Bible

In the Bible room today, we begin reading the book titled The Acts of the Apostles, commonly referred to as the book of Acts. Here is Session 1, the summaries of chapters 1 and 2.

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Acts

The Acts of the Apostles

Session 1

Introduction:

Writer: Luke. A physician and ministry companion of the Apostle Paul, Luke has a unique viewpoint from which to document the beginnings of the Church, with the spread of the Gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit.

Scope: In the book of Acts, Luke picks up where his story ends with the resurrection of Jesus, as chronicled in his first book bearing his name, continuing with the events of the next three decades.

Chapter 1. Witnesses

In my first book I sent to you, Theophilus, I documented the life of Jesus:

• All that He did, and taught, for His chosen apostles;
• Along with the instructions He gave them from the Holy Spirit;
• And His appearances to them for forty days after His death,
• Talking about things concerning the kingdom of God;
• At their final meeting, He gives them some special instructions:
• They are to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father:
• John had baptized with water, but soon they will be baptized
• With the Holy Spirit which Jesus had previously told them;
• Then they ask Him if He plans to restore the kingdom to Israel;
• Jesus says, “You do not need to know the plans of God, but
• You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you,
• And you will be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria,
• And to the end of the earth;”
• After He says these things, He rises, disappears in the clouds;
• While they are still looking up, two men, dressed in white,
• Appear with them, and ask why they are still looking up;
• They tell them Jesus will come again as they saw Him leave;
• So, the men all leave the mount called Olivet,
• And take the Sabbath day’s walk back to Jerusalem;
• They all gather in an upper room with about 120 others;
• They have come to pray with the eleven disciples,
• Along with Jesus’s mother and brothers;
• At some point during those days, Peter stands up to talk;
• He says the scripture was fulfilled concerning Judas;
• He was one of them, a part of their ministry;
• But he took money to guide the group that arrested Jesus;
• And He bought a field with the money he received;
• Then plunged head-long into that field, bursting himself,
• So that his organs fell out onto that ground;
• And everyone would call it the Field of Blood;
• The book of Psalms says that place would remain desolate;
• And would never be a dwelling place for anyone;
• And, there should be another appointed to take his place;
• Two men are noted as having traveled with the disciples
• All during their time with Jesus: Joseph and Mathias;
• They pray, asking God to help them find His choice;
• So, they cast lots and Mathias is chosen to join the eleven,
• Becoming the twelfth apostle.

Chapter 2. Saved

On the Day of Pentecost, they are all together in one place:

• Suddenly, there is a loud noise like a mighty wind;
• And it fills the place where they are sitting;
• Then, there appears tongues like fire resting on each one;
• And they are all filled with the Holy Spirit,
• And begin speaking with other tongues, directed by the Spirit;
• At that time, there were people there from many nations;
• They heard Galileans speaking the languages of everyone:
• There were Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people of Mesopotamia,
• Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt,
• Visitors from Rome, Jews, Cretans, and Arabs,
• All hearing others praising God in their own language;
• It was confusing for many, wondering what it all means;
• Some mockers were saying these have had too much wine;
• But Peter, standing with the eleven, raises his voice, saying:
• They are not drunk, seeing as it’s nine o’clock in the morning;
• Then he relates words from the prophet Joel:
• There would come a day when the Holy Spirit would come;
• In that day your sons and daughters will prophesy;
• Young men will see visions, old men will have dreams;
• I will show wonders in heaven, and signs in the earth;
• The sun shall turn dark, and the moon into blood;
• Before the coming of the Lord;
• And all who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved;
• Peter says listen to these words: Jesus of Nazareth,
• Was proven by God to you through miracles and signs,
• Which He did in your presence;
• And then, with God’s foreknowledge, you took Him,
• Put Him to death on a cross, and God raised Him up,
• As death could not hold Him, and David says:
• I saw the Lord at my right hand,
• That I might not be shaken, and my heart rejoiced,
• That my body will rest in hope,
• And You will make me joyful in your presence;
• Brothers, let me speak freely to you about David:
• We know that he is dead, and his tomb is here with us;
• But, as a prophet, he heard what God had spoken to him,
• And sworn to him that He would raise up the Christ,
• To sit on His throne after His resurrection from death,
• That His soul was not left in Hades, nor His body decayed;
• We all saw Him after He rose from the dead,
• And now He is exalted to the right hand of God,
• Having received the Holy Spirit as God promised;
• Which He has poured out now as you see and hear;
• David did not ascend into heaven,
• But he heard the Lord say to his Lord:
• Sit at My right hand till I make Your enemies Your footstool;
• Therefore, Israel can be assured that God made this Jesus,
• Whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Christ;
• Peter’s words cut these people to the heart;
• All they could do was ask: What can we do?
• So, he tells them: All of you repent and be baptized
• In the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins,
• And you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit;
• This is promised to everyone whom the Lord will call;
• Peter says many more things to them, exhorting them to:
• Repent and be saved from this perverse generation;
• That day about three thousand believers are baptized,
• Continuing in the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, and prayers;
• Many miracles are done through the apostles,
• The believers put all their possessions together,
• And divide everything for those in need;
• They are together daily, sharing meals from house to house;
• And worshipping at the temple, praising God;
• Gaining favor among the people;
• The Lord adds to the church daily those being saved.

End of Session 1 of the book of Acts.