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ACTS — LESSON 1
Scriptures for this lesson are taken from: Acts 1 and Revelation 19.
The Book of Acts is the story of the expansion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ over Palestine, Antioch, Asia Minor, Greece and Rome. This was the area of the main part of the Roman Empire at that time. The book is called “Acts of the Apostles,” but it really is the story of the working of the Holy Spirit through Paul and Peter, but mostly Paul. The Old Testament is the story of God establishing the family of Abraham who would become the Nation of Israel, whose purpose was to bless all nations by being a witness of God, His word and His laws. Israel failed in their mission so after the long awaited Messiah came and was rejected by His people; Israel’s mission was given over to the gentiles. The book of Acts tells the story of how the gospel was taken to the gentiles and the first churches were established. The author of Acts is believed to have been Luke, the author of the gospel of Luke. Luke seems to have joined with Paul’s missionary team at Troas and went with them over into Macedonia. Luke addressed his message to Theophilus. This is a Greek word that means “Lover of God.” This was either a man named Theophilus or a group of people who were probably new Christians, Jews or gentiles. The story begins with Luke telling of Jesus’ post resurrection messages and His ascension into heaven.
[Acts 1:1-5] (1) In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach (2) until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. (3) After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. (4) On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. (5) For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Luke talked about Jesus’ ministry on earth in Judea and Galilee that was told in the gospel of Luke He told His disciples and Apostles to wait after the Passover until the feast of Pentecost which was 50 days. Jesus said, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” The apostles and disciples, as instructed, stayed in Jerusalem until Pentecost. At that time the Holy Spirit came to indwell the believers and gave them the power and knowledge they needed to spread the gospel. Many of these believers had been followers of John the Baptist. John was the last of the Old Covenant prophets and when he baptized it was with water to show repentance, but now that Jesus had died and been resurrected and ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit, also called the comforter, came to dwell with believers bringing them comfort, knowledge and power for their ministry.
[Acts 1:6-11] (6) Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (7) He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. (8) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (9) After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. (10) They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. (11) “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
The Jews believed that the Messiah would come and build an army, throw off Roman rule and reestablish Israel as a powerful nation. When Jesus died on the cross those hopes were dashed. Then Jesus came back from the dead and they were wondering if the new earthly Israel was still possible as promised in the Old Testament. But Jesus told them that the time for Israel to become a great nation again was known only by God. We know that Jesus will come back to establish the Nation of Israel from Revelation 19.
[Revelation 19:11-16] (11) I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. (12) His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. (13) He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. (14) The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. (15) Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. (16) On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
This is how Jesus will come back to do battle with the earthly nations, but the “when” is known only by God. For now, their job was to spread the gospel. As soon as the Holy Spirit came upon them they were to begin to witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and then to the ends of the earth. Why in that order? Jesus was the Jews’ Messiah. He came to them first. Jerusalem and Judah were the home of the Jews. The Samaritans were mixed Jewish with other nations. After the Jews had been given the gospel then they were to reach the gentiles. After they received their great commission, Jesus was taken up in the air. They watched until a cloud hid Him and they could see Him no more. While they were looking trying to see Jesus, two Angels appeared. They told them that Jesus had gone back to heaven and would come back the same way He went.
[Acts 1:12-14] (12) Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. (13) When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. (14) They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
A Sabbath’s day’s walk was at that time about 5/8 of a mile. The apostles and disciples went back into Jerusalem, probably to the upper room which was probably the home of John Mark’s mother or sister. Gathered in the room were the eleven apostles, all except Judas, the Galilean women, Mary, mother of Jesus, Jesus’ brothers and other men and women who were disciples. Acts 1:15 tells us there were 120 altogether. According to Jesus’ instructions they continued to gather there praying, fellow shipping, awaiting the coming of power from heaven that Jesus had promised.
[Acts 1:15-20] (15) In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) (16) and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. (17) He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.” (18) (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. (19) Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood. (20) “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms: “‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and, “‘May another take his place of leadership.’
Peter, the leader of the apostles, addressed the group. He told them that Psalms 109:8 was a prophecy that told how Jesus would be betrayed. Judas fulfilled the prophecy and then with the 30 pieces of silver that he received for betraying Jesus he bought a field. In that field he fell, his body burst open and his intestines fell out. In other scripture it tells that Judas hung himself in the field. So, I figure Judas was so remorseful that he hung himself in the field and when his body fell it broke open. The field was thence forth called the “field of blood.” Peter went on to tell them that the scripture said that Judas should be replaced.
[Acts 1:21-26] (21) Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, (22) beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” (23) So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. (24) Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen (25) to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” (26) Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
Peter gave the requirements for Judas’ replacement: they had to have been with the group from the time they were following John the Baptist all the time until Jesus’ resurrection. They had to have a personal witness of all the events of Jesus’ ministry so that they could from their own experience witness to others. Two men were nominated, Justus and Matthias. After they all prayed, they chose Matthias to be the twelth apostle. Why did they need twelve apostles? Under the Old Covenant, there were twelve tribes of Israel that were to teach the world about God. They failed. Now, under the New Covenant, there would be twelve apostles who would spread the good news about the Messiah to the world.
LESSONS FROM ACTS 1:
1. The work that Jesus began is still not finished, and is now our work. We are His disciples.
2. Jesus commissioned all of His followers to be witnesses. All Christians should be active witnesses by word and deed.
3. God still uses people who will unite with other believers, trusting God for leadership and power from the Holy Spirit.
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