Okay, well, hope everybody's doing well.
Oh.
Okay, is this better? Can you hear me? Okay, great. Fantastic.
Well, let's again open up with the word of prayer here before we begin the book of Acts.
And, our father, we come before you in Jesus name once again. And we are just grateful that you have written so many things down for us that we think of Romans 15 4 written for our admonition and that we would be encouraged and learned.
From your hand, Lord. We are grateful for the exciting. Developments in the book of Acts and this great historical book and we're just so grateful to be able to open it up tonight and we thank you in Jesus name.
Well, all right, it's gonna be probably not a particularly long one tonight, but Let's take a look.
Check if it's not. No problem.
Okay, better. Oh, okay. Amen. Yeah.
So I wanted to just take a look at a couple of things here for the book of Acts to get us a look at a couple of things here for the book of Acts it is to get us a little bit more familiar with it.
2 chapters addressing the church in Judea and Samaria and then finally the last portion here the church to the ends of the earth.
Why would the outline be written in this way? Because Acts chapter one verse 8 talks. Mentions that Jesus instructs his disciples before he's ascended into heaven to go back to Jerusalem, the faithful city.
Not really faithful. This is where Jesus was crucified outside of the city. Go right back there.
Great. Then, from Jerusalem, go to Judea, the other tribe of Judea.
Then to Samaria and then to the out most parts of the world. So we're talking about world evangelism but starting again as a courtesy with the Jews and then moving out when we see this progressively in the book of Acts where Paul will visit various cities even before Paul.
Going to the synagogues first. We'll see that repeated pattern of being rejected by the Jews and then spilling out into the Gentiles as it was predicted.
In the Old Testament scriptures and what Paul writes in Romans 9 10 and 11 also. Since they did not find it as he says later on in accents that they did not find themselves worthy of receiving Christ.
It spilled out into the Gentiles.
It's most likely the Luke wrote the book of Acts. We don't really have a lot of issue with this every pretty much there has been it's historically been known that it was Luke he wrote it probably when Paul was in prison.
The last 2 years in Rome. I just took this quote here for max 2830. Then Paul dwelt 2 years in his own rented house.
My words here in Rome and received all who came to him.
Graham Scroggy, I'm Bill McDonald quotes him. I thought it was a great quote. Christ is the theme.
The church is the means and the spirit is the power. If you've ever heard of Craig Keener, he probably leans more charismatic when he wrote a huge volume on acts just to recognize expert in X.
He, starts out, for instance, in his podcast and stuff. He always talks about mentions how much more your heavenly Father will give you the Holy Spirit to those who act ask him.
And remember in that portion, Jesus instructing them and how to pray. But then he goes into some commentary he says this.
That's what powers the book of thats.
The Act of Apostles is the name given to the second part of a 2 volume work traditionally identified as having been written by Luca Cambany of the Apostle Paul.
Originally the 2 volumes were circulated together as 2 parts of one complete writing but during the late first or early second century the first vine became associated with the Gospels.
And then the book of Acts kind of went off on its own. It was at this time it seems that the second vine received its present title with the words Acts.
Great were there evidently meant to suggest both movement. In the advance of the gospel and heroic exploits by the apostles.
I took that from the Bible expositors, commentary, great commentary. You get if you have that.
I wanted to talk about Paul's 4 missionary journeys and just to mention that by Acts 11, is a beautiful portion where Barnabas is sent by the church in Jerusalem to check out the work in Antioch.
He is encouraged by what he sees and then he goes and gets Paul in Tarsus, encourages him and pulls them into the ministry.
Beautiful, beautiful, active. Encouragement and such. So if we look at the first 2 missionary journeys, they start in Syria and Antioch.
This is the church. That is the centre right around X 11 the center command sort of the command center and then sending out missionaries and then the second one starts and ends in Syria and Antioch.
A third missionary journey starts in Syria and Antioch. They want to bring the collection to Jerusalem.
And then finally the fourth one starts in Jerusalem ends in Rome and that's really the end of Paul's life historically bleeding that he was beheaded there in Rome although there's some movement there with him but that's exactly essentially what happens.
Let's take a look at, I'd like to delve into chapter one. I won't go too far today.
That ends my PowerPoint here. And we'll just do some. Look into Acts chapter one.
Let's read. The chapter together.
What my notes here.
Let's go to X one and, like I said, I won't go too far tonight.
It says this the former account I made, Theophilus, this is a X 1, one of all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day in which he was taken up.
After he had through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom he had chosen verse 3 to whom he also presented himself a live after his suffering by many infallible proofs.
Being seen by them during 40 days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. And being assembled together with them, he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the Father, which he said you have heard from me.
Therefore when they had come together they asked him, they asked him saying, Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?
And he said to them, it is not for you to know that the times or seasons which the Father has put in, put in his own authority, but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.
And you shall be witnesses to me. Here it is in Jerusalem. In all of Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
First night now when he had spoken these things while they watched he was taken up and a cloud received him out of their site.
And while they were looking steadfastly toward heaven as he went up behold, 2 men stood by them in white apparel.
Verse 11 who also said men of Galilee why do you stand gazing up into heaven the same Jesus who is taking up from you in heaven into heaven.
Will so come in like that or as he saw him go into heaven. So, The Acts of the Apostles is the only inspired.
Church history book that we have. It's also the first church history. I'm the only primary church history to cover the earliest days of the faith.
We would be at a total loss without this book. Period. To go from the life of the Lord and the Gospels right into the epistles would be a huge leap.
We'd need something in between. And, the book of Acts, answers several questions.
Number one, who were the congregations being addressed. How did they come to be and many other such questions?
So it's a very, very interesting book. The book of Acts is also a bridge. It's a bridge between the life of Christ and the Christ life taught in the epistles.
Between Judaism and Christianity. Here's Bill McDonald, quote. So it addresses the widening horizons from a small Jewish movement centred in Jerusalem.
To worldwide faith that has made inroads. In the imperial capital itself. End quote. One of the.
Very, very strong circumstantial pieces of circumstantial evidence for the validity of the Christian faith is asking this question.
Many apologists talk about this. How is it possible that 11 disciples, of course, how is it possible that 11 disciples, of course, there were 12 but then one was a done.
Of course, there were 12 but then one was a done. 11 disciples. Start this worldwide movement.
Why would they risk their lives to do that? Why, how is that possible unless it is of God?
And so This is really very, very remarkable. To think about these things. Let's look at the prologue, the first 3 verses here.
I'm just gonna read the verses again. The former account I made of Theophilus of all that Jesus began to do.
And teach until the day in which he was taken up after he through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles when he had shows in verse 3 to whom he also presented himself a lot after his suffering by many infallible proofs or unmistakable proofs.
Being seen by them during 40 days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. So the book of Acts opens with a reminder Luke had written to Theophilus before he finishes.
Chapter 24 of Luke mentioned, I'm sorry, beginning of Luke. Let's, think about this for a second.
He, look at it written at theapolis before in Luke and that writing beforehand. That is mentioned here is the Gospel of Luke.
Let's read Luke chapter one verses one through 4 to refresh ourselves a bit here. Luke chapter one verses one through 4 I have the new King James It says.
As much as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us.
For us to do just as those from the beginning. Were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us.
It seemed good to me also having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first. To write to you.
Here it is, number one, an orderly account, most most excellent Theophilus. That you may know then to the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.
In the last verses of Luke, Luke told Theoplas. And also us right before his ascension.
The Lord Jesus had promised his disciples that they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Luke, will he's gonna continue talking about these things.
But he goes back to the amazing and thrilling promise. As a starting point. It is that spirit and kernel form that's talked about in the gospel.
That is expanded upon in this book. All of the spiritual victories and triumphs and folded in the book of Acts.
And Luke describes his gospel as the former account or the first book and in it he records the things that Jesus began to do and teach.
And the key here in Axe is that Luke describes the things that the Lord continued to do and teach through the Holy Spirit after his ascension.
Notice the Lord's ministry was one of doing and teaching. It was not doctrine without duty. Jesus lived what he preached and he practiced when he preached.
Hopefully that's the same in our lives.
That just a you know, high standard. Inverse 2 Theopolis would remember that the gospel Luke ends with the account of Jesus as acension and his intimate instructions to his disciples.
Let me read this. It says in Luke toward the end chapter 24 and you are witnesses of these things.
Behold, I send the promise of my father upon you. But stay in the city of Jerusalem until you are in do with power from on high.
And he led them out as far as Bethany and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass while he blessed them that he was parted from them and carried up into heaven and they worshipped him.
And returned to Jerusalem with great joy and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God.
Hey Matt, wow. First 3 for the 40 days between his resurrection and ascension Lord appeared to dis disciples offering the strongest possible proofs.
What the Bible teaches or mentions these infallible truths or these. As it says in the margin these unmistakable proofs.
These comprised not only the actual appearances of the Savior to the disciples but also the simple things like just talking and listening to them.
So it was a real relationship. To encourage them to go on many of whom would lose their lives in the process.
Perfectly, I'm sorry, notice that the disciples went out. As they went out they witnessed to the resurrection in court.
As they went out, they witnessed to the resurrection encoded from the Old Testament to support the resurrection of Ascension facts.
I was doing a sermon on the resurrection and the point is made that If you look at the synaptics, we look at the gospel of John, there are different things that are present to different material.
If you want to read a really good book. Peter Williams wrote a book called Can We Trust the Gospels?
It's not very long, very readable, but he talks about the amount of the gospels that you know what the gospel writers took from other gospels and all the proofs that are in the Gospels that prove that these books could not be written by.
Without the inspiration of God. But it's interesting, but in that. It's interesting that when we're looking at the different gospels, all of them converge and the resurrection story.
All of them present those facts. It is just an incredible but it's the Lord's resurrection and then his ascension here that's being focused on.
So very, very important things. Let's see here. Christ having me raised from the dead dies no more.
Death no longer is dominion over him. We think about Roman 6 first 9. And on the Holy Spirit he did not come until Jesus was ascended into heaven.
It's not his resurrection, but ascension that the Holy Spirit came into the world.
Just some basic facts here. There's some basic facts here. It's not until Jesus was glorified that the Holy Spirit.
It's not until Jesus was glorified that the Holy Spirit came. Here we have John, 16 versus 7.
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away. For if I do not go away the helper will not come to you but if I depart I'll send him to you.
Sorry, tremendous words.
Here is a Bill McDonald again. Just wanted to quote from I just like the way he puts this down.
In the Old Testament, the Lord is presented as a reigning sovereign and a suffering servant. This is hard for the Jews to understand.
Jesus has to explain his sufferings to the disciples many times at least 4 times. She has to deal with her understanding of a God as monotheistic and now of course more revelation is given.
Jesus claimed to be God too and they crucified him for it and even on the road to Amaze they struggled to understand this.
Just some basic things here. First 4 X one and being assembled together with them. He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the Father which he said you have heard from me.
Here we have the pattern for the local assemblies here. Here is a meeting of the Lord with his disciples.
They're assembled together in that upper room in Jerusalem. They were commanded to stay there.
Why Jerusalem? The city that was so hostile to Jesus, the unfaithful city is now.
Kind of the base of operations and it's a remarkable thing. Think about the story of Paul who is stoned later on.
The book of Acts and he goes, gets up and goes right back in the city. Just love that.
I remember a friend of mine was in the army 7 years. Fred, maybe you can identify.
He used to repair tanks. I said, you know what a tank does? Got a machine gun and a big old gun.
And if someone fires on the tank, they turn the turret and fire at that and then they take the whole take and drive right into wherever it is.
They're not going to be coward. They're just gonna take a frontal assault and that's exactly what's occurring here.
So.
The presence of the Holy Spirit would bear witness to the fact of bands rejection of Jesus and the Spirit of truth for approved the world of sin, righteousness and judgment.
And this would take first a place first in Jerusalem. They would receive the spirit in the very place where they abandoned the Lord to save their lives.
They would be made made to be strong and fearless in the very place where they were weak and cowardly.
This is not the first place we're told of the helpers coming, but it's just mentioned here.
Verse 5. Now in his last meeting with him, he repeats the promise. They have been Baptist, baptized by John the Baptist and now they are baptized by the Holy Spirit.
This baptism would be inward and spiritual. The first with John the Baptist just identified them with a repentant part of the nation of Israel.
In the second they would be incorporated into the body of Christ.
And it would empower them for service.
Just a couple more points here.
The Lord Jesus didn't correct them for expecting a literal. Rain on earth. He just told him that they could not know when the kingdom would come.
So if we're looking at We're thinking about creation for instance and remember with 6 days of creation in the seventh day of rest this is what the book of Hebrews says.
But God in his sovereignty. Has another day of rest. That's the millennial kingdom.
This is what they were expecting. Sorry, it is sovereignty. I have prepared another rest.
This is why he says enter it in just before the at the end of the tribulation says enter into the kingdom promised you before the foundation of the world.
That's what he's talking about here. And so they expected this. But it wasn't going to be at that time.
Now he redirects her curiosity to the future as to the future of the kingdom. Jesus did not tell them what to do now.
But he did mention there's a gap between his setting up his earthly kingdom and his ascension.
And they were told to go forth and preach during that time. That they are waiting for his returned Lord directed their attention to what was more immediate and that was the preaching of the gospel.
He talks about the nature of the gospel. They were to be witnesses to its sphere of influence.
They were to witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and then the ends of the earth.
They were to receive power to do this. And. To be bold for preaching the gospel.
So just a couple of additional points here.
We're, we're now looking at versus 9 to 11. Jesus just says a couple of points here.
Let's read these verses and then I'll end. Versus going back to person and while they were looking steadfastly toward heaven as he went up the whole 2 men stood by them white apparel, verse 11.
Who also said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into having the same Jesus who has taken up from you into having the same Jesus who has taken up from you into heaven will so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven here to mention references to Zechariah 14 where Jesus will come down his
feet will touch down the amount of olives it'll split in half and his return will be in exactly the same way.
Also to a certain extent for the rapture Jesus ascended into the clouds. He will come back in exactly the same way also.
Just some thoughts for us. And that's I think where I'm gonna end. We'll look for Joel to pick it up next time.
I don't know if we're going to do study on, July fifth. We may skip them, I'm sure.
We'll have a discussion on that, but then Joel will be the next. So thanks for your attention.
Just brief tonight and.
Have Fred come up with his or with the announcements.