Tag Archives: Holy Spirit

Acts, Bible Studies

Acts 9

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Acts of the Holy Spirit

Acts 9:1 -Saul was trained by Gamaliel, the teacher of teachers. Paul was also a member of the Sanhedrin. He also had a towering intellect. Yet he was too refined to stone Stephen.

Perhaps in his insecurity, after seeing the angelic countenance of Stephen, he became vehement and radical. Perhaps because of all the mental energy he had spent on the Christians.

Paul was so impressed by his encounter with Stephen he used part of the argument in Acts 17:24-34, especially v30. The word of God does not return void.

Breathing threats – lit breathing in threats, muttering. This is one mad dude.

Acts 9:4 – Jesus takes personally those who get down on His church. Ahem!

Acts 9:5 – Goads passage missing in most manuscripts. Only shown in KJV family texts.

Acts 9:6 – This is what it is all about. What is salvation worth to me? This is the only possible reaction if we realize the price Jesus paid for us.

God always gives usa one step at a time.

Acts 9:9 – Like a photographic film, Saul has an image and voice of Christ for three days.

Acts 9:11 – That road, Straight,  is still there in Damascus, the oldest city in the world.

Straight Street, Damascus Syria
Straight Street, Damascus Syria

Acts 9:13 – Lord, You sure You have the right guy? The big gulp.

Note how a man called Annanias is to go to the house of Judas, two infamous names in the Bible. And also Saul!… And so Damasacus. Perhaps God is redeeming names.

Acts 9:15 – Note the order of Paul’s ministry: first Gentiles, kings, and Jews.

Acts 9:17 – Ananias shows true Christian brotherhood and Agape love. Note that Paul has not received the HS at this time.

Acts 9:20 – Rom 9:3

Acts 9:21 – They were amazed but not persuaded. Paul leaves for three years to Arabia.  Gal 1:17

This is a “perfect” ministry for Saul, but that is NOT what God had in mind for him. (v15)

Acts 9:25 – 2Co 11:32-33. This is what it took to let Saul realize that his ministry was for the Gentiles, so that Saul could not take credit for God’s work.

Acts 22:17

Acts 9:27 – Barnabas means son of consolation, which, as usual, is apt.

Acts 9:29 – Saul is getting closer, talking to Grecian Jews.

Acts 9:30 – Then the Apostles send him to his true ministry, the Gentiles.

Acts 9:31 – And here at last Saul focuses in on his ministry. After ten years.

Sometimes the best thing to do is to get out of the way.

Acts 9:32 – By contrast, Peter HAD a ministry to the Jews.

Acts 9:34 – Here is a key to usability. In addition to be on the move, not stagnant (pv), these people glorify Jesus.  I AM the Lord. That is My name.  And I will not share my glory with another…

God is not ,though, on an ego trip. Because inevitably those who seek His glory will disappoint others.

Acts 9:36 – Dorcas, – gazelle.

Acts 9:38 – Quick, send for Peter, we need the practical ministry of Dorcas.

Acts 9:39 – Summary of ministry illustrated by these verses (13-43):

1) Available  – Acts 9:40

2) Prayerful – Tabitha, arise – Talitha  kum; virtually the same words Jesus used with the young girl in Mark 5:41

Acts 9:42 – 3) fruitful – many people were touched by the miracle

So when you are called to Sunday school, you never know wheter you might teach a future Billy Graham.

Acts 9:43 – 4) Flexible – Peter sticks around. The mishna said that the wife of a tanner could divorce him, as being a tanner. God

Acts, Bible Studies

Acts 8 The Persecuted Church

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The Acts of the Holy Spirit Empowering the Church

It is now six years since the church started, and God allows persecution in order to , among other things, to spread the church. Chapter eight sees the persecution of the church led by Saul, Phillip in Samaria encountering Simon, a charlatan, and his subsequent encounter with an Ethiopian court official, and his genuine conversion.

And so persecution goes on to this day. Persecution.org estimates there are around 200 million Christians suffer some form of persecution for their faith. That day may not be long in coming for us. So while we are able, we must  be “Phillips”, used and usable of the Holy Spirit, to share the Good News.

Antsal, wife of one of the 21 men killed in Libya shares how she found peace.

Acts 8:2 – Does this mean we should make lamentation? Devout men means God fearers, not necessarily even Christians. These men did not understand about the fate of those who died in Christ until Paul explained this in 1Th 4:13-18.

Either way, may God give us more stout hearted men like these!

Acts 8:3 – Havoc – lit. describes the wounding of a wild boar. The boar loses all sense of sanity. Paul moves beyond consent to a frenzy of Satanic activity.

Acts 8:4 – They scattered, but look, they also preached the Word.

Acts 8:5-39 shows two back to back seeming conversions.  How can we be sure?

Re Simon, unsaved:

  1. Wrong view of self (v9-10). He projected himself with great pride, even to his conversion. i.e. his conversion too was proud and pompous
  2. Wrong view of supernatural power (v18-19). This is the practice of simony, trying to buy one’s way into power. He did not want power to change his character, but to further his ambitions. A true conversion is done in humility. “Make me a servant.
  3. A wrong view of the Spirit (v18-21). That purchase may be attempted by money, or through the flesh,
  4. Wrong view of sin. (v24) The conversion doesn’t take, he doesn’t want the sin rooted out, but to avoid the consequences. Simon  believed in signs and wonders and not God, to his own ends. His attitude was, what will it do for me.

Contrast this with the Ethiopian’s conversion:

  1. It was a sovereign work of the HS (v26) – note the HS working took Phillip out of a revival in Samaria to one guy out in the desert. The eunuch was cultured enough to be able to read Hebrew though he himself was a Gentile. The HS draws us, not vice versa Rom 3:10-12
  2. The searching heart of a sinner. We respond to the HS after HE seeks us out.,
  3. Scriptural basis for salvation (v35) – As opposed to being drawn by signs and wonders as was Simon. Rom 10:17
  4. The sincere expression of a servant(v37)  – The Eunuch’s response was ass a faithful response, not for his personal gain.

Persecution.org

Acts 8:6 – Here is Phillip, another table server-deacon we saw in Acts 6:5. If we are faithful in the little things, God will give you bigger and bigger responsibilities. And now Phillip followed Jesus example by going into the area were Jews would avoid John 4:4-42

Hearing miracles – the word of wisdom spoken as Jesus did to the woman at the well.

Acts 8:7 – 2Ki 17:7-41  This chapter of 2 Kings outlines the origin of the Samaritans. After reviewing this chapter, one can see the Pharisees calling the kettle black! (Being hypocrites)

Demons fled as Phillip was preaching and ministering. Demons are still alive and well in the 20th century. We offer psychological excuses for the present day work of demons and evil.

Acts 8:8 – Mat 2:10, Luke 2:10 The power of sin is broken. The joy of Christianity.

Acts 8:17 – Perhaps Phillip wasn’t gifted in the laying on of hands, reemphasizing the importance of the Body. Peter and John were empowered in this area, so they lay on hands. 1Co 1:14

And don’t get hung up on Baptism. It’s necessary, but it happens in various ways, (Acts 10)

Acts 8:18 – Simon does not appear to be possesed demonically, but wants to purchase a magic trick, as magicians do to this day.

Acts 8:20 – This absolutely refutes the buying of popeships during the Middle Ages. And Protestants are no better, as when the pastor is deeded the pastor, and the congregation buys back the church, or when an a person buys an “elder” position.

Acts 8:24 – HE didn’t ask for his heart to change, but to avoid the consequences of his sin.

Acts 8:25 – Tradition says that Simon went insane and buried himself alive, but not before starting the heresy of Gnosticism

Acts 8:26 – Revival is happening. People are being saved, and now the HS sends Phillip elsewhere. Note that the HS didn’t say why to go. Why go to a rock and sand filled desert? Go do step 1, and then you’ll get step 2.

Acts 8:27 – This was perhaps the second most important man in Ethiopia. He desired to know God, hence the trip to J-lem, but came back empty, as shown here.

God will do whatever it takes to tell a hungry person about Jesus. God will reach them. No one will be able to say they sought God and did not find Him.

Acts 8:30 – Wow! He ran! Enthusiasm is En-Theos, full of God.

Acts 8:32 – Isa 53:8f

Acts 8:35 – He spoke of Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. He also hopped right into Isaiah, connoting his knowledge of Scripture.

Acts 8:37 – Earlier, Simon believed with his head, and here the eunuch believes in his heart.

This is verse not in the NIV or RSV (See nivmiss.inx)

Acts 8:38 – Note immersion baptism here and elsewhere.

Acts 8:40 – He stayed there and raised 4 daughters who became prophetesses. A beautiful place on the beach. Phillip started waiting on tables, became a deacon, then an evangelist, then raised a family.

Acts, Bible Studies

Acts 4 Truth and Power

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We saw earlier in Chapter 2 the “acts” the early church was engaged in, in Acts 2:42 it says (paraphrasing) they continuously devoted themselves to the apostle’s doctrine, to fellowship, breaking bread, and to prayer.

Here, we can see for characteristics the early church exhibited:

  • Boldness – To Preach under duress
  • Urgency – Not waiting for someone else
  • Obedience – To God
  • Courage – Knowing whom to fear.

 

Acts 4:1 In the gospels, the primary opponents of Jesus was the Pharisees, fundamentalists, traditionalists. In fact, many Pharisees are converted, (Saul for instance).The Sadducees vigorously opposed the resurrection, they had their own concept of truth. In could care less, very liberal, love peace, be nice and so on.
Acts 4:2 Why are these groups upset about the Resurrection of the dead? 

A) The Sadducees didn’t believe in it.  (Mat 22:23).  The Sadducees appear to be skeptics, using the pretense of religiosity as a device to dominate and aggregate political power.

 

B) The Apostles usurped the priestly function of being teachers, as were the Sadducees. Like the Sadducees, their power was in their teaching magisterium, not unlike Roman Catholicism, and gnostic cults that gain power by persuading people to follow them because of their revelations.
Acts 4:3 Recall this began around 3 in the afternoon. They had probably been there some time
Acts 4:4-6 They heard the Word, right on! Mat 16:18 shows us the need to allow Jesus to build His church.Annas was deposed by Rome in 25AD although president of the Sanhedrin. Caiaphas was his son-in-law, although it is quite possible the body considered Annas the real high priest.  It’s a bit odd, as Numbers 3:10 called the position to be for life.
Acts 4:7 Consider the ones asking the question, the same ones two months previous who questioned Jesus.
Acts 4:8 And now, the old weak Peter is about to read these same guys the Riot Act. So instead of being by the enemies fire in intimidation, he is lit by the fire of the HS.And when we are on fire, we will inevitably find ourselves under fire, (Eph 6:10 ff)
Acts 4:9 Look at Peter, wow, what a change!
Acts 4:11 Psalm 118:22. – We are called living stones, and we are being quarried here in the quarry, being perfectly carved together. This is a basic tenet of life, and there is going to be chafing and hurting, etc. as we are sanctified. This is our preparation.And now Peter nails it to the wall as the rejected cornerstone, Jesus, Dan 2:34-35, 45
Acts 4:13 Right on! What a parallel to today, with our apostate seminaries. But the key is being with Jesus. And just been, but are with Jesus.Moses spent time with God. Woe Moe, your face is aglow! But look at Moses. The way to put down the Law is to spend time with Jesus, then we have the authority to lay down the Law. We must be glowing.And time spent with Jesus, in prayer and in the Word, gives us the confidence borne of the Holy Spirit. Don’t leave home without it.
Acts 4:14-18 A wonderful apologetic argument. And the man healed stood with Peter and John. The only true test of friendship is staying there in the breach when the chips are down. And we can evaluate our friendship with Jesus when the same circumstances happen. We are the lame man, will we stand by the Lord as this lame man did?But as we see,. this argument  had no documented effect on these leaders. Miracles do not make converts, they bring one to a decision.
Acts 4:19 Here is the exception. In most other things,  we are to obey our God-appointed rulers. Here, since they oppose God’s orders Mat 28:20-21, they ought to be and were in fact, opposed.
Acts 4:20-24 Would to God that I could not stop talking about Him.  How is this?
Acts 4:25-29 Psalm 2:1-2
Acts 4:34-37 Lev 27:16

Memory Verse:

Acts 4:12“ – And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

Acts, Bible Studies

Acts 2 & 3 The Fire Catches

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8:16 PM

 

Acts 2:37-42

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit

He convicts the people of their sin. John 16:8. The Good News is not the Good News unless the consequences of the Bad News is known. We can share that God is love; He is, but without knowledge of the sin problem, there’s no reason to be “saved.” Repentance is that first step, a changing of the mind regarding sinfulness, and one’s own personal sin.

The promise is the promise of the Holy Spirit  in Isa 44:3, 54:13, nd Joel 2:32. Far off is not just physical but also in the heart, Eph 2:13.
Acts 2:42-47 That which the Church is apart. This is what it’s about.1) apostle’s doctrine – they devoured and disseminated the Word; throughout the OT Jos 1:8 and do so steadfastly, Christianettes listening to sermonettes can’t take the meat. We need to progress to strong meat.2) Fellowship (koinonia) communion or communication, transparent communication, as opposed to frivolity and socialness. Speaking of the things of God.

3) Breaking the bread – we must value the breaking of bread, binding together.

4) Prayer – There is a unique dynamic in corporate prayer. There is power when we agree in prayer. He delights in hearing that. This is not the same as trying to manipulate Him.

Steadfastly they continued. Steadfastly. Not making excuses for corporate gathering. No need for programs. Three reasons why we should be steadfast from Luke’s works:

1)Who is watching –  Acts 6:15, Stephen is about to be stoned. They looked steadfastly to be a good example. Stephen’s face shone like an angel, as did Moses’, when he was seeking God.

2) The place we’re going – Acts 7:55 Stephen looking up into heaven. The fact is, we are headed for Heaven. The body is decaying as we speak.

3) Luke 9:51 The steadfastness of Jesus, what He did for us, this is why we must be steadfast.

43 – This is a unique occurrence of this behavior, a magnification of koinonia. Fellowship is sharing, and this is the ultimate in fellowship; the sharing of our wealth.

44-46 Such tenderness and unity. Not unanimity, but unity in purpose and heart

47 – Don’t miss this. It’s God who builds the church. Mat 16:18. Not programs, music, persuasive pastors, good coffee, good works. God adds to the church.
Acts 3

The Spirit heals the beggar through the faith of Peter.

This vignette is a picture of us, believers as the lame man. We are lame in the sin of Adam. We can not go after the things of God. We were getting by. Aware of our lameness. Poor. Defeated. Out of joint. The man couldn’t enter the Temple to worship, despite any qualifications to ministry, such as being a Levite.

Then Jesus came and touched us, while begging outside the Temple. Romans 3:10 quoting Psalms 14 & 53: There is none righteous…

And now we enter in like the beggar with thanksgiving and praise.
Acts 3:1-10 The ninth hour (3 PM) was special as it was the the time when Jeus said “It is finished”. A special time for all, esp. Christians.Note some essential elements present in John & Peter’s lives that prepared them for this ministry:1) Consistency – going in at the appointed hour of prayer. Faithful. v1

2) Flexibility – identifying the priority in the situation at hand; as opposed to going by and praying. v3

3) Sensitivity – awareness, brought on by the Spirit. Often we miss the moment.

4) Authority – We must have the authority of the Lord. We may have the power, but lack the Authority, or vice versa; like a car waiting for a light at an intersection

 

5) Humility – Peter was in great peril potentially after the miracle by taking credit for it, instead of giving the glory to God. In v 12, he asks the crowd why they marvel at this, instead of remembering their heritage (history) of the miracles wrought by God.

V2  Acts 3:2

Also known as the Golden or Eastern Gate.

We cannot do everything, I mustn’t do nothing.  How do you we discern this dilemma, with the needy?

1) Have sensitive hearts – Peter & John  undoubtedly passed this man dozens of times. Be sensitive to the HS stirring our hearts. This is different from cultural guilt. Your eyes fasten upon that person, and the Spirit works on you.

John 5:2-9 It is quite possible Jesus went by that man many times. And at the pool of Bethesda, Jesus ignored the many to minister to the one furthest away. Why did Jesus do that? Perhaps to show us to minister in response to obedience, not according to need. Therefore, never minister according to need, but to obedience. The Spirit directs us to the specifics. He will never overburden us; and that is a telltale sign we are ministering to need. Watch for it. Jeremiah 31:33

2) Discerning minds (spirits) – Peter & John saw the man asking for money, but that was not his need. What they cry for is not what they need. Also, note that in ch 3, about 5,000 had just converted and brought much money and laid it at their feet. They perhaps simply refused silver & gold to find the real need.

3) Dynamic Words –  Ever wonder what Peter & John must have thought right before they said those words?

a) Peter and John were men of preparation. They were going to the Temple to pray, every day, at 3 PM. Mat 3:17 at the Transfiguration, a man whose son was demon possessed. They commanded, but nothing happened, and Jesus  declared “this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” It’s too late to start fasting when the need arises, it needs to be done in advance, so that a backlog or history of prayer and fasting exists. For faith comes by hearing and hearing by …

b) They were men of impartation – filled with the HS. Do we hunger and thirst? Do we wait on the HS

c) They had authorization – For something to happen, there must be a convergence of power and authority. Like a sports car at a red light. Or an old VW at a green light. You need both. The green light came on in Peter & John. This requires sensitivity and discernment.

Note that the culture had been born into was one of mercy; compare his survival with the movie 300, a movie of Sparta, where weaklings were thrown over the cliff. This man, in his weakness, was able to glorify God, whereas the strong, acting under her own his own power, could not.

Acts 3:7

The language implies that dislocated bones had the bones pop back into the sockets.
Acts 3:11-26 Acts 3:11If faith teaching were true, the faith teachers should send $1,000 to us, instead of what they now do. The faith is from God’s grace, sovereignly. (v16)Acts 3:12

The “men of Israel” knew full well their history, and Peter rightly redirects that awe to the One to whom it is due, God.

Isa 42:8 serves as a reminder of this. Start taking God’s glory, and God will shelve you faster than an overpaid librarian. 1 Cor 4:7

Acts 3:13

The reason for the miracle was the exaltation of the One sent to you, whom you killed, boys.

Acts 3:16

It was not Peter’s faith that saved that man, but a gift of God given to them in that moment; God is fully responsible for the miracle. Note that it was not the lame man’s faith that healed him, either, again, faith of and through God.

Acts 3:17

What great tact Peter shows here, allowing the elders to save face.

Acts 3:18

That Jesus was sacrificed was no mistake.

Acts 3:19

Repent – change your mind about Jesus, the Prince of Life! Peter is not saying get it together, just believe in Him. The time of refreshing has many OT passages

Acts 3:21

Some people say that restitution means that all will be restored, Satan included. However that is a misinterpretation of Scripture. Mat 25:41  everlasting – 166. aionios is the same  word used in John 3:16. If we think that aionios is not really forever, then our salvation is also temporary; our salvation included.

The restitution of all things refers to the restitution of Israel, acknowledging Jesus as Lord Jer 30:7 the time of Jacob’s trouble. Romans 9, 10, 11 address this specifically.

Karl Marx was himself a Jew. And many kibbutzes in Israel are some of the purest forms of Marxism known. But since the collapse of communism, and the influx of the Russian Diaspora, there has been a massive reversal of the kibbutzes. And there is a wholesale return to traditional Judaism, Sabbath, yeshima, learning the Torah, etc. A tremendous return to prepare them. The rebuilding of the Temple, all to allow the Spirit rentry for the return of Jesus.

Acts 3:22

Deu 18:15-19 referencing Jesus coming.

Acts 3:25

Peter exquisitely quotes Scripture. Fantastic. Those who would be used by the Master must have keen knowledge of His Word. 2Sa 18.9-33

Ge the full story, study.
Acts, Bible Studies

Acts 2 – The Day of Pentecost

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This is the beginning of the Church. The real transition from the Old to New Testament, as we shall see.

https://youtu.be/G_8xKFRxgyA

The Day of Pentecost

Acts:2-1 Here then are the essential elements the church then and now should be mindful of:

  1.  The day is fully come. The Holy Spirit, God the ply Spirit moves sovereignly as the Father directs. His timing is always precise and on time. We often feel there is nothing happening, a gap, or supposed silence befalls us, as it did for those 120, or the 430 years between Malachi and John the Baptist. Not a half measure, our heavenly Father  is precise in His timing. It is our act of worship/faith to accept this and anticipate something far beyond our own expectation. The word used is meant o be understood filled up completely, or fulfilled.
  2. The word used to describe one accord in the King James and NKJV is the word  ὁμοθυμαδὸν homothymadon, with a single mind. They were all in agreement and single minded about obeying Jesus and awaiting the Holy Spirit. Any thoughts otherwise were not publicly entertained, or subsumed to the unity of the group. This is an imperative for the church. We must seek the Father’s will if the Holy Spirit can work within us unimpeded by pettiness, distractions, or unreigned pride.
  3. They were gathered together in one place. (Can’t think of the meeting together passage. In other words, they were not scattered across in individual places, but come together (as shown in the previous chapter, to pray. Mat 18:20)

 
Acts 2:2-4 This giving of the Holy Spirit is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Mat 3:11 Mark 1:8 & Luke 3:16,  Luke 11:13. John 7:38 & 39 Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit as rivers of living water. John 20:22 was an advance of this baptism. We receive the baptism of the Spirit when place our faith in Jesus Christ. It is not now something we wait on, it is an accomplished fact.It differs with having the Spirit come upon us. These occurrences we seek for daily. This amounts to a yielding to the Spirit and asking for his will in our life. Waiting on the Spirit now consists to yielding to His timing, and being in tune with Him not to get ahead or lag behind.

 

Sometimes we can only see this in hindsight. This is the relationship of faith in the believer, to step out, not desiring a “fleece” – some sign that we ask of God as to direction, but rather stepping out KNOWING that if the doors are open we go through. And usually, they do. If not, then we chalk the experience up to a no, or wait, I have something better response from our Heavenly Father.

 
Acts 2:4 Now, having been filled with the Holy Spirit, they begin speaking in tongues, (here languages), as directed by the Spirit. These are not “unknown tongues”, they were known by the people they were speaking to, as the list following showed, they were unknown only to the Disciples!There is a place for unknown tongues. But what is being exercised here is The Holy Spirit “what to speak in that hour, to quote Jesus. Luke 12:12
Acts 2:5-13 Part of the Holy Spirits exquisite timing is the gathering of all Jewish men who were able to Jerusalem for three feasts,  Feast of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, (Shavout), and the Feast Tabernacles (Succot). All faithful Jewish men attended these. And they did so via the excellent roadways of the Roman Empire. So that when the church was born, all the conditions were there to allow it to expand rapidly far & wide, as desired by God.Of course that rapid spread would never be or is now, without scoffers, those who lok for a miraculous sign, obviously one here, or those who see this as foolishness. 1 Cor 1:18-21

 

The countries themselves form a compass around Israel on the Mediterranean.

 

It was common practice of the day at Synagogue, to include a reading of the mighty works of God; the Red Sea crossing, leading out of Egypt, and other victories given the Jews. In fact, it is often our most powerful testimony, to speak of the mighty works of God in our own lives. They may dispute the Bible, or the Gospel, but they cannot refute your personal testimony!

 

Peter’s Potent Portion

 

Acts 2:14-16 He starts the (2nd) greatest sermon ever by dismissing the mocking by refuting the accusation: this was not 21st century America were bars and liquor stores are open at 6 in the morning. It was unheard of to be drinking at 9 in the morning (the third hour).  1 Th 5:7 supports this. Drinking was a nighttime activity for that culture.Rather, he wants to ratchet up this crowd out of the earthy, crowd mentality, to a much higher plane. And he does it the same way we do, appeal to Scripture, appeal to the Bible. Don’t justify it, let it do it’s own work as Isaiah quotes Isa 55:11 and 2 Tim 3:16
Acts 2:16-21 Quoting Joel 2:28-32, Peter shows they assembled that the moment they are witnessing is a direct fulfillment of Scripture, as great as to being a witness to Neil Armstrong’s setting foot on the moon in 1969! To their as yet not believing eyes, they witnessed the power of the Spirit, which needed to be explained to them, as any good pastor should do.Peter ends the opening part with a Biblical call to salvation.
Acts 2:22-28 Now he quotes Psalm 16:8-11 in an apologetic to show how the plan of God was also freely carried out by their own people. They themselves knew Jesus. It also shows very clearly that the sovereignty of God is in no way at odds with the free will of mankind. They are not in opposition, as this passage clearly shows.Authentication:

Authentication is the way we show we are the person we say we are to someone who doesn’t know us. Almost all of us use passwords or scanners, etc. to prove who we are to people who don’t know who we are. This is precisely why Jesus performed the miracles, many unique, restoring vision (John 9:32) to authenticate He was who He claimed to be,  so that if you chose (choose now) to reject that claim, you did(do) so willfully ignoring the facts.

The Scripture Peter quotes he explains:
Acts 2:29-36 Peter sets up that the person David was talking about was not David, but one of his descendants v30, the Messiah V31. Peter shows now that Jesus is that Messiah spoken of by David.He then reiterates that is was not Davis in the passage, but Jesus, and then convicts the crowd of being participants-in-fact of that unjust  murder, to which God turns into His most glorious act, the salvation of the world!
Acts, Bible Studies

Acts – Chapter 1

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Acts
I had been dreading this moment. Up until now, it was simple drill. For eight hours we were shaken, hung out on ropes, yelled at, pushed and shoved, until we were ready for the big moment: My first parachute jump.
Heart in my throat, the plane climbed to altitude. My follow novice jumpers and I shared grim stares, oh, a few laughs and grins belying the inner terror. But we knew what was coming.
The jump master, Anna B. stood up, walked to back with the photographer, and up stood the first (I should say last) row of jumpers, inside a loud noisy, old, leaky DC3, #817.
First Jump. Didn’t see that coming.
They disappeared from view, with static lines, long strips of cord tied to the parachute pack so that the parachute pack to open it. It seemed silly, why not just jump out and pull that baby (the ripcord). After all, we were using old fashioned parachutes, “T-10’s” the kind you saw watching old World War II films. Just “hop and pop.” No worries.
My moment came. Dang! It was a LONG ways down. I looked at Anna, she smiled, and yelled: “IN THE DOOR. STANDBY. GO!” Out I went.
After a fashion, (about 3 seconds per Anna, I went through my drill and saw that glorious old green canopy over my head, and I was floating serenely, quietly, to Terra Firma.
It took a couple of weeks to remember what happened. The sensation is not anything I could describe to someone who has never jumped out of a perfectly good airplane from 3,000 feet.
It’s one thing to anticipate a major event, it’s quite another to realize afterwards it was nothing like what you thought it was going to be.  Such is going out to do the commandment of Jesus without the power of the holy Spirit. We might think we know what and how to do, but no, it’s not like anything we may think of.

Ministries Following the Beyond A.D. Series

A.D. Roma Downey & Mark Burnett on NBC

Turning Point Radio & TV

David Jeremiah is doing weekly sermon on TV each Sunday at Turning Point Radio.
Also available at OnePlace Radio

New Life Church Pismo Beach

Some tips to reading this book

Ask yourself if the person(s) here are yielded to theHoly Spirit (and receiving His power, or their own power.

Timeline

Acts Timeline

Outline

Witnesses of Jesus in Jerusalem  Ch1-7
Witnesses of Jesus in Judea & Samaria Ch 8-12
Witnesses of Jesus to the Uttermost Parts of the Earth Ch 13-28
Acts 1:1-3
Introduction. Theophilus is mentioned in Luke 1:3 as “most excellent,” a title of Roman officialdom. There is a linkage of authority to the Spirit through which Jesus now communicates to His people, His church. This flows rather well as a continuation from the end of Luke (Luke 2436:-53)
Acts 1:4-8
Jesus commanded the disciples not to leave Jerusalem. This nay have been a difficult commandment to keep, what with all the powers that be arrayed against the followers of Jesus.
Perhaps one of the most misunderstood person is Jesus, and by extension, God, Himself. Although He deliberately hides much of what He was going to do, for good reason, even after plainly explaining the order of events, the Disciples, and us by extension, armed with their (our) own preconceptions, are expecting something else.
So when Jesus is asked regarding the persistent “Kingdom Now!” expectation, He has to redirect the Disciples to remind them who is in charge. Remember, Jesus Himself did not know when (on Earth at lest) He would return. Matthew 24:35.
Instead, He has a much broader work to accomplish first, the establishment of the Church.
All through this book, we are given practical methods to accomplish how Jesus wants us to establish His church. What have we seen thus far?
Acts 1:9-11
A parallel of Luke 24:51-53. Now I wonder why the angels did this?
Acts 1:12-14
A Sabbath day journey, 2,000 cubits. Understood by the Rabbis from Exo 16:29 and Num 35:5 (Credit Ryrie study notes)
As far as not indwell by the HS, they did well here by being in constant prayer. This may have been partially motivated by the many people wanting to see them dead or otherwise MIA.
Acts 1:15-26
Peter proceeds to do what the pre-HS in-dwelt Peter did, shot first, then aim. More in a moment.
The account he relates of Judas Iscariot appears to be in odds with the account from the Matthew’s gospel Mat 27:5. It’s merely the completion of the story told there.
The Bible is full of such seeming contradictions. If you run across one, or some “Bib le Scholar” confronts you and you don’t know, say so and go and dig for yourself. It’s well worth the effort.
Peter proceeds to call a church meeting to elect a new Apostle. He certainly knew his Bible, quoting from Psalm 69:25 and 109:8.
Establishing the guidelines (having been with Jesus), he then proceeds to cast lots and elect Matthias, who is never heard from again. Q: Does this look like a Spirit inspired act?