentecost.

2) Christ’s 2nd Coming, He will establish His Physical Kingdom and pour out the Spirit as the Tribulation ENDS and the Millennial Kingdom begins.

a) Predicted by Daniel – Daniel 2:44; 7:18, 22, 27

b) Promised to David – 2 Samuel 7:12, 16; Psalm 89:3-4; Zech. 12:8

c) Pictured by John – Revelation 20:4-6

3) It is important to understand that the Old Testament did not distinguish between the first and second comings of Christ.

a) The intervening Church Age and Spiritual Kingdom are both referred to as Mysteries (Eph 3:3-6, 9, 21; Mt. 13:11). These are truths that were unrevealed in the Old Testament (Eph 3:4-5)

b) Obviously, the two outpourings of the Holy Spirit are therefore also not distinguished in the Old Testament.

b) Rebuke – 1:7 “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons”

No man know the day or the HOUR. (Mt 24:36; Mk 13:32)

Coupled with this rebuke, it is absolute heresy to set or attempt to set any DATE to the rapture.

However, scripture does teach that we can know when “it is NEAR, even at the doors”. (Mt 24:33)

C) Receive – 1:8

1. Power – God’s almighty energy given through the Holy Spirit.

2. Witnesses – one who testifies for one; one who sees and TELLS.

Having experienced the power of the Holy Spirit, we are the prosecutors for the gospel convincing a lost and dying world of what we can attest and testify as being true.

These words negate every possible EXCUSE for not witnessing for Christ.

These words show the vital necessity of SEEKING for the fullness of the Spirit when witnessing, preaching, or teaching.

3. Jerusalem – Begin where you are continuing where you go until Christ returns.

Sadly, many believers are greatly interested in the “WHEN” of Christ’s Second Coming and not the “WITNESS” of the Gospel message of His First Coming.

Sadly, many believers are interested in the spirit and power, but not in being “Witnesses”.

Note the application of this plan as outline for Acts.

Jerusalem and all Judea – the Jews. (Acts 1-7)

Samaria – the ½ Jews. (Acts 8-9)

Uttermost parts – the Gentiles. (Acts 10-28)

Note the application of this plan for us today:

Jerusalem – our Hometown.

Judea – Our entire area.

Samaria – Across Social, Racial, and cross-cultural barriers.

Uttermost past of the Earth – Global Missions reaching to the entire World.

Note that this command is to be performed simultaneously.

We are not to wait until all have been reached in our Jerusalem before we reach out to surrounding areas, cultures, and the world.

D) Rapture. 1:9-10

This is the 3rd rapture in scripture.

Enoch – Genesis 5:21-24

Elijah – 2 Kings 2:11

1. Upward –

2. A cloud – often associated with the Lord’s presence in the Old Testament. (Ex 13:21; 14:19; Rev. 14:14)

3. Angels – Descension (Luke 2); Ascension; 2nd Coming (I Thes 4:16-17)

E) Return. 1:11 “in like manner”

1. Visible – Mt 24:30; 26:64; Mark 13:26; Rev 1:7 –

Contrary to Jehovah’s Witnesses who teach that Jesus returned invisibly.

2. Personal – Acts 1:11 –

Contrary to the New Age Movement, which says the Christ spirit returns when anyone is enlightened.

3. Bodily – Zech 14:4 –

Contrary to Liberalism.

4. To the mount of Olives. – Zech 14:4

3. Disciples’ gather in Upper Room: 1:12-14

A) Return to Jerusalem.

Why Jerusalem? 1:4

Acts 1:4 KJV 1900

4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

Sabbath day’s journey = 2000 cubits = 3,000 feet = between ½ and ¾ mile.

B) Group gathers in one accord. – 120 total.

1. The People.

a) 11 Apostles. (No Judas Iscariot – he hanged himself, Mt. 27:3-10))

b) Women.

c) Mary, the mother of Jesus.

d) Jesus’ brothers. (Saved between now and the resurrection)

2. Perseverance. “These all continued”

They did not know how long they would have to WAIT, but they continued”

3. Their Purpose. “These all continued with one accord”

They were one. They had a common GOAL.

4. They Prayed. “these all continued…in prayer and supplication”

a) In Prayer for

Their loss of Judas.

The coming of the Holy Spirit

Their reception of the Holy Spirit

b) In Supplication on behalf of

Unsaved relatives

The leaders of the people

Poor, blind, Israel, which had rejected the Savior

B. Replacing Judas: 1:15-26

1. Peter Stood.

A) To discuss the defection and death of Judas.

Quoted Scriptures.

Predicting the apostasy - Psalm 69:25

Psalm 69:25 KJV 1900

25 Let their habitation be desolate; And let none dwell in their tents.

Predicting the replacement - Psalm 109:8

Psalm 109:8 KJV 1900

8 Let his days be few; And let another take his office.

B) To choose his replacement.

* Understand that it was the defection and not the DEATH of Judas that brought about his replacement.

No attempt was made to replace James after his martyrdom in Acts 12:2.

The Apostolic office was thus limited to those who held it in the first generation of Christianity. No man today has the absolute authority to speak for Christ that was contained in this office. There is no such thing as Apostolic Succession. No man today can SPEAK as authoritatively as Scripture!

C) To give the requirements.

He must have been a DISCIPLE of Christ throughout His ministry, not a recent convert. 1:21-22a; cf. Jn 15:27

He must have been a EYE-WITNESS of the Resurrection. 1:22b

2. The 120 Chose 2 men,

Joseph Barsabas (Justus)

Matthias

After prayer, cast lots, whereupon Matthias was chosen. 1:23-26

*Were the disciples correct in choosing Matthias or was the spot reserved for Paul?

Deuteronomy 29:29 KJV 1900

29 The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

Arguments used to criticize the choice of Matthias.

The Holy Spirit had not yet been given to provide supernatural guidance.

Lots were cast to make the choice.

Matthias is not otherwise mentioned in Scripture.

Paul was directly called by Christ.

Paul’s great ministry.

The promise of 12 thrones for the Apostles (Mt. 19:28) and 12 foundations bearing their names (Rev 21:14) seems to limit the number to 12.

Arguments used to support the view that God desired both Matthias and Paul.

The Bible never states that they were wrong.

Luke, Paul’s companion and defender of his Apostolic office certainly would have pointed out the fact that they were in error. Instead, he clearly referred to the group including Matthias as the 12 (Acts 6:2; cf. Acts 2:14).

Acts 6:2 KJV 1900

2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

Acts 2:14 KJV 1900

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

They based their decision on SCRIPTURE.

They preceded their decision with earnest PRAYER.

There was unanimous CONSENT.

They had just spent 40 days with Jesus.

They had received a temporary anointing with the Spirit (Jn 20:22)

John 20:22 KJV 1900

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

Lots were a legitimate and Scriptural Old Testament method of discovering God’s will. (Prov. 16:33; Lev 16:8; Num 26:55)

Not only Matthias, but the majority of the Apostles had no further mention in Scripture. This does not mean that he did not carry out an important ministry.

Though the 12 had a special place and special promises, the number of Apostles was not limited to 12. Barnabas (Acts 14:14), James (Gal 1:19; 1 Cor 15:7), and Apollos (1 Cor 4:6-9) were all called apostles in Scripture. This is due to the fact that they labored under derived apostolic authority because they worked directly under the authority of living Apostles. This derived authority could not be passed on to others.

Paul was never numbered with the 12, but rather had a totally distinct and separate role as Apostle to the Gentiles. (Gal 2:9)

Galatians 2:9 KJV 1900

9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

The IMPORTANT thing is NOT whether or not God is IN what we are doing, but are WE in what God is doing!!

God is SOVEREIGN. God REIGNS. God RULES. God is CONTROL.