THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 1
Dedicated Service, The Ascension, The Upper Room
I am asking that you not just read these verses as a historical narrative, but read as if you are there, with Jesus and His Apostles. Immerse your mind in the experiences of this journey. Consider yourself actively participating in these events as they take place. Consider this your discipleship training to actually go, and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that Jesus has commanded, in the same way as Luke and the other disciples and Apostles of Jesus.
Secondly, this book has been one of the most manipulated and misused books in the Bible. There are those who have attempted to appropriate the Gifts, the prophecies and Spiritual movements of God for their own uses, benefits and profit. Some of these people are sadly misinformed and misguided. Most of the people, however, are those who deliberately misuse this book for their own purposes are ignorantly false teachers and false profits and should be denounced and avoided. Their avarice is like a deadly virus and will lead you away from the true Gospel of Jesus and His calling and mission for your life. Avoid such people, for your own benefit and wellbeing at any and all cost!
Dedicated Service
Acts 1:1, Theophilus, in the first book and account that I composed, was about all that Jesus began to do and teach, verse 2, until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had given orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen. Verse 3. To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of things regarding the kingdom of God.
Verse 4. Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; verse 5, for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
(Commentary Break): The first question to ask is “am I to follow Jesus in the same ways as Jesus’ apostles were to follow Him, or is this just a story? Is this just a historical account of Jesus, His Church and the spreading of the Gospel? If this is just a story or an historical account, it will be relegated to the dusty bins of forgotten lore.
But, no! These Words, written in the book of Acts, are the active, inspired Word of God. It is the Breath of God, penned by Luke, profitable for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness. It is instructional, creative, causative and prophetic by its very nature.
The second question we should ask is “will I, too, be baptized with the Holy Spirit? The answer is yes. Jesus told His disciples that it was necessary and to their, and your advantage, that He would leave, for if He had not left, the Helper, (The Holy Spirit), would not have come to you; but since He left, Jesus sent Him to you.
The third question you should consider is “am I to be an apostle in order to obey and follow the instructions of this Book?” There were only twelve who held this office in Jesus’ Church. There are no others assigned to this office. (see GotQuestions.Org). However, there are those who are sent to proclaim the Gospel, and in this generic sense, the is the gift of an apostle.
Additionally, you and I, as disciples of Jesus, are given specific Spiritual Gifts. Our calling is most effective as we employ the gifts God has given each of us.
Here is a list of the Gifts which God gives His Body.
Romans 12:6–8 1 Corinthians 12:8–10 1 Corinthians 12:28–30 Ephesians 4:11
- Prophecy 1. Word of wisdom 1. Apostle 1. Apostle
- Serving 2. Word of knowledge 2. Prophet 2. Prophet
- Teaching 3. Faith 3.Teacher 3. Evangelist
- Exhortation 4. Gifts of healings 4. Miracles 4. Pastor
- Giving 5. Miracles 5. Kinds of healing 5. Teacher
- Overseer 6. Prophecy 6. Helps
- Mercy 7. Distinguishing spirits 7. Administration
- Tongues 8. Tongues
- Interpretation of tongues
The preceding verses 3 through 5 make three important instructional points:
(1). Jesus was crucified, died, was raised to life. He appeared and spoke to the apostles over a forty day period, giving them convincing proofs and instructions. This was and is, also for you and me, today.
(2). These instructions, regarding the kingdom of God, which have been passed along to you and to me are for our use and application as disciples and ambassadors of Christ.
(3). The apostles were told to remain in Jerusalem until they had had been baptized with the Holy Spirit. Likewise, you and I are not to “go forth” until we too have been baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. This is the action of God that fills us with His power and abilities according to our Spiritual Gifting. (Remember, it is God who does His work through us).
Let me say, an ‘aside’, that all the ‘how to books’ such a ‘The Purpose Driven Life’, (Warren), ‘Your Best Life Now’, (Osteen), and thousands of others, written by aspiring religious authors, pastors, Bible teachers, preacher and theologians are superfluous and grossly misleading. They use Biblical words but deny their power as Jesus intended. They us Biblical concepts, but deceitfully twist their meaning to gain their own ends (increased sales, increased attendance to their churches, fame and money). The Bible and the Gospel of Jesus Christ are the beginning and the end of the matters of salvation, sanctification (maturing in Christ), walking in the Spirit of God, how we are to live and deport ourselves and in how we are to honor and glorify God. Only Jesus is the Truth the Way and the Life. (End Commentary Break).
Verse 6. So, when they, (the apostles), had come together, they began asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time that You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” Verse 7. But He said to them, “It is not for you to know periods of time or appointed times which the Father has set by His own authority; verse 8, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.”
(Commentary Break): There are Bible teachers, and the like, who would tell you that these words in the Book of Acts were meant only for the apostles at that time. That is nonsense. The reason these words were recorded and preserved is because they are meant for all people, particularly Christians, of all times to provide convincing proof and for instructions for each generation.
Jesus is clear that it is not for us to know the times, but we are to concern ourselves – you are to concern yourself – with being His witness. This word ‘witness’ translates from the Greek word, ‘martus’, from which we get the word ‘martyr’. A true disciple of Jesus is willing to sacrifice his or her life for the Gospel and the Cause of Christ. Too many Christians think this means they will die for being a disciple of Jesus, and you might one day. But Jesus is clear that you must ‘put your old self to death’, forfeit your former life and assume a new life in Christ, in order to follow Him and to do His bidding in order to follow Him. In that sense you truly become a witness (a martyr) for Christ! When people see you they see you as a living witness of Jesus – full of love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, patience and self-control. (And by the way, this is very different from your testimony. Your testimony is about you. Your witness is about Jesus and what He has done). (End Commentary Break).
The Ascension
Verse 9. And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were watching, and a cloud took Him up, out of their sight. Verse 10. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, then behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them, verse 11, and they said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”
(Commentary Break): It is worth noting that like them, many of us are still ‘staring skyward’, more interested in the timing of Christ’s return, the rapture and the tribulation period than we are in walking in the works He has prepared for us (see Ephesians 2:10). This is not right. Jesus has called us and sent us to complete His Great Commission. (End Commentary Break).
The Upper Room
Verse 12. Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. Verse 13. When they had entered the city, they went up to the upstairs room where they were staying, that is, Peter, John, James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. Verse 14. All these were continually devoting themselves with one mind to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
Verse 15. At this time Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters (a group of about 120 people was there together), and said, verse 16, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. Verse 17. For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry.” Verse 18. (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out. Verse 19. And it became known to all the residents of Jerusalem; as a result that field was called Hakeldama in their own language, that is, Field of Blood.) Verse 20. “For it is written in the book of Psalms:
‘MAY HIS RESIDENCE BE MADE DESOLATE, AND MAY THERE BE NONE LIVING IN IT’; and, ‘MAY ANOTHER TAKE HIS OFFICE.’ Verse 21. Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, verse 22, beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” Verse 23. So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias. Verse 24. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all people, show which one of these two You have chosen verse 25, to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” Verse 26. And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.
(Commentary Break): There is much that can be gleaned from verses 12 through 26, but as I have said, it is not my intention to make detailed comments or explanation of the processes of events, but only the spiritual significances which can be immediately applied and made useful in our lives. Knowing is good, but knowledge without application or use is just idle information. However, here is a good resource for details and speculation: Enduring Word – Acts chapter 1. (End Commentary Break).
The book of the Acts or The Works of the Apostles tells how the gospel spread rapidly from Jerusalem to the whole Roman Empire, from its Jewish roots to the Gentile world, telling of the founding of the Christian Church and the spread of its message to the Roman Empire. More importantly, it is an instruction in the prophetic. It reveals what it means to walk and to operate in the Spirit of God. It also reveals what is has been hidden and overlooked, but is in plain sight: the timeline of the tribulation period. It clearly marks out the first periods of the tribulation began, also called the beginning of the birth pangs, and points us to the second phase of the tribulation period, the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord, also known as the Seven Years of Great Tribulation, and The Wrath of the Lamb.
This book and the knowledge and the power it contains is not to be appropriated by any one individual for their personal use or consumption. It is for the Church. It tells us that we are to submit to His authority so He can perform His Works through us, as His fully devoted followers, in these Last Days. (Anyone who thinks these things can be held onto for oneself, for financial gain, fame, notoriety, recognition or profit, are in the same league with Simon the magician! Woe be unto them. God has prepared these works ahead of time so we might walk in them.
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
Next: THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 2, The Day of Pentecost, Peter’s Prophetic Sermon.
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