The New Things Series

Acts

Chapter 1

The New Things

Acts # 02

I. The introduction to the Book. 1:1-2 A New Book

Luke was what Jesus began to do and teach while He was were physically and Acts is what He continued to do and teach spiritually through the Church. It is Christ that still works. Notice these things:

A. The believers ask the ascended Christ to Show them which man to elect as an Apostle

Acts 1:24 And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen

B. It is the Lord that adds believers to the assembly

Acts 2:47 Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

C. It is Christ, through His Spirit Who sends out the first missionaries.

Acts 13:1-3 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

D. Paul and Barnabas relate what God did through them.

Acts 14:27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

Warren Wiebsbe writes this “Every Christian needs to move out of Like’s Gospel into Acts. Knowing about the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ is enough for salvation but not for Spirit-empowered service. We must identify ourselves with Him as our ascended Lord and allow Him to work through us in the world. The Church is not simply an organization engaged in religious work; it is a divine organism, the body of Christ on earth, through which His life and power must operate. He died for the lost world; we must live to bring that world to Christ.”

II. The teaching of Christ prior to His ascension. 1:2-8

A New Experience (Luke 24:36-53)

A. Christ continued his teaching until the moment of His Ascension.1:2

1. Christ was teaching himself and through the Holy Spirit.

2. Christ taught the ones that he had chosen.

B. The appearances of Christ to the Apostles. 1:3

NOTE: Christ did not stay with the Apostles during this time. He would appear and teach them and leave.

1. Many convincing proofs.

2. Over a period of Forty days.

NOTE: The appearance of Christ could have a two-fold reason.

1) He wanted to increase the Apostles faith.

2) This also increases their knowledge.

Luke 24:45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

C. The commands that Jesus gave. 1:4-5

1. Not to leave Jerusalem.

2. Wait for the promise or baptism of the Holy Spirit.

NOTE: What was this baptism to accomplish?

1) It would unite all believers into one Body, to be known as the Church.

1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

2) The Spirit would give the believers power to witness to the lost.

3) The Spirit would enable believers to speak in tongues and perform other miraculous deeds to awaken the Jews.

1 Corinthians 1:22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;

D. The teaching of the Kingdom of God. 1:6-7

1. The question concerning the setting up of the kingdom.

NOTE: Jewish tradition teaches that the Messiah will rule the Jewish nation and that he will be their King. The disciples, along with the rest of the people thought that this was going to be the time that Christ was going to over throw the Roman government. They also assumed because of this that he would then set up God’s Kingdom at that time. This is why during his entrance to the city of Jerusalem people were shouting Hosanna. They wanted a king. If He would have set up his kingdom then He would have had more followers. They wanted a King.

2. Christ’s answer concerning the kingdom. 1:7

a. Do not concern yourself with the time.

b. Do not concern yourself with the date.

c. The Father only knows.

E. The final command as a statement as fact. 1:8

1. You will receive the Holy Spirit.

2. You will be my witness.

a. Jerusalem.

b. Judea.

c. Samaria.

d. All the world.

III. The ascension of Christ 1:9-11 A New Assurance.

The assurance is that Jesus is coming back. He is coming back to Mount Olive 1:12