[Linux4christians] Sunday - Acts 1

Sat Oct 8 21:32:43 EDT 2011

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*An Introduction to the Book of Acts
*

The author of the Book of Acts is generally considered to have been 
Luke. It is addressed

to Theophilus, the same as the Book of Luke. "Theophilus" translates to 
"friend of God"

and because of Luke's manner of address "the most excellent" Theophilus 
is thought to

have been a Roman of some stature, perhaps an military officer or a high 
official.

Jesus has been crucified and resurrected and at the end of the four 
Gospels has ascended

back to His home in Heaven. The Apostles, disciples, believers, 
observers, and religious

leaders are now left to sort out what has happened and what it means.

    Sunday

      *Acts 1*

Jesus Ascends to Heaven

1:1 I wrote the former account, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began 
to do and teach 1:2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after he 
had given orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.

1:3 To the same apostles also, after his suffering, he presented himself 
alive with many convincing proofs. He was seen by them over a forty-day 
period and spoke about matters concerning the kingdom of God.

1:4 While he was with them, he declared, "Do not leave Jerusalem, but 
wait there for what my Father promised, which you heard about from me. 
1:5 For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy 
Spirit not many days from now."

1:6 So when they had gathered together, they began to ask him, "Lord, is 
this the time when you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" 1:7 He told 
them, "You are not permitted to know the times or periods that the 
Father has set by his own authority. 1:8 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 farthest parts of 
the earth."

1:9 After he had said this, while they were watching, he was lifted up 
and a cloud hid him from their sight. 1:10 As they were still staring 
into the sky while he was going, suddenly two men in white clothing 
stood near them 1:11 and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand here 
looking up into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you 
into heaven will come back in the same way you saw him go into heaven."

A Replacement for Judas is Chosen

1:12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called the Mount 
of Olives (which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away). 1:13 
When they had entered Jerusalem, they went to the upstairs room where 
they were staying. Peter and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and 
Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus and Simon the 
Zealot, and Judas son of James were there.

1:14 All these continued together in prayer with one mind, together with 
the women, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

1:15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a gathering of 
about one hundred and twenty people) and said, 1:16 "Brothers, the 
scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit foretold through 
David concerning Judas -- who became the guide for those who arrested 
Jesus -- 1:17 for he was counted as one of us and received a share in 
this ministry." 1:18 (Now this man Judas acquired a field with the 
reward of his unjust deed, and falling headfirst he burst open in the 
middle and all his intestines gushed out. 1:19 This became known to all 
who lived in Jerusalem, so that in their own language they called that 
field /Hakeldama/, that is, "Field of Blood.") 1:20 "For it is written 
in the book of Psalms, '/*Let his house become deserted,*/ /*and let 
there be no one to live in it*/,' and '/*Let another take his position 
of responsibility*/.'

1:21 Thus one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time the 
Lord Jesus associated with us, 1:22 beginning from his baptism by John 
until the day he was taken up from us -- one of these must become a 
witness of his resurrection together with us."

1:23 So they proposed two candidates: Joseph called Barsabbas (also 
called Justus) and Matthias. 1:24 Then they prayed, "Lord, you know the 
hearts of all. Show us which one of these two you have chosen 1:25 to 
assume the task of this service and apostleship from which Judas turned 
aside to go to his own place." 1:26 Then they cast lots for them, and 
the one chosen was Matthias; so he was counted with the eleven apostles.

      Prayer

Lord, I will pray that every Christian will come to know the truth of 
the Bible about the return of Jesus so that they will never be deceived 
by false Christs. I also pray that all believers be they male or female, 
old or young, rich or poor, across nationality and race will find 
fellowships where they may pray and study and worship as peers.

      Summary & Commentary

Luke briefly reviewed the final days of Jesus' post-resurrection 
ministry "... all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day He was 
taken up to heaven ... He presented himself alive with many convincing 
proofs ... spoke about matters concerning the kingdom of God."

Luke noted the instructions of Jesus as to the coming of the Holy Spirit 
and the responsibility of His Apostles to "... be my witnesses in 
Jerusalem, and in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of 
the earth." As they watched His ascent home to Heaven angels appeared 
next to them to remind them that He would return in the same way.

They traveled the half of a mile back to Jerusalem and gathered in the 
upstairs room that had become their most recent temporary place for 
fellowship; the gathered included the eleven living apostles, many 
believing men and women, Mary the mother of Jesus and His brothers, and 
together the gathering of about one hundred and twenty prayed.

Peter addressed the group, reminding them of the prophesy that Jesus 
would be betrayed by someone close to Him, and then that they were 
[according to Psalms 109:8) fill Judas' now-vacant place of 
responsibility. They prayed and the Holy Spirit led them to choose Matthias.

      Interaction

        Consider

Jesus instructed the apostles, to pass this on to all believers, that we 
are to "... be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all of Judea and 
Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth."

        Discuss

How could anyone believe a false claim to the Messiah-returned for the 
One True Jesus?

Note: There are many speculations from people as to the return of 
Christ. Observe again the clear message of the Gospels, repeated here in 
Acts, that Jesus will return as He departed - down from the clouds in 
plain view. (Elsewhere we read that everyone will see His return all at 
once, accompanied by the blowing of horns.)

        Reflect

There was, and is, an intimate and peer-like relationship between men 
and women of true Biblical-Christian faith. Many of the institutional 
religious hierarchies, and the separation of the genders, are not seen 
in this part of the Word of God.

        Share

When have you experienced or observed the powerful and unique sense of 
family in a gathering of Christian believers?

      Faith in Action

        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you how He would have you "... be My 
witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the 
farthest parts of the earth."

        Action:

Today I will humbly receive Your mission and I will prayerfully, in 
consultation with mature fellow believers, make plans to fulfill Your 
calling. It may be to share Your story with a fellow student or 
co-worker, a friend or family member, or the leader of a community in a 
far away land. It may be, rather, to assist a person or group in their 
efforts to reach a person or persons with the message of salvation.

        Be Specific ______________________________________________________

    Monday's text will be:

      *Acts 2:1-2:41*

-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
Defend free speech or lose your freedom.
I don't google I SEARCH! Yippy.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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