Acts Bible Study - 1/20/2021
Acts Bible Study • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction:
Tonight we will begin a new study in the Book of Acts. As we get started let us discuss some of the highlights of this book.
It was written approximately between the years of 60 & 65 A.D.
It is the 3rd longest book in the New Testament behind The Gospels of Matthew & Luke
The Book of Acts covers the first 3 decades of the early Church.
Though some contend that the Gospel of Luke & the Book of Acts were written by anonymous writers, it is generally accepted that it was Luke who wrote both.
Luke was a doctor who traveled with the Apostle Paul
Luke was detail oriented & gave eyewitness testimony for a lot of the accounts written in the Book of Acts
He was a historian & theologian on top of his occupation as a Physician
So, why study the Book of Acts? Well, the Book of Acts gives us insight into the early church. It begins with the Ascension of Jesus and concludes with Paul being in prison in Rome. But most importantly Acts provides us with the account of the early Church’s efforts to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These efforts reached past the Jewish community and looked at outreach to the Gentiles. An effort that we should still continue today, reaching out past our immediate group of worshippers into our communities and beyond. So, let’s get started.
The Role of the Church
1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 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. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
This former treatise is most likely referring to the Gospel of Luke which is a biography of the life of Jesus which is affirmed by the phrase “of all Jesus began both to do & teach” in verse 1. Now we see a continuation of the the events that took place after Christ’s Resurrection & ascension.
The book is addressed to Theophilus which means “dear to God” or commonly translated as “friend of God” in Greek. This may have been a specific person that Luke was referring to or quite possible a blanketed address to any reader who considers themselves a “friend to God”. Perhaps you may recall Jesus’s words in the Gospel of John.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
It is important to note that the writer immediately begins proclaiming the reality & truth of Jesus’s ministry on earth. You notice this Verse 3 affirms 3 critical points that are the really the backbone to our faith:
1st - Jesus showed Himself alive, the resurrection did indeed take place. This is declared in the Gospels as well as several times in the Book of Acts. But you can also compare to
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
2nd - After his passion, this is a direct reference to Christ’s suffering & death. Once again, this is another truth given in the Gospels but I will highlight
46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
3rd - Proof, the fact that Jesus appeared to His disciples physically for a 40 day period provided the proof that Jesus was physically resurrected & that this was not just a spiritual resurrection.
This is proclaimed throughout the Gospels & Epistles of the Apostles but there are also non-Christian writers who spoke of this. Perhaps the most referred to who is Josephus who wrote the following:
“About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he ... wrought surprising feats.... He was the Christ. When Pilate ...condemned him to be crucified, those who had . . . come to love him did not give up their affection for him. On the third day he appeared ... restored to life.... And the tribe of Christians ... has ... not disappeared.”
These are selected excerpts from Josephus’s writings.
How is this helpful to the Follower of Jesus Christ today?
The complexity of God & His Holy Word will never be fully understood by the human mind. There is nothing wrong with delving deep into God’s Word, in fact that is why we have Wednesday Night Studies. But for so many, both for unbelievers & believers alike, it is the simple principles in which we do not fully grasp. I am a fan of the old Karate Kid movies. In the 1st movie the main character, Daniel, asks his Karate teacher Mr. Miyogi to learn a specialized & advanced kicking technique called the crane kick. Mr. Miyogi offers a piece of wisdom by saying first you learn to walk, then you learn to fly.
Now that is a light hearted illustration but for the Follower of Jesus Christ it is important that we know & understand by faith the foundation of our beliefs. That is the earthly ministry of Jesus which His suffering & Crucifixion, His Burial, & His Resurrection. Before anything else is discussed in the Book of Acts it is declared again exactly what took place at the conclusion of Jesus’s earthly ministry.
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Now there might be some who heard the last sentiment I shared about making sure we fully understand the Death, Burial, & Resurrection of Christ. Odds are most seasoned Christians would say, of course I know all about that. I have heard it preached and taught on for years - Amen & Amen.
But understand this, despite all the time that the disciples had spent with Jesus, the miracles they observed, the teachings they listened to, they were still preoccupied with the matters of this world. Unfortunately, that is the same for a lot of us. We can find ourselves in the same trap.
Throughout the Gospels the disciples waned Jesus to address Rome, proclaim that He was the Messiah, and build an earthly kingdom. The same question is asked yet again in Acts 1:6. They were no doubt impressed by the physical Resurrection of Christ and saw this as a display of true power. You safely surmise by their question that they were awaiting instruction to begin a rebellion.
However, Jesus reels them back in. Jesus gives a warning to Christians that is just as relevant today as it was 2, 000 years ago.
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
That is why you need to be very careful in who you listen to. Especially people who claim they know dates of Christ’s return, or they can read nature to predict Christ’s 2nd coming. It is also important to remember that at no time was Jesus interested in overthrowing Rome. He was focused on saving people. We should follow Jesus’ example. There is nothing wrong with being an informed citizen, but we should never prioritize situations involving the government over the matters of God. God’s Word is clear on our relationship with governing bodies.
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
So, if the next step for the disciples was not this earthly kingdom then what is the role of the Church (the Bride of Christ)?
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 1
The locations mentioned in this verse represent a geographical broadening in scope of the apostles’ mission, from Israel’s capital, to the land of Israel, and to the entire world. This also reflects the structure of the book of Acts: The Church spreads in Jerusalem (chs. 1–7), in Judaea and Samaria (ch. 8), and to the surrounding nations (chs. 9–28).
This is not a new idea in terms of furthering the truths of God.
6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, That thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
The role of the Church is to be witnesses. Witnesses at home, in our work places, our schools, in our communities, & beyond. However, there is one thing to highlight which is they were not to immediately begin to witness. They were to await the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
Conclusion:
A former contributor to the Our Daily Bread Devotional Booklets wrote a testimony about a man in China who found it nearly impossible to see. A group of Christians set up a medical center to treat locals and someone brought the man who struggled to see to a Christian Doctor. After an examination the Doctor determined that the man had cataracts. He performed surgery that restored the man’s sight.
Some time later that Doctor happened to look out of a window at the medical center & saw the man who he operated on leading a group of people who were holding onto a rope. They were clinging to that rope because they to could not see and they were being guided by the man who had cataract surgery.
The man was not able to tell those people how the surgery worked. He was not able to use the correct terminology to describe the condition that the others may be suffering from. All he did was tell them to grab a rope and led them to this Doctor to restore their sight.
That is what we should be doing as Followers of Jesus Christ. We do not have to be scholars, theologians, preachers, or anything of the sort to lead people to Jesus. You just have to know the basic principles of our faith. We are all in need of a savior, His name is Jesus, He suffered & died for your sins, He was Buried, & was resurrected which gives us hope of eternal life. There is no need to over complicate things, we just need to lead them to Jesus.
Will you pray with me?