This
Bible Study is written by Roger Christopherson, and it's
transcription/ location The ACTS OF THE APOSTLES Chapter 1 "Jerusalem: Mission of the Holy Spirit." "Equipment of
the Apostles." The word "Apostles" in the Greek means "one that God sends forth". In the Strongs Greek Dictionary, # 652, "to send out on a mission, a deligate, or ambassador of the Gospel, officially, a commissioner of Christ. (with miraculous powers): apostle." The book of acts then tells us of those that God sent forth, and how then acted under their commission, as a deligate of Christ's Gospel. They were an example of exactly how we are to act today, if God sends you forth. If you have eyes to see and ears to hear, your mission may only be the planting of one seed, and it is important that you, and all of God children, follow the instructions that were given to the apostles on their commission. Don't think small of yourself, but think big, for there is no greater mission, you are a child of the Living God, and a messenger from the very King of kings. God is not willing that any should perish, and so all of God's children will have the opportunity of hearing the Word of the love of God, and that is done by those sent forth to plant the seed. The "seed" is the Word of God, and when you sow the Word, you are helping another in grief, or depressed. It is a time of uplifting another person, and if it is to grow, then it is of the Father. Luke, the medical doctor was the writer of the book of the Acts (of the Apostles). Therefore, he uses many medical terms in his writing. These terms also makes some of his expressions very specific, in helping us in our understanding of the thoughts that he desires us to know. From Acts chapters one through eight, we have the progress of Christianity, among the Israelites. Then in Chapters nine through sixteen we have the conversion of the Apostle Paul, and the word taken to the Gentiles. So we have the acts of the Apostles, the ones that were sent by Almighty God to all peoples. And it is from this that we have the formation of the Church, for as much as God is the same yesterday, as He is today, and He shall be forever. There should be no change, other then the normal adaptation to times and events as the Holy Spirit of God grants us knowledge. Acts 1:1 "The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach," "The former treaties" is "an account", in the Greek it is the "logos". The "logos" is the word, spoken as a means or insturment, not as a product; it is the expression both of sayings and of longer speeches; hence it is an account written down, which is part of the Divine expression of Christ, concerning doctrine and matters important to us. "Theophilus" means "friend of God". If you are a friend of God, then this book of Acts is written to you. We are to follow in Christ's footsteps. To teach God's Word, you must also act out those things that you are given to teach others to do. Christ taught and he set the example as to how we are to live and conduct our lives. It is through the hearer that also is the doer that the Holy Spirit releases the truths of His Word. Acts 1:2 "Until the day in which He was taken up, after that He throught the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen:" These Apostles that we are to going to be studing, are men that Christ Himself had chosen, and commanded to follow Him. He touched them, and said, "follow Me." The "sent ones" are men and women that are called in this manner, and they know that there is more to God's Word then what was taught them from childhood. They know that there is a closer walk with the Father, and they strive to find that walk in His Word, and then He touches you; and you know the truths as the Holy Spirit of God turns that light on in your mind. Then you plant your feet on the path as a servant to the Living God. Acts 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:" Those disciples of Christ actually walked daily on the paths that Jesus took, walking and talking with our Lord, day after day. They discussed the little things, and the problems that faced them day after day. These apostles heard the teachings Jesus gave to the people, and then in private Jesus discussed the details, such as in Mattthew 13:36 - 43. and Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, and in many other places. The apostles saw Jesus alive after His passion, which is His crucifixion, and they observed first had the many miracles that He did then, such as the two angels appearing in the tomb. He appeared in the room with them, by walking through a wall to be in their presence, and even the infallible proof where Thomas touched Jesus in His side and in the nail prints of his hands. Jesus gave these disciples all these proofs to show that this was truly Him, the Risen Christ, after the resurrection. It is important that you remember that forty days that Jesus was seen by the Apostles, after His resurrection, for "forty" [40] is the number for "probation" in biblical numerics for man. Through the presence of the Holy Spirit, and His own appearance, Jesus spoke to these Apostles of "the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:" There was no talking of church socials, or the getting of money. He spoke to them pertaining to the Kingdom of God. Acts 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." Jesus was there in person, and they could see and touch Him. They talked of matters face to face, and then Jesus told each of them to "wait in Jerusalem", but wait for what? Jesus told them to wait for that time when the Holy Spirit would join with them. Luke the writer of this book, would be very familiar with this because He wrote of it in Luke 24:49. Luke 24:49 "And, behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." This has to do with their remain in Jerusalem until they received He [the Holy Spirit] that was promised. The promise of the Father is placed upon the apostles. "Tarry ye" means "wait" in Jerusalem, until the Father sends them the power of the Holy Spirit, and that would happen right there on Pentecost day. So it was on the this 40th day that He reaffirmed the instruction to wait in Jerusalem. So why is this important to us today? Don't be so ignorant to try something on your own, without God's leading. The Holy Spirit of God will lead you in what you are to do. If you deside that you will save the world, you had better make sure it is the Holy Spirit leading you, for without that "unction" and the infilling of the power from on high, what ever you do will fail. When God sends you, picks you and choses you, as an apostle, one sent from Him, He will equip you with the power and the understanding that you will need. There are apostles today, they are ones "sent forth" by God, which have the power and understand that only comes by and through the Holy Sirit of God. Your duty may only be to sweep the church, or mow the lawn of the church, or some other humble thing that God needed to be fulfilled by the body of Christ, but they are still sent forth. An apostle is not necessarily one in long robes, and apparrel that never dirties their hands, but they are servants of the living God, sent forth, to be a slave of Christ, and do the work that needs to be done. There is a great deal of difference between being the king and being the slave. Christ is the King, and we are to be the slaves in His kingdom, doing the work that needs to be done. Most of the time, that is what the Spirit of God places in the mind of His servants, and not preaching before thousands. We are the servants of the Most High King, and we are here to serve Him. Acts 1:5 "For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence." John went out into the Jordan river, and they gathered by the thousands to be baptized by John. John preached, "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." and they came to repent. John's words fell upon their ears, and it made different people of them. The time of the baptism would come in ten days from the time of Lukes writing here. The count-down would be ten days. Forty and ten equals fifty, and the word for fifty in the Greek is "pentecost", and that is exact when the Holy Spirit appeared to them, on Pentecost day. Acts 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?" They were asking here, is this coming at Pentecost the time of your return? That is exactly what Judas thought, Judas wasn't around when Jesus taught the other disciples of the second advent. He left the supper earily, and headed of the Kenite priests and Pharisees, to complete their plans for the murdering of Christ, and the crucifixion. Acts 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." Remember in I Thessalonians 5:1 - 6, where Paul would later say, "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you." [1] "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." [2] "For when they shall say, "Peace and safety;" then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." [3] I Thessalonians 5:4 "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief." [4] "Ye are all the children of light and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness." [5] "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober." [6] Again Luke, the light giver, gives us the light to let us know, and have the presence if the Holy Spirit in your mind, with the seal of God, His Word to give us complete understanding. That uncion, will let you know when the generation of the parable of the fig tree is present. God is good to those that love Him, and seek after the truth of His Word. Acts 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." This is an absolute promise, "ye shall receive power". In the Greek, the "Holy Ghost" is very definate "Holy Spirit", in Strong's Greek dictionary # 4151, "Pneuma, divine of God, Christ's Spirit, breath of air, the Holy Spirit." The King James translators appearantly like the name "Ghost". It adds a touch of mystery to it, and people can take it and play with it, just like they like to play church in these days. The Holy Spirit of God is the warmth and the very presence of the Living God, His Spirit, His "ruach" that moved upon the waters, and gave us this earth age of the flesh. When that Spirit comes upon you, then you are to have the Power. Do you have that power? That Spirit of God will allow you to preach in Jerusalem is the capital city, Judaea is the state where Jerusalem sits, Samaria, which is "Watch mountain" which is where all the tribes of the north, the Christian nations of today; and to every last corner of the earth. His Word gives us power, and changes the lives of men and women that hear that Word with understanding. If you claim to be a christian for many years, and you do not have the power, are you studing His Word? When you read with understand, the Spirit will change your life. God's Spirit will not just move in your life, but as you pray for others, that Spirit of God will change their lives and personalities. What do you call power, do you not recognize power of the presence of the Holy Spirit when you see it. It changes lives. The power of the Word of God, is the Power of the Holy Spirit that saturates your mind, and changes your life. It takes crooked and broken lives and homes, and brings them back into a straight line, whereby they are followers of the Living God. Do not deny the Power of the Holy Spirit, that can touch the sick and make them whole again. The Holy Spirit is God working among men, and sometimes man has difficulty in seeing it. Acts 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." While Jesus was teaching these things, while all these people were watching and listening, Jesus was taken up into heaven. It appeared to man that it was a cloud, however it could have been a whirlwind, that same as what took Elijah up into heaven. Acts 1:10 "And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;" While the had total concentration on observing Jesus Christ being taken up into heaven, two men were there standing by them. This could be symbolic of the two witnesses. Jesus expects us to be witnesses for Him, as to how He walked the earth, how He suffered, and how He was raised, and how the power of the Holy Spirit came, or in this case, would come in ten days. This no doubt was the same two that appeared in the tomb, when Jesus was raised from the dead, and they went to the opened grave. Luke 24:3, 4; "And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus." [3] "And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:" They talked to Mary and the other women, that came to the tomb. this is now forty days later, that he made his last visit in the title of Jesus, and then left in that cloud. Acts 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." Did you get that? You are going to see Jesus come back to earth, at the second advent, coming in like manner as these men and women have seen Jesus ascend up into heaven. Jesus is going to return exactly as He had left. There is not going to be a stopping in space, while some claiming to be Christians are whisked away, flying out of here, No; it will be exactly in like manner as Jesus' going into heaven. Jesus left from the Mount of Olives, and He ascended up into the clouds, and He is going to come back in the same manner. Not to park somewhere on a cloud, but as you seen Him go, you will see Him return. It can't be hard to understand as many so-called religious scholars try to make it, with all their "hocus pocus rapture doctrines". Praise God for His written Word. What we are getting around to here, is the establishment of the church. Peter will establish the church by the commandment of the Living God. Today we have many so-called churches that claim to be kin to those that established this first church, who say that this is not true. They say that Jesus is coming back on a cloud and He is going to pull all these little people right up into the sky with Him. They have created a fairy-tale of side shows. What a damnable lie to mislead people. God's Word does not state any such nonsense. That whole idea was taken from a mentally ill person, Margaret McDonald, in 1830 in Scotland, and later migrated to America by the so-called "good brethren". Now ninety eight percent of all churches teach it, but it is not written in God's Word, and those that theach it are teaching a lie. They claim that it is written in I Thessalonians 4: where Paul stated that he did not want you to be ignorant as the heathen are, as to where are the dead. I Thessalonians 4:13 "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep [deed, in the grave], that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope." I Thessalonians 4:14 "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him." If you believe that Christ died and is not in the grave, surely by believe that those that follow Him, are not in the grave but have already risen. The dead shall rise first; Why? In Ecclesiastes 12:7 tells us that to be absent from the flesh body is to be present with the Lord. Naturally the dead have risen first, because they have already risen with Him at the time of their death. That is the whole message of Christianity, that we have eternal life, there is no time of soul sleep, ever. However the entire church system has blindly chased after a mentally ill woman, who set the standard for their false doctrine, in her encounter with her delerious evil vision. She didn't know any better, and besides she was mentally ill. Even in her own words, she said she knew it was from the devil, because it was cold and it was evil. It set the stage for the "any moment doctrine", that doctrine that teaches that Christ return could be at any moment, contrary to Acts 1:11: That He would return exactly as He had left. For additional proof go to Zechariah 9: 9, 10; and in the nineth verse we are told of the first advent, and the tenth verse tells us of the second advent. Then in Zechariah 14 we are given the details of Christ second advent or coming. Zechariah 14 not only tell us that He would return at the Mount of Olives, but when His feet touch that Mount, it will open a way across Kedren, to the East gate and into the Temple, and while standing there, He would be drawing His elect to Him. Friend He is not standing on a cloud at that coming, but right here on earth, after the Antichrist has deceived the entire world, including those that follow such nonsense as the rapure doctrine. I Thessalonians 4:15 "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep." I Thessalonians 4:16 "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:" I Thessalonians 4:17 "Then we which are alive, and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." No we can't prevent the dead from going first, because at death the soul goes immediately to be with the Father, and any worship and hope other then that, is "soul sleep", and of the heathen. The cloud is a Paul spoke of when he was comparing the group of runners in a foot race, when they are all bunched together. That cloud will be God's elect that knew and waited patiently for Jesus second return, and the sould of the seventh and last trumpet. They knew the sign and events that God promised would happen before His return, and they were not deceived. Friend, that is Scripture, and if you are into that type of a fairy-tale that was given by Miss McDonald in 1830, and intelligent enough to read I Thessalonians 4 and understand that in the Greek the subject is fixed, it is not traveling through the sky to meet anybody in the air, but the subject was "Were are the dead". It is at the seventh trump, the last trumpet we are instantly changed into our spiritual body, which is the "breath of life body". When are changed into the "pneuma" the spirit body. Paul was in even greater detail of this in I Corinthians 15:51, 52; "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, " [51] "In a moment, in the twinkling fo an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." In a wink of the eye, at the very last trumpet that this would come to pass. All other trumpets have already sounded, and all prophecy concerning the Antichrist, and satan's one world system are over. Friend, at that time you will have been deceived and part of Satan's bride, if you are looking for a rapture. Friend, it is your soul that you are dealing with, do you want to take God's Word or that of a man? Acts 1:12 "Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey." Christ shall return exactly as He left, and don't let any man tell you other wise. Did you get that? they were standing on Mount Olivet, which is the Mount of Olives. That is were Jesus left from and that is where He shall return. Remember in Matthew 24:20; "But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neith on the sabbath day." Why would it say this? Because it would be a sabbath's day journey to Mount Olivet. In distance it is a little less then one mile, about two thousand of our yards. Acts 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." There is one missing from the twelve. Judas is dead. Acts 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." This is the very last time that Mary, the mother of Jesus is mentioned. They gathered "in one accord in prayer and supplication" and they were forming the first church. Acts 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,)" Notice they are still being called the disciples here, they are still students of Christ. From the word "disciple" comes the word "discipline", which means to discipline yourself in the Word. The number of these disciples were one hundred and twenty [120]; that is three times forty [40], three times probation. Acts 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 guided to them that took Jesus." The Spirit of God spoke through the mouth of David, and told one thousnd years before Judas betrayed Jesus, that this event would come to pass. Pentecost day was not the first day that the Holy Spirit [Ghost] spoke through someone. Psalm 41:9 "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trustd, which did eat of my bread, Hath lifted up his heel against me." Remember what Jesus said to Judas? he that dips bread, [Christ bread] will betray Me. Judas was Christ's trusted friend, who carried the money bag, and stood by the Lord, did that. The Old Testament and the New being a witness to one another. Acts 1:17 "For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry." Judas was part of Jesus ministry, and he knew the truth, yet he still went astray. Acts 1:18 "Now this man purhased a field wih the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out." Do you know what this means? It means literally that Judah was murdered and cut to pieces, before he was then hung up to be killed. Have you ever seen someone hanged and their bowels just pour out? No, it just dosen't happen that way. This covers more then one scripture, for the field that Judas bought was the potters field. Those Kenite Jewish priests took the thirty pieces of Silver that they paid Judas to partake in their murderous plot to kill Jesus, and when Judas repented and threw those pieces of silver back at them, they used the silver to by the field. Blood money could not be used in the Temple. That was the price of a slave that was damaged or killed. Then all the broken pieces of pottery would be cast into that field. This was symboolic that our Lord Jesus Christ is the only one that that can take these earthly vessels that we call our human body, and when they are broken and beyond repair, only Jesus can spiritually take those peises and put them back together. With the price of His death on the cross, His precious blood, can take those spiritual bodies and make them whole again, and a child of the Living God. Judas repented for the sins that He committed repented. Matthew 27:3 "Then Judas, which ahd betrayed Him, when he waw that He was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders," Matthew 27:4 "Saying, "I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? see thou to that." Matthew 27:5 "And he cast down the pieces of silver in the Temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself." With the help of the chief priests and elders. Don't be to quick to judge Judas; for the scripture must be fulfilled. Judas repented and threw the silver back on the floow of the Temple, where the murder was planned and carried out, at the hands of the Romans. Judas thought Christ would return immediately to establish the kingdom forever then, and he never dreamed that they would ever kill him, for after all he had watched the miracles, and he knew that Jesus was the Son of God. Judas worried more about money then he worried about the Word of God. Judas repented and with repentance brings forgiveness. These Kenite Jewish priests and Pharisees did not want this lose canon running free on the deck; that is to say the Kenites that slipped in among the priests. Judas was hung, and then they took a knife and slit his chest from top to bottom, and lunged him forward to where all his bowels would gush forth, and "burst asunder in the midst" where all these Kenite priests of Satan would find pleasure in their evil actions. Judas had a lot of help in his hanging. Do not judge Judas or any other man, for the scriptures must need be fulfilled. You don't know the heart of the person, for only god is the Judge. Acts 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." This proper tongue, "Aceldama" would be a unknown tongue to most of people today. Though that tongue is strange to us, it was what was spoken on the streets in Jerusalem then. "Aceldama" in the Greek is "field of blood." Acts 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.' " It tells us here right where it is located in Psalm 69:25; "Let their habitation be desolate; And let none dwell in their tents." the other part of this quotation comes from Psalm 109:8; "Let his days be few; And let another take his office." This is in reference to Judas, and his short life, and the selection of another that will now be selected to take Judas' place as one of the twelve Apostles of Christ. Acts 1:21 "Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us," In other words, we have to pick someone that will be a witness, that has been with us from day one. He must have personally seen the teachings and works of Jesus, so he also can be an Apostle, one sent forth, That was a witness with his own eyes and ears to Jesus ministry. This one man not be a witness by hearsay. Acts 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." He must have also witnessed from the day that the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus when He was baptized in the Jordan river. He must have heard the Word's of the Father recorded in Matthew 3:16, 17; "And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him:" Matthew 3:17 "And lo a voice from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased." This chosen one that will take the place of Judas must have witnessed that, as well as having been on the mount of Olives to witness Jesus Christ's ascension into heaven. He must have had the knowledge of Jesus full teaching, and understood it, with the physical presence to know that it is absolutely true. Today we read their words by faith, and that faith comes by the Spirit which comes by our hearing the Word of God and believeing it. Acts 1:23 "And they appointed two, Joseph call Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias." In another tongue, Barsabas means "rest", while "Matthias" means "gift from God". Acts 1:24 "And they prayed, and said, "Thou, Lord, Which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two Thou hast chosen," Acts 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." Acts 1:26 "And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles." This is to say, "The gift of God" replaced Judas. These then are the twelve that would go forth to establish the church, through the Holy Spirit. This is not something new, for the Holy Spirit walked the earth at the beginning of this earth age, and even with David. Today God still sends for His own, and that sending could be to sweep the church floor, or to plant a seed in the mind of one of His Children. But if the Spirit of God leads you to do work in His Work then you are a sent one. So when you think of being an apostle, don't think you have to be someone that shakes the world. God selects people in a natural way, to do things in a natural way. You don't do the saving, or the changing of someones mind, the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit is the only one that has the power to that, and when His Spirit is within you, then that Spirit gives you the power to make the difference and change lives.
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