1. Acts
Chapter 1

2. A quick review!

3. In the introduction / background, we talked about title, authorship, purpose, date, main teaching and basic outline of the book.

4. Title: Acts was originally part of a larger work together with Luke.

5. It began to be asked for and read separately in the second century.

6. It became known as The Acts of The Apostles!

7. The author seems to clearly be Luke.

8. As we mentioned before, it once was connected to the book of Luke.

9. It flows seamlessly and Luke is believed to have written both.

10. He was a known friend and traveling companion of Paul.

11. He was a doctor, well educated, detailed, thorough, descriptive, etc.

12. Theophilus is mentioned in both Luke and Acts.

13. There are several we passages in the book of Acts.

14. We Passages:
Acts 16:10-17
Acts 20:5 – 21:18
Acts 27:1 – 28:16

15. Most scholars believe the overall purpose of the book can be found in Luke 1:4

16. Luke 1:4
…so that you might know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.

17. Most believe the book was written around A.D. 62

18. The main teaching seems to be centered around the work of the Holy Spirit.

19. The major outline or division of the book appears to be as follows:

20. Basic Outline: Jerusalem – (Chapters 1-7)
Judea & Samaria (Chapters 8-12)
Uttermost Parts of the Earth (Chapters 13-28)

21. Then we got into chapter one and called it…

22. The resources needed for the ongoing work of The Lord!

23. Acts 1:1-11
The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the

24. Acts 1:1-11
apostles whom He had chosen. To these He also presented Himself alive, after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days,

25. Acts 1:1-11
and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. And gathering then together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the

26. Acts 1:1-11
Father had promised, which He said, “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” And so when

27. Acts 1:1-11
they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times

28. Acts 1:1-11
or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem,

29. Acts 1:1-11
and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud

30. Acts 1:1-11
received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was departing, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them; and they also said

31. Acts 1:1-11
“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 just the same way as you have watched

32. Acts 1:1-11
Him go into heaven.”

33. We talked about the message found in verses 1 & 2.

34. That we need to learn, known and become convinced of who Jesus is, what He taught and what He did while He was here with us.

35. We mentioned 2 Timothy 2:15 and Colossians 3:16.

36. Then we talked about the manifestation found in verse 3.

37. We talked about the many convincing proofs that Jesus is the Messiah.

38. Proofs: Walking through locked doors. (John 20:19)
Showing His wounds from the crucifixion. (Luke 24:39)
Sitting down to eat and drink with them (Luke 24:41-43)

39. A brief summary of appearances can also be found in I Corinthians 15:5-8.

40. During this manifestation of proof, He spoke to His disciples about the coming Kingdom.

41. Letting them know that His death, burial and resurrection didn’t cancel out or negate the future Kingdom of God.

42. Because they were anticipating and looking forward to Daniel 2 and Zechariah 14.

43. Daniel 2:44
And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put

44. Daniel 2:44
an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.

45. And Zechariah 14.

46. Zechariah 14:9
And the Lord will be king over all the earth; in that day the Lord will be the only one, and His name the only one.

47. Then we talked about the might that would be needed to continue the ministry of Christ.

48. We looked at verses 4 & 5 and talked about how easy it might be to do things for Christ in your own strength.

49. Then we mentioned several important verses concerning the Holy Spirit!

50. Holy Spirit: Luke 24:49 Ephesians 5:18 Galatians 5:25 Romans 8
Titus 3:5-6

51. Tonight we pick up in verses 6 & 7 with the mystery that seemed to plague them.

52. When will You take Your throne?

53. Is it time?

54. The apostles knew about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit from Joel 2 and Ezekiel 36.

55. Joel 2:28-32
And it will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young

56. Joel 2:28-32
men will see visions. And even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. And I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, blood, fire, and

57. Joel 2:28-32
columns of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And it will come about that whoever

58. Joel 2:28-32
calls of the name of the Lord will be delivered…

59. And Ezekiel 36!

60. Ezekiel 36:24-28
For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will

61. Ezekiel 36:24-28
cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone

62. Ezekiel 36:24-28
from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.

63. Ezekiel 36:24-28
And you will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers, so you will be My people, and I will be your God.

64. But ultimately, only the Father knows when Jesus will return and establish His kingdom on earth.

65. Deuteronomy 29:29
The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.

66. Mark 13:32
But of the day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

67. Now we turn our attention to the mission at hand which is found in verse 8.

68. He wants us to be His faithful witnesses on the planet.

69. In order to do that we must be empowered to know the truth, do the truth and speak the truth.

70. I Peter 3:15
But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and

71. I Peter 3:15
reverence.

72. And Matthew 28.

73. Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them

74. Matthew 28:18-20
in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

75. Then, finally, we make it verses 9-11 and discover a tremendous motivation.

76. Soon our Savior and Lord will return!

77. Daniel 7:13-14
“I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven one like a Son of Man was coming. And He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented

78. Daniel 7:13-14
before Him. And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting

79. Daniel 7:13-14
dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.”

80. And Matthew 24.

81. Matthew 24:30-31
And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with

82. Matthew 24:30-31
power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

83. Will we be ready?

84. We must be ready!

85. Revelation 22:12
Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.

86. Revelation 16:15
Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his garments, lest he walk about naked and men see his shame.

87. Next week we will pick up in verse 12 and talk about replacing the traitor!

88. Acts 1:12-26
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to

89. Acts 1:12-26
the upper room, where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus,

90. Acts 1:12-26
and Simon the Zealot, and Judas, the son of James. These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the

91. Acts 1:12-26
mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. And at this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together)

92. Acts 1:12-26
And said, “Brethren, 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

93. Acts 1:12-26
Jesus. “For he was counted among us, and received his portion in this ministry.” (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wicked-ness; and falling headlong, he

94. Acts 1:12-26
burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama,

95. Acts 1:12-26
that is Field of Blood.) “For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his homestead be made desolate, and let no man dwell in it; and his office let another man take.’

96. Acts 1:12-26
It is therefore necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us – beginning with the baptism of John,

97. Acts 1:12-26
Until the day that He was taken up from us – one of these should become a witness with us of His resurrection.” And they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who

98. Acts 1:12-26
was called Justus), and Matthias. And they prayed, and said, “Thou, Lord, knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two Thou hast chosen to occupy this ministry

99. Acts 1:12-26
and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven

100. Acts 1:12-26
apostles.

101. First we should notice the submission of the disciples in verse 12-15.

102. Jesus gives some final instructions to go to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit.

103. Luke 24:49
And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothes with power from on high.

104. Acts 1:4
And gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised…

105. John 16:7
But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

106. John 16:8
And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment…

107. Thankfully, they didn’t run away, but obeyed the Lord and went to Jerusalem.

108. Mount Olivet overlooked Jerusalem from across the Kidron Valley to the east.

109. It was 400 feet above the valley and 200 feet above Jerusalem.

110. Jesus ascended from the back side of the mountain near Bethany.

111. Does anybody know how far a Sabbath day’s journey might be?