February 27, 2022
Evening Service

Greg has had us in the roll of the 13^th Apostle.  There were 12 original Apostles, and the Apostle Paul was considered the Apostle to the Gentiles.  As we begin this study on one of the most important letters in the Bible, let’s acknowledge that we are part of an ongoing movement that started about 2000 years ago.  When a Jewish baby was prophesied to come and be a leader of the children of Abraham.  The Jewish people looked for a Messiah, someone to become King of Israel, and sit on the throne of David, to lead them from the clutches of Rome, and deliver them into the realm of peace, and prosperity.  This Messiah came, but not in the way they thought He would come, so they didn’t accept Him, or recognize Him as the Messiah.  This baby, born in a manger, born of a virgin, as prophesized, He was Jesus of Nazareth.  His earthly Mother, Mary, a virgin, and His earthly Father, Joseph, raised Him in the way of the Lord, and when the time came He presented Himself to the people of Israel, and then to all mankind.

There had to be an account of all these marvelous happenings.  This was an event that would change the face of the World.  God visiting mankind, changing the way that He dealt with a people, (Israel) and the world.  There were lots of religions, and different gods, but only one true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  This God, allowed the family of Jacob, surnamed Israel, to become slaves in Egypt, and after 400 years chose to lead them out of slavery by a man named Moses.  God dealt with this man Moses face to face.  Moses was the most revered man in all the world.  He led the children of Israel, for 40 years in the wilderness.  God, though Moses delivered the law that He wanted the people of Israel to live by.  Joshua, the servant of Moses, took over the leadership after Moses was taken off the scene by God.  This law, known as the Law of Moses, would guide, and judge the children of Israel until the time of the Messiah which was some time in the future.  I believe it will be somewhere around 1400 years until the Messiah. 

This brings us back to the baby born in a manager, and the account of His life through the eyes of men that were with Him on His journey, to be declared the very Son of God.   There are three accounts of His life, and journey, written by men who were with Him throughout His ministry.  Matthew, Mark, John.  Another account was written by a Dr. or Physician, named Luke.  It’s this account that we want to look at for the beginning of our study in Acts.  These accounts are found in our Holy Bible, the very Word of God.  The Word, that by reading, gives us the faith that this Jesus of Nazareth is the very Son of God.  The coming King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

Luke was a companion of the Apostle Paul, dedicated to the faith, and had a perfect understanding of all that happened in the life of Jesus.  Luke writes.

(Luk 1:1)  Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, (Luk 1:2)  Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; (Luk 1:3)  It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, (Luk 1:4)  That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

Remember that every Word in our Bible is placed there by the Holy Ghost or the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Who, in Matthew 1:18, is declared to be the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Father, and Son.  Luke will go on in his account of the Lord’s life, and actions and declare unto us what God would have us to know concerning His Son Jesus of Nazareth. 

When Jesus was born the Israelites were still under the Law of Moses, all the sacrifices, and special days that they were under through the Law of Moses.  This was very demanding, and very hard to keep.  We find that God understood this, and has a better plan for mankind in the future.     Jeremiah prophesied saying.

(Jer 31:31)  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: (Jer 31:32)  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: (Jer 31:33)  But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

This new covenant will include all of mankind, not just the Israelites, but all that shall hear His voice, and accept Him as Lord of their lives.  This will produce the receiving of His glorious Spirit, fulfilling the prophecy of God saying “I will make a new covenant with the children of Israel.”  By His indwelling presence, we have His new law, “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, mind, and soul, and thy neighbor as thyself.” 

Jesus said, “(Mat 5:17)  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

The Apostle said, “(Rom 7:12)  Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.”

There isn’t anything wrong with the law, but the fault lies with mankind who can’t keep the law.  So God has done away with the law of “eye for and eye,” and replaced it with a law of “truth, and grace.”

(Joh 1:17)  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Replacing the Law of Moses with a new covenant would be hard, and hard to accept, so what does God do?  He holds a meeting with Moses, Elijah, Jesus, Peter, James, and John.  This is the account of that meeting.

(Mat 17:1)  And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, (Mat 17:2)  And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. (Mat 17:3)  And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. (Mat 17:4)  Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. (Mat 17:5)  While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

So, at this meeting, God tells these assembled that they are to listen to His Son, He is in authority to speak the will of God.

So, understanding that our Bible is the inspired Word of God, we understand that Luke has given us a perfect understanding of what has happened in the life of Jesus.  Luke also gives us an account of the early actions of the church, and Apostles.  These also are very accurate.  We are an ongoing part of this live, and active church.

So, this letter of the Acts of the early church, was written by Luke, around the year 64AD, very possibly while Luke was with Paul at Rome.  So read the last chapter of Luke, and begin with the first chapter of the letter the Acts of the Apostles.

We will be having alternating speakers on this letter, hopefully it will be a wonderful, and rewarding study.    Prayer.

(Act 1:1)  The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, (Act 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:  (Act 1:3)  To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

 

(Act 1:4)  And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.  (Act 1:5)  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

 

(Act 1:6)  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? (Act 1:7)  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. (Act 1:8)  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

 

(Act 1:9)  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. (Act 1:10)  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; (Act 1:11)  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

 

(Act 1:12)  Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. (Act 1:13)  And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.  (Act 1:14)  These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

 

(Act 1:15)  And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

 

(Act 1:16)  Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. (Act 1:17)  For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. (Act 1:18)  Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. (Act 1:19)  And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. (Act 1:20)  For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. (Act 1:21)  Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, (Act 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.

(Act 1:23)  And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. (Act 1:24)  And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, (Act 1:25)  That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. (Act 1:26)  And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.