Acts

Bible Study

Lesson 3

                                                                                                                                                       

 

SYNOPSIS

¥ Acts can be summarized in three steps:

1. GodÕs offer of the Messianic Kingdom to Israel. (to the Jews only)

2. IsraelÕs rejection of GodÕs offer and the subsequent formation of the Church the Body of Christ. (To the Jews first and then to the Gentiles)

3. The setting aside of national Israel and the full maturity of the Church, the Body of Christ. (To the Gentiles only)

 

ACTS 1:1—3

¥ Luke introduces Acts by summarizing the book of Luke

- Written to report about all the Jesus did and taught.

- He was born under the Law and taught the Disciples to live within the Law.

- He Announced the coming Kingdom with He as their King.

- He told them about the future Tribulation and coming Kingdom.

- He did NOT teach anything concerning the Body of Christ being formed.

- He did NOT teach the coming Rapture.

¥ Luke ends with the ascension.

¥ In the 40 days that Jesus was on earth He instructed the (11) Disciples.

- JesusÕ ministry was all about the Kingdom.

- The Disciples ministry was to continue working with Israel in getting them to believe Jesus is their Messiah and the Kingdom was right at their doorstep.

- ItÕs interesting to note that Jesus relied upon the Holy Spirit even after His resurrection.

- There was NO instruction concerning the Body of Christ.

¥ Verse 3 makes it absolutely clear that Jesus ChristÕs sole focus was the Kingdom.

 

ACTS 1:4—8

¥ These verses reiterate JesusÕ instructions to His Disciples.

1. Wait in Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit

2. The Holy Spirit was prophesized by Jesus and the prophets. Matthew 3:11; Joel 2:28—29

¥ The question of verse 6 was the most logical one and was foremost on the ApostlesÕ minds.

- Are you going to restore Israel and set up the Kingdom?

- This is all Jesus was teaching them—for three years and 40 days after His resurrection.

¥ Those who are Amillennialists reject a real Kingdom.

- The kingdom is only spiritual and Christ rules in our hearts.

- The Disciples understood the Kingdom to be a real, physical kingdom.

- The only thing keeping the Kingdom from being established is Israel accepting the offer.

¥ JesusÕ last instruction was the ÒGreat CommissionÓ, the instructions for the Apostles to spread the Gospel of the Kingdom throughout the world starting in Jerusalem.

- Again, the focus is the coming Kingdom, not the Church, the Body of Christ.

- This is not an outline of Acts as some suppose. The plan and message changed as the promise of the Kingdom passed away.

 

ACTS 1:9—11

¥ Notice Jesus Christ was lifted up, He did not rise up Himself.

¥ The clouds who received Him, I believe were heavenly beings.

Matthew 16:27"For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.

Matthew 24:30­­—31 30"And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. 31"And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

See also Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62; Revelation 1:7

- It seems that God the Father travels with the angels. It is the Cherubim who transport the throne. See Ezekiel 1:4—28

¥ Many believe He will come through the East Gate (Golden Gate) Matthew 24:27

¥ When Christ comes back to earth, He will come as He left, in the clouds then set up His kingdom.

Zechariah 14:4 In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south.

¥ In the vision of the glory leaving the temple we see it going from the inner temple to the temple threshold to the east gate to the Mount of Olives.

Ezekiel 10:4,19; 11:22—23 10:4Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub to the threshold of the temple, and the temple was filled with the cloud and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of the LORD. 10:19When the cherubim departed, they lifted their wings and rose up from the earth in my sight with the wheels beside them; and they stood still at the entrance of the east gate of the LORD'S house, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them. 11:22Then the cherubim lifted up their wings with the wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them. 11:23The glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city and stood over the mountain which is east of the city. (The Mount of Olives)

¥ When Christ returns, this order will be reversed and the glory will be restored to the temple.

 

ACTS 1:12—14

¥ After watching Jesus Christ ascend into heaven, they did what they were commanded to do—go into Jerusalem and wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

¥ Notice that they carefully followed the Mosaic Law and walked only a Sabbath dayÕs journey— about 3/5 of a mile (2,000 cubits).

Exodus 16:29 "See, the LORD has given you the sabbath; therefore He gives you bread for two days on the sixth day. Remain every man in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day."

- The inheritance of the Levites was within 2000 cubits of the city. Numbers 35:5

- The Israelites needed to maintain 2000 cubits between them and the Ark of the Covenant.

Joshua 3:3—4

¥ While in the upper room they devoted themselves to prayer.

- Prayer is recognition of your own weakness.

- Prayer helps you focus on the important.

- Prayer exalts Christ and humbles you.

¥ Continually devoting (Greek: proskarterountes)

- To faithfully and unwaveringly continue.

- To not give up.

Romans 12:10—12 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,

Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;

 

 

Originally taught at Bethesda Sunday School September 21, 2008

For previous notes and additional mid-Acts materials please visit http://www.MidActsTruths.com