Daily Truthbase: Acts 1-3 The First Church of Jerusalem

Acts 1-3 The First Church of Jerusalem

Psalm 122:1-9 Rejoicing In God's Protection of His People

Ps 122:1 Song of The Steps* Of David “I was glad when they said to me, "Let’s go to Yahweh’s house!" 2 Our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem; 3 Jerusalem, that is built as a city that is united together; 4 where the tribes go up, even Yah’s tribes, to the testimony/ark of Israel, to give thanks to the name of Yahweh. 5 For there are set thrones for judgment, the thrones of David’s house.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Those who love you will prosper. 7 Peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces. 8 For my brothers’ and companions’ sakes, I will now say, "Peace be within you." 9 For the sake of the house of Yahweh our God, I will seek your good."

Observations: (*The superscription mentions David, but see note on Ps 120) 122:1-9 This psalm is scribed to David because of his love for the Lord's house/Temple, which Solomon his son actually built. Hezekiah also had a great love for the Temple and concern for the peace of Jerusalem. The third of each group of five "Step Psalms" indicate some aspect of peace, after the distress of the first psalm (120), and the solution of trust in the second (121). The psalmist expresses joy over the privilege of being able to praise God with His people in His house. Note that the thanks is offered not to God in general, but for the “name” (expression of His character and power) of Yahweh who had come to their rescue. He remarks with joy about the thrones of the Davidic Dynasty, through which God exercised His shepherding of His people. The concern for peace reflects the desire for the continuation of the Davidic sovereignty which would oversee the prosperity of his brothers and companions, therefore he seeks the good of Jerusalem. As long as Jerusalem stands, God would be able to answer their prayers and bless them under the Davidic Covenant. Today's post, on the destruction of Jerusalem in Jeremiah 39, puts an end to that.

Application: Delighting in God's presence in the midst of His people and provision for them should lead to a desire to preserve and protect the gathering of His people.

Prayer: God, You are my God, and the God of Your people; may they be strong to obey, trust and praise You; may I seek to build them up in doing so. Amen.

Proverbs 30:5-9 Godliness With Contentment

Pr 30:5 “Every word of God is flawless. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Don’t you add to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar. 7 Two things I have asked of you; don’t deny me before I die: 8 Remove far from me vanity and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me; 9 lest I be full, deny you, and say, ‘Who is Yahweh?’ or lest I be poor, and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”

Observations: 30:5-6 “Flawless/pure” refers to something that has come out of the refining fire with any impurities or imperfections removed. Don't add them back in. Our understanding of God's word must explicitly match every word in text, no skipping nor adding (there's plenty to obey as it is). We should be able to go from text to “theology” and back again. God will expose and rebuke the liars who misinterpret His word. Whenever someone says we can't understand the Revelation God has given us to trust and obey, there is a lie somewhere. Satan is the father of lies.

30:8a "Remove" in this verb construction is used two other times in Proverbs (4:24; 5:8) of distancing oneself from sin and temptation. Vanity (poorly translated as falsehood) is the meaningless, empty, unprofitable, purposeless life to which most earthlings are enslaved.

Lies (literally “words of falsehood/deception”) are the expression of unbiblical thinking which lead to the vain life. If this is the major life request of a very wise person, it not just about not telling lies. It's about knowing and doing what God desires (godliness).

30:8b The second major request is for dependency upon God (independence being the essence of sin). God warned Israel of being self-sufficient and not needing God. Prosperity tends to foster autonomy, unless it's the result of Joshua 1:8. The same lack of dependence would lead someone discontent with God's provision, and unacquainted with His supernatural sufficiency, to illegitimately meet their own needs. Either course of action dishonors God (not a good thing). Follow this Truthbase link for the Secret of Contentment, whether you have a little or a lot.

Application: 1Tim 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. Get them both.

Prayer: God of Truth, thanks for giving me Your flawless word to govern my purpose and provision. May my thinking always be based directly on Your Truth. Amen.

Acts 1-3 This is Dr. Luke's second letter to Theophilus (see introduction to Luke), and explains the expansion of the Abrahamic blessing through the Jews to the Gentiles. The key to the structure of the book is hanging on the front door in verse 8, as the church expands from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth (from the center of Judaism to the center of the world in Rome). In the first half of the book Peter is the central actor, and then Paul takes the stage, as the Holy Spirit of Truth works though each of them (and others) to authenticate the truth. Acts provides the historical background to many of the letters of the NT, as it describes Paul's three missionary journeys and final trip to Rome. We need to be careful to distinguish the various audiences of the original contexts, as well as the difference between examples, and what principles and practices are applicable for NT believers today.

Some have noted some summary statements of the early church's growth which contribute to understanding the historical purpose of the book.

Then the word of God spread, and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of priests became obedient to the faith (6:7 cf 6:1 disciples; 7:17 Israelites)

Then the churches throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria had peace, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, were multiplied (9:31)

But the word of God grew and multiplied (12:24)

So the churches/assemblies were strengthened in the faith and increased in numbers daily (16:5)

In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power (19:20)

He freely preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ boldly (28:31)

Acts 1 Power and Witness

1:1 The first book I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, 2 until the day in which he was received up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking about God’s Kingdom. 4 Being assembled together with them, he commanded them, "Don’t depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me. 5 For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,

and you will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth."

9 When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 While they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing, 11 who also said, "You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky." 12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.

13 When they had come in, they went up into the upper room, where they were staying; that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

15 In these days, Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (and the number of names was about one hundred twenty), and said, 16 "Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus. 17 For he was numbered with us, and received his portion in this ministry. 18 Now this man obtained a field with the reward for his wickedness, and falling headlong, his body burst open, and all his intestines gushed out. 19 It became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem that in their language that field was called ‘Akeldama,’ that is, ‘The field of blood.’ 20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his habitation be made desolate. Let no one dwell therein’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’ 21 "Of the men therefore who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John, to the day that he was received up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection." 23 They put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 They prayed, and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place." 26 They drew lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Observations: 1:1-9 Luke picks up where he left off in Lk 24:46

Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."

Jesus spent forty days with the disciples talking about the Kingdom which comes from God. Then tells them to wait in Jerusalem until He sends the promised Holy Spirit, in which they would be immersed. The disciples are eager to take up their positions of power in the Kingdom, and want to know if this was the time Jesus would restore the Kingdom to Israel. The word for restore means to put back to a former state, used in the NT of rejoining a friend, or physical healing to the manufacturer's original specifications, or of restoring the nation of Israel to its former glory (Mt 17:11; Mk 9:12). With forty days of instruction by the resurrected Jesus the disciples are viewing the Kingdom as still future, and as the restoration to Israel of the Kingdom promised in the OT. It's not in people's hearts, but the one promised in Isaiah 40.

Jesus says it's not for them to know the timing, but if they're interested in power, they will receive it when the Holy Spirit comes upon them (verse 8). As a result they will be witnesses to Jesus (and all that implies), starting in Jerusalem, and then flowing out to the surrounding areas, and countries, until the witness arrives at the outermost part of the earth. For those of you who want to sharpen your Bible Study skills, there are over 50 things you can observe in Acts 1:8, that have bearing on its interpretation. One observation worth noting here is the relationship between receiving power and being a witness. The clauses are joined by a “kai/and” which is the usual coordinating conjunction, joining two parallel items. But you might notice that there is a cause and effect or result relationship between the receiving and witnessing. So sometimes “kai” can indicate that the information which follows it, is a result of the information which precedes it. This observation leads to a couple of interpretative questions: Can you be a witness without the Holy Spirit's power? If you're not a witness, do you not have the Holy Spirit's power? These questions will be answered as we progress through Acts and the epistles. But if you want a head start in answering such questions, start on the Introduction to the 7PASSAGES in the sidebar and learn How to Study the Bible like Sherlock 'Olmes. An application worth noting is that you need to be a witness where you are before you try to go and be one somewhere else.

1:9-12 Jesus ascends to heaven from the Mount of Olives (to where He'll also return, see comments on John 8:1) in their sight, and a couple of angels, maybe the same ones from the tomb, tell them that Jesus will return visibly, just as they saw Him go up.

1:13-26 The apostles return to the upper room in Jerusalem and in one accord (same purpose/passion) were persevering in prayer (more devotional) and supplication (more need oriented). With them were the women who followed Jesus and were at the cross, along with Mary, Jesus' mother, and his brothers, who apparently came over to the light side. Peter, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (John 20:22) quotes OT passages related to Judas' and the need for his replacement. The qualifications of an apostle are specified, and the final choice is made by God via lots. Matthias is chosen and this is the first and last we hear of Him.

Application: A witness is someone who has heard, seen, or experienced something; we need to have experienced Christ before we can share Him with others.

Prayer: God, may You empower me to experience You fully and then be a witness to the wonders of knowing You. Amen.

Acts 2 Tongues and Church

2:1 Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky. 6 When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans? 8 How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!" 12 They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, "What does this mean?" 13 Others, mocking, said, "They are filled with new wine."

22 "Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, even as you yourselves know, 23 him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed; 24 whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before my face, For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved. 26 Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced. Moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope; 27 because you will not leave my soul in Hades, neither will you allow your Holy one to see decay. 28 You made known to me the ways of life. You will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ 29 "Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was his soul left in Hades, nor did his flesh see decay. 32 This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now see and hear. 34 For David didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit by my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."’ 36 "Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38 Peter said to them,

"Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself." 40 With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation!"

A 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.

B 42 They continued steadfastly in

B1 the apostles’ teaching

B2 and fellowship in the breaking of bread,

B3 and prayer.

B4 43 Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

C 44 All who believed were together, and had all things in common.

c' 45 They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need.

b' 46 Day by day, continuing steadfastly

b1' with one accord in the temple,

b2' and breaking bread from house to house, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,

b3' 47 praising God,

b4' and having favor with all the people.

a' The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.

Observations: 2:1-13 This begins the fulfillment of Acts 1:8. The Feast of Pentecost (Greek for “fiftieth”) celebrated seven weeks (7x7+1) after Passover, offered the firstfruits of the wheat harvest (Ex 34:22). See chart. Devout Jews and others from all over (see map) were gathered. Luke 3:21-22 opens Jesus' ministry with the descent of the Holy Spirit at Jesus' baptism. In John 20:22 the apostles had received a limited bestowal of the Holy Spirit, compared to this. Here the Holy Spirit empowers the apostles to declare the mighty works of God in the languages of those gathered for the Feast. Wind and fire symbolized God's presence in the OT, and now God was demonstrating His presence with the NT believers.
2:14-40 Peter uses Joel's prophecy to move the audience from what was happening (Spirit being poured out) to what they needed to do (call on the name of the Lord and be saved -Acts 2:21).

Joel is about the Day of the Lord when God restores His people to the land and blesses them (Joel 2:1,18,31). Read the entire chapter if you doubt it (for that matter read the book it's only three chapters, and you'll know the context). Not all the events in Joel, nor even all the ones Peter quotes are occurring during Pentecost in Jerusalem in Acts 2. Peter then quotes excerpts from Psalm 16 and 110 to show that Jesus was the promised Messiah whom they rejected. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment, and they ask what they should do. Repent (change their mind about Christ), and be immersed into the name and power of Jesus the Messiah on the basis of their forgiveness of sins, and they will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. “For/eis" can mean with a view to, or on the basis of, eg. “Jesse James wanted for robbery” (Strongs #1519 note in the OnlineBible). See sermon and outline on Why Christ had to be Resurrected on Truthbase.net for elaboration.
The main point of Peter's sermon is that Jesus is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit, as John the Baptist had announced, and Jesus had promised in Acts 1:5. Peter said that those who were baptized in His name, would receive the promised Holy Spirit. It's most likely that the baptism here is that of the Holy Spirit, not water baptism. How and where would 12 disciples baptize 3000 people in Jerusalem? Baptism is next mentioned in chapter 8, where it is clearly water baptism, but the context here looks like Spirit baptism.

2:41-47 This section describes what believers did in the early church. The text above highlights a chiastic structure. Some of the early Greek texts don't have the word “kai/and” in front of “in the breaking of bread” in verse 42, which, in light of the structure and interpretation, might be the better reading (kai can also mean “also,” as it does over 500 times in the NT, but that's a weaker translation “devoted themselves to participation also in the breaking of bread and prayers”). Fellowship means to share or have in common. In 1Corinthians 10:16-18 "communion" is the word for "fellowship" or participation in something, and "partake" is the world for someone who shares in something.
The early believers devoted themselves to first and foremost, the apostle's teaching, the foundation of the church (Eph 2:20). After believing that Jesus was the Messiah and Lamb of God who died for their sins, now what? The apostles taught them to obey all that Jesus commanded (Mt 20:28).

The next thing they devoted themselves to was the participation in the breaking of bread, which would include praise of God for His saving acts on their behalf, which formed the basis of the Passover/Lord's supper. See Passover and the Lord's supper on Truthbase.net. By separating out fellowship from the breaking of bread, and listing them as two separate items, there is nothing to devote oneself to, unless we read into the text our ideas and experiences a couple of thousand years later. Not a good idea if you want to be Biblically accurate.

The third item of devotion was prayer of the more devotional kind (1:14),

The chiastic center of the passage is the sharing and having all things in common (fellowship) of verses 44-45. This is the self-sacrificial other-centered agapao/love that Jesus commanded. People had only planned on being in Jerusalem for the Feast, but when they became believers, they stayed longer, and ran out of money. Without credit cards or ATMs they would have had to leave or starve. So people shared their material resources so all could stay and share in the spiritual blessings of the apostle's teaching. This community concern and care for each other was, and has been through the centuries, the major drawing card for authentic Christianity.
As time progressed, they continued to gather in the temple for the apostles' teaching, they broke bread from house to house (just like they had shared the Passover), and praised God for His blessings and answers to their prayers (just like in the Psalms). The lives of the believers had an influence on those around them, just like the miracles of the apostles did. As the church progressed and the miracle working apostles died out, the second half of the chiastic structure became more the norm. See The Catacomb Church blog (coming this Fall, for how this works out today).

Then God added to their number those being saved. Evangelism was an outgrowth of personal growth and Body life.

Application: When you think of church, to what do you devote yourself? How does it match up with what they did at the First Church of Jerusalem?

Prayer: Lord, may I share all You've given me with those who also seek You, so that others are drawn to You. Amen.

Acts 3 A Beautiful Healing

3:1 Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 A certain man who was lame from his mother’s womb was being carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of those who entered into the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 Peter, fastening his eyes on him, with John, said, "Look at us." 5 He listened to them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!" 7 He took him by the right hand, and raised him up. Immediately his feet and his ankle bones received strength. 8 Leaping up, he stood, and began to walk. He entered with them into the temple, walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 All the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 They recognized him, that it was he who used to sit begging for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. They were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11 As the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.

12 When Peter saw it, he responded to the people, "You men of Israel, why do you marvel at this man? Why do you fasten your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up, and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had determined to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous one, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, to which we are witnesses. 16 By faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which is through him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. 17 "Now, brothers, I know that you did this in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But the things which God announced by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 "Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that he may send Christ Jesus, who was ordained for you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God spoke long ago by the mouth of his holy prophets. 22 For Moses indeed said to the fathers, ‘The Lord God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him in all things whatever he says to you. 23 It will be, that every soul that will not listen to that prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ 24 Yes, and all the prophets from Samuel and those who followed after, as many as have spoken, they also told of these days. 25 You are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘In your seed will all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, Jesus, sent him to you first, to bless you, in turning away everyone of you from your wickedness."

Observations: 3:1-11 The Beautiful gate was a spectacularly beautiful entrance to the temple which was built especially for the glory of God. It's almost ironic that the glory of God wasn't reflected in the life of the man crippled from birth, someone made in the image of God. But as in the case of the man born blind, this infirmity was indeed reflective of God's glory, when the name/power of Jesus entered the situation.

3:12-26 Peter sees the crowd gathering and explains that the man was healed by faith in the name/power of Jesus, the Holy and Righteous One, the Servant of God, the Prince of life, which they had disowned and killed unjustly. But God graciously excuses their ignorance and sins if they repent (change mind about Jesus) and turn back (return to God) so their sins would be blotted out and God could bless them with the Messianic promises. He describes them as the OT times of refreshing which the Messiah would bring. Had the nation repented and turned back to God, the stage could have been set for the immediate return of Christ (after the events of Daniel's seventieth week were fulfilled. Peter states that Jesus must remain in heaven until the time of restoration of all things. Jesus is the prophet Moses promised in Deuteronomy 18:18-19. Those who don't listen to Him will be cut off from blessing. Those who do, will experience the covenant blessings (hesed) which God promised to Abraham, to bless the entire world through the Jews. God sent Jesus first to the Jews to bless them in turning each of them from their self-destructive wickedness. But as the next chapter indicates, the establishment wanted nothing to do with Jesus.

Application: Being freed from sin, its penalties, and consequences is a far greater blessing than any temporal benefit one could possess. And you can start enjoying it the moment you believe God and change your thinking from lies to truth.

Prayer: God, thanks for being so gracious to pardon sin and offer life and blessings to those who reject You; may I and those around me be quick to turn to You. Amen.

Digging Deeper

God in a nutshell: God glorifies Jesus by sending the Holy Spirit to empower His followers to witness the truths about Jesus. God wants to bless the entire world through the Jews, and will.

Build-a-Jesus: Jesus is the ascended Lord and coming King, who wants His followers to proclaim to others who He is, and what He's done. He will return visibly in His glorified body to restore Israel as promised.

Us in a nutshell: We need to devote ourselves to the activities which enable us to have and share the life God desires.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

Acts complete text

Acts 1

6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them, "It isn’t for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth." 9 When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 While they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing, 11 who also said, "You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky."

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they had come in, they went up into the upper room, where they were staying; that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Acts 2

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky. 6 When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were all amazed and marvelled, saying to one another, "Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans? 8 How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!" 12 They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, "What does this mean?" 13 Others, mocking, said, "They are filled with new wine."

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, "You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words. 15 For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel: 17 ‘It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams. 18 Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the sky above, and signs on the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes. 21 It will be, that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ 22 "Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, even as you yourselves know, 23 him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed; 24 whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before my face, For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved. 26 Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced. Moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope; 27 because you will not leave my soul in Hades, neither will you allow your Holy one to see decay. 28 You made known to me the ways of life. You will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ 29 "Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was his soul left in Hades, nor did his flesh see decay. 32 This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now see and hear. 34 For David didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit by my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."’ 36 "Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself." 40 With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation!" 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.

42 They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer. 43 Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 All who believed were together, and had all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need. 46 Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 praising God, and having favour with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 3

3:1 Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 A certain man who was lame from his mother’s womb was being carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask gifts for the needy of those who entered into the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive gifts for the needy. 4 Peter, fastening his eyes on him, with John, said, "Look at us." 5 He listened to them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!" 7 He took him by the right hand, and raised him up. Immediately his feet and his ankle bones received strength. 8 Leaping up, he stood, and began to walk. He entered with them into the temple, walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 All the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 They recognized him, that it was he who used to sit begging for gifts for the needy at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. They were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11 As the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.

Acts 1-3 The First Church of Jerusalem

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