Acts 1:3

To whom he also showed himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing unto them by the space of forty days, and speaking the things concerning the kingdom of God:

'TO WHOM'-To the apostles.

'PASSION'-i.e. suffering

'BY MANY PROOFS'-'a convincing, decisive proof' (Stott p. 35); 'convincing manifestations' (Mon); 'convincing demonstrations' (Amp). We have. couple of these convincing demonstrations recorded in the Gospels (Luke 24:38; John 20:26; John 21:1). 'The word speaks of proofs that carried certainty of conviction with them, as contrasted with those that were only probable or circumstantial.' (Reese p. 4)

'APPEARING UNTO THEM BY THE SPACE OF FORTY DAYS'-'The only passage where the interval between the resurrection and the ascension is given.' (Vincent p. 443) There are no less than 13 different appearances of Jesus to His disciples recorded in the New Testament. 'The idea conveyed by the Greek verb and preposition here is that our Lord was not with the apostles constantly..but that He came and again disappeared.' (Reese p. 5) 'At intervals during the forty days' (Robertson p. 6) See 1 Corinthians 15:5 ff.

'AND SPEAKING THE THINGS CONCERNING THE KINGDOM OF GOD'-

Points to Note:

1. The same kingdom that Jesus said was "at hand" (Mark 1:15) and would come with "power" (Mark 9:1) within the lifetime of the apostles. This is the kingdom of O.T. prophecy (Daniel 2:44).

2. It is very easy to prove that the Kingdom of God was established in Acts Chapter 2: (a) The power came (Acts 1:8=Acts 2:1). (b) The kingdom is inherently connected with forgiveness of sins (Revelation 1:5; Revelation 5:9), and the conditions to obtain such forgiveness is proclaimed by Peter (Acts 2:38). (c) Jesus is on His throne in Acts 2:1 (Acts 2:30-32). If we have. King, then He must have. Kingdom to rule over.

3. Clearly, Jesus isn't teaching His apostles, 'The plan failed, God didn't anticipate Jewish opposition and rejection, therefore the Kingdom of God won't be set up until the Millennium.' By inspiration, Peter made it clear that no prophecies had been postponed (Acts 3:24).

4. Stott notes, 'He thus presented himself to their senses: their eyes, ears and hands. Such an objective experience of the risen Lord was an indispensable qualification of an apostle, which explains why Paul could be one (1 Corinthians 9:1; 1 Corinthians 15:8 ff)..and why there have been no comparable apostles since and can be none today.' (p. 35)

5. God made sure that people from all ages could have confidence in the apostles writings. These men were true eyewitnesses (Acts 1:21-22; Acts 10:41).

6. Bruce notes, 'The Gnostic schools..claimed that He gave them certain esoteric teaching, not recorded..But Luke declares that He continued to instruct them on the same subjects as had formed the burden of His teaching before his passion--"the things concerning the Kingdom of God."' (pp. 33-34)