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ACTS — LESSON 2
Scriptures for this lesson are taken from Acts 2.
In the first chapter of Acts, just before Jesus was taken up into heaven, Jesus was preparing His Apostles and disciples to carry on after He was gone. Still confused about the Old Covenant scriptures that prophesied the Messiah would restore the Kingdom of Israel, the asked Jesus if He was still going to do that. Jesus explained that the time for those events was still in the future and not to be known by them. Then Jesus told them to all go back to Jerusalem and wait together for the coming of the Holy Spirit who would give them the power they needed to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria and to the gentiles. The gospel was to be preached to the Jews first, then the gentiles.
Luke 24:50 tells us that Jesus and His disciples were on the road toward Bethany when He ascended into heaven. Following Jesus’ instructions, they went back into Jerusalem, probably to the upper room to wait. The eleven apostles were there with other disciples, numbering 120 altogether. Peter told the apostles that they needed to choose from the disciples another man to be an apostle to replace Judas Iscariot who had betrayed Jesus and was now dead. By casting lots, they chose Matthias.
[Acts 2:1-4] (1) When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. (2) Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. (3) They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
It was the day of the Feast of Pentecost which came fifty days after the Passover. The Apostles and disciples had been going to the temple and meeting together probably at the upper room since Jesus had ascended. All of a sudden, they heard a loud sound like the wind in a big storm. Can you imagine how frightening that was? They were expecting power to come from heaven, but they had no idea what it would be like. Then there were flames of fire that came upon each of them. When the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus when He was baptized by John the Baptist, it came in the form of a dove, but this was fire. The Holy Spirit had come from heaven to indwell the believers and give them power for their ministry. What is the Holy Spirit? He is a power, a separate person, one of the Triune God. God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit, one Spirit but three in person, function and work. What does the Holy Spirit do? He dwells within us, teaches us, bears witness, convicts us of our sins, speaks through the scriptures, He ministers, He calls ministers.
[Acts 2:5-13] (5) Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. (6) When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. (7) Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? (8) Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? (9) Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia.” (10) Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (11) (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs — we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” (12) Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” (13) Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
Believing Jews from all those areas of that part of the world had gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost. A crowd had gathered and through the power of the Holy Spirit that had come upon them, Jesus’ apostles and disciples began speaking to the people in their own languages so that they could understand the good news that Jesus and died on the cross for their sins and had arose on the third day. The people were amazed, realizing that most of the apostles and disciples were Galileans, yet they spoke all of these languages. Some even said, making fun of them, that they were drunk. The people from all of these areas would take the message home with them after the feast, spreading the gospel over that part of the world. God works in wondrous ways!
[Acts 2:16-21] (16) No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: (17) “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. (18) Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. (19) I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. (20) The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. (21) And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Peter is quoting the prophet Joel. Joel’s prophecy seems to expand from the coming of the Holy Spirit through the church age until Christ comes in the end times. God foretold through the prophet Joel that His Holy Spirit would come upon all believers both men and women. Men and women would prophesy of the coming of the Messiah. The message then moved into the end times when God would bring His judgment upon the earth. The sun would become dark and the moon would turn to blood before the Messiah would come again and all men would know that He is the Son of God.
[Acts 2:22-36] (22) “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. (23) This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men put him to death by nailing him to the cross. (24) But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. (25) David said about him: “‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (26) Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, (27) because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead you will not let your holy one see decay. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’ (29) “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. (30) But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. (31) Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. (32) God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. (33) Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. (34) For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand (35) until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ (36) “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
Peter is addressing the Jews, the Israelites. The main thrust of his message so far was that Jesus Christ was the Son of David, the Messiah that was promised in the Old Testament scriptures. This Jesus that came from Nazareth was proven to be the Messiah by the many great miracles that He did through the power of God. Peter goes on to say that they, the Jews, killed Jesus with the help of the Romans but God allowed it because it was His plan for the Messiah to die for the sins of mankind. But God then raised Jesus from the dead and they, Peter and the other disciples, saw Him ascend up into heaven where He now sits at the right hand of God. What they were seeing then, the disciples of Jesus, speaking in other languages was from the Holy Spirit that God had sent to be with believers. Peter summed up this portion of his speech by stating that the Jews had crucified Jesus who was both Lord and the long awaited Messiah.
[Acts 2:37-41] (37) When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (38) Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (39) The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (40) With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” (41) Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
When they were convicted of their sins, they asked Peter, “What can we do?” Peter told them plainly that they must repent of their sins and be baptized so their sins could be forgiven. Those who repented were baptized that day, some three thousand in number. They received the promise from God that the Holy Spirit and salvation, eternal life in heaven, were for all who believed in Jesus as their savior.
[Acts 2:42-47] (42) They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (43) Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. (44) All the believers were together and had everything in common. (45) They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. (46) Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, (47) praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
It was common for about 2,000,000 people to be in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost. Out of that number an estimated 3,000 accepted Christ as their Savior. Many of that 3,000 were from the places mentioned at the beginning of this lesson. When they went home, they took the gospel with them. Some of those from foreign places probably stayed in Jerusalem and then some of those who were saved were from Jerusalem. Those who stayed became a part of the apostles and disciples’ group. They ate and prayed, listened and learned from the apostles’ teachings. The apostles were healing the sick and performing many miracles in those early days of the new church body. Some of them sold what property they owned to buy food and to meet the needs of the people. The Lord honored their efforts and souls were being saved every day.
LESSONS FROM ACTS 2:
1. Repentance is a complete change of heart and attitude concerning sin.
2. Every Christian who accepts Christ receives the spiritual power he needs to be a witness for Christ.
3. Continuing to learn and grow is essential for Christians to be able to carry on the Great Commission.
4. The Holy Spirit will still manifest His presence and power when Christians are in one accord and seeking to be faithful in witnessing.
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