Atos 1
Andrew Murray · Citado em PreceptAustin
Atos 1
Murray- If Pentecost is not repeated, neither is it retracted. This is the era of the Holy Spirit. A. C. Dixon - “When we rely upon organization, we get what organization can do. When we rely upon education, we get what education can do. When we rely upon eloquence, we get what eloquence can do. But when we rely upon the Holy Spirit, we get what God can do.” John Stott - Before Christ sent the church into the world, he sent the Spirit into the church. The same order must be observed today. (The Message of Acts) J Vernon McGee on Acts 1:8 - This is the commission that still holds for today. This is not given only to a corporate body, to the church as a body; it is not a corporate commission. This is a very personal command to each believer—personally, privately....It is our business to get the Word of God out to the world. We can’t say that it is up to the church to send missionaries and to give out the gospel, and then sit back and let others do it. The all-important question is whether you are getting out the Word of God. Have you gone to the ends of the earth as a witness to the gospel? Or do you support a missionary or a radio program that does? Are you personally involved?....I am of the opinion that if the Lord should suddenly appear to you or to me right where we are at this moment, He would not talk about the time of His coming, but He would talk about getting out the gospel. He wants people to be saved. This is our commission. Ray Pritchard writes that 'Just before he returned to heaven, Jesus explained to his disciples what they were to do after his departure. What he said to them, he also says to us. He left us on the earth that we might be his witnesses. In heaven there will be no witnesses because in heaven seeing is believing. There the Lamb will be the light and he will need no lesser lights, but in this dark world we are the only light he has. On earth we are his witnesses. He does not send angels to proclaim his name and he does not write the gospel in lightning across the skies. He uses people like us to convince other people like us to believe in him. We are God’s witnesses—his evidence if you will—to convince an unbelieving world. If we do not do our part, God has no other plan....Our greatest need today is not for political power but for the power of the Holy Spirit. Political power can change leaders but it can’t change hearts. It can win an election but it can’t save a life. It can pass righteous laws—or repeal unrighteous ones—but it can’t make men righteous. Politics cannot change the way people think because it touches the outside of life. Only the Holy Spirit can change hearts, restore families and save an entire nation from destruction. In 1919, Congress ratified the 18th Amendment to the Constitution that prohibited the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages in the United States. The people who supported the Amendment—including the great evangelist Billy Sunday—meant well. They truly believed that by outlawing liquor, they could improve society. Many people called it “the Grand Experiment.” It didn’t work, largely because Americans by the millions chose to flout the law by patronizing bootleggers and speakeasies. In 1933, the 21st Amendment repealed the 18th Amendment and the Grand Experiment was over. It failed because no law can change human nature—a point Paul makes forcefully in Romans 7:15-25. If people want to drink, all the laws in the world aren’t going to stop them. That’s why we need the Holy Spirit. He can take the gospel we preach and use it to bring men and women to repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ. He can replace their old hearts with new ones and give them a hunger to live for righteousness. " (You Will Be My Witnesses) But (235)(alla) is a conjunction which signifies a contrast (see Table below) which always introduces a "change of direction" so to speak. Whenever you observe a "but", pause and prayerfully ponder the text and context (to study the verse not in isolation but in relation to other verses) by asking the "5W/H" questions, remembering that an interrogative mindset is a vital component of inductive Bible study and also an integral component of the blessed discipline of Biblical Meditation (see Ps 1:1-+, Ps 1:2-+, Ps 1:3-+, Joshua 1:8-+). As Mortimer Adler once wrote in his excellent book How to Read a Book (online) "If you ask a living teacher a question, he may really answer you. If you are puzzled by what he says, you may save yourself the trouble of thinking by asking him what he means. If, however, you ask a book a question, you must answer it yourself. In this respect a book is like nature. When you speak to it, it answers you only to the extent that you do the work of thinking and analysis yourself." The Bible of course is not like nature, nor is it like any other book, for as believers we possess within ourselves (1Cor 3:16, 1Cor 6:19-+) the Holly Spirit, the Author and "Decipherer" of the Book. And so as we prayerfully, humbly, thoughtfully, meditatively, yea even as a little child (Mt 18:3-4) interrogate the "living and active" (Heb 4:12-+) Word of Truth (Ps 119:43-+, 2Co 6:7, Col 1:5-+, 2Ti 2:15-+, Jas 1:18-+, see also Jn 8:31,32, 17:17), our Teacher, the Spirit, in some very real (albeit to me still mysterious) way interacts with us, illuminating the inspired Word and leading us into all Truth, even as Jesus promised (John 16:13, cp Jn 14:16, 26, 15:26, 16:7 1 Jn 2:20+, 1 Jn 2:27+). THE STRIKING CONTRASTS ACTS 1:7 ACTS 1:8 FUTURE PRESENT WHAT THEY WILL NOT RECEIVE NOW WHAT THEY WILL RECEIVE NOW THE PROMISED MESSIANIC KINGDOM THE PROMISED HOLY SPIRIT RESTORATION OF A NATION SALVATION OF SOULS REBIRTH OF ISRAEL BIRTH OF THE CHURCH PROPHECY OF A KINGDOM PROPHECY OF A POWER TIMING NOT TO BE KNOWN BY THEM TIMING KNOWN BY THEM TIMING FIXED BY THE FATHER NOT MANY DAYS FROM NOW You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you - Not "if" He comes but when He comes. The Father had promised and the Son would deliver. You can save a lot of time — by waiting on God! -- Adrian Rogers Will receive (2983)(lambano) in classical Greek has two main uses. One is more active, "to take"; the other is more passive, "to receive." Here lambano is used in the more passive sense as to have something given to you (get), receive hospitality (welcome), receive in-laws from a marriage, receive a name, receive punishment, receive profits, or receive permission for something. In this case the idea of receive clearly implies that something is given, which of course in this context is the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38, Acts 10:45) Who Jesus received from the Father and gave to the apostles and to all believers.https://www.esv.org/resources/esv-global-study-bible/chart-42-01/ Lambano is used in the context of the gift of the Holy Spirit Acts 2:33 “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Luke's uses of lambano - Lk. 5:5; Lk. 5:26; Lk. 6:4; Lk. 6:34; Lk. 7:16; Lk. 9:16; Lk. 9:39; Lk. 11:10; Lk. 13:19; Lk. 13:21; Lk. 18:30; Lk. 19:12; Lk. 19:15; Lk. 20:21; Lk. 20:28; Lk. 20:29; Lk. 20:31; Lk. 20:47; Lk. 22:17; Lk. 22:19; Lk. 24:30; Lk. 24:43 Acts 1:8; Acts 1:20; Acts 1:25; Acts 2:33; Acts 2:38; Acts 3:3; Acts 3:5; Acts 7:53; Acts 8:15; Acts 8:17; Acts 8:19; Acts 9:19; Acts 9:25; Acts 10:43; Acts 10:47; Acts 15:14; Acts 16:3; Acts 16:24; Acts 17:9; Acts 17:15; Acts 19:2; Acts 20:24; Acts 20:35; Acts 26:10; Acts 26:18; Acts 27:35; Acts 28:15 A T Pierson comments that "(1) The Spirit of God, the Paraclete, is to be to the disciple and to the church all that Christ would have been had he tarried among us and been the personal companion and counselor of each and all. (2) And by the Spirit of God working in and through the believer and the church, believers are, in their measure, to be to the world what the Spirit is to them....Let this first lesson be written in large letters to be read by all, for it unlocks all the history that follows, and explains every subsequent lesson: the one supreme qualification of Christ's witnesses is this: that THEY BE ENDUED AND ENDOWED WITH POWER BY THE HOLY SPIRIT." (The Acts of the Holy Spirit) Richard Longenecker summarizes Acts 1:8 observing that it is "the mandate to witness that stands as the theme for the whole of Acts is explicitly set out. It comes as a direct commission from Jesus Himself—in fact, as Jesus’ last word before His ascension and, therefore, as one that is final and conclusive. All that follows in Acts is shown to be the result of Jesus’ own intent and the fulfillment of His express word. This commission lays an obligation on all Christians and comes to us as a gift with a promise. It concerns a person, a power, and a program—the Person of Jesus, on Whose authority the church acts and Who is the object of its witness; the power of the Holy Spirit, which is the sine qua non for the mission; and a program that begins at Jerusalem, moves out to “all Judea and Samaria,” and extends “to the ends of the earth.” The Christian church, according to Acts, is a missionary church that responds obediently to Jesus’ commission, acts on Jesus’ behalf in the extension of his ministry, focuses its proclamation of the kingdom of God in its witness to Jesus, is guided and empowered by the self-same Spirit that directed and supported Jesus’ ministry, and follows a program whose guidelines for outreach have been set by Jesus himself. (Expositor's Bible Commentary) Paul Apple discusses what it is that the Holy Spirit provides for believers - Guidance / giving opportunities to witness; divine appointments. Boldness in witnessing. Helping us in what to say and how to answer questions. Most importantly: Effectiveness in ministry vs frustration – power to change lives Ray
Atos 1:8
Murray- If Pentecost is not repeated, neither is it retracted. This is the era of the Holy Spirit. John Stott - Before Christ sent the church into the world, he sent the Spirit into the church. The same order must be observed today. Why should the children of a King Go mourning all their days? Great Comforter, descend, and bring Some tokens of Thy grace. --Isaac Watts (From Jensen's Survey of the New Testament or Logos) (CLICK TO ENLARGE) THE Book of Acts takes up the thread of the story just before the point at which the Gospel had dropped it. It begins with a brief summary of the Forty Days, adding a fuller account of the Ascension. These introductory verses (Acts 1:1–12) mark the transition from the earthly Ministry of the Lord (“all that Jesus began both to do and to teach”) to the Ministry of the Spirit which was to follow His Ascension (Click Jensen's diagram above). The earthly Ministry had been from the first in the power of the Spirit, as the Gospel has taught us; and the Acts opens with an intimation that this continued to the end. (H B Swete in Great Texts of the Bible) A BLESSED CONTRAST But (235)(alla) is a conjunction which signifies a contrast which always introduces a "change of direction" so to speak. Whenever you observe a "but", pause and prayerfully ponder the text and context (to study the verse not in isolation but in relation to other verses) by asking the "5W/H" questions, remembering that an interrogative mindset is a vital component of inductive Bible study and also an integral component of the blessed discipline of Biblical Meditation (see Ps 1:1-note, Ps 1:2-note, Ps 1:3-note, Joshua 1:8-note). As Mortimer Adler once wrote in his excellent text How to Read a Book ... If you ask a living teacher a question, he may really answer you. If you are puzzled by what he says, you may save yourself the trouble of thinking by asking him what he means. If, however, you ask a book a question, you must answer it yourself. In this respect a book is like nature. When you speak to it, it answers you only to the extent that you do the work of thinking and analysis yourself. Comment: The Bible of course is not like nature, nor is it like any other book, for as believers we possess within ourselves (1Cor 3:16, 1Cor 6:19-note) the Holy Spirit, the Author and "Decipherer" of the Book. And so as we prayerfully, humbly, thoughtfully, meditatively, yea even as a little child (Mt 18:3-4) interrogate the "living and active" (Heb 4:12-note) Word of Truth (Ps 119:43-note, 2Co 6:7, Col 1:5-note, 2Ti 2:15-note, Jas 1:18-note, see also Jn 8:31,32, 17:17), our Teacher, the Spirit, in some very real (albeit to me still mysterious) way interacts with us, illuminating the inspired Word and leading us into all Truth, even as Jesus promised (John 16:13, cp Jn 14:16, 26, 15:26, 16:7 1Jn 2:20,27). The more you actively (in contrast to passively) engage the text by practicing this discipline (and it does take practice) of Spirit led interrogation, the more relevant will be your questions, and the richer your rewards as the Spirit illuminates God's Word to the "eyes of your heart" (Eph 1:18-note) allowing you to glean wonderful insights of vital Truth by which we are sanctified (set apart from the profane world and for the Holy One's use, Jn 17:17, cp 2Ti 2:21-note). And so we need to examine the context to discern Jesus' contrast or "change of direction" ... Acts 1:1 The first account (Gospel of Luke) I composed, Theophilus (Means "friend of God" - see Lk 1:1,2,3), about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when He was taken up, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders (Notice Jesus' dependence on the Holy Spirit for ministry leaving us an example to follow in His steps! See additional discussion below) to the apostles whom He had chosen. 3 To these He also presented Himself alive, after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. 4 And gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," He said," you heard of from Me (Acts 2:33 Isaiah 32:15, 44:3,4, 59:20,21, Joel 2:28-32, Mt 10:20, Lk 24:49, 11:13, 12:12, Jn 7:39, 14:16, 26-28, 15:26, 16:7-12, 13-15, 20:22); 5 for John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized (see baptizo) with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." And so when they ("the apostles whom He had chosen" Acts 1:2) had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" (cp Acts 1:3, Mt 24:3) He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority (Acts 1:1-7) Comment: The apostles were looking for the restoration of "the kingdom to Israel," an observation which refutes many today who say that God is finished with Israel and that the promises to Israel have been transferred to the Church. Notice that Jesus did not "correct" their "aberrant eschatological" view! Clearly, God is not finished with Israel (Israel's truly miraculous nationhood granted in May, 1947 should be evidence enough to convince even the most skeptical observer!) will restore the kingdom to Israel in the Millennium (numerous passages from the OT, not just from Revelation 20!) (see also Millennium 1 and Millennium 2) (See related studies on Daniel 9:24-27 [Daniel 9:24; Daniel 9:25; Daniel 9:26; Daniel 9:27]) The timing of the messianic, millennial kingdom on earth is unrevealed (Mt 24:36, 42). To reiterate, if Jesus had not intended such a kingdom, surely He would have corrected this erroneous notion in His disciples at this point. SO WHAT IS THE CONTRAST? In a word, Jesus calls the apostles to focus not on the future, but the present. Instead of discussing their future kingdom, Jesus sharply draws their attention to their present responsibility. Jesus alludes to His previous mention of baptism with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5) and now associates this baptism with the receipt of supernatural power which was necessary for them to be His witnesses. THE SHARP CONTRAST ACTS 1:7 ACTS 1:8 FUTURE PRESENT WHAT THEY WILL NOT RECEIVE NOW WHAT THEY WILL RECEIVE NOW THE PROMISED MESSIANIC KINGDOM THE PROMISED HOLY SPIRIT RESTORATION OF A NATION SALVATION OF SOULS REBIRTH OF ISRAEL BIRTH OF THE CHURCH PROPHECY OF A KINGDOM PROPHECY OF A POWER TIMING NOT TO BE KNOWN BY THEM TIMING KNOWN BY THEM TIMING FIXED BY THE FATHER NOT MANY DAYS FROM NOW F N Peloubet remarks that Jesus is saying in essence "You cannot know the future, but you can make it." (The Teachers' Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles) You will receive - What does this tell us? This was something future. This prophetic promise (Acts 1:4, Lk 24:49) was fulfilled on Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). What will they receive? Power, not so much that it is a gift from the Holy Spirit; but that the power is intimately associated with the presence of the Holy Spirit. What was the great need of the first church? Power from the Holy Spirit! What is the great need of the church today? Power from the Holy Spirit! Dear reader, may God be pleased to pour to overflowing the supernatural power of His Spirit into your life and your local body of believers for the sake of His Kingdom and His glory. Amen. Richard Longenecker summarizes Acts 1:8 observing that it is the mandate to witness that stands as the theme for the whole of Acts is explicitly set out. It comes as a direct commission from Jesus Himself—in fact, as Jesus’ last word before His ascension and, therefore, as one that is final and conclusive. All that follows in Acts is shown to be the result of Jesus’ own intent and the fulfillment of His express word. This commission lays an obligation on all Christians and comes to us as a gift with a promise. It concerns a person, a power, and a program—the Person of Jesus, on Whose authority the church acts and Who is the object of its witness; the power of the Holy Spirit, which is the sine qua non for the mission; and a program that begins at Jerusalem, moves out to “all Judea and Samaria,” and extends “to the ends of the earth.” The Christian church, according to Acts, is a missionary church that responds obediently to Jesus’ commission, acts on Jesus’ behalf in the extension of his ministry, focuses its proclamation of the kingdom of God in its witness to Jesus, is guided and empowered by the self-same Spirit that directed and supported Jesus’ ministry, and follows a program whose guidelines for outreach have been set by Jesus himself. (Gaebelein, F, Editor: Expositor's Bible Commentary 6-Volume New Testament. Zondervan Publishing) DIVINE DUNAMIS: A KEY WORD IN ACTS There are two NT words that convey the idea of power, exousia and dunamis, and it is the latter which is used by Luke in Acts 1:8. However, these two words are related in one sense, for the One Who promises the power (dunamis) is the very One to Whom all authority (exousia = "the right and the might") "in heaven and on earth" has been granted (Mt 28:18)! It follows that His promise of power can be fully trusted because He has full authority to make such an incredible proclamation - natural men and women will receive supernatural power to be His witnesses and by their witness will be privileged to witness the great miracle (based upon the greatest miracle, the Resurrection of Christ) of rebirth of a dead spirit, the creation of new life, eternal life in another human soul. Let me encourage you to study the Biblical truths about power in the following section, and as you study this truth, may our Father be pleased to generate in your inner being a deep, abiding hunger and thirst to experience the continual fullness of the Holy Spirit and the power He provides to live the supernatural life as a dynamic witness for Jesus Christ and His Gospel of grace. Amen. Power (Miracles) (1411)(dunamis from dunamai = to be able, to have power especially achieving power) refers to inherent ability, not physical ability but power to accomplish a task. Dunamis is intrinsic power, the power to carry out some function. In Acts 1:8, dunamis is associated with the coming of the Holy Spirit upon a person, giving that person the supernatural power capable of accomplishing the task Jesus assigns. So clearly, in the context of the book of Acts, "Divine dunamis" is the power which is necessary (emphasize "necessary") for disciples to be witnesses of the Good News, which also possesses inherent "Divine dunamis" as Paul explained declaring... For (term of explanation = see context = Ro 1:15-note) I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for (term of explanation = e.g., Ask "Why not?") it (What?) is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (present tense), to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Ro 1:16-note). Leon