[The text I use to preach and teach is the New King James Version. This is the translation that is used in in this commentary.] 1 THE FORMER ACCOUNT I MADE, O THEOPHILUS, OF ALL THAT JESUS BEGAN BOTH TO DO AND TEACH, 1. The former account - Reference is made to the first book written by Luke, the... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTIL THE DAY IN WHICH HE WAS TAKEN UP, AFTER HE THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT HAD GIVEN COMMANDMENTS TO THE APOSTLES WHOM HE HAD CHOSEN, 1. Until - Jesus did not stop teaching at this death. Following his resurrection he taught the apostles and disciples many things about the coming kingdom. 2. He was... [ Continue Reading ]
TO WHOM HE ALSO PRESENTED HIMSELF ALIVE AFTER HIS SUFFERING BY MANY INFALLIBLE PROOFS, BEING SEEN BY THEM DURING FORTY DAYS AND SPEAKING OF THE THINGS PERTAINING TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. 1. Presented himself alive - His resurrection was not a secret event. His resurrection was witnessed by many peopl... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BEING ASSEMBLED TOGETHER WITH _THEM,_ HE COMMANDED THEM NOT TO DEPART FROM JERUSALEM, BUT TO WAIT FOR THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER, " WHICH, " _ HE SAID,_ " YOU HAVE HEARD FROM ME; 1. Not to depart from Jerusalem - Jesus told the apostles not to scatter. They were not to go back to their homes in... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR JOHN TRULY BAPTIZED WITH WATER, BUT YOU SHALL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT NOT MANY DAYS FROM NOW. " 1. Baptism of John - There are many ways the baptism of John are similar to the baptism of the great commission. Both baptisms involve a) Immersion; b) In water; c) For the remission of sins... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE, WHEN THEY HAD COME TOGETHER, THEY ASKED HIM, SAYING, " LORD, WILL YOU AT THIS TIME RESTORE THE KINGDOM TO ISRAEL? " 1. Is this the time? - After all the teaching, they still did not understand the nature of the Kingdom of Christ. They do not see the coming church and kingdom as the same... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID TO THEM, " IT IS NOT FOR YOU TO KNOW TIMES OR SEASONS WHICH THE FATHER HAS PUT IN HIS OWN AUTHORITY. 1. Not for you to know - It is none of your business. God has the authority, power and control. God has revealed all that we need to get from earth to heaven. God has not told us all tha... [ Continue Reading ]
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. " 1. You will receive power - All references to receiving the Holy Spirit are - measures of power. The Holy Spirit is always... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW WHEN HE HAD SPOKEN THESE THINGS, WHILE THEY WATCHED, HE WAS TAKEN UP, AND A CLOUD RECEIVED HIM OUT OF THEIR SIGHT. 1. While they watched - They were eyewitnesses. This was not some fable they made up to explain why Jesus was no longer visible on earth. 2. Peter makes this very clear in 2 Peter... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHILE THEY LOOKED STEADFASTLY TOWARD HEAVEN AS HE WENT UP, BEHOLD, TWO MEN STOOD BY THEM IN WHITE APPAREL, 1. Two men - Angels are the messengers of God. They often appear on earth in human form to carry a message or do some work for God. 2. Compare John 20:12 (angels) and Matthew 28:5 (angel)... [ Continue Reading ]
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. " 1. Why gaze into the heavens? - Many today are looking to the heavens for the answers to life questions. Ho... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THEY RETURNED TO JERUSALEM FROM THE MOUNT CALLED OLIVET, WHICH IS NEAR JERUSALEM, A SABBATH DAY ' S JOURNEY. 1. Sabbath day's journey - Albert Barnes says, " As far as might be lawfully traveled by a Jew on the Sabbath. This was 2,000 paces or cubits, or seven furlongs and a half - not quite o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THEY HAD ENTERED, THEY WENT UP INTO THE UPPER ROOM WHERE THEY WERE STAYING: PETER, JAMES, JOHN, AND ANDREW; PHILIP AND THOMAS; BARTHOLOMEW AND MATTHEW; JAMES _THE SON_ OF ALPHAEUS AND SIMON THE ZEALOT; AND JUDAS _THE SON_ OF JAMES. 1. They returned to Jerusalem as Jesus commanded. They ent... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE ALL CONTINUED WITH ONE ACCORD IN PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION, WITH THE WOMEN AND MARY THE MOTHER OF JESUS, AND WITH HIS BROTHERS. 1. All 11 remained together. They now needed each other. Jesus was not with them to "guard, guide and direct" them. 2. With the women - This would include the women a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN THOSE DAYS PETER STOOD UP IN THE MIDST OF THE DISCIPLES (ALTOGETHER THE NUMBER OF NAMES WAS ABOUT A HUNDRED AND TWENTY), AND SAID, 1. In those days - What did the apostles do during the 10 day period of waiting following Jesus ascension? 2. 120 disciples - The death of Jesus did not scatter... [ Continue Reading ]
" MEN _AND_ BRETHREN, THIS SCRIPTURE HAD TO BE FULFILLED, WHICH THE HOLY SPIRIT SPOKE BEFORE BY THE MOUTH OF DAVID CONCERNING JUDAS, WHO BECAME A GUIDE TO THOSE WHO ARRESTED JESUS; 1. Psalms 41:9 is the passage mentioned here. 2. Peter believed the words of David were inspired of God. The Holy Spi... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE WAS NUMBERED WITH US AND OBTAINED A PART IN THIS MINISTRY. " 1. He was numbered with us - He was one of the twelve. He was fully accepted as one of the apostles. 2. He is in the lists of the original 12 apostles in Luke 6:13-16 and Matthew 10:2-4. 3. He was a part of the ministry - Judas w... [ Continue Reading ]
(NOW THIS MAN PURCHASED A FIELD WITH THE WAGES OF INIQUITY; AND FALLING HEADLONG, HE BURST OPEN IN THE MIDDLE AND ALL HIS ENTRAILS GUSHED OUT. 1. Purchased a field - This plot of ground was known as the potters field. It was a place to bury those who could not afford a cemetery plot. 2. Suicide -... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT BECAME KNOWN TO ALL THOSE DWELLING IN JERUSALEM; SO THAT FIELD IS CALLED IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE, AKEL DAMA, THAT IS, FIELD OF BLOOD.) 1. Akeldama is Chaldeean, the common language of the Jews at this time. 2. Remember, the Hebrew language became a dead language about 400 years earlier. Only... [ Continue Reading ]
" FOR IT IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF PSALMS: _‘LET HIS DWELLING PLACE BE_ _DESOLATE,_ _AND LET NO ONE LIVE IN IT_ ' ; AND, _‘LET_ _ANOTHER TAKE HIS_ _OFFICE._ '__ 1. There are two quotations here. The first of from Psalms 69:25. 2. The second quote is from Psalms 109:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
" THEREFORE, OF THESE MEN WHO HAVE ACCOMPANIED US ALL THE TIME THAT THE LORD JESUS WENT IN AND OUT AMONG US, 1. Requirements for a replacement apostle are set out here. He must have accompanied Jesus during earthly ministry. 2. Some "offices" have qualifications. To be appointed to the office one... [ Continue Reading ]
BEGINNING FROM THE BAPTISM OF JOHN TO THAT DAY WHEN HE WAS TAKEN UP FROM US, ONE OF THESE MUST BECOME A WITNESS WITH US OF HIS RESURRECTION. " 1. Faithful from the beginning - He must not be a late convert. He should have been a follower from the time of Jesus baptism and continued to His ascension... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY PROPOSED TWO: JOSEPH CALLED BARSABAS, WHO WAS SURNAMED JUSTUS, AND MATTHIAS. 1. We do not know the exact process they used. How did they narrow the names down to these two? 2. Two names were "nominated" from a potential list of hundreds. 3. Joseph (Joses) and Barsabas (Barnabas - Acts 4:... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY PRAYED AND SAID, " YOU, O LORD, WHO KNOW THE HEARTS OF ALL, SHOW WHICH OF THESE TWO YOU HAVE CHOSEN 1. At important times like this they needed some divine help and guidance. Before Jesus chose the 12 He spent the night in prayer. 2. We must learn to lean on God in times of decision.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO TAKE PART IN THIS MINISTRY AND APOSTLESHIP FROM WHICH JUDAS BY TRANSGRESSION FELL, THAT HE MIGHT GO TO HIS OWN PLACE. " 26 AND THEY CAST THEIR LOTS, AND THE LOT FELL ON MATTHIAS. AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH THE ELEVEN APOSTLES. 1. They cast lots - There were several systems of "casting lots" 1. D... [ Continue Reading ]