(Although diligent effort has been made to present Bible truth in this study, it was prepared by fallible man. The reader is admonished to remember the commands of 1Thessalonians 5:20 to "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" and 2Tim 2:15 to "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.")
When studying the scriptures, there are four important points to keep in mind. Neglect of these points has lead to much confusion and false doctrine. Careful application of these precepts, on the other hand, will help open the Holy Scriptures for a clearer understanding of God's will.
Sometimes men's words or thoughts are recorded in the scriptures. At other times it is God who is speaking and, yet at other times, it may be Satan's words that are recorded in the scriptures.
In some instances, men are used to speak on God's authority, for example the apostles Paul.
1 Corinthians 14:37.In other cases, man is recorded as speaking on his own authority, such as Solomon in the Book of Ecclesiastes, where he records man's observation rather than God's revelation.
If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
Ecclesiastes 1:12-13See also, Ecclesiastes 3:19-21 where Solomon records what he sees as a man as opposed to Philippines 1:23, 2 Corinthians 5:8 and 12:2-3, where Paul is inspired of God to record God's revelation on the subject.
I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13. And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
Of course, when God's words are quoted in the scriptures, He speaks on His own supreme authority. However, when Satan is quoted, we must take note, for he is a deceiver and sometimes outright contradicts God or may use scripture out of context.
Genesis 3:4-5
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5. For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Matthew 4:6-7
And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
No one is foolish enough to think that they ought to build an arc because the Bible says so in Genesis 6:14. All are wise enough to read the context and see that it was Noah to whom this command was written. However, multitudes of people neglect to read the context on a variety of other subjects and vainly attempt to make application of portions of God's word that are not directed to them. The question of the Sabbath Day is a case in point. Note God's word to ISRAEL in the first reference.
Exodus 31:13And God's word to the CHURCH in these references.
Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.
Colossians 2:16-17
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17. Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Galatians 4:10-11
Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
Today, it is our privilege and responsibility to witness to relatives, neighbors and acquaintances for Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
2 Timothy 4:2However, in the beginning of the "kingdom age," when the Lord Jesus is ruling and reigning here on the earth, there will be no need to witness to our neighbors for they will actually see Him.
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Jeremiah 31:34Thus we see that the context of any given verse is of utmost importance. In addition, if we intend to find the will of God on any particular subject, we must consider all He has revealed to us on that subject. We must allow the Bible to interpret or explain itself rather than relying on tradition or human reasoning.
And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
With these precepts in mind, may the Lord bless you as you study His word with a determination to better know Him and His will for your life today.
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
An early Greek manuscript simply placed the title (praxeis, doings) Acts on this book. It has been suggested the title "Acts of the Holy Spirit" would be more accurate because of the many references to the person and work of the Holy Spirit in matters of directing the early church. Note the following outstanding examples:
The human writer, inspired of the Holy Spirit, was Luke. See and compare Luke 1:1-4 with Acts 1:1. the apostle Paul refers to him as "Luke, the beloved physician" in Colossians 4:14. Luke was obviously a companion of Paul's during a large part of his travels as recorded in the book of Acts. See these passages which use the personal pronoun "we," 16:10-17; 20:5-21:18; 27:1-28:16. Luke proves to be an able historian and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit writes an orderly record of the important events about which God wanted us to know.
Romans 9:4-5However, when their long awaited Messiah came, their sin hardened hearts rejected Him and thus the 'kingdom age,' promised and described in the old scriptures, which He had offered to them. Notice the progression in the following verses:
Who are Israelites; to whom [pertaineth] the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service [of God], and the promises; Whose [are] the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ [came], who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.*
Matthew 4:17
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say,Repent:for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 12:28
But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Matthew 21:43On the cross, the Lord prayed for Israel's forgiveness (Luke 23:34, Acts 3:17). In addition, the Jews at the time of the physical ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ were dispersed over the Mediterranean area. They had not been fully evangelized and made aware that their Messiah had come in fulfillment of O.T. prophesy.
Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
The Book of Acts covers the time period when God was completing the evangelization of the Jewish nation relative to their Messiah and their 'kingdom age' hope (which included the gospel of personal salvation), AND, the building of a new, unprophesied (Ephesians 3:5-6) company of people from all nations called the church or body of Christ. In so doing, the book also serves as a bridge between the Gospel records and the Epistles of the apostles.
The revelation of the church, its members, functions, doctrines and destiny was gradually revealed by God through the Acts period. Most importantly the book records the transitional nature of the development of the church from its very Judaistic beginnings in Jerusalem to the assemblies of primarily Gentiles scattered throughout the Roman Empire. There was gradual failure to win the Jews both in the homeland of Palestine and of the dispersion, but increasing success among the Gentiles. During this transition from Israel under the Law to the church under grace, there were two legitimate walks for believers. The Christian Jew continued to observe the law while the Christian Gentile "observed no such thing" (Acts 15).
The Divinely directed refusal to impose the Mosaic Law System upon the Gentile converts, as settled in Acts the 15th chapter, is probably the most important doctrinal issue of the revelation.
The Bible student who sincerely wants to know the will of God for his life will "rightly divide the word of truth" (2Timothy 2:15) being careful not to apply to the church age today types, shadows or ceremonies simply because they were observed during the Acts period.
*Nevertheless, personal salvation has always been available to ALL mankind. See John 1:9, 3:16, 12:32 and Acts 17:24-30 for example.
A simple 12 point outline of the book of Acts is as follows (by chapters):
Note that a Mosaic system will be observed during the millennium or kingdom age:
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 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. 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: 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. 18. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
The Lord's response to their question is of great significance.
Acts 1:7The Lord instructed His disciples for 40 days regarding the "kingdom of God" so that they would be equipped to minister this message during the Acts period. In His foreknowledge, He knew Israel would reject this ministry. To answer their question in the negative would remove all incentive to minister the kingdom message. To answer in the affirmative would have been a lie. The Lord answered with the only proper response for that time.
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.
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Matthew 3:11 was to "gather the wheat into the garner" or kingdom (see page 3 of next lesson for other O.T. scriptures regarding the outpouring of the Holy Spirit). However, the Lord in His foreknowledge knew Israel, as a nation, would reject the Messiah and thereby their kingdom hope preached to them during the Book of Acts period. He instead caused the Holy Spirit baptism to be used at this time to add saved people to His church (1Corinthians 12:13).
Zechariah 14:4
And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
Some contend that Judas is an example of a saved man who lost his salvation. A verse in this first chapter of Acts, along with others, refutes this error:
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.
John 6:70
Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
John 18:9
That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.
Complete the answers to the questions in the spaces provided on the next page. Return the answer page only to P.O. Box 662, Orangevale, CA 95662. The next lesson will be mailed to you as soon as possible. Be sure to complete your name and address.
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1. What did the Lord's disciples know about the church at the opening of the Book of Acts?_____________________________________
2. Under what system or dispensation of God were the disciples functioning at the opening of the book of Acts?__________________
3. What was the grand hope of the Jewish disciples at the time of the book of Acts?________________________________________________
4. For how long had the Lord taught His disciples after His resurrection?____________________________________________________
5. What was the subject of the Lord's teachings to the disciples at that time?____________________________________________________
6. Give some of the characteristics of the kingdom age:
a. _________________________________________________________
b. _________________________________________________________
c. _________________________________________________________
d. _________________________________________________________
e. _________________________________________________________
7. What is the grand hope for Christians during the church age in which we are now living?_________________________________________
8. What was the "promise of the Father" for which the disciples were admonished by the Lord to wait in Jerusalem?________________
_________________________________________________________________
9. Why did the Lord instruct his disciples about the kingdom age after His resurrection?__________________________________________
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10. What is the significance to the Lord ascending from the Mount of Olives?_______________________________________________________
LESSON 8...Acts 3, What had the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished at the cross that had not yet been revealed? What was the message Peter preached? What had God spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began?
LESSON 9...Acts 4, What did Peter offer as evidence of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ to the very court which had crucified Him? What message did Peter preach that was the same as the Lord had preached earlier?
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