Acts (Written)

Thursday, 7 October 2021

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. Acts 1:12

Note: You can listen to today’s verse and commentary, courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read today’s verse and commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern The Bible,” at this link on YouTube. (Click Here to listen)

The two men who appeared with the apostles just relayed the news of Christ’s promised return. With that complete, nothing more is said of them. It simply states, “Then they returned to Jerusalem.”

In Luke 24, it says the following –

“Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. ⁵² And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, ⁵³ and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.” Luke 24:51-53

The words, “And they worshiped Him,” appear to have occurred after His ascension. It may be that the confirming words of the two men that Jesus Christ is, in fact, the Lord (see previous commentary), resulted in a time of prayer and praise to God. If so, it is after this time of worship that they proceeded to head back to Jerusalem “from the mount called Olivet.”

The word translated as “Olivet” is found only here in the Bible, Elaión. It is derived from elaia, meaning “an olive tree.” It is the area where an orchard of olive trees was located. The mountain ridge is one that is separated from Jerusalem by the Kidron Valley. Of this walk from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem, Luke specifically says that it is “a Sabbath day’s journey.”

There are two possibilities for the inclusion of this statement. The first is that it is a general term used to describe the distance if it were a Sabbath, even if it was not a Sabbath. In other words, even if this was not a Saturday (Sabbath), it is the distance that would be considered allowable to walk on a Sabbath. This maximum distance is two thousand cubits as is based on Joshua 3:4. It is about three-quarters of a mile. Luke is careful to give specific distances elsewhere, such as in Luke 24:13.

The other possibility is that this was, in fact, a Sabbath. As such, Luke is noting that the distance they walked was not a violation of the Sabbath laws. This would then mean that they had gone to the mount on Friday, and walked back Friday evening, the start of the Sabbath (or even Saturday morning after a night of worship and sleep). This would then be in accord with statements recorded by Luke, such as –

“And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. ⁵⁶ Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.” Luke 23:55, 56

Without being dogmatic, it would appear that Luke is stating this distance because it was a Sabbath. If so, then the traditional dating for the ascension is incorrect. The church places it ten days prior to Pentecost. Acts 1:3 says that Christ was seen “during forty days.” The Greek reads “through forty days.” As such, instead of a Thursday ascension, it very well could be a Friday (or Friday evening) ascension. Thus, Luke is now specifying that with the term “a Sabbath day’s journey.”

If so, then the ascension of Christ until Pentecost is eight days. The reason this is possible is because of typology. Christ would then be seen to have completed all of His work and then entered into His rest on (or just at the coming of) the Sabbath. The importance of this for believers is explained in Hebrews 4 –

“Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. ² For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. ³ For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:
“So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest,’”
although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. ⁴ For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; ⁵ and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.”
⁶ Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, ⁷ again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:
“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts.”
⁸ For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. ⁹ There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. ¹⁰ For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.” Hebrews 4:1-10

Believers enter into Christ’s rest through faith in what He has done. As He is the Lord God, the typology would be appropriate.

Life application: The term “a Sabbath day’s journey” prescribes nothing. Remember the five principal rules of proper biblical interpretation – Descriptive, Prescriptive, Context, Context, Context. Luke is describing what occurred, and quite possibly on the day it occurred. Luke is neither arguing for either a Sabbath observance nor is he stipulating that one can only walk so far on a Sabbath Day.

Rather, he was (possibly) stating that the recorded event occurred on a Sabbath, and this is his way of noting that fact. Today in Israel people observe the Sabbath. It is a fact that prescribes nothing for those who know they do.

Several times later in Acts, it will be noted that Paul went into the synagogues and preached on the Sabbath. This does not mean that Paul is prescribing Sabbath observance. Instead, it is describing to us what Paul did because the Jews (who had not come to Christ and who were being evangelized by Paul) were, in fact, Sabbath observers.

This is a problem with the Hebrew Roots Movement, Judaizers, etc. They take such descriptive passages in the book of Acts, and they treat them as prescriptive. This leads to a faulty hermeneutic. Such a doctrine places believers back under the Law of Moses. As such, it is heresy.

Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes (see Romans 10:4). Don’t be misdirected by such people. Read Acts with the understanding that it is a historical recording of events. Nothing is prescribed by Luke’s inclusion of the words of Acts 1:12. Hold fast to Christ alone and you will be in the sweet spot.

Lord God, how good it is to know that Jesus fulfilled the law on our behalf. In knowing this, we have every reason to rejoice in Him and what He has done. We are freed from the impossible yoke placed upon Israel through His full, final, and forever satisfaction of the law. Thank you, O God, for Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Wednesday, 6 October 2021

who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11

Note: You can listen to today’s verse and commentary, courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read today’s verse and commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern The Bible,” at this link on YouTube. (Click Here to listen)

In the previous verse, two men were noted as standing by the apostles when Christ ascended into heaven. With that said, Luke next reveals their words to the apostles, beginning with, “who also said.”

It is as if it took their speaking to the apostles for them to even be noticed. The apostles were so intently looking up that they failed to see the coming of these two men. In their address, they say, “Men of Galilee.”

Luke makes a point of documenting where they were from, here and again in Acts 2 –

“And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. ⁶ And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. ⁷ Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, ‘Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?’” Acts 2:5-7

He notes the same again in Acts 13 –

“He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. ³² And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers.” Acts 13:31, 32

It appears that Luke is intentionally noting their origin to remind the reader of the prophecy of Isaiah 9 –

“Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed,
As when at first He lightly esteemed
The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
And afterward more heavily oppressed her,
By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
In Galilee of the Gentiles.
² The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.” Isaiah 9:1, 2

As such, Luke is making the implication that Jesus is, in fact, the fulfillment of this prophecy. It is Galilee where this great light shined, and those who were from there are now those commissioned with spreading this good news. It is to them that the two men with them now state, “why do you stand gazing up into heaven?”

Like the questions proposed to those at the empty tomb (see Luke 24:5) and later by the Lord (Luke 24:38), the words are intended to redirect the minds of the hearers. It is as if they are saying, “Don’t you understand? These things had to take place. It is all there, right in the Scriptures. Each thing that occurs is according to God’s set plan and purpose.”

Of the possible things that could have been on the minds of the apostles, Albert Barnes provides three valid suggestions –

————————–

(1) In the feeling of disappointment, as if he would not restore the kingdom to Israel.

(2) Possibly they were expecting that he would again soon appear, though he had often foretold them that he would ascend to heaven.

(3) There might have been an impropriety in their earnest desire for the mere bodily presence of the Lord Jesus when it was more important that he should be in heaven. We may see here also that it is our duty not to stand in idleness, and to gaze even toward heaven. We, as well as the apostles, have a great work to do, and we should actively engage in it without delay.

————————–

For these and/or for other reasons, their question is intended to get the apostles to think everything through in accord with the word. As such, they next state, “This same Jesus.”

The words are given to highlight the name, and thus the Person. “We have something to tell you that you should have already deduced, and it concerns this same Jesus whom you saw crucified, buried, and risen again. It is this same Jesus also that you just saw ascend… ‘who was taken up from you into heaven.’”

Again, one can only speculate on the exact intent, but it rightly seems to be, “You have seen this human being do things that no human being has ever done before. But more, you have seen that it was prophesied of before it occurred. The things that happened to Him were at the set times and by the appointment of God who said it would come about. The One you have been witnessing accomplish these things, and who has now ascended into heaven,… ‘will so come in like manner.’”

In other words, there are yet to be fulfilled prophesies. “To the word! Remember the word! It has all been spoken of before! And they will be fulfilled by THIS SAME JESUS!”

It seems this is the unstated intent of their words. They are proclaiming that Jesus is the fulfillment of not only everything that has occurred, but all that will occur as well. His departure is not the end of the thing, but a planned part of it. As such, they can now put things together.

Christ rose into heaven, and so He will come again from heaven. A cloud received Him out of their sight, and so He will come again on the cloud. He ascended from the Mount of Olives, and so He will return again to that spot. “You are asking about the kingdom being restored to Israel? Look at what Daniel and Zechariah have already said” –

“I was watching in the night visions,
And behold, One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him.
¹⁴ Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And His kingdom the one
Which shall not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13, 14

“Behold, the day of the Lord is coming,
And your spoil will be divided in your midst.
² For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem;
The city shall be taken,
The houses rifled,
And the women ravished.
Half of the city shall go into captivity,
But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
³ Then the Lord will go forth
And fight against those nations,
As He fights in the day of battle.
⁴ And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,
Which faces Jerusalem on the east.
And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two,
From east to west,
Making a very large valley;
Half of the mountain shall move toward the north
And half of it toward the south.
⁵ Then you shall flee through My mountain valley,
For the mountain valley shall reach to Azal.
Yes, you shall flee
As you fled from the earthquake
In the days of Uzziah king of Judah.
Thus the Lord my God will come,
And all the saints with You.
⁶ It shall come to pass in that day
That there will be no light;
The lights will diminish.
⁷ It shall be one day
Which is known to the Lord—
Neither day nor night.
But at evening time it shall happen
That it will be light.
⁸ And in that day it shall be
That living waters shall flow from Jerusalem,
Half of them toward the eastern sea
And half of them toward the western sea;
In both summer and winter it shall occur.
⁹ And the Lord shall be King over all the earth.
In that day it shall be—
‘The Lord is one,’
And His name one.” Zechariah 14:1-9

This is what the two men are telling the apostles. This same Jesus who ascended out of their sight, who did not directly answer their question about a kingdom for Israel, didn’t have to give them an answer. The Scriptures have already given it. Jesus never said, “You have misunderstood the Scriptures.” Rather, the rebuke of these two men is that the apostles should have faith in the Scriptures. Just as He has ascended, so shall He come again, just “as you saw Him go into heaven.”

The words of Scripture have been written. They are faithful and reliable. God’s people simply need to study them, remember them, and have faith in them. Those who deny a literal millennial reign of Christ from Jerusalem have not done this. Epic fail.

The words have already been confirmed by Jesus Himself –

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰ Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ³¹ And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matthew 24:29-31 (see also Matthew 26:64 and Revelation 1:7).

Life application: If you cannot trust a literal reading of the Old Testament verses cited above, then there is no reason to trust anything else the Bible says. The two men standing on the Mount of Olives with the apostles not only confirm that Jesus will fulfill these verses, literally, but that He is also the Lord (Yehovah) of those same Scriptures.

Go back and read Zechariah 14:3, 4 cited above. It is as clear as the purest crystal that this is what they are indicating. Those who deny the deity of Jesus Christ will not be saved because they have called on a false Christ through a false gospel. Epic Fail. Don’t be an epic failure. Instead, believe the word, call out to God through Christ, and be reconciled to Him forever. God has done it all, and He has done it through JESUS!

Lord God, the wonder and marvel of Your word is beyond comprehension. We have a sure and great hope that can never be taken from us because Your word tells us of Jesus, Your coming in human flesh. Nothing can take away our joy, and our hope in Him is secure. Thank You for Your word that reveals these truths to us. Amen!

Tuesday, 5 October 2021

And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, Acts 1:10

Note: You can listen to today’s verse and commentary, courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen) 

You can also read today’s verse and commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern The Bible,” at this link on YouTube. (Click Here to listen)

The previous verse saw the Lord ascend in the sight of the apostles until He was received out of their sight. With that, Luke now says, “And while they looked steadfastly.”

The verb is a present participle, saying, “And as they were looking intently.” Luke is bringing his reader into what was going on at the time, revealing what was happening while they were watching the Lord ascend. It is the same verb, in the same tense, that was used by Luke in Luke 4:20 –

“And having folded the roll, having given it back to the officer, he sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue were gazing on him.” (YLT)

Those with Jesus were literally captivated by the sight before them. The Lord who they had seen crucified and dead, but who then was alive again, is now ascending before their very eyes. So incredible is the sight that their eyes are literally fixed on Him to the exclusion of everything else. They are focused on the Lord Jesus, but their eyes are “toward heaven.” The Greek reads, “into the heaven.”

It isn’t just that they saw Him walking higher up the Mount of Olives, ascending to a higher point so that He could preach to them. Rather, He is ascending – bodily – above them. It is in this incredible motion into heaven that they continued to gaze “as He went up.”

Here again, it is a present participle. It should say something like, “in His going,” or “while He was going.” They are intently gazing into heaven while He is ascending. The words of Luke are active and alive as he describes things as they were occurring. And there is a point to the structure which is revealed in the next words. It is while this was actively occurring that, “behold, two men stood by them.”

The verb now is pluperfect, indicative – “behold, two men were standing by them.” The obvious meaning of Luke’s words is that these guys didn’t just come with the apostles, but there was an appearance of them that occurred while Jesus was ascending. It is as if an exchange took place without their realizing it.

The speculation on whether these are men or angels goes on and on. Luke, being precise, states “two men.” There is no reason to go beyond that. The point is that they are now accompanied by these two who were obviously sent by the Lord.

The appearance of two men with the Lord is seen again and again in Scripture. Two men were with the Lord when He appeared to Abraham in Genesis 18:2. Two men were with Him when He was seen in Daniel 12:5. Two men (Moses and Elijah) were with the Lord on the Mount of Transfiguration. Two men were at the tomb after the Lord’s resurrection in Luke 24:4.

Such appearances give added weight that the same Lord (Yehovah) of the Old Testament is the risen Lord (Jesus) of the New. This appears to be the point of Luke’s meticulous description of what is happening. Of these two men, he then notes they were “in white apparel.”

The idea here is that of purity as well as righteousness (being free from sin). The metaphor is explained, for example, in Revelation –

“You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. ⁵ He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments.” Revelation 3:4

&

“I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed.” Revelation 3:18

Life application: Hints of the deity of Christ are found throughout the New Testament. Some are so obvious that it is inexcusable to deny the matter. And yet, the words of Scripture are twisted to do just this. Cults, such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, go to great lengths to deny this fundamental truth.

Be careful to check what you hear, and to hold fast to what the word is conveying. Jesus Christ is the Lord God. Any doctrine or teacher that denies this is to be rejected –

“Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰ If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; ¹¹ for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.” 2 John 1:9-11

Lord God, what You have presented in Scripture leaves absolutely no doubt that Jesus Christ is God. You have entered into the stream of humanity in order to redeem us back to Yourself. Help us to carefully contemplate, and to never deny, this fundamental truth as it is revealed in Your word. To Your glory we pray. Amen.

Monday, 4 October 2021

Note: You can listen to today’s verse and commentary, courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read today’s verse and commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern The Bible,” at this link on YouTube. (Click Here to listen)

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. Acts 1:9

With His instruction and commission to His apostles stated in the previous words, Luke next says, “Now when He had spoken these things.” Luke makes a point of repeating that Jesus had spoken the words of the previous verses –

1:4 – remain in Jerusalem and wait for the Promise of the Father
1:5 – you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit
1:6 – questioned by the apostles concerning the restoration of the kingdom to Israel
1:7 – it is not for you to know the times and the seasons reserved by the Father
1:8 – you shall receive power and you shall be witnesses to Me

The Holy Spirit (the Promise of the Father) would be given. Despite this, with the giving of the Spirit, we do not have a direct connection to all of the infinite knowledge of God. Certain things are withheld at the Father’s prerogative. However, the Holy Spirit will endow the Lord’s people with everything needed to accomplish His purposes, with the main point being to witness to the Person of Jesus Christ.

While focusing on these details of primary importance (even if the Lord spoke with them for an hour about a hundred other subjects), Luke next says, “while they watched.”

In his gospel, Luke notes the following at this time –

“And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. ⁵¹ Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. ⁵² And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, ⁵³ and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.” Luke 24:50-53

The Lord spoke to the apostles (and any others who may have accompanied them), He blessed them, and then “while they watched, He was taken up.” It is of note that none of the apostles “watched” as Jesus was resurrected. The fact that He appeared to them was sufficient evidence that the resurrection had occurred. The four gospels then relay the events surrounding that event in various ways, each highlighting certain aspects of it.

It is also of note that only Luke especially highlights the timing and events surrounding this ascension. Mark’s gospel simply refers to it as if it were commonly known –

“So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. ²⁰ And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.” Mark 16:19, 20

After the ascension, it was and written about by the apostles at various times and in various ways. A couple of them are –

“This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. ³³ Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.” Acts 2:32, 33

“God was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory.” 1 Timothy 3:16

The fact that the ascension is simply referred to as an actual occurrence, without any notable highlight apart from Luke’s words, adds a level of credibility that would otherwise not exist. The event happened, it was documented, and then it is taken as an axiom that it occurred.

The taking up of Christ is of the highest importance. Charles Ellicott gives his thoughts on possibilities that may have arisen if Christ did not ascend –

“We may add that there was something like a moral necessity, assuming the Resurrection as a fact, for such a conclusion to our Lord’s work on earth. Two other alternatives may, perhaps, be just imagined as possible: He might, like Lazarus, have lived out His restored life to its appointed term, and then died the common death of all men; but in that case where would have been the victory over death, and the witness that He was the Son of Man? He might have lived on an endless life on earth; but in this case, being such as He was, conflict, persecution, and suffering would have come again and again at every stage, and in each instance a miracle would have been needed to save the suffering from passing on to death, or many deaths must have been followed by many resurrections.”

Ellicott’s thoughts are well stated and what Peter says to Israel in Acts 3 explains Ellicott’s final point quite well –

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, ²⁰ and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, ²¹ whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” Acts 3:19-21

The redemptive narrative must take its course. There is no need to endlessly speculate on what it would be like if Christ remained, although there is no harm in doing so. God saw the ascension as an integral part of what is necessary for His plans to come about, and so Christ was taken up.

In this, sin is allowed to run its course. Faith, rather than sight, is an essential part of the reception of the gospel. The kingdom promised to Israel is not denied them, but it is withheld until they (as a nation) receive Jesus as their Messiah. And so on. But importantly, Christ gave a personal reason for His going away –

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.” John 16:7

In order for one thing to occur, another must take place. What is promised to come upon the believers cannot happen until Christ ascends. Hence, the ascension of the Lord to the Right hand of God is a fundamental part of the workings of the Triune God. While the Holy Spirit is accomplishing His role at this time, Christ is in heaven performing His many roles before the Father – mediation, advocacy, and so on. With these things considered, the verse finishes with, “and a cloud received Him out of their sight.”

The symbolism goes back to the Old Testament where the Lord is repeatedly said to dwell in a cloud, or even to be taken up in a cloud –

“Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. ³⁵ And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. ³⁶ Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys. ³⁷ But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up. ³⁸ For the cloud of the Lord was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.” Exodus 40:34-38

“The Lord reigns;
Let the earth rejoice;
Let the multitude of isles be glad!
² Clouds and darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.” Psalm 97:1, 2

The ascension of Christ was bodily, and it was visible. At some point, He was taken into the clouds, and He was no longer seen by those who beheld this. But it was another confirmation to them that Jesus is, in fact, the Lord (Yehovah) incarnate. As Paul said to Timothy (see above), He was “Received up in glory.”

Life application: The Lord’s words to the apostles before He was taken up were His final instructions of what was to be known and also accomplished by them. The same instructions applied to Paul as they applied to those who stood watching. And from there, the same message is now carried on by those who have their testimony. There is one Lord and one gospel that is to be carried to the world. There is one church in which this is to occur, despite the countless denominations that divide that church.

The content of Acts, the epistles that are set forth after Acts, and the seven letters to the seven churches in Revelation confirm this. The Lord ascended and during the time until He returns, we have a commission to perform. Let us be about the Lord’s business, conveying this message that cannot be believed unless it is first conveyed –

“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how shall they preach unless they are sent?” Romans 10:14, 15

Heavenly Father, thank You for the surety we possess in Christ. We have the written testimony of who He is and what He did. The eyewitnesses who recorded those things provide us with the certainty we need to live by faith and not by sight. But, Lord, when our faith is challenged, help us through such times. Help us in our weakness and be with us as we wait for the glory to come. Amen.

Sunday, 3 October 2021

Note: You can listen to today’s verse and commentary, courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read today’s verse and commentary, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern The Bible,” at this link on YouTube. (Click Here to listen)

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Jesus just told the disciples that it was not their business to know “times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.” He now explains what immediately matters, and it isn’t speculating on the day of the rapture (a doctrine not yet revealed to the church as is indicated in 1 Corinthians 15:51) or the time when the kingdom promised in the prophets would come about.

Rather, these disciples had a job to perform. In this task, they would be both directed and assisted, as Jesus notes saying, “But you shall receive power.” The Greek word is dunamis. It carries various meanings including might, ability, efficacy, deeds of power, and so on.

In this case, it is a received power granting the disciples the ability to perform what is necessary to accomplish the task set before them. It is the basis of our modern word dynamite, though the meaning is obviously different in that case. Jesus next notes this power will be received “when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.”

This is the same Spirit that rested upon the Lord in His ministry –

“Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. ¹⁵ And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.” Luke 4:14, 15

It is the same power referred to as being available to the saints in Rome –

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

This power of the Holy Spirit is referred to again and again throughout the New Testament. It is what ultimately directs those who are working in accord with the will of the Spirit to meet the charge of Jesus that He has given to His church, which is stated with the words, “and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

As noted in the introduction to Acts, this is a purpose of the book of Acts. It is to detail the fulfillment of this command of the Lord as set forth in these words. Hence, it also forms one of the main structures of the book. The disciples are, in fact, recorded as following this pattern exactingly.

First is the recorded witness in Jerusalem –

“But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, ‘Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.’” Acts 2:14

Next, the word went out into Judea –

“At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. … Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.” Acts 8:1 and Acts 8:4

This is immediately followed up in Acts 8:5 –

“Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.”

And then, the beginning of the final portion of the fulfillment of Christ’s words is recorded in Acts 13 –

“Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, ‘It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷ For so the Lord has commanded us:
“I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,
That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’” Acts 13:46-47

The words of Acts 1:8 are quite similar in content to those spoken by Christ just after the resurrection, even if the structure varies –

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

“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.’” Luke 24:46-49

The consistency of Luke’s recording of Jesus’ words demonstrates careful attention to the detail He spoke forth. Christ spoke of what His resurrection meant to the world, and then He reminded those who heard Him again before He departed. In essence, “You have been told the significance of what I have done. Now, you are to take that knowledge and share it with the world.”

Life application: The words of Jesus in this verse, accompanied by their fulfillment as noted above in the book of Acts (to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the world), once again reveal the false nature of the doctrine of hyperdispensationalism. The same unified message, being empowered by the Holy Spirit, is carried out by the Lord’s command in the manner He set forth.

However, that one message was set forth by both Peter and Paul. They are not speaking a different gospel, nor is one speaking of an earthly kingdom while the other is referring to a heavenly one. Instead, it is one message being proclaimed by two people – one better qualified to speak to his own countrymen while the other is better qualified to speak to the Gentiles.

In dividing up the gospel of Jesus Christ, a heretical view of what is commanded by Jesus, and a heretical doctrine pitting Jews against Gentiles arises. Be careful when listening to teachers to determine if they are doing this. If they are, it is best to find someone else to listen to. Otherwise, you are bound to quickly lose proper footing in your understanding of what God is doing in redemptive history.

Glorious God Almighty! You have set forth Your plan of redemption, You have outlined how it will come about, and You are – even to this day – leading people by the power of Your Holy Spirit to bring it to completion. Lord God, if You can use me, failing as I am, be pleased to do so. You are greater than all of my faults. So, use me Lord, according to Your wisdom. Amen.