Jesus give his last instructions to his disciples, stay in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit has come upon you. Then, “you will be my witnesses … to the farthest part of the earth”. After Jesus is taken up into heaven, they return to the upper room in Jerusalem and “were busily engaged with one mind in prayer”. They ask, and the Lord confirms Matthias to replace Judas. Then, on the day of Pentecost it happens. The sound of a rushing mighty wind and tongues of fire over each of them and the people in Jerusalem come to see what has happened. The disciples, one hundred and twenty, are speaking the wonderful works of God in other languages. Peter give the gospel message, God has raised Jesus from the dead, repent and be baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. About three thousand were saved that day.
Luke Summarizes Jesus Last Days on Earth
Acts 1:1-11
All That Jesus Began To Do and To Teach
Acts 1:1–5
As the book of Acts begins, John sets the foundation for the Church in Acts 1:1-2 “all that Jesus began to do and to teach, 2 until the day he was taken up”. Then he recounts the resurrection and “convincing proofs” and the witnesses in Acts 1:3 followed by Jesus instruction to them, his command in Acts 1:4-5 “do not depart from Jerusalem … you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit”.
You Will Receive Power When the Holy Spirit Has Come Upon You
Acts 1:6–11
In the last conversation with Jesus, his disciples are still asking, “Lord, is it at this time you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” but this isn’t the plan. Jesus answers “It is not for you to know” which was not what they were expecting. They were still looking for the restoration of Israel and freedom from the Romans. Instead, Jesus answers in
Acts 1:8 (LEB) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest part of the earth.”
Jesus had already commissioned them, and says it again before he ascends to take his place at the right hand of the Father in heaven. And there they stand looking up until the angels in Acts 1:10-11 say “why do you stand there looking”. It was time for the to move on and they return to Jerusalem.
Matthias is Chosen
Engaged With One Mind in Prayer Together
Acts 1:12–26
It is a short distance from the Mount of Olives where they saw Jesus ascend in Acts 1:12 it says it was a “Sabbath Day’s Journey, “This was the distance beyond which it was considered unlawful for a Jew to travel on the Sabbath day. Its limitation is supposed to have originated in Exodus 16:29, where every man is commanded to abide in his place on the Sabbath. The distance of a Sabbath’s day journey was 2000 cubits … Two thousand cubits is less than half a mile”.1
They went back to “the upstairs room where they were staying” as Jesus had told them to. It would have been about ten days there until Pentecost so in
Acts 1:14 (LEB) All these were busily engaged with one mind in prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers.
It was during this time that Peter said, in Acts 1:20-22 “Let another person take his position.’ 21 Therefore it is necessary for one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time in which the Lord Jesus went in and went out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us—one of these men must become a witness of his resurrection together with us.”
We tend to think only of the twelve apostles that were with Jesus but he also sent out seventy two by two and as we read here, there were other disciples that had been with Jesus from the beginning until his ascension. And from them, Matthias was chosen.
The Day of Pentecost
Acts 2:1-47
A Sound Like a Violent Rushing Wind
Acts 2:1–13
Jesus had told them to wait for the Holy Spirit and on the day of Pentecost, in Acts 2:2 “suddenly a sound like a violent rushing wind”. And in Acts 2:3 “tongues like fire appeared”. And in Acts 2:4 “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages”. And in Acts 2:6 “the crowd gathered”. Many of the things Jesus did were done done outside the city and his crucifixion was outside the city and his burial and resurrection were outside the city. But this, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, this was done right in the city for all to see and hear. There was nothing hidden or secret about this and no one could deny what was happening. And the people reacted saying in Acts 2:7 “Behold, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?”, in other words, aren’t these uneducated and uncultured men? And in Acts 2:8-12 they ask “how do we hear, each one of us, in our own native language … we hear them speaking in our own languages the great deeds of God!”
This is What Was Spoken Through the Prophet Joel
Acts 2:14–24
Peter explains in Acts 2:14-24 that this was what God had prophesied through Joel, “that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved”. He told them that Jesus who they had crucified, God has raised up.
You Will Not Abandon My Soul in Hades
Acts 2:25–33
See notes on 22 January 2018 at a title=”http://tellone.org/devotions/we-hear-them-speaking-the-great-deeds-of-god/” href=”http://tellone.org/devotions/we-hear-them-speaking-the-great-deeds-of-god/” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener”>We Hear Them Speaking the Great Deeds of God
God Has Made Him Both Lord and Christ
Acts 2:34–41
Peter is very straight forward, you might even say he hits them right between the eyes in
Acts 2:36 (LEB) Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond a doubt, that God has made him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified!”
But this isn’t a punitive statement to condemn them, it is the opening for an invitation in
Acts 2:38–39 (LEB) And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all those who are far away, as many as the Lord our God calls to himself.”
Peter offers them all forgiveness through Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
They Were Devoting Themselves
Acts 2:42–47
This is a great time of peace and love and growth in the Church in Jerusalem. We find the basis for the Christian life in this dispensation here in
Acts 2:42 (LEB) And they were devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayers.
And the result in the lives of people was that everyone felt generous, everyone was concerned for others needs in
Acts 2:44–47 (LEB) And all who believed were in the same place, and had everything in common. 45 And they began selling their possessions and property, and distributing these things to all, to the degree that anyone had need. 46 And every day, devoting themselves to meeting with one purpose in the temple courts and breaking bread from house to house, they were eating their food with joy and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding every day to the total of those who were being saved.
This part about having things in common and selling their possessions is hard for us in our materialistic age, but we can maybe understand and aspire to “eating their food with joy and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people”.
Study Verses
- Acts 1:6–11 You Will Receive Power When the Holy Spirit Has Come Upon You
- Acts 1:12–26 Engaged With One Mind in Prayer Together
- Acts 2:42–47 They Were Devoting Themselves
Today’s Reading
- Acts 1:1-26
- Acts 2:1-47
The Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ – The Gospels
This is the end of the series that follows the Gospels using the order of readings from the Tyndale One Year Chronological Bible. Covering these events chronologically as they happened, gives a much different context and helps us understand the move of God as He is introducing the Saviour, the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. This series begins with Return To Me And I Will Return To You at the end of Malachi and introduces the “Witnesses” writing the Gospels.
Operation Exodus
is helping Jewish people return to their homeland. You might fund one that desires to go home. http://operationexodususa.org/Overview
References
- 1. Freeman, J. M., & Chadwick, H. J. (1998). Manners & customs of the Bible (p. 525). North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos Publishers.
