Paul is accused and because of the outcry of the crowd in the city, the military tribune takes Paul into custody. Paul asks to speak to the crowd and gives testimony of his life beginning with his persecution of Christians which the high priest and elders around him knew. They listen until Paul says Jesus told him in Acts 22:21 And he said to me, ‘Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles!’ ”. Again the crowd erupts and the tribune steps in. Paul invokes his rights as a Roman citizen and though held imprisoned, the tribune takes Paul before the Sanhedrin to get answers about the accusations against Paul. Recognizing that he will not get a fair hearing from these, the highest Jewish religious and governing body, he says in Acts 23:6 “I am being judged concerning the hope and the resurrection of the dead!” and they erupt again and again the tribune steps in to protect Paul. We expect that the religious people around us, those that call on the name of God, will be our helpers and protectors. Sadly, there are times when they are themselves the enemies of God. Who would expect that an unbeliever, a military man, the tribune, would be the chief defender of Paul? But Paul is exactly where Jesus wants him to be and he appears to Paul in Acts 23:11 And the next night the Lord stood by him and said, “Have courage, for as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” 

Who Are You Lord

Acts 22:6–13
Paul is standing before the men of Israel and giving his testimony. He’s telling them that he was on his way to Damascus and on the road a bright light appeared to him, and a voice in

Acts 22:7 and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’

It was Jesus confronting him in

Acts 22:8 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene whom you are persecuting.’

Paul responded and Jesus instructed him in

Acts 22:10 So I said, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and proceed to Damascus, and there it will be told to you about all the things that have been appointed for you to do.’

The men of Israel are still listening.

God Has Appointed You To Know His Will

Acts 22:14–21
In his encounter with Jesus, Jesus tells Paul that he is being told the will of God so that he can be a witness to God to those people around and in particular that God was sending him to the Gentiles

Acts 22:15 because you will be a witness for him to all people of what you have seen and heard.

 

I Was Born a Citizen

Acts 22:22–30
When Paul told the man that we’re listening quietly to him that he was called to the Gentiles and that God was sending him to the Gentiles they raised their voices and started shouting “away with such a man from the earth” in

Acts 22:22 Now they were listening to him until this word, and they raised their voices, saying, “Away with such a man from the earth! For it is not fitting for him to live!”

As the crowd erupts again, the military Tribune stepped in again and brought Paul back to the barracks. Normally the Romans would flog prisoners to get information from them and the tribune commanded flogging for Paul to get to the truth. But Paul claims his rights as a Roman citizen in

Acts 22:25 But when they had stretched him out for the lash, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it permitted for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?”

When the Tribune is informed that Paul claims Roman citizen he quickly inquires because, as Paul knows, he has the right to a trial before his accusers. So, in

Acts 22:27 So the military tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.”

and the tribune presses Paul on this point in

Acts 22:28 And the military tribune replied, “I acquired this citizenship for a large sum of money.” And Paul said, “But I indeed was born a citizen.”

The Tribune knew that he crossed the line and had treated Paul inappropriately. Now he steps back and holds Paul in prison overnight. But this has caused the tribune a lot of trouble so he then takes Paul the next morning before the Sanhedrin to get answers in

Acts 22:30 But on the next day, because he wanted to know the true reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to assemble, and he brought down Paul and had him stand before them.

 

I Have Lived My Life in All Good Conscience

Acts 23:1–11
As Paul begins to address the Sanhedrin he says to them “Men and brothers, I live my life and all the conscience before God to this day” in Acts 23:1. But the high priest has Paul struck in the mouth for this comment in

Acts 23:2 So the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near him to strike his mouth.

Paul is standing before the Sanhedrin, the highest religious and governing body of the Jewish law. Paul knows the law well and striking a witness is unacceptable so he reacts in

Acts 23:3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! And are you sitting there judging me according to the law, and acting contrary to the law do you order me to be struck?”

Those around Paul explain that he has just condemned the high priest and Paul an apology in Acts 23:5. Paul realizes this whole assembly is overtaken by politics and he recognizes in the assembly his old life as a Pharisee when he himself sought to elevate himself as chief among them. As Paul realizes that there are Sadducees and Pharisees in the crowd, he uses their differing beliefs against them and says to them “I am being judged by the hope of the resurrection of the dead” in

Acts 23:6 Now when Paul realized that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he shouted out in the Sanhedrin, “Men and brothers! I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees! I am being judged concerning the hope and the resurrection of the dead!”

But Paul’s message wasn’t just about the resurrection of the dead, it was about the resurrection of the dead beginning with Jesus Christ. The whole assembly erupts again in

Acts 23:7 And when he said this, a dispute developed between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

When the dispute developed and it grew into loud shouting, the Tribune again took action to rescue Paul from the crowd and pulled him out and took him back to the barracks in

Acts 23:10 And when the dispute became severe, the military tribune, fearing lest Paul be torn apart by them, ordered the detachment to go down, take him away from their midst, and bring him into the barracks.

After these days of turmoil, with Paul again held imprisoned by the military Tribune because of the uproar of the Jews, the Lord appears to Paul and Says in

Acts 23:11 And the next night the Lord stood by him and said, “Have courage, for as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

The Jews Made a Conspiracy to Kill Paul

Acts 23:12–22
The Jews made a conspiracy to kill Paul. Forty men vowed before the high priest that they would not eat or drink anything until Paul was dead.

Acts 23:12 And when it was day, the Jews made a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse, saying they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

But God will expose things that are hidden and there was a young man in the crowd that heard the conversation do you happen to be the sister of the son of Paul’s sister and they came and told Paul of this conspiracy.

So, they took the young man to the Tribune and the young man is a smart leader and took the Amanda side and ask him privately what had been going on and what he had heard that he told him the whole story of the conspiracy.

Acts 23:18 So he took him and brought him to the military tribune and said, “The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”

Make Ready and Bring Paul Safely to the Governor

Acts 23:23–35
The Tribune didn’t waste any time he calls to centurions and said make ready 200 soldiers 70 Horseman and spear-man in

Acts 23:23 And he summoned two of the centurions and said, “Make ready from the third hour of the night two hundred soldiers and seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, in order that they may proceed as far as Caesarea.

They provide amounts for Paul and prepared to take him to Felix the governor in Caesarea. The Tribune also wrote a letter to the governor outlining all of his actions to make sure that the governor knew that what he had done was for the peace of Jerusalem and to keep to the Jewish people and the rebellion in line.

Acts 23:25 He wrote a letter that had this form:

Study Verses

• Acts 22:6–13 Who Are You Lord
• Acts 22:22–30 I Was Born a Citizen
• Acts 23:1–11 I Have Lived My Life in All Good Conscience

Today’s Reading

• Acts 22:6-30
• Acts 23:1-35

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The Lord says that he will show us things to come and Paul has heard from the Holy Spirit as he says that he is in Acts 20:22–23 “bound by the Spirit I am traveling to Jerusalem”. Yet along the way, everyone is telling him as in Acts 21:4 “through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem”. Our natural inclination is to avoid trouble and our instinct is to change our direction to avoid it. But there are times when the Lord wants us to go through something rather than go around it. Jesus gave us the best example in the garden as he prayed in Mark 14:36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you! Take away this cup from me! Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Jesus understood what was ahead of him and wanted to find another path, but he set himself to follow the will of the Father. Now, as they urge him not to go to Jerusalem, in Acts 21:13 Then Paul replied, “What are you doing weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be tied up, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus!” The message Jesus came to bring began in Jerusalem and now, years later, Paul must speak again as a witness, not only to those in Jerusalem but even to Rome itself. Sometimes, the Holy Spirit is speaking to us, not to avoid trouble, but to prepare us for the hardship we will face as we go through it.

The Disciples Kept Telling Paul

Acts 21:1–7 

This Is What The Holy Spirit Says

Acts 21:8-16
Paul is on his journey to Jerusalem and has been telling people along the way in

Acts 20:22–23 “And now behold, bound by the Spirit I am traveling to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in town after town, saying that bonds and persecutions await me.

and that they would not see him again in

Acts 20:38 especially distressed at the statement that he had said, that they were going to see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.

It is clear that he has already been warned “through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem” in Acts 21:4. Now, as he is in Israel he comes to the home of Philip in

Acts 21:8–9 And on the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 (Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.)

and together with them, comes another prophet who give Paul specific details about what is to come in

Acts 21:11 And he came to us and took Paul’s belt. Tying up his own feet and hands, he said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the man whose belt this is, and will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ”

But Paul was sure he had been sent to Jerusalem by the Holy Spirit so he doesn’t take this message to mean that he should not go, only that he should prepare himself for what is ahead. Paul answers in

Acts 21:13 Then Paul replied, “What are you doing weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be tied up, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus!”

They Began To Glorify God

Acts 21:17–22

And Everyone Will Know

Acts 21:23–26 

This Is The Man Who Is Teaching Everyone Everywhere

Acts 21:27–36
Paul is received gladly by the brothers, the Church, in Jerusalem in

Acts 21:17 And when we came to Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us gladly.

and after they heard his report of how God was working among the Gentiles, “they began to glorify God” in Acts 21:20 but they also then said “You see, brother, how many ten thousands there are among the Jews who have believed, and they are all zealous adherents of the law” and they said this because there where those spreading rumors about Paul in

Acts 21:21 And they have been informed about you that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles the abandonment of Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or to live according to our customs.

They all recognize that these things spoken about Paul must somehow be countered so Paul agrees that as he goes through the ritual of purification for the Passover that is coming, he will pay the way for several others to demonstrate that he does not preach abandoning Moses in

Acts 21:23–24 Therefore do this that we tell you: we have four men who have taken a vow upon themselves. 24 Take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses so that they can shave their heads, and everyone will know that the things which they had been informed about you are nothing, but you yourself also agree with observing the law.

Paul agrees and is in the temple these seven days as is prescribed for purification, and then in

Acts 21:27–28 But when the seven days were about to be completed, the Jews from Asia who had seen him in the temple courts stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 shouting, “Israelite men, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place! And furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple, and has defiled this holy place!”

This was not what Paul was teaching but Paul did have a Christian convert with him that was a Greek and that was enough for the crowd to erupt in religious fervor and “the whole city was stirred up” in Acts 21:30 and the tribune, the representative of the Roman government that was charged with keeping peace, in

Acts 21:32–33 He immediately took along soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the military tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the military tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he was and what it was that he had done.

What had been prophesied by Agabus was fulfilled and Paul had not done anything but made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem as was required of all Jewish men.

Allow Me To Speak To The People

Acts 21:37–40 

Listen To My Defense To You

Acts 22:1–5
Just as the crowd had heard rumors about Paul and reacted by beating him and ready to stone him, the military tribune had assumed, because of the tumult, that Paul must be this troublemaker he was expecting to find in

Acts 21:38 “Then you are not the Egyptian who before these days raised a revolt and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins?”

The tribune recognizes the truth in Paul’s words and finally allows Paul to address the crowd. Paul motions to get their attention and in

Acts 22:1-2 “Men—brothers and fathers—listen to my defense to you now! 2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Aramaic language, they became even more silent. And he said,”

Paul begins to tell them about his background, his birth, his education among them “at the feet of Gamaliel” in Acts 21:3 who was one of their most recognized teachers, and how he had not only “persecuted this way” in Acts 21:4 but pursued them even to Damascus with letters from “the high priest and the whole council of elders” in Acts 21:4. Paul has their attention and is able to speak the truth to them all.

Study Verses

• Acts 21:8-16 This Is What The Holy Spirit Says
• Acts 21:27–36 This Is The Man Who Is Teaching Everyone Everywhere
• Acts 22:1–5 Listen To My Defense To You

Today’s Reading

• Acts 21:1-40
• Acts 22:1-5

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Speaking Boldly For the Lord

Acts 14:1–7

 

He Leaped Up and Began Walking

Acts 14:8–13

 

In Generations That Are Past

Acts 14:14–20

They Reported All That God Had Done

Acts 14:21–28

He Made No Distinction Between Us and Them

Acts 15:1–9

We Will Be Saved Through the Grace of the Lord Jesus

Acts 15:10–21

Study Verses

• Acts 14:1–7 Speaking Boldly For the Lord
• Acts 14:8–13 He Leaped Up and Began Walking
• Acts 14:14–20 In Generations That Are Past

Today’s Reading

• Acts 14:1-28
• Acts 15:1-21

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Peter and John were commissioned to preach this gospel of the kingdom and to be witnesses of what they had experienced in their relationship with Jesus Christ. But this was threatening to the religious authority who questioned them in Acts 4:7 “and they made them stand in their midst and began to ask, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” but they weren’t interested in an answer and after talking among themselves, in Acts 4:18 “called them back and commanded them not to speak or to teach at all in the name of Jesus”. Peter and John went to the church and they prayed in Acts 4:24 “they lifted their voices with one mind to God”. We also may find ourselves facing opposition, but God has also given us this message. Then, Peter and John were thrown in prison in Acts 5:19–20 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison and led them out and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple courts and proclaim to the people all the words of this life.” and there they went, right back to the temple courts, and they continued to “proclaim to the people all the words of this life”.

There Is No Other Name Under Heaven By Which We Must Be Saved

Acts 4:5–14 

We Are Not Able To Refrain From Speaking

Acts 4:15–22
The leaders of Israel, the Sanhedrin, wanted to stop this message but God has been confirming the word of the apostles with miracles they could not deny in

Acts 4:16 saying, “What should we do with these men? For that a remarkable sign has taken place through them is evident to all those who live in Jerusalem, and we are not able to deny it!

So, they decide to forbid them from speaking the name of Jesus in

Acts 4:17–18 But in order that it may not spread much further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more in this name to anyone at all.” 18 And they called them back and commanded them not to speak or to teach at all in the name of Jesus.

But Peter and John refuse because they have the word of God that they have been commissioned to preach in

Acts 4:19–20 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God, you decide! 20 For we are not able to refrain from speaking about the things that we have seen and heard.”

 

Extend Your Hand To Heal

Acts 4:23–31
Peter and John returned to the church, “their own people” with a report of what had happened in

Acts 4:23 And when they were released, they went to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

and the whole congregation called out together “with one mind to God” in

Acts 4:24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices with one mind to God and said, “Master, you are the one who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them,

but they don’t pray randomly, instead, they pray quoting the words of David from Psalm 2:1-2 in

Acts 4:25–26 the one who said by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of our father David, your servant, ‘Why do the nations rage, and the peoples conspire in vain? The kings of the earth stood opposed, and the rulers assembled together at the same place, against the Lord and against his Christ.’

and then they name their current opposition in

Acts 4:27–28 For in truth both Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, assembled together in this city against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed, 28 to do all that your hand and plan had predestined to take place.

and finally, they ask the Lord to intervene on their behalf in

Acts 4:29–30 And now, Lord, concern yourself with their threats and grant your slaves to speak your message with all boldness, 30 as you extend your hand to heal and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

and the Lord responded as the place is shaken and again, “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” and instead of stopping, they “began to speak the word of God with boldness” in Acts 4:31.

Those Who Believed Were One Heart and Soul

Acts 4:32–37

How Is It That You Have Contrived This Deed

Acts 5:1–11

Many Signs And Wonders Were Being Performed

Acts 5:12–16 

Proclaim To The People All The Words Of This Life

Acts 5:17–26
Again, the high priest and leaders had Peter and John put in prison in

Acts 5:17–18 Now the high priest rose up and all those who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. 18 And they laid hands on the apostles and put them in the public prison.

We also know that even though we say in our judicial system that people are innocent until proven guilty, the public reaction to imprisonment is often an assumption that they must have done something wrong, something bad, to be imprisoned and this kind of character assassination was exactly what these leaders wanted to accomplish. But God had a different plan so in

Acts 5:19–20 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison and led them out and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple courts and proclaim to the people all the words of this life.”

Peter and John were commissioned to preach. They had a message and if they had any doubt about what they were doing, the Lord removed it by sending his messenger that told them, “Go and stand in the temple courts”. That is exactly what they did in

Acts 5:21a And when they heard this, they entered at daybreak into the temple courts and began teaching.

When the leaders of Israel sent for them they couldn’t find them in the prison and it created great confusion in

Acts 5:23 saying, “We found the prison locked with all security and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”

until someone came and reported that they were back preaching again in the temple courts in

Acts 5:25 But someone came and reported to them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple courts and teaching the people!”

Study Verses

• Acts 4:15–22 We Are Not Able To Refrain From Speaking
• Acts 4:23–31 Extend Your Hand To Heal
• Acts 5:17–26 Proclaim To The People All The Words Of This Life

Today’s Reading

• Acts 4:5-37
• Acts 5:1-26

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This is the day of Pentecost and as the Holy Spirit has come, a crowd has gathered and Peter begins to speak. Peter quotes from the Psalms of David, who the Jewish people respected as a great king and that they would all have known. David prophesied that one would come Peter uses this to declare the resurrection of Jesus in Acts 2:27 “because you will not abandon my soul in Hades, nor will you permit your Holy One to experience decay”. Then quotes David again to declare Jesus position in Acts 2:34–35 For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’ It is these prophetic words about Jesus Christ that are the subject of the teaching in Acts 2:42 “And they were devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayers.” and the Church was growing and the Lord continued to confirm his word by healing in Acts 3:16 “and the faith that is through him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all”. 

I Saw The Lord

Acts 2:25–36
Peter has just said to them in

Acts 2:21 And it will be that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.’

but they, the Jews that were listening, believed that Jesus was cursed because of what it says in

Deuteronomy 21:23 his dead body shall not hang on the tree, but certainly you shall bury him on that day, for cursed by God is one that is being hung; so you shall not defile your land that Yahweh your God is giving to you as an inheritance.”

For them, if Jesus had received this sentence, then he must have been guilty and “His crucifixion demonstrated that God had rejected His claim and that He was a blasphemer”.¹

Peter explains though, that this was all foretold, that the resurrection of Jesus in Acts 2:24 demonstrates God’s acceptance of Jesus as Peter quotes Psalm 16 in Acts 25-28 and explains that these “words could not apply to David himself, but looked forward to the ideal king of his house, whose coming had been promised (Ps 132:11)”¹

Peter then goes on to explain that “This position as anointed king and Lord had been foretold in Ps 110 by David, who foresaw one of his descendants, whom he styled his ‘Lord’ or master, set by Jehovah in the highest place of honour in heaven.”¹ as he closes his message to them in

Acts 2:36 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!”

The Promise Is For You And Your Children

Acts 2:37–41 

Everyday Devoting Themselves With One Purpose

Acts 2:42–47
Many believed as they had seen the miracles that Jesus had performed. They knew that he had been crucified, and they had seen the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus opened the scriptures to his own disciples after his resurrection, so Peter opened the scriptures to the crowd on the day of Pentecost. And now these new believers in

Acts 2:42 And they were devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayers.

And now the Church began to grow in

Acts 2:46–47 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.

It was a simple formula, “devoting themselves to the teaching”, “with one purpose”, “breaking bread from house to house”. As they were praising God, they experienced joy and favor as “the Lord was adding”.

Expecting To Receive Something From Them

Acts 3:1–10 

Faith Through Him Has Given Perfect Health

Acts 3:11–18
This man, who in

Acts 3:2 And a certain man was being carried who was lame from birth. He was placed every day at the gate of the temple called “Beautiful,” so that he could ask for charitable gifts from those who were going into the temple courts.

was healed and everyone saw it and knew who this man was, he had been lame! Peter immediately speaks to the crowd around them in

Acts 3:12 And when he saw it, Peter replied to the people, “Men and Israelites, why are you astonished at this? Or why are you staring at us, as if by our own power or godliness we have made him walk?

We often attribute healing power to the minister, the person that God has used to pray for or touch someone’s life, but Peter makes it clear, this isn’t because Peter is someone special. He gives the credit where it is due. This healing happened because of Jesus in

Acts 3:13 The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied in the presence of Pilate, after he had decided to release him.

but Peter also declares their guilt in the crucifixion of Jesus so he can declare the power of Jesus resurrection in

Acts 3:15 And you killed the originator of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses!

This power to heal comes through one avenue, and that is “his name”, the name of Jesus in

Acts 3:16 And on the basis of faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know, and the faith that is through him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

That Times of Refreshing May Come From the Presence of the Lord

Acts 3:19–26

Many Who Listened To The Message Believed

Acts 4:1–4

Study Verses

• Acts 2:25–36 I Saw The Lord
• Acts 2:42–47 Everyday Devoting Themselves With One Purpose
• Acts 3:11–18 Faith Through Him Has Given Perfect Health

Today’s Reading

• Acts 2:25-47
• Acts 3:1-26
• Acts 4:1-4

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References

• 1. Bicknell, E. J. (1942). The Acts of the Apostles. In C. Gore, H. L. Goudge, & A. Guillaume (Eds.), A New Commentary on Holy Scripture: Including the Apocrypha (Vol. 3, p. 333). New York: The Macmillan Company.

After the crucifixion of Jesus, there had been some stir about his empty tomb but it was now fifty days later, the day of Pentecost. This was the day that Israel celebrated the firstfruits of the harvest. This was a day when they gathered together in Jerusalem to give thanks to the Lord and it is on this day, that the Lord pours ought the Holy Spirit on the disciples and in Acts 2:2–4 “suddenly a sound like a violent rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting … And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them ability to speak out”. And as a crowd gathered to see what this was, Peter spoke out to them and said in Acts 2:21 And it will be that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.’ and on this day, the day of celebration of the first fruits, in Acts 2:41 “So those who accepted his message were baptized, and on that day about three thousand souls were added”. 

All Were Engaged With One Mind in Prayer

Acts 1:12–19
Jesus had told them to wait in Jerusalem until they received the Holy Spirit so, in

Acts 1:12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain that is called Olive Grove which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.

The “they”, included all eleven of the ones Jesus had named as Apostles. These were the ones that had been with him and were “witnesses” in Acts 1:22. But there is something different about them already. Jesus has opened their understanding to the scriptures and now in

Acts 1:14 All these were busily engaged with one mind in prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers.

and others were together with them as they began to inquire of the Lord who should take the place of Judas.

One of These Must Become A Witness

Acts 1:20–26 

They Were All Filled With The Holy Spirit

Acts 2:1–13
As the apostles and others were gathered, still in Jerusalem, they waited for the next great feast which was “Pentecost … first spoken of in Ex. 23:16 as “the feast of harvest,” and again in Ex. 34:22 as “the day of the firstfruits” (Num. 28:26) … Besides the sacrifices prescribed for the occasion, every one was to bring to the Lord his “tribute of a free-will offering” (Deut. 16:9–11). The purpose of this feast was to commemorate the completion of the grain harvest”¹ and as they waited together, it happened in

Acts 2:1–4 And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in the same place. 2 And suddenly a sound like a violent rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues like fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them ability to speak out.

and then something even more amazing happened, all those who had made their pilgrimage to Jerusalem heard these Galilean disciples speaking in their own foreign languages, and they were speaking about “the great deeds of God” in

Acts 2:8–11 And how do we hear, each one of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and those residing in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya toward Cyrene, and the Romans who were in town, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own languages the great deeds of God!”

 

Everyone Who Calls Upon The Name of The Lord Will Be Saved

Acts 2:14–24
And now that the Lord has grabbed the attention of everyone around them, Peter steps up to speak. He isn’t fearful anymore, instead, he commands their attention in

Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them, “Judean men, and all those who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and pay attention to my words!”

Then Peter quotes a prophecy that is well known to them from Joel 2:28-32 in

Acts 2:17 ‘And it will be in the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.

and Peter tells them to call on the Lord and be saved in

Acts 2:21 And it will be that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.’

but first they need to understand that it is this same Jesus that they had just crucified. It is this same Jesus that has risen in

Acts 2:23–24 this man, delivered up by the determined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed by nailing to a cross through the hand of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, having brought to an end the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

Study Verses

• Acts 1:12–19 All Were Engaged With One Mind in Prayer
• Acts 2:1–13 They Were All Filled With The Holy Spirit
• Acts 2:14–24 Everyone Who Calls Upon The Name of The Lord Will Be Saved

Today’s Reading

• Acts 1:12-26
• Acts 2:1-24

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References

• 1. Easton, M. G. (1893). In Easton’s Bible dictionary. New York: Harper & Brothers.