Category: Book of Acts

Acts Articles – Church 02

On By BrianIn Book of Acts, Church Life, Habit of Scripture

In Acts 2:42, we find the early church devoted to coming together for the apostles’ teaching.  The apostles of course were teaching about Jesus from our Old Testament and eventually wrote the New Testament about Jesus, so we devote ourselves to the apostles’ teaching when we devote ourselves to God’s Word, and especially to the teaching about Jesus from the Bible. 

Like the early church, we should be devoted to coming together to study God’s Word, so we can learn and know more, and ultimately grow.  We should gather to listen attentively and respond appropriately.  We should have a real commitment and a real hunger.  Our attitude should be that we can’t wait to meet together with God’s people to study the Word. 

Is that your attitude?  Are you devoted?  How might you grow in your devotion to gathering together with God’s people to study His Word?

Acts Articles – Jesus 02

On By BrianIn Book of Acts

In Acts 2:22-42, Peter moves from preaching about the Spirit to preaching about the work of Jesus and calls for a response.  He focuses on four aspects of the work of Jesus:

  • His Life (v22) – Peter especially considers his miracles as evidence that Jesus was sent by God.  If Jesus was sent from God, we had better pay attention.
  • His Death (v23) – The Jewish leaders and Roman officials were guilty of killing Jesus.  At the same time, God planned for Jesus to die to bring about forgiveness of sins (v38).  If God planned this, we ought to pay attention.
  • His Resurrection (v24-32) – God raised Jesus from the dead.  Psalm 16 predicted that the coming Messiah would rise.  And the apostles are witnesses of his resurrection.  If God raised Jesus from the dead, then again: we need to pay attention to him.
  • His Ascension (v33-35) – Jesus ascended into heaven.  He sent the Holy Spirit upon his people.  And he is now exalted at the right hand of God as Lord as was predicted in Psalm 110.  If Jesus is reigning, we need to pay attention to him.

The work of Jesus is not just trivia; we need to pay attention.  The work of Jesus points to Jesus as Lord and Messiah (v36), and calls for a response:

  • We must believe.  Though not stated, it is clearly implied.  The people would not be cut to the heart, repent, or be baptized if they didn’t believe Jesus is and did what Peter has just preached.
  • We must repent (v37-38).  We should be cut to the heart over our sin, and turn from our sin to Jesus.  The results are forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
  • We must be baptized (v38, 41).  The rest of the New Testament makes clear that this is not a requirement for salvation, and yet it is tied closely to it.  Saved people get baptized, publicly identifying themselves with Jesus.
  • We must be connected to a local church (v41-42).  The new believers were immediately added to the church and devoted themselves to the ministries of the church.  So should we.

May we pay attention to the work of Jesus and respond appropriately!

Acts Articles – Spirit 02

On By BrianIn Book of Acts

In Acts 2:1-21, we see Jesus send the Spirit to the 120 disciples.  It is Pentecost, 50 days after Passover, and all the disciples are together. 

Suddenly there is the sound of a mighty wind, and what appears to be fire sits above each one.  We often see wind and fire when God comes down in the Old Testament, suggesting that we should see this event as a theophany.  God has come down among his people. 

They are all filled with the Holy Spirit and begin speaking in other tongues.  Crowds begin to gather, and the disciples spill out of the house.  Jews from all over the Roman Empire are there, and they hear the disciples speaking in their tongues, and they are amazed.  Peter gets up and begins to explain what is happening from the book of Joel. 

From his explanation, we can glean at least three reasons that the coming of the Spirit is important for us today:

  • New Relationship – God has poured out his Spirit on all of the disciples (v17, 18).  Not just a few receive the Spirit as in the Old Testament, but all of his people.  God now dwells with us.  Jesus is with us through his Spirit.  We can always enjoy a relationship with God because the Spirit dwells in us. 
  • New Purpose – The disciples were waiting for the Spirit so they could go and be Jesus’ witnesses (1:8).  Now that the Spirit has come, that is exactly what they are doing – they are being witnesses to Jesus Christ.  And so the Spirit empowers us to fulfill this new purpose – to share the good news with others.
  • New Era – The Spirit’s coming is directly related to the last days (v17) before the Day of the Lord (v20).  Since the coming of the Spirit, we are living in the last days awaiting the return of Jesus.  He is coming, and we need to be ready.

Acts Articles – Prayer 01C

On By BrianIn Book of Acts, Church Life, Habit of Prayer1 Comment

Yesterday we saw from Acts 1:15-26, that the 120 disciples sought direction from Jesus in prayer.  Our churches need to pray together for direction from Jesus too.  Three specific applications from the passage:

We need to pray together for direction in our witness.  The 12 apostles had a special role in being witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus, and so Judas’ replacement was important for their witness.  We too need to seek direction from Jesus as we seek to be witnesses in our communities, and beyond to the ends of the earth.

We need to pray for direction in our meetings.  As the disciples met together, they prayed.  It is entirely too easy for us to begin a church meeting with a quick perfunctory prayer and then rush into the business at hand.  But prayer is the most important business at hand as we seek to discern what Jesus wants us to do.  Every meeting should begin as a prayer meeting.  And when we come to an issue that we are unsure of or divided on, the meeting should return to a prayer meeting.  Because it is not what any of us want or think that is important.  It only matters what Jesus wants and thinks.  Our churches are not supposed to be country clubs with God tacked on.  They are churches of the Living God – and we must pray for his direction.

Finally, we need to pray for direction in leadership.  As an apostle, the man the 120 disciples chose would be a leader in the church.  And so they prayed to the Lord who knew the two men’s hearts for direction on which man should take this place of leadership.  The Word gives us certain requirements for leadership to guide us.  But we can’t see the hearts of men.  So we need to pray to the One who can see men’s hearts to guide us to whom he wants to serve as leaders in our churches.

May our churches grow in their commitment to praying together for Jesus’ direction in our witness, meetings, and leadership.

Acts Articles – Prayer 01B

On By BrianIn Book of Acts, Church Life, Habit of Prayer

Jesus ascended into heaven where he still acts and still speaks through his followers, through his church.  But how do we know what he wants us to do?  How do we know what he wants us to say?  In the last post we said that part of the answer was the Word.  Another part of the answer is through prayer.

In Acts 1:15-26, the disciples are guided by the Word to replace Judas.  They find two men that fit the necessary requirements for an apostle – they had to be with Jesus during his ministry, and especially be eye-witnesses to his resurrection.  Having determined the possibilities, the disciples then pray for direction. 

They pray to the Lord.  In the context of Acts, Jesus is often referred to as Lord.  And so it is possible that we should understand the disciples as praying to Jesus.  As the Head of the church, it would make sense for them to seek his direction.  As the one who chose the original twelve disciples, it would make sense for them to speak to him about his chosen replacement of Judas.

And so we ought to seek direction from Jesus in prayer.  Our churches need to pray together seeking his direction in how he wants us to apply his Word in our specific situations.  We will look at three specific applications tomorrow.

Acts Article – Word 01

On By BrianIn Book of Acts, Church Life, Habit of Scripture

Jesus ascended into heaven where he still acts and still speaks through his followers, through his church.  But how do we know what he wants us to do?  How do we know what he wants us to say?  In part, the answer is through his Word.

In Acts 1:15-26, Peter recognizes that Judas abandoned his role as an apostle, as was predicted in Psalm 69:25.  He then finds guidance in the Word.  Psalm 109:8 instructs them to replace Judas. 

The main point I want to make is that they found guidance in the Word.  The Word told them what Jesus wanted them to do.  And so the Word tells us what Jesus wants us to do. 

As we gather together as local churches to study the Word together, Jesus is speaking to us, telling us what he wants us to do and say.  As we hear the Word taught and preached, Jesus is giving us our marching orders.  And as we faithfully respond to what his Word tells us, Jesus is acting and speaking through us. 

As we gather together around the Word, let us then be careful to listen attentively and respond appropriately so that we might be the hands and tongue of Jesus.

Acts Articles – Prayer 01A

On By BrianIn Book of Acts, Church Life, Habit of Prayer

Yesterday I suggested two applications from the example of 120 disciples who devoted themselves to praying in one accord for the Spirit to empower them as witnesses.  But are we supposed to follow their example?  Is this recorded for us to imitate or is it recorded simply to tell us what happened?

Alan Thompson in his book, The Acts of the Risen Lord Jesus, suggests one helpful way forward.  He suggests that something mentioned once is probably to be taken as merely descriptive.  But if Luke mentions something repeatedly, that it is probably to be taken as prescriptive; that is, it is a pattern in the early church that should be a pattern for the church today (see p25-27).

So then, the 120 disciples were devoted to praying together for 10 days.  Do we need to devote ourselves to praying together for 10 days?  Probably not since this is the only occasion that we read of a 10 day period.  And indeed this ten day period between the Ascension and Pentecost (these two great works in salvation history) is unrepeatable.  That is not to say, we couldn’t commit to pray together for 10 days – it may be a great thing to do.  But it is not prescribed for us to do it.

But what about devoting ourselves to praying together apart from the 10 day length?  Is devoting ourselves to praying together merely descriptive, or should we take it as prescriptive.  Three patterns suggest that we should take this as prescriptive.

First, there is a pattern throughout Acts of Christians devoting themselves to prayer together.  It is clearly a regular practice for them.  Why would we think it shouldn’t be a regular practice for us?  And remember that Acts does not give us an exhaustive view of the early church.  Luke merely hits some of the highlights, and apparently Luke thought praying together was important enough to highlight, probably at least in part because he thought we should imitate their devotion to praying together.

Second, if you compare the gospels, the Gospel of Luke has the greatest emphasis on prayer.  Luke clearly wanted his readers to be instructed in prayer, and so it is reasonable that he would continue that instruction into his second volume – the Book of Acts.  Luke is instructing us in how we are to pray by recording for us the practice and teaching of Jesus and the practice of the early church.

Third, there is a perceptible pattern in Acts of the people praying together, the Spirit powerfully working, and the word going forth.  We see it in Acts 1-2 as the 120 pray, the Spirit comes in power, and the word is preached with 3000 people getting saved.  We see it again in Acts 4, as the church prays, the Spirit comes in power, and the people boldly proclaim the gospel.  In Acts 13, the church is praying, the Spirit calls Paul and Barnabas, and thousands will be saved through his missionary work. 

Perhaps we see few people saved today in many of our churches, because we aren’t devoting ourselves to praying together for the Spirit to powerfully work.  Not that we can force the Spirit’s hand, as if he has to act if we pray.  But if we don’t care enough to ask, why would we expect him to act?  If we try to do the ministry on our own without prayer, why would we expect God to bless our ministries?

These three patterns in Luke-Acts makes clear that devoting ourselves to praying together is prescriptive for us.  We are to follow the early church’s example.  What are we waiting for?

Acts Articles – Prayer 01

On By BrianIn Book of Acts, Church Life, Habit of Prayer

After seeing Jesus ascend into heaven, the disciples return to Jerusalem to wait for the coming of the Spirit (Acts 1:12-14).  They wait with the women who had supported Jesus and visited his tomb.  They wait with Mary, the mother of Jesus.  And they wait with Jesus’ brothers who did not believe during Jesus’ life, but have come to believe since the resurrection.  In all there are around 120 people waiting. 

Jesus ascended 40 days after the resurrection.  We know the Spirit will come on Pentecost – 50 days after the resurrection.  So what do these 120 followers of Christ do while they wait for 10 days?  They have an extended prayer meeting!

All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer. – Acts 1:14a

Notice their example:

  • They prayed with one accord.  They were united in prayer.  They were of one mind, joined together in crying out to God.
  • They were devoted to prayer.  They continued in it.  They were persistent, persevering, constant, busy in prayer.

And what were they praying for?  The context suggests they were praying for the coming of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus had promised that the Spirit would come.  And indeed they are waiting in Jerusalem for the Spirit to come.  Certainly the Spirit was on their minds. 

All of this suggests two applications for us today:

  • As they were devoted to praying together in one accord, so we should be devoted to praying together in one accord.  Each church should unite together in devoted prayer.  Our prayer services should be highly attended, and whenever we gather we should be quick to pray together.
  • As they prayed for the Spirit to come to empower them to be Jesus’ witnesses, so we should pray for the Spirit (who has already come) to empower us to be Jesus’ witnesses.  How might our churches (and communities) change if this became our united prayer?

Acts Articles – Jesus 01A

On By BrianIn Book of Acts1 Comment

In Acts 1:9-11, Jesus ascends into heaven.  He returns to the Father to reign at his right hand.  We must understand this as a real event.  The disciples really saw this happen.  Indeed, Luke seems to go out of his way to make this clear as he fills the narrative with “seeing: words: looking, sight, gazing, looking (again), and saw. 

And this departure brings about a real change.  For 40 days, Jesus has been appearing and disappearing before the disciples, but this time is different.  As the angels make clear, they won’t see Jesus again until he returns to usher in the fulfillment of the kingdom.  And so today we live in expectation of his return.

As we struggle through the hardships of this life, we have this expectation, this hope that Jesus is coming again.  And when he comes, life will change.  There is coming a day when sin and death and suffering and pain and tears will be no more.  We can endure today because of the hope of what is yet to come.

And yet this expectation also reminds us of our responsibility.  When your employer gives you a task and says he or she will be back later, you had better work on that task.  In the same way, Jesus has given us a task and he is coming back.  Until he does, we need to busy with that task. We need to be busy living as his witnesses, longing to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Acts Articles – Spirit 01

On By BrianIn Book of Acts

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
– Acts 1:8

In the last Acts Articles, we discussed Jesus’ call to be his witnesses.  But we can’t be his witnesses on our own.  Nor are we meant to be.  The disciples were to wait for the coming of the Spirit who would empower them to be witnesses for Jesus.  As the Spirit came upon Jesus at his baptism to empower him for ministry, so the Spirit came upon the disciples to empower them for ministry.  And still today, the Spirit dwells in his people to empower them for ministry – to be witnesses of Jesus, to be Jesus’ hands and tongue.

When your employer gives you a task, he or she enables you to do the task.  Your employer gives you the necessary materials to do the job.  In the same way, Jesus has given us a task to be his witnesses, and he has given us what we need to accomplish it – the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit empowers us to be the witnesses Jesus called us to be.  The Spirit empowers us to serve and speak as witnesses.  The Spirit leads and guides us as Jesus’ witnesses.  The Spirit helps us to use even our trials as opportunities to be witnesses.  The Spirit strengthens us in persecution that comes from being witnesses.  And it is the Spirit who enables people to believe in response to our witness.  It is the Spirit who changes people’s lives. 

May we have a growing awareness of the Spirit in our lives.  May we live in the power of the Spirit to be witnesses for Jesus Christ.