Look what comes up from the depths of the sea.

Look what comes up from the depths of the sea.
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Thursday, November 17, 2011

Acts 1-3

The author of Acts is Luke, our Physician.  The purpose of the book of Acts is to give an accurate account of the birth and growth of the Christian Church...Acts begins with Peter's ministry....God had plans for Peter, and clearly forgave him for claiming he didn't know Him.

Notice that the disciples begin to be called apostles.  A disciple is a follower, but an apostle is a messenger.  We learn that Jesus made many appearances for a period of 40 days and then he was taken up to Heaven....this was very important for the apostles to see.....angels tell the apostles that Jesus is going to return in the same way He left...this is why people think Jesus will appear on Mount Olive.

Matthias is chosen to replace Judas...Peter quoted Psalms 69:25 and Psalm 109:8 as the basis for doing that.

And chapter 2 is where the Holy Spirit arrives.  Pentecost is first found in Leviticus 23:15-16.....

1)  a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from Heaven
2)  tongues of fire separated and came to rest on the people
3)  They all began to speak in tongues

Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit preaches that the men are not drunk and quotes Joel for identifying what is happening (Pentecost was predicted)...Peter does some serious witnessing..He quotes from Psalm 16:8-11 where David talks not about himself, but of a prophet who would be resurrected.   The people were deeply moved and wanted to know what they could do and the Acts 2 church is born.  The Holy Spirit is going to help to get the word out that Jesus Christ is Lord and that they witnessed the resurrection and ascension of Him.  Pentecost means Day of Harvest....3000 believers came in that day.  The New Testament church was born that day.

Peter then heals a crippled beggar...Peter gives the credit to Jesus and cites the prophesies of Psalm 22, Isaiah 50:6 and Isaiah 53....all prophets had pointed to this day....click on the link below for a creative presentation of Pentecost...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoiXpNbgrbs

2 comments:

  1. in chapter one when he went up, who were the two men who stood by them.....is this Moses and Abraham?

    My bible says the Holy Spirit cam on the day of teh Pentecost....could you explain what that is again to me?


    unbelievable......about 3,000 were baptized that day.......!

    Now this is cool....even after Jesus has died, that Peter can heal.....never heard this before...

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  2. OK...tell me the verses you are referring to in Chapter one....

    Yes, the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost. This is the birth of the Christian church. It is a holiday that was held 50 days after Passover and was also called the Feast of Weeks. It was one of three major annual feasts (Deuteronomy 16:16), a festival of thanksgiving for the harvested crops. The Holy Spirit came 50 days after the resurrection....(50 = Pente)

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