Atos 1
David Guzik · Citado em PreceptAustin
Atos 1
Guzik comments - David, the writer of these quoted Psalms, knew what it was like to be betrayed by another. When David was a fugitive from Saul, a man named Doeg betrayed him (1 Samuel 21-22), and many innocent people died as a result. David may have penned these very words in reference to this betrayer. (Acts 1 Commentary)
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Guzik - In the mid-1960’s, A.N. Sherwin-White, an expert in Graeco-Roman history from Oxford, wrote about Acts: “The historical framework is exact. In terms of time and place the details are precise and correct . . . As documents these narratives belong to the same historical series as the record of provincial and imperial trials in epigraphical and literary sources of the first and early second centuries AD…For Acts the confirmation of historicity is overwhelming…Any attempt to reject its basic historicity even in matters of detail must now appear absurd. Roman historians have long taken it for granted.” (Acts 1 Commentary) Account (3056) (logos from légō = to speak with words, to arrange in order; English = logic, logical) is the general term for speak, but always referred to communication with rational content. Stated another way logos describes a communication whereby the mind finds expression in words. In this case Luke's mind was "moved by the Holy Spirit (and he) spoke from God" (2 Peter 1:21-+) to pen these inspired words, giving us a "systematic treatment" of the birth of Christianity. Luke as a physician would have been very keen on details so undoubtedly much of what he saw and heard has not been recorded in this account, but it is all "inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man (and woman) of God may be adequate, equipped for every good (God) work," (2 Ti 3:16-17) and specifically for the good work to "proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called US out of darkness into His marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9) Logos was a customary name for a division of the work which covered more than one roll of papyrus William
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Guzik writes "Wonderfully, what Jesus began still continues. There is a real sense in which the Book of Acts continues to be written today. Not in an authoritative Scriptural sense; but in the sense of God’s continued work in the world by His Spirit, through His church. “The Acts of the Apostles should therefore be studied mainly for this double purpose: first, to trace our Lord’s unseen but actual continuance of his divine teaching and working; and, secondly, to trace the active ministry of the Holy Spirit as the abiding presence in the church.” (Pierson) (Acts 1 Commentary) Frank Allen has an interesting note - There are 1007 verses in this book. The “we-passages” include 318, those know to Paul 366, and those to Philip 66. “We can readily see,” says J.H. Kerr, “that Luke from his own experience, and from what he could learn from Paul and Philip, could write 724 verses, or over seven-tenths of the whole book, without having recourse to any documents. There remain but 283 verses to be accounted for, and these relate to the words of Peter, all of which may have been preserved in some written form to which the historian had access. From this, it is evident that the sources of information contained in the book were written records, oral testimony and personal knowledge” First (4413)(protos) 1) first in time or place 1a) in any succession of things or persons 2) first in rank 2a) influence, honour 2b) chief 2c) principal 3) first, at the first Gingrich - 1. first—a. first, earliest, earlier Mt 12:45; 21:28; Mk 12:20; Lk 2:2; 20:29; Jn 1:15, 30 (both = earlier); Jn 5:4 v.l.; 20:4; Acts 1:1 ; 20:18; 26:23; Phil 1:5; 2Ti 4:16; Heb 9:15; 10:9; Rev 1:17 .—b. first, foremost, most important, most prominent Mt 20:27; Mk 6:21; 12:28; Lk 13:30; Acts 25:2; 1Cor 15:3; Eph 6:2; 1 Ti 1:15.—c. outer, anterior Heb 9:2, 6, 8.— 2. the neut. proton as adv.—a. of time or sequence first, in the first place, before, earlier, to begin with Mt 5:24; 8:21; Mk 4:28; 13:10; Lk 12:1; J 15:18; 18:13; Ac 7:12; Ro 1:8; 15:24; 1 Cor 12:28 ; 15:46.—b. of degree in the first place, above all, especially Mt 6:33; Acts 3:26; Ro 1:16; 2:9f; 2 Cor 8:5; 1 Ti 2:1; 2 Pt 1:20 . [English words using proto-, a combining form, in protomartyr, protomorphic protozoa; proton] Friberg adds protos is "I. adjectivally first of several; (1) of time; (a) in comparison of past and present earlier, first, former (Rev 2:5); (b) in antithesis between the beginning and the end first, before anything else (Rev 1:17), opposite ἔσχατος (last, final); (2) of rank and value first (of all), foremost, chief, most important of all; (a) of things (Mt 22:38); (b) substantivally, of persons οἱ πρῶτοι the leading men, the most important persons (Mk 6:21); (3) of number or sequence first (Mt 21:28; HE 10:9); (4) spatially front; substantivally ἡ πρώτη the outer (tent) (Heb 9:2, 6, 8); II. substantivally, neuter singular πρῶτον as an adverb; (1) of time at first, to begin with, (for) the first time (Ro 1:16); before, earlier (Jn 15:18); (2) of priority or value first of all (Mt 5:24); of degree above all, especially, in the first place (Mt 6:33) Complete Biblical Library - Incredible Resource Classical Greek - Technically speaking prōtos is the superlative adjective form of the term pro. Thus prōtos means “foremost, first” (cf. the comparative form prōteros which regularly appears in the Septuagint). Classical usage of prōtos is very diverse. It can mean “first” in rank; “first” in order; “first” in quality, i.e., “best”; “first” in the temporal sense. Many other definitions are attested (see Liddell-Scott). Antonyms of prōtos include eschatos, “last,” or husteros, also meaning “last, latter.” Septuagint Usage - The Septuagint employs prōtos as a translation for several Hebrew expressions, the most common being ri’shôn, “first, former.” Prōtos is primarily used in temporal expressions to indicate dates (Genesis 8:5, 13, “first month”; cf. Exodus 12:2; Ezekiel 26:1; 30:20) and sequence (Ecclesiastes 1:11, “There is no remembrance of former things”). It is also used to denote order (“Judah … will set out first,” Numbers 2:9, NIV), rank (2 Kings 25:18 [LXX 4 Kings 25:18], “chief priests”; cf. Jeremiah 52:24), and quality (1 Samuel 15:21 [LXX 1 Kings 15:21], “the best” things, NIV). In Isaiah 44:6 prōtos is used as a title: “I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God.” This title describes Jesus as well (cf. Isaiah 41:4; 48:12; Revelation 1:11, 17). New Testament Usage - Prōtos occurs throughout the New Testament in each of the senses outlined above. Particularly striking is the New Testament phenomenon of the “first and the last” in the kingdom of God. The standards of the kingdom of God reverse those of society. The first will be last and the last will be first (Mark 10:31 with parallels; cf. Luke 19:47, another example of rank, hoi protoi = the leaders of the people). Whoever wishes to become great in the Kingdom must be a servant, and “whoever wants to be first (prōtos) must be slave of all” (Mark 10:43, 44, NIV). The qualitative sense “best” is illustrated aptly by the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The father requested the “best” robe to be brought to the errant son (Luke 15:22). Temporally, prōtos signifies an earlier or former time period (e.g., Philippians 1:5; Revelation 21:4). Jesus spoke of himself as the First (prōtos) and the Last (eschatos). This rare substantival occurrence speaks of the totality of Jesus, His eternality, and as such it recalls the similar expression, “I am Alpha and Omega” (Revelation 1:17; cf. 1:8, 11). Protos - 149v - before(3), best(1), first(128), first of all(2), first importance(1), first man(1), first one(1), first things(1), first time(1), foremost(5), leading(2), leading man(1), leading men(5), outer(3), previous(1). Matt. 5:24; Matt. 6:33; Matt. 7:5; Matt. 8:21; Matt. 10:2; Matt. 12:29; Matt. 12:45; Matt. 13:30; Matt. 17:10; Matt. 17:27; Matt. 19:30; Matt. 20:8; Matt. 20:10; Matt. 20:16; Matt. 20:27; Matt. 21:28; Matt. 21:31; Matt. 21:36; Matt. 22:25; Matt. 22:38; Matt. 23:26; Matt. 26:17; Matt. 27:64; Mk. 3:27; Mk. 4:28; Mk. 6:21; Mk. 7:27; Mk. 9:11; Mk. 9:12; Mk. 9:35; Mk. 10:31; Mk. 10:44; Mk. 12:20; Mk. 12:28; Mk. 12:29; Mk. 13:10; Mk. 14:12; Mk. 16:9; Lk. 2:2; Lk. 6:42; Lk. 9:59; Lk. 9:61; Lk. 10:5; Lk. 11:26; Lk. 11:38; Lk. 12:1; Lk. 13:30; Lk. 14:18; Lk. 14:28; Lk. 14:31; Lk. 15:22; Lk. 16:5; Lk. 17:25; Lk. 19:16; Lk. 19:47; Lk. 20:29; Lk. 21:9; Jn. 1:15; Jn. 1:30; Jn. 1:41; Jn. 2:10; Jn. 7:51; Jn. 8:7; Jn. 10:40; Jn. 12:16; Jn. 15:18; Jn. 18:13; Jn. 19:32; Jn. 19:39; Jn. 20:4; Jn. 20:8; Acts 1:1; Acts 3:26; Acts 7:12; Acts 12:10; Acts 13:46; Acts 13:50; Acts 15:14; Acts 16:12; Acts 17:4; Acts 20:18; Acts 25:2; Acts 26:20; Acts 26:23; Acts 27:43; Acts 28:7; Acts 28:17; Rom. 1:8; Rom. 1:16; Rom. 2:9; Rom. 2:10; Rom. 3:2; Rom. 10:19; Rom. 15:24; 1 Co. 11:18; 1 Co. 12:28; 1 Co. 14:30; 1 Co. 15:3; 1 Co. 15:45; 1 Co. 15:46; 1 Co. 15:47; 2 Co. 8:5; Eph. 6:2; Phil. 1:5; 1 Thess. 4:16; 2 Thess. 2:3; 1 Tim. 1:15; 1 Tim. 1:16; 1 Tim. 2:1; 1 Tim. 2:13; 1 Tim. 3:10; 1 Tim. 5:4; 1 Tim. 5:12; 2 Tim. 1:5; 2 Tim. 2:6; 2 Tim. 4:16; Heb. 7:2; Heb. 8:7; Heb. 8:13; Heb. 9:1; Heb. 9:2; Heb. 9:6; Heb. 9:8; Heb. 9:15; Heb. 9:18; Heb. 10:9; Jas. 3:17; 1 Pet. 4:17; 2 Pet. 1:20; 2 Pet. 2:20; 2 Pet. 3:3; 1 Jn. 4:19; Rev. 1:17; Rev. 2:4; Rev. 2:5; Rev. 2:8; Rev. 2:19; Rev. 4:1; Rev. 4:7; Rev. 8:7; Rev. 13:12; Rev. 16:2; Rev. 20:5; Rev. 20:6; Rev. 21:1; Rev. 21:4; Rev. 21:19; Rev. 22:13 Gen. 8:5; Gen. 8:13; Gen. 32:17; Gen. 32:19; Gen. 33:2; Gen. 41:20; Exod. 4:8; Exod. 12:2; Exod. 12:15; Exod. 12:16; Exod. 12:18; Exod. 34:1; Exod. 34:4; Exod. 40:2; Exod. 40:17; Lev. 9:15; Lev. 23:5; Lev. 23:7; Lev. 23:11; Lev. 23:35; Lev. 23:39; Lev. 23:40; Num. 2:3; Num. 2:9; Num. 7:12; Num. 9:1; Num. 9:3; Num. 10:13; Num. 10:14; Num. 20:1; Num. 28:16; Num. 28:18; Num. 29:13; Num. 33:3; Deut. 10:1; Deut. 10:2; Deut. 10:3; Deut. 10:4; Deut. 13:9; Deut. 16:4; Deut. 17:7; Jos. 4:19; Jos. 8:30; Jos. 15:21; Jos. 18:11; Jdg. 20:22; Jdg. 20:32; Jdg. 20:39; Ruth 3:10; 1 Sam. 2:16; 1 Sam. 9:22; 1 Sam. 14:14; 1 Sam. 15:12; 1 Sam. 15:21; 2 Sam. 13:16; 2 Sam. 16:23; 2 Sam. 18:27; 2 Sam. 19:43; 2 Sam. 20:18; 2 Sam. 21:9; 2 Sam. 24:25; 1 Ki. 2:35; 1 Ki. 16:23; 1 Ki. 17:13; 1 Ki. 18:25; 1 Ki. 20:9; 1 Ki. 20:17; 2 Ki. 1:14; 2 Ki. 25:18; 1 Chr. 11:6; 1 Chr. 11:11; 1 Chr. 12:15; 1 Chr. 18:17; 1 Chr. 24:7; 1 Chr. 25:9; 1 Chr. 25:28; 1 Chr. 27:2; 1 Chr. 27:3; 1 Chr. 27:33; 1 Chr. 29:21; 2 Chr. 3:3; 2 Chr. 9:29; 2 Chr. 12:15; 2 Chr. 16:11; 2 Chr. 17:3; 2 Chr. 20:34; 2 Chr. 25:26; 2 Chr. 26:20; 2 Chr. 26:22; 2 Chr. 27:5; 2 Chr. 28:26; 2 Chr. 29:3; 2 Chr. 29:17; 2 Chr. 35:1; 2 Chr. 35:27; 2 Chr. 36:22; Ezr. 1:1; Ezr. 3:12; Ezr. 5:13; Ezr. 6:3; Ezr. 6:19; Ezr. 7:5; Ezr. 7:9; Ezr. 8:31; Ezr. 10:17; Neh. 5:15; Neh. 7:5; Neh. 8:18; Neh. 12:46; Est. 1:14; Est. 3:12; Est. 8:9; Job 8:7; Job 8:8; Job 15:7; Job 18:20; Job 23:8; Job 42:11; Job 42:14; Job 42:17; Ps. 71:1; Prov. 20:9; Prov. 26:18; Eccl. 1:11; Cant. 4:14; Isa. 9:1; Isa. 11:14; Isa. 41:4; Isa. 43:18; Isa. 43:26; Isa. 43:27; Isa. 44:6; Isa. 48:12; Isa. 60:9; Isa. 65:16; Jer. 50:17; Jer. 52:24; Ezek. 27:17; Ezek. 27:22; Ezek. 29:17; Ezek. 30:20; Ezek. 32:17; Ezek. 40:1; Ezek. 45:18; Ezek. 45:21; Dan. 1:21; Dan. 7:1; Dan. 7:4; Dan. 7:8; Dan. 7:24; Dan. 8:1; Dan. 8:21; Dan. 9:1; Dan. 9:2; Dan. 10:1; Dan. 10:4; Dan. 10:12; Dan. 10:13; Dan. 10:21; Dan. 11:1; Dan. 11:13; Dan. 11:29; Joel 2:20; Amos 6:6; Mic. 4:8; Hag. 2:9; Zech. 6:2; Zech. 14:8; Zech. 14:10; Related Resources: Acts Book Introduction - John MacArthur Analysis of Acts - James Van Dine Is the Book of Acts Historically Accurate? - Don Stewart The Acts of the Apostles - Trustworthiness - William Ramsay Illustration - There’s a story—I don’t know whether it’s true or not, but it’s often told; it probably is true—about the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers, Vince Lombardi. And it is said that one day his team had played miserably, and he brought them all in to what we used to call, when I played football, skull practice. That is, not on the field, but thinking, practicing, getting your head right, getting, between your ears, things arranged. And the legendary coach wanted to get the boys back to the fundamentals, back to the basics of the game. And he reached in a bag and pulled out a football, and said, “Gentlemen, this is a football.” Now, these are professional football players, but he’s saying, I’m going to go back to the rudiments, back to the basics, “Gentlemen, this is a football,” and to go from there. I think that’s what the church of the Lord Jesus Christ needs to do today, is to go back to the very basic, fundamental, rudimentary elements of our faith. So I want to tell you, “Ladies and gentlemen, this is a Bible.” This is a Bible. It is the Word of God. We need to go back and find out what God wants us to do. They criticized Billy Graham one time. They said of Billy Graham, “Why, he’s not up to date with his evangelism, and his methods, and he’s behind. He’s decades behind.” He said, “Oh.” He said, “No, I’m not. I don’t want to set the church back a decade or two decades. I want to set it back two thousand years. I want to get back to the very essence, the very fundamentals, of the faith. So let’s look right here in these first eight verses of the Book of Acts. (Adrian Rogers) A T Pierson dedicates his work on Acts which he entitles "The Acts of the Holy Spirit" with a description of a Spirit empowered saint who lived centuries after the last chapter of Acts (Acts 28), and is evidence that the Acts of the Holy Spirit are still going on! O, be so empowered by the Spirit of Christ that we could emulate this example... Pastor Adoniram Judson Gordon,—A Man Full Of The Holy Ghost And Of Power, Separated By The Spirit, And Anointed Of God, For The Work Whereunto He Was Called, A Minister Of Christ, Who Fed The Flock Of God Over Which The Holy Ghost Had Made Him Overseer, Not As Being Lord Over God's Heritage, But As Being An Ensample To The Flock; Who, Being Led By The Spirit, Searched The Deep Things Of God; Whose Speech And Whose Preaching Was Not With Enticing Words Of Man's Wisdom, But In Demonstration Of The Spirit; And Who, Before His Translation, Had This Testimony, That He Pleased God,— This Humble Contribution To The Great Theme That So Engrossed The Later Years Of His Holy And Useful Life Is, By His Bereaved Friend, And Associate In Bible Study And Christian Service, Most Lovingly Dedicate. Steven Cole gives us an introduction to the book of Acts... How do you launch a worldwide enterprise? In the last century, Coca-Cola did it. You can go just about anywhere in the world and buy a Coke. They are the world’s largest multi-national corporation. Right behind them is Microsoft. Last year when I was in Poland and Romania, I discovered that although the languages were different, their computers looked and worked just like mine, with the familiar Windows and Word screens. The church is Jesus Christ’s worldwide “enterprise.” He prophesied that He would build His church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it (Matt. 16:18). The Book of Acts tells us how His church began in Jerusalem and spread to the ends of the earth. It provides a vital link between the gospels and the New Testament epistles. How did the Christian faith that began with a few followers of Jesus in Israel spread to Rome and points beyond? How did an ardent Jew who was not even a believer become the apostle to the Gentiles? How did the early church, which was exclusively Jewish, begin to reach out to and incorporate the Gentiles? Without Acts, we would be hard pressed to answer these questions. While we have four gospel accounts of the life of Jesus Christ, there is only one Book of Acts. The title, Acts of the Apostles, was probably added sometime in the second century, but it is a bit of a misnomer. “Acts” fits, since there is plenty of action. But “apostles” isn’t quite right, since the story does not tell of the deeds of most of the apostles, but primarily of Peter (chapters 1-12) and Paul (chapters 13-28). The book actually describes the acts of Jesus through the Holy Spirit in His servants. Almost all Bible scholars agree that Luke was the author of Acts. He was a physician (Col. 4:14), and the only Gentile author of the Bible. An early writing, dated between A.D. 160-180, tells us that Luke was a Syrian from Antioch, a single man who accompanied Paul until his martyrdom, and who died himself at age 84 (cited by Simon Kistemaker, Acts [Baker], p. 20). Luke probably wrote Acts about A.D. 62-64, toward the end of Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome, where the book leaves off. There is no mention of the intense persecution launched by Nero in A.D. 64, or of the martyrdom of Paul in about 68, and so Acts was probably written before these events. The first verse of Acts links it with the introduction of Luke’s Gospel (Luke 1:1-4). Both volumes were written to an otherwise unknown man, Theophilus, who was probably a Roman official, to provide an accurate historical foundation for his faith in Jesus Christ. Together, Luke and Acts comprise about 30 percent of the New Testament, surpassing both the writings of Paul and John in size (Richard Longenecker, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary [Zondervanl p. 207). PURPOSE: Why did Luke write Acts? Several theories are proposed, but probably his primary purpose was to provide an account of the beginnings of the Christian church in order to strengthen his readers’ faith and to give assurance that its foundation is firm (I. Howard Marshall, Acts [IVP/Eerdmansl p. 21). Perhaps a skeptic had tried to convince Theophilus that his faith was based on myths or legends. Luke wants to show through his gospel and Acts that the accounts were based on eyewitness testimony given by credible men who were not promoting it for personal gain. In fact, they proclaimed the message in the face of strong opposition and even death. Luke also intended to explain how the church spread from Jerusalem to Rome, encompassing both Jews and Gentiles, in accord with God’s purpose. One key to understanding Acts is to see that it is a transitional book, showing how the worship of God moved from the Jewish temple, to the hesitant acceptance of Gentiles into the Jewish church, and finally to the Christian worship of predominately Gentile churches all over the Roman empire. Acts shows us how God went from working primarily with the Jews as a nation to working with the church, comprised of Jews and Gentiles on equal footing. In Matthew 21:43, Jesus had told the Jewish leaders, “The kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and be given to a nation producing the fruit of it.” Acts shows us the transition that lasted from the death of Jesus to the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, which fulfilled Jesus’ prophecy. Acts records many miraculous signs that were given to prove to Israel that they had been wrong to reject Jesus as their Messiah and Lord. The main message that the apostles and others in Acts proclaimed centered on the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, which was the primary sign authenticating Jesus as the Christ, and on the offer of forgiveness of sins in His name. The apostles were given unusual miraculous power, authenticating them as God’s witnesses to Jesus Christ and His resurrection. While God obviously can and does work miracles today (after all, He is God!), to claim as some do that miracles should happen today with the same frequency as in Acts is to miss the transitional nature of the book. God had a special purpose for miracles, to authenticate the apostles within this transition period. THEMES: In addition to the transitional nature of Acts with miracles to authenticate the message and the messengers, and the central message of Christ and His resurrection from the dead, there are several other themes running throughout Acts: • The sovereignty of God in the founding of the church and the spread of the gospel. Clearly, God is at work and nothing can stop what He intends to do. • The power of the Holy Spirit, given to all who believe in Jesus Christ. • The importance of prayer in the life of the church. • The importance of preaching God’s Word. Acts contains numerous sermons and speeches, including eight by Peter, nine by Paul, one lengthy sermon by Stephen, and a shorter one by James. The addresses by Peter, Paul, and Stephen make up about 25 percent of the book (John Stott, The Message of Acts [IVP], p. 69). • The importance of mission to all peoples. This outward thrust of the gospel is the main story line of Acts. Acts shows us how to do evangelism and missions. • The reality of opposition and suffering in the spread of the gospel. Clearly, although God is sovereignly at work and nothing can stop what He is doing, His servants often suffer greatly, even unto death, in the cause. • The life and organization of the church. Acts gives us glimpses of early church life that show us how the church dealt with problems as it grew. OUTLINE: A simple outline of Acts is contained in Acts 1:8: 1. The witness in Jerusalem—primarily to Jews (Acts 1:1-8:3). 2. The witness in Judea and Samaria—including the first Gentiles (Acts 8:4-11:18). 3. The witness to the remotest parts of the earth—to the Jew first, but predominately to Gentiles (Acts 11:19-28:31). WILLIAM MITCHELL RAMSAY (1851-1939) was converted to Christianity trying to find archaeological proof to debunk the Book of Acts! Instead, he found evidence that supported the historical accuracy of the book of Acts which debunked his atheistic beliefs! William Ramsay was a renowned archaeologist and New Testament scholar from Scotland. He was knighted by the British crown for his work in archaeology. He was raised an atheist, and as a brilliant student at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland and at Oxford University in England, he sat at the feet of theological modernists and skeptics who disbelieved the Bible. It was assumed that the Bible is not historically accurate and that it contained a large portion of mythology. It was thought that the book of Acts was not written until 150 A.D., about a century after the events it describes. When Ramsay began archaeological and historical research in Asia Minor beginning in 1881, he expected and hoped to find more evidence against the Bible. Instead, he discovered fact after fact that supported the Bible. He eventually concluded that the book of Acts was written during the lifetime of the apostles and that it is historically accurate. His discoveries led to his conversion to Christianity. Josh McDowell wrote that Ramsay "had spent years deliberately preparing himself for the announced task of heading an exploration expedition into Asia Minor and Palestine where he would [find] the evidence that the book was the product of ambitious monks, and not the book from heaven it claimed to be. He regarded the weakest spot in the whole New Testament to be the story of Paul's travels. These had never been thoroughly investigated by one on the spot. Equipped as no other man had been, he went to the home of the Bible. Here he spent fifteen years digging. Then in 1896 he published a large volume, Saint Paul, the Traveler and the Roman Citizen. ... The book caused a furor of dismay among the skeptics of the world. Its attitude was utterly unexpected because it was contrary to the announced intention of the author years before. For twenty years after that publication, book after book came from the pen of the same author, each filled with additional evidence of the exact, minute truthfulness of the whole New Testament as tested by the spade on the spot. And these books have stood the test of time, not one having been refuted, nor have I found even any attempt to refute them” ( The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict, p. 62). William Ramsay himself testified regarding the Book of Acts: “The present writer takes the view that Luke’s history is unsurpassed in respect of its trustworthiness. At this point we are describing what reasons and arguments changed the mind of one who began under the impression that the history was written long after the events and that it was untrustworthy as a whole” (The Bearing of Recent Discovery on the Trustworthiness of the New Testament, 1915). (Cf "Trustworthiness of Acts") Acts 1:2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. KJV Acts 1:2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: until the day when He was taken up to heaven Acts 1:9; Mark 16:19; Luke 9:51; 24:51; John 6:62; 13:1,3; 16:28; 17:13; 20:17; Ephesians 4:8-10; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 6:19,20; 9:24; 1 Peter 3:22 after He had by the Holy Spirit given ordersActs 10:38; Isaiah 11:2,3; 42:1; 48:16; 59:20,21; 61:1; Mt 3:16; 12:28; John 1:16; 3:34; Revelation 1:1; 2:7,11,17,29; 3:16,13,22 given orders Mt 28:19; Mark 16:15-19; Luke 24:45-49 to the apostles whom He had chosen Acts 1:13; 10:40-42; Mt 10:1-4; Mk 3:14-19; Lk 6:13-16; Jn 6:70; 13:18; 20:21; Gal 1:1; Eph 2:20; 2 Pe 3:2; Rev 21:14 Acts Video - 3 hours - Luke's Introduction Acts 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Acts 1:1,2 The Church: Continuing What Jesus Began - Steven Cole Acts 1:1-5 Resources for Finishing Our Lord's Unfinished Work--1 - John MacArthur Acts 1:1-11 How to Finish Christ's Work - John MacArthur THE TURNING POINT: JESUS' ASCENSION Until the day when He was taken up to heaven - This refers of course to His ascension described in Acts 1:9-11-+. Until the day is an expression of time -- until describes something happening up to a point in time. What happened was that Jesus was there in Person, doing, teaching, giving orders and this personal interaction with His apostles continued until He ascended. As shown in the diagram above, the Ascension of Jesus marks the turning point in the history of the world, for when Jesus went up, the Spirit came down and Jesus continued His ministry through the Spirit empowered apostles who "turned the world upside down!" (Acts 17:6KJV-+). Kistemaker observes that this verse has three distinct "topics" - Jesus' ascension, His instruction, His election. John Stott says "Here Luke tells us how he thinks of his two-volume work on the origins of Christianity, which constitutes approximately one quarter of the New Testament. He does not regard volume one as the story of Jesus Christ . . . and volume two as the story of the church of Jesus Christ . . . For the contrasting parallel he draws between his two volumes was not between Christ and his church, but between two stages of the ministry of the same Christ. . . Thus Jesus’ ministry on earth, exercised personally and publicly, was followed by his ministry from heaven, exercised through his Holy Spirit by his apostles. Moreover, the watershed between the two was the ascension. Not only did it conclude Luke’s first book and introduce his second (Acts 1:9), but it terminated Jesus’ earthly ministry and inaugurated his heavenly ministry." (The Message of Acts) Taken up (353)(analambano from ana = up + lambano = take) means literally to take up, to assume. Depending on the context analambano can mean to cause to go up, to lift up and carry away in this case used three times in chapter 1 to describe the Ascension of Jesus (Acts 1:2, 11, 22, cf the other uses of analambano describing His ascension = Mk 16:19, 1 Ti 3:16). Jesus being taken up is where Luke ended his Gospel "While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven." (Lk 24:51-+). It is fascinating that taken up is in the passive voice, indicating the power that enabled Jesus to ascend was from outside of Himself. One is reminded of Enoch who "obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God." (Heb 11:5) Indeed as Bock says "The ascension stands as a key divine act vindicating Jesus and placing Him in authority at the right hand of God (Ps. 110:1; Acts 2:32–35-+)" (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Acts) Most of the 13 uses of this verb are by Luke in Acts - Acts 1:2; Acts 1:11; Acts 1:22; Acts 7:43; Acts 10:16; Acts 20:13; Acts 20:14; Acts 23:31 After He had by the Holy Spirit given orders (By or through the Holy Spirit) - This is a fascinating statement. Why do I say that? Jesus has returned from the dead and here we see that He is still expressing His dependence on the Spirit. He chose not to rely on His own resources but on the powe and presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Amazing! Now I do not fully understand the dynamics, but clearly His Spirit is intimately involved in Jesus' post-resurrection ministry, just as He was before He was crucified (cf Acts 10:38-39-+). If Jesus depended on Him after the resurrection, how much more do we need to depend on Him? That's a rhetorical question of course. We are absolutely, totally dependent on the Spirit. The minute we say "I've got this one, is the minute we set ourselves up to fail." Steven Cole on by the Holy Spirit - Everything that Jesus did, He did in obedience to the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit. Vincent on by the Holy Spirit - Construe with had given orders: by means of the Holy Spirit, Who inspired Him. (Fascinating!) Kistemaker on by the Holy Spirit - The Holy Spirit dwelled in Jesus, for Jesus breathed on his disciples and gave them the Holy Spirit (John 20:22). In their ministry, he directed his apostles through the Holy Spirit (see, e.g., Acts 16:7). The Spirit of Jesus is the Holy Spirit. R Tuck on by the Holy Spirit - From the teaching of what the Spirit was, beyond measure, in Christ, we may learn what the Holy Ghost can be, within measure, in man; what he may be to apostles and to us. In conclusion, show, practically, that the necessary condition of the abiding of the Holy Ghost in Christ was his perfect openness and entire submission to the Spirit's lead; and that this Christ-like openness is still the one condition of the Spirit's abiding and working in us. Impress the warnings of the apostles against the danger of resisting, quenching, and grieving the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost in Christ Related Resource: Personhood of the Spirit J
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Guzik comments that "Jesus had nothing else for the disciples to do other than to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit (the Promise of the Father). Jesus knew that they really could do nothing effective for the Kingdom of God until the Spirit came. To wait means that it was worth waiting for. To wait means that they had a promise it would come. To wait means they must receive it; they couldn’t create it themselves. To wait means that they would be tested by waiting, at least a little. (The Enduring Word Bible Commentary – Acts) Has God ever made you wait for something good, perhaps some promise in the Bible? It tests our faith to wait doesn't it? Ray Pritchard writes "As you wait remember that God doesn’t keep time the way we do. “God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which he must work” (A. W. Tozer). Waiting is good for the soul, especially if you are waiting on the Lord. As you wait, remember that God has not forgotten you. You are on his mind right now. He sees you in your confusion, your fear, and your distress. Do not despair, but as you wait, rest your weary soul on the mighty promise from God in Isaiah...." Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, 31 Yet those who WAIT for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. (Isaiah 40:30-31-+) Promised (1860)(epaggelia/epangelia from epí = intensifies verbal meaning + aggéllo = to tell, declare) literally means to "tell at or upon" and originally referred to an announcement or declaration (especially of a favorable message). In other words, the first sense of epaggelia is that of a . declaration to do something which came to be associated with the implication of obligation to carry out what is stated and thus the meaning of a promise, pledge or offer. In Scripture, epaggelia refers primarily to God's pronouncements that provide assurance of what He intends to do. Epaggelia in Luke - Lk. 24:49; Acts 1:4; Acts 2:33; Acts 2:39; Acts 7:17; Acts 13:23; Acts 13:32; Acts 23:21; Acts 26:6 Guzik on the Father's promise - It shows that we should wait for it with eager anticipation; a “Promise of the Father” could only be good. It shows that it is reliable; the Father would never Promise something He could not fulfill. It shows that the Promise belongs to all His children, since it comes from God as our Father. It shows that it must be received by faith, as is the pattern with the promises of God throughout the Bible. (Acts 1 Commentary) "Which," He said," you heard of from Me - Notice the Trinity - the Father promised (Acts 1:4), Jesus described the promise and the Spirit is the promise. One God in three Persons, all three involved in fulfilling the promise. In God’s Waiting Room: Lessons from the “Down Time” of Life Ray Pritchard ‘‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.” Acts 1:4 Have you ever heard of the American prayer? It goes this way: “Lord, give me patience, and I want it right now.” Patience is not a virtue our society seems to favor. We live in a world of frozen dinners, instant coffee, powdered orange juice, instant cameras, Cliff notes, freeway express lanes, cell phones, pagers, and beepers. Our motto is: Give it to me quick or forget about it! Few of us like to wait – it reminds us we are out of control. We don’t like waiting in traffic, in line at the supermarket, at the airport, or when our computers don’t work fast enough. Dr. Larry Dossey, a Dallas internist, coined a term that describes this problem. People who hate to wait suffer from what he calls “Hurry Sickness,” which he defines as “an increased sensitivity to the passage of time.” He believes that people suffering from Hurry Sickness die before their time. The good doctor offers the following experiment. You’ll need another person to help you with this. Give your helper a watch with a second hand. Sit down. Have your helper blindfold you. While blindfolded, try to guess how long a minute is. Dr. Dossey says that to a person suffering from Hurry Sickness a minute lasts 15 seconds or less. “Tall, Glasses and in a Big Hurry” I’m afraid I know more about this disease than I would like to admit. I’ve been in a hurry for so long that I can’t remember when I wasn’t. Twelve years ago I flew to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to lead a youth retreat. The man they sent to pick me up had no trouble finding me–even though he had never met me–because he had been given the following description: He’s tall, wears glasses, and he looks like he’s in a big hurry. I’m not the only one who lives this way. People talk to me about having their plates too full, about living in the fast lane, about not having enough hours in the day, and running a race even a rat couldn’t win. We want to slow down, but we’re afraid the world will fall apart if we do. The funny thing is, one day we’ll all slow down—permanently. And the world will go right on without us. Hurry Sickness is especially prevalent among highly motivated, achievement-oriented people. It often sets in around age 30 and gets worse with the passing years. What happens if it is left unchecked? Dr. Dossey mentions many physical ailments—ulcers, high blood pressure, tension headaches, high cholesterol, and lowered resistance to disease. The eventual payoff is a heart attack. What he doesn’t mention is just as bad—anxiety, a frustrated spouse, neglected children, a deteriorating spiritual life, and a short temper. You do more, work harder, run faster and wind up in an early grave. It doesn’t seem worth it. Most of the Life is Waiting Most of us would rather do anything than wait. Some of us would rather do the wrong thing than wait. Truth be told, most of life is waiting. Waiting for an appointment to see the doctor. Waiting to graduate. Waiting to be accepted in college. Waiting for your first job offer. Waiting to see if the bank will give you a loan. Waiting for the right time to start a family. Waiting for your test scores. Waiting for your loved ones to come to Christ. Waiting for the Lord to bring the right man or the right woman into your life. Waiting to find out what God wants you to do. Waiting for someone to buy your house. Waiting for your prayers to be answered. Waiting for your husband to come home from a business trip. Waiting for your oldest daughter to come back to the Lord. Waiting is one of the hardest acts of the Christian life. Thousands act who cannot wait. Yet we all spend a big chunk of our lives waiting for things to happen. For every green light, it seems like there are 5 yellow ones and a dozen red ones. We all have to wait whether we like it or not. Wait on the Lord If you would like a fascinating Bible study, take your concordance this week and look up the word “wait.” Over and over again God’s people were told to wait. Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” In Psalm 37:7 we read, “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him.” When we are tempted to take matters into our own hands, Proverbs 20:22 offers this counsel, “Do not say, ‘’I’ll pay you back for this wrong!’ Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.” Isaiah 30:18 expands on this theme: “For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” Perhaps the most famous—and most beloved—verse on waiting in all the Bible is Isaiah 40:31, “They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” With that as background we turn to our text—Acts 1:4. We have come to the few days of the life of Christ on the earth. We are in that mysterious 40-day period between Christ’s resurrection and his ascension into heaven. Luke tells us that on one occasion the disciples and Jesus shared a meal together. The conversation turned to the future—to the time when Jesus would return to heaven and the disciples would be left with orders to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth. It’s easy to imagine the excitement around the table that day. What do you want us to do, Lord? When do we get started? Let’s draft a master-plan and hit the road. James, you and John get started on the mission statement. Peter, work out a 10-year strategy. Matthew, you’re an accountant, aren’t you? Run some numbers, let’s see how much money we’re going to need. We’ve got to get the ball rolling. Lord, where do you want us to begin? His answer is simple—and quite shocking to these over-eager disciples. “Don’t do anything yet. Go back to Jerusalem and wait there until the Holy Spirit comes.” I’m sure this must have come as a major surprise. Here’s a crucial insight: When God wants to reach the world, his first step is to tell his people to slow down and wait for him. When the time comes, he’ll give them the signal to move out. Until then, go back home and wait on the Lord. This raises a question. Why did the disciples have to wait for what God had already promised them? Why couldn’t they just “name it and claim it?” From this text—and from the Bible as a whole—we discover five reasons why God often tells His people to wait on him. I. To rearrange our priorities Acts 1:4 says that Jesus commanded the disciples to stay in Jerusalem. I imagine that was the last place many of them wanted to be. After all, this was the city where Jesus had been crucified. The men who put him death a few weeks earlier were still in power. If they killed Jesus, why wouldn’t they kill his followers? Certainly all the uproar surrounding his death would have made them even angrier. Jerusalem was no longer a safe city. If you were a follower of Jesus, any place on earth was safer than Jerusalem. Getting out of town was not a bad idea. But Jesus commanded them to stay. If they left, it would show a lack of courage and reveal a fear of what man might do to them. It would also show a lack of faith—as if they could not trust an unseen Master to help them. It would mean leaving the battlefield and admitting defeat. This they could not do. There is another argument they might have made. “The world needs to know about Jesus. Jerusalem already knows about him. This city murdered him. Let’s go somewhere else and spread the Good News.” That would be a good argument, it would also be wrong. In serving the Lord timing is all important. Haste gains nothing if the Lord is not leading. Their duty was to follow, not to lead. By staying in Jerusalem Jesus forces them to confront their fears and quells their budding enthusiasm. Waiting is hard for all of us Type A action-oriented people who want to make things happen. There are times in life when God says, “Slow down. You’re going too fast. I don’t want you in the fast lane right now. Get off at the next exit and let’s talk it over.” When that happens our response is usually, “Go ahead and talk, Lord, while I drive down the road.” Suddenly another hand takes the wheel and we find ourselves heading toward the exit. It is the hand of God using the circumstances of life to get our full and undivided attention. Have you ever wondered why God doesn’t speak to you more clearly? Could it be because you’re going so fast that you can’t hear his voice? Waiting rearranges our priorities, slows down our schedule, and forces us to listen to God. II. To test our faith Jesus gave specific instructions in three areas: He told them what to do—Wait. He told them where to do it—in Jerusalem. He told them what to wait for—the Promise of the Father (the coming of the Holy Spirit). But he didn’t tell them how long to wait. They had no idea whether they should wait a week, a month, a year, ten years, or for 40 years. Some of you are in the same place right now. You’re waiting and you don’t know how much longer you can hold out. You feel like giving up and walking away from your dreams. You wonder if prayer is a waste of time because God has not answered your petitions. Perhaps you’ve been waiting for months or years already and deep inside you feel like giving up. Remember Abraham and Sarah who waited 25 years after the promise for the birth of Isaac. Remember also what happened when in a moment of weakness they took matters into their own hands and Ishmael was born (see Genesis 16:1-16). If It Takes Forever This week I received an e-mail message from a friend in a distant state. After I read his main message, I saw this PS: “I think the Cubs are going to do some damage in the NL Central this year.” I have no idea why he said that, but I’ve been hearing similar things every spring since I moved to Oak Park in 1989. Some of you have heard that talk for 40 or 50 years. How long has it been since the Cubs won the World Series? It was 1908, which means that it’s been 90 years. When I had only lived here a year or so—and didn’t understand the meaning of futility as it applies to the Cubs—I saw a sign on a hot-dog stand near Cicero and Addison in Chicago. The sign had the C symbol for the Cubs and underneath it these words, “If it takes forever.” Now that’s real faith. Cubs fans know all what waiting is all about. After last year they also know what it means to have your faith tested. But true fans never give up. In fact, the longer you wait the stronger your faith becomes. The same is true in the spiritual life. God makes us wait so that our faith will be put to the test. Do what the Cubs fans have been doing for 90 years–"Lord, I’m going to wait on you—if it takes forever.” (Ed comment: Pritchard preached this message in 1998 and guess what happened 18 years later? The Cubs won the World Series in 2016, their first since 1908! That hot-dog vendor's "faith" paid off!) III. To purify our motives Very soon the disciples would be asked to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Vast responsibilities would fall on them. Great things were expected and great things required. Of all the dangers they faced, perhaps none was greater than the danger of pride. Unknown to them, in just a few days 3000 people would be converted at one time (Acts 2:41). Lest they think that everything depended on them, God makes them wait. As the days go on, the apostles learn that the Holy Spirit cannot be bought or sold, cannot be manipulated, and cannot be commanded by human will. Waiting would force them into a position of humility—of beggars waiting for the promise of the Father. Jesus knew that without the power of the Spirit everything else they did would be in vain. “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty” (Zechariah 4:6, cf John 6:63). But with the Spirit all things were possible. The Holy Spirit would show them the truth, anoint their preaching, and through them draw sinners to the Savior. All of us must come to that same place of utter helplessness before we can experience the fullness of the Spirit. God wants to bring you to the place where you know that you do not know. He arranges your life so that you understand that you do not understand. He wants to bring you to the end of your cleverness so that your trust will be in Him alone. Waiting purifies our motives because in the long hours while we wait, our pride crumbles and we realize that everything depends on God. IV. To increase our gratitude when the answer finally comes This point is akin is the last. The longer the disciples waited for the Spirit to fall, the more they appreciated the answer when it finally came. This is one reason our prayers usually are not answered the first time we pray. We would begin to take God for granted and to treat him like a celestial slot machine where we insert a prayer and out comes an answer. Because God is our Heavenly Father He makes us wait so that our gratitude might increase. Here’s an insight you may never have considered. When God puts us in a position of waiting on Him, the answer almost always surprises us. Consider the situation in Acts 1. The Lord Jesus told the disciples to wait for the promise of the Father—the coming of the Holy Spirit. For days on end they prayed, “O Lord, send the Holy Spirit.” They prayed in small groups—"O Lord, send the Holy Spirit.” They probably lifted their hands and prayed, “O Lord, send the Holy Spirit.” Now they knew something about the Holy Spirit from the Old Testament—and even more from the words of Christ—but they really didn’t know what they were praying for. The certainly had no idea of what was about to happen on the Day of Pentecost. I can imagine a conversation. “How much longer do we have to pray?” “I don’t know.” “Well, how are we going to know when the Holy Spirit comes?” “I don’t know.” “What if the Holy Spirit comes and we don’t know it?” “Stop talking and start praying.” So there they were on the Day of Pentecost—praying, no doubt—not knowing when the Holy Spirit would be sent. One disciples says to another, “Hey, there’s fire coming out of the top of your head.” “What? Hey, your head’s on fire too.” Then came a noise like a mighty rushing wind. Suddenly one of them started talking in Greek, another in Median, another in Parthian, another in Egyptian, another in the dialect of Cappadocia—and none of them knew any of those languages (See Acts 2:1-13) It was a wild scene in Jerusalem as the Holy Spirit came with great power. Their prayers were answered—but in a manner far beyond their expectations. The people who saw it thought the disciples were drunk. They weren’t drunk at all—they were filled with the Holy Spirit of God. He is the God of great surprises. He makes us wait so that He can surprise us in the future and increase our gratitude when the answer finally comes. (See Ray Pritchard's message - How Can I Be Filled With the Holy Spirit?) V. To remind us that He is God and we are not Jesus told those assembled disciples two things that must have been hard to hear: 1) Stay in Jerusalem, and 2) Wait for the promise of the Father. Luke tells us he “commanded” them to do these things. This isn’t a suggestion or a negotiating ploy. This is a command from a superior to his inferiors. It is God telling his servants what to do. Because God is God and we are not, He often does things that make little sense to us. In the Old Testament He guided His people with the cloud by day and the fiery pillar by night. Sometimes the cloud would move for days on end. Then suddenly—without warning or explanation—it would stop. Then it would move again and then it would stop. No explanation given. The only command being, “Follow the cloud!” I am sure there were times when those weary Jews felt like shouting, “Why don’t you stop and let us rest?” Or when they had been several weeks in the desert, someone might say, “Lord, we’ve been here long enough. Can’t we move on now?” There are times in the Christian life when God’s only command is to wait. When those moments come, God rarely explains Himself or makes the big picture clear. All of this reminds us that in the end our God is sovereign and He chooses the times and places of life. He sets the path for each of his children and he doesn’t consult us in advance. Don’t Fret Against the Lord I know I speak to many who are waiting on God right now. What should you do? Here is my counsel: Do not fret against the Lord Do not panic Do not take matters into your own hands Do your duty each day as God shows it to you Surrender your life to the Lord—"Thy will be done.” But what should you do while you wait? Ah, what a perfectly American question that is. We want to do something, not just sit in silence. Very well, before you get out bed in the morning, pray this prayer: “Lord, help me to do my tasks today with joy. Amen.” Just do your job and do it with a smile while you wait on God. That will glorify your Father and will prepare you for whatever is to come. The best way to get ready for tomorrow is to do God’s will today. At it’s core waiting is about becoming more like Christ and relying on God. It’s not that waiting is easy or enjoyable. Often it is very difficult. In the end we have this consolation–God works through our waiting to make us like Jesus. It has been well said that we serve an on-time God. He’s never early, he’s never late, he’s always right on time–which means that our waiting serves his purposes in ways we don’t understand. Here is my final piece of advice. Do the best you can, and then sleep like a baby. Which is another way of saying, Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. As a way of applying this message let’s change the American prayer to the Christian prayer: “Lord, I’m willing to wait for you—even if it takes forever. Amen.” (Acts 1:4 In God’s Waiting Room: Lessons from the “Down Time” of Life) Acts 1:5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." KJV Acts 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. for John baptized with water Acts 11:15; Acts 19:4; Mt 3:11; Luke 3:16; John 1:31; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Titus 3:5 but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit Acts 2:1-4,16-21; 10:45; 11:15; Joel 2:28-32; 3:18 Acts Video - 3 hours - Luke's Introduction Acts 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Acts 1:3-11 Doing Jesus’ Work - Steven Cole Acts 1:1-5 Resources for Finishing Our Lord's Unfinished Work--1 - John MacArthur Acts 1:1-11 How to Finish Christ's Work - John MacArthur THE PROMISE OF BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT For John baptized with water - Jesus is contrasting two baptisms in this verse. The apostles were familiar with the baptism performed by John, but they had no clue about the coming baptism with the Holy Spirit. John's prophetic announcement of the Holy Spirit was recorded in all four Gospels (see passages below) Lenski does not see "for" (hoti) in this context as a term of explanation writing "hoti (for) does not state the reason for awaiting the promise of the Father although it is quite generally so translated: “for” (meaning “because”), German denn. How could John’s baptizing with water be a part of such a reason? This is the so-called consecutive hὅτι (R. 1001), “seeing that.” In view of the fact that John began with water in order to have a greater than he finish by pouring out the Holy Spirit the eleven must stay in Jerusalem...John began the work with his baptism, Jesus was to finish at Pentecost.
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Guzik comments that here "Peter referred to the time when Jesus will return and rule the earth in righteousness. Peter went so far as to say, “that He may send Jesus Christ,” thus implying that if the Jewish people as a whole repented, God the Father would send Jesus to return in glory. Peter made it clear that Jesus will remain in heaven until the times of restoration of all things, and since the repentance of Israel is one of the all things, there is some sense in which the return of Jesus in glory will not happen until Israel repents.ii. Peter essentially offered Israel the opportunity to hasten the return of Jesus by embracing Him on a national level, something that must happen before Jesus will return (as in Matthew 23:37-39 and Romans 11:25-27-+). (Acts 1 Commentary)
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Guzik - The two men (apparently angels) told the disciples to put their attention in the right place (obedience to Jesus’ command to return to Jerusalem), not in wondering where and how Jesus went. Jesus told them to go to the ends of the earth, and they stood gazing up into heaven. (Acts 1 Commentary) Looking (present tense)(991)(blepo) basically means to have sight, to see, to look at, then to observe, to discern, to perceive with the eye, and frequently implies special contemplation. Blepo indicates greater vividness than horao, a similar verb meaning "to see", for according to Vine blepo expresses "a more intentional, earnest contemplation. in Luke 6:41, of beholding the mote in a brother’s eye; Luke 24:12, of beholding the linen clothes in the empty tomb; Acts 1:9, of the gaze of the disciples when the Lord ascended."
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Guzik writes that "this same Jesus" "is a glorious phrase. It reminds us that the Jesus ascended to heaven and seated at the right hand of God the Father is the same Jesus of the Gospels. He is the same Jesus of love, grace, goodness, wisdom, and care." (Acts 1 Commentary) POSB - This "same Jesus" is the One who will come back. He will not be different, either in Person or in attitude. He will be the same. He will be the same Jesus, the same Lord and Savior, the same One who came to earth to save men. He will be the same Jesus in attitude, still loving and caring for those who follow Him. He will be the same Jesus who promised to return and receive believers unto Himself that they may be with Him where He is (John 14:2-3). (The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Acts) Have you ever pondered the thought that when Jesus was lifted up to heaven in the cloud, it was His post-resurrection physical body that was lifted up? It was His body that included the scars from His crucifixion (cf Jn 20:25, 27, cf Lk 24:30, 31, 39-+). And so today there is a Man with scars in heaven seated at the right hand of God the Father. Those scars will forever identify Him as "this same Jesus!" (cf Rev 5:6 = "as if slain" - see +). Who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven - Note that the angels give no date for the Second Coming but only that His return would be like His departure. In the Revelation John writes " BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen." (Rev 1:7-+)
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Guzik - This is notable unity. When we saw the disciples in the Gospels, it seemed that they always fought and bickered. What had changed? Peter still had the history of denying the Lord; Matthew was still a tax collector (Ed: Albeit no longer actively engaged in that occupation); Simon was still a zealot. Their differences were still there, but the resurrected Jesus in their hearts was greater than any difference.(Acts 1 Commentary) (Ed: Cf Even as their eyes had literally been fixed on Jesus as He was lifted up in the cloud, now the eyes of their heart were fixed on Jesus and the hope of His calling. Cf Eph 1:18-19-+, Heb 12:2-+). William Arnot - Every disciple helps or hinders his fellow-disciple. In all earnest times they that fear the Lord speak often one to another; and the Lord hearkens and hears when any company, great or small, agree to seek Him together. There was perseverance in the prayer of the primitive Church - "they continued." There was unity in those early prayer-meetings they prayed with one accord. The prayers were not soon broken off, and were not hindered by disagreements among the suppliants. They ascended straight to heaven in a pillar of pure incense, and descended soon in showers of blessings, great re freshing from the presence of the Lord. John
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Guzik - Here, Peter took a natural leadership role among the disciples. There is nothing wrong with seeing Peter as the leader of the first group of the apostles, even as he often was the spokesman among the disciples during the earthly ministry of Jesus. However, the idea that the authority of Peter was supreme and that he handed it down in unbroken succession, is unbiblical and wrong. (Acts 1 Commentary) Jack Arnold - Peter and the other apostles clearly understood there had to be twelve apostles for the kingdom reign and for the foundation of the church. “And Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel’” (Matt. 19:28, cf Rev 21:14, Eph 2:20). Brethren (80) (adelphos from a = denotes unity + delphus = a womb) means brother or near kinsman. "Adelphós generally denotes a fellowship of life based on identity of origin, e.g., members of the same family (Mt. 1:2; Lk 3:1, 19; 6:14); members of the same tribe, countrymen, and so forth (Acts 3:22; 7:23; Ro 9:3)." (Zodhiates) Figuratively, adelphos describes members of the Christian community, spiritual brother, fellow Christian, fellow believer (Ro 8.29). Jews used adelphos to describe fellow countrymen (Acts 3:22). Clearly Peter is referring to both men and women (cf Acts 1:13-14). Adelphos is frequently used in Acts - Acts 1:14; Acts 1:15; Acts 1:16; Acts 2:29; Acts 2:37; Acts 3:17; Acts 3:22; Acts 6:3; Acts 7:2; Acts 7:13; Acts 7:23; Acts 7:25; Acts 7:26; Acts 7:37; Acts 9:17; Acts 9:30; Acts 10:23; Acts 11:1; Acts 11:12; Acts 11:29; Acts 12:2; Acts 12:17; Acts 13:15; Acts 13:26; Acts 13:38; Acts 14:2; Acts 15:1; Acts 15:3; Acts 15:7; Acts 15:13; Acts 15:22; Acts 15:23; Acts 15:32; Acts 15:33; Acts 15:36; Acts 15:40; Acts 16:2; Acts 16:40; Acts 17:6; Acts 17:10; Acts 17:14; Acts 18:18; Acts 18:27; Acts 21:7; Acts 21:17; Acts 21:20; Acts 22:1; Acts 22:5; Acts 22:13; Acts 23:1; Acts 23:5; Acts 23:6; Acts 28:14; Acts 28:15; Acts 28:17; Acts 28:21 A gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons - Literally "the multitude also of the names at the same place was, as it were, an hundred and twenty." We know that this was not all of the believers in Israel before the Pentecost for Paul writes in 1 Cor 15:6 "After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep."
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Guzik has an interesting comment on Peter - Peter’s words show wisdom we did not often see in him before. He began by noting that Judas didn’t spoil God’s plan, he fulfilled it (this Scripture had to be fulfilled). This is something that only wise and mature disciples can see in the aftermath of evil. (Acts 1 Commentary) The Scripture had to be fulfilled - In other words Peter refers to a prophecy in the Old Testament which was fulfilled. "God's Word is true, and what He predicts must certainly come to pass. "In Psalm 115:3, the psalmist writes, "Our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases." God Himself adds in Isaiah 46:10, "My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure" (cf. Josh. 23:14; 1 Kings 8:15, 20, 24). Isaiah added that God's word never returns empty but always accomplishes its purpose (Isaiah 55:11)." (MacArthur) The Scripture - Not plural (Scriptures) but singular and with the definite article (ton = the) which signifies not the whole OT but a more specific passage. Scripture (1124) (graphe from grapho = to write; English = graphite - the lead in a pencil!) means first a writing or thing written, a document. The majority of the NT uses refer to the Old Testament writings, in a general sense of the whole collection when the plural (= Scriptures - Matt. 21:42; 22:29; 26:54; Mk. 12:24; 14:49; Lk. 24:27, 32, 45; Jn. 5:39; Acts 17:2, 11; 18:24, 28; Rom. 15:4; 2Pe 3:16) is used and other times of a particular passage when the singular is used (= the Scripture - Mk. 12:10; 15:28; Lk. 4:21; Jn. 13:18; 19:24, 36f; Acts 1:16; 8:35; Ro 11:2; Jas. 2:8, 23) and is used in such a way that quoting Scripture is understood to be the same as quoting God! Related Resources: Bible (its uniqueness and inspiration) and Inspiration - Bob Utley What are the different theories of biblical inspiration? How does the translation process impact the inspiration, inerrancy, and infallibility of the Bible? Is there proof for the inspiration of the Bible? What does it mean that the Bible is inspired? What is Verbal Plenary Preservation? John
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Guzik comments - When David was betrayed, he desired that the betrayer would be desolate and that another fill the betrayer’s office. It wasn’t hard to understand that the Son of David – Jesus, whom David often prefigured – would desire the same thing. This was notable desire for God’s will. Because of the principle of the quoted Scripture, they decided to replace Judas because they believe it is what Jesus wanted, not because it is what they wanted (Acts 1 Commentary) Let...take (aorist imperative = command which conveys a sense of urgency) (2983)(lambano) means to take or grasp. It can indicate both benevolent and hostile actions, and have as object either people or things; e.g. take a wife, collect taxes, accept a verdict, take a road, and figuratively take courage. Another (2087)(heteros) has the basic meaning of the other of two or more but specifically different. So the idea is qualitatively another of a different kind, and so not identical with what was previously referred to, in this case not another like Judas the betrayer would seem to be the intent of heteros in this context. Office (1984)(episkope from epí = upon, perfective use, intensifying already existing idea in verb + skopeo = regard, give attention to) describes the act of watching over with special reference to being present. Therefore it can mean inspection, superintendence, investigation, or visitation. In Acts 1:20 episkope refers to a office or position of responsibility of caring for and protecting others. In the next paragraph episkope is used in a technical sense describing the position or function of an ecclesiastical leader. Note that Peter is quoting from the Septuagint version (not the Hebrew) of Psalm 109:8 which translates office (in Hebrew = pequddah) with the Greek noun episkope. Vine writes that episkope "primarily signifies a visiting, or visitation; then, oversight. In this respect the Scripture lays stress not upon the function, but upon the character of the service; not upon the position, but upon devotion to the work."
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Guzik has an interesting comment - Whoever replaced Judas must be one who had been with them since John baptized them, who stayed with them during the days of Jesus’ earthly ministry, and who saw the resurrected Jesus. We find no evidence that these qualifications were discovered either in the Scriptures or by special leading of the Holy Spirit. We might say that they simply used their sanctified common sense. These seemed to be logical, common sense requirements for the successor to Judas’ office as disciple. Their common sense was sanctified because it came as they were in obedience, in fellowship, in prayer, in the Scriptures, and desiring God’s will.. This was notable sanctified common sense. It didn’t answer everything, but it did narrow it down to two men. (Acts 1 Commentary) Acts 1:22 beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us--one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection." KJV Acts 1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. Beginning with the baptism of John Acts 13:24,25; Mt 3:1-17; Mark 1:1,3-8; Luke 3:1-18; John 1:28-51 until the day that He was taken up from us Acts 1:2,9 one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection Acts 1:8; 4:33; John 15:27; Hebrews 2:3 Acts Video - Matthias Chosen Acts 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Acts 1:12-26 Why Christianity is Credible - Steven Cole Acts 1:12-26 Resources for Finishing Our Lord's Unfinished Work--3 - John MacArthur Acts 1:21-26 Tough Decisions with God's Help - Ray Pritchard THE REQUIREMENTS FOR JUDAS' SUCCESSOR - CONTINUED Beginning with the baptism of John - The ministry of Jesus began with the ministry of John, specifically beginning with the baptism of John and lasted until the Ascension. And so here Peter continues to lay out the qualification for the new apostle, having stated in v21 that he must be one who accompanied them in their travels and here specifically states the time as when Jesus was baptized anointing Him for His 3 year ministry up until the time of His Ascension. This would obviously include personal encounter with the post-resurrected Jesus. Peter made a similar summary statement of Jesus' ministry (minus reference to the Ascension) in Acts 10 declaring... You yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. (Acts 10:37-38) Until the day that He was taken up from us - The Ascension (Acts 1:2, Acts 1:9). One of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection - While the time from the baptism of John to the Ascension clearly implies the resurrection, Peter nevertheless emphasizes the importance of this prospective apostle being a witness of His resurrection. Indeed, the Resurrection is the cornerstone of Christianity as Paul clearly explained in First Corinthians... But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. (1 Cor 15:13-17)
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Guzik has a good application comment - No one can fault all the things they did before they cast lots. We must believe that all these things put them into the place where God would truly guide their decision.We would not make many wrong decisions if we did all the things the disciples did before making big decisions. (Acts 1 Commentary) The disciples obeyed. The disciples were in unity and fellowship. The disciples were in prayer. The disciples were in the Scriptures. The disciples wanted to do God’s will. The disciples used sanctified common sense. The disciples did what Jesus did. The disciples did what they could do to rely on God. Ray Pritchard - Over the centuries some Bible commentators have wondered whether or not this was a legitimate election. Some people argue that casting lots was inappropriate because it belonged to the Old Testament (true, but irrelevant). It’s true that we have no further record of casting lots in New Testament—which may or may not be significant. Others note that Matthias is never mentioned again (true, but most of the apostles are never mentioned again). Some people say that the Apostle Paul took the place of Judas (not true—1 Corinthians 15:5 makes it clear that he considered himself an apostle but not one of “the twelve.") There is nothing in the text to suggest that Peter and the disciples made a mistake. What happened was simple and biblical. They had a vacancy, Peter made a speech, the people nominated two men, Peter prayed, they rolled the dice, and Matthias was chosen as an apostle. I believe Matthias was just as much an apostle as Peter or James or John.(Acts 1:21-26 Tough Decisions with God's Help) Steven