The first administrative action of the early Christian community, which numbered about 120 believers (Acts 1:15), was to choose a successor to Judas. Read Acts 1:21-22. What qualifications was the successor to Judas expected to have? Why would these be so important? The need was for a witness of Jesus’ resurrection (compare with Acts 4:33); this is crucial because … Continue reading –>
In His reply in Acts 1:7-8, Jesus made no commitment with regard to time. Yet, the natural implication of His words was that right after the Spirit came and the disciples completed their mission, He would return (see also Matt. 24:14). The angels’ remark (Acts 1:11)also did not answer the question as to when the kingdom would come, but … Continue reading –>
Read Acts 1:9-11. How does Luke portray the ascension of Jesus? What is the significance that there were two angels speaking to them (see Deut. 19:15)? Luke’s account of the ascension is rather brief. Jesus was with the disciples on the Mount of Olives, and while still blessing them (Luke 24:51), He was taken up to heaven. The language, … Continue reading –>
Read Acts 1:8. Instead of indulging in prophetic speculations, what were the disciples expected to do? There are four important elements in this passage concerning the disciples’ mission: The gift of the Spirit. The Spirit had always been active among God’s people. According to the prophets, however, there would be a special endowment of the Spirit in … Continue reading –>
There are two kinds of Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament, one that anticipates a kingly Messiah who would rule forever (Ps. 89:3-4, Ps. 89:35-37; Isa. 9:6-7; Ezek. 37:25; Dan. 2:44; Dan. 7:13-14), and one that predicts that the Messiah would die for the sins of the people (Isa. 52:13-53:12; Dan. 9:26). Such prophecies do not contradict each other. They just point to … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Acts 1:6-8, Luke 24:25, Luke 24:44-48, Deut. 19:15, Acts 1:9-26, Prov. 16:33. Memory Text: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8, NRSV). Jesus’ mission on earth was finished. God would soon … Continue reading –>
The Victory of the Gospel Many historians believe that the three most crucial decades in world history occurred when a small group of men, mostly Jews under the power of the Holy Spirit, took the gospel to the world. The book of Acts is an account of those three crucial decades, which spanned from the … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: The second coming of Jesus isn’t the epilogue, the appendix, or the afterword to the sad story of human sin and suffering in this fallen world. Instead, the Second Coming is the grand climax, the great hope of the Christian’s faith. Without it, what? The story of humanity just goes on and on, one … Continue reading –>
Before raising His friend Lazarus from the tomb, Jesus uttered these words: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25, NKJV). Rather, though, than just asking people to take His word about such an incredible claim, He then proceeded to raise Lazarus from … Continue reading –>
However central and crucial the Second Coming is, according to the Bible not all Christians see the event as a literal, personal return of Jesus Himself. Some argue, for instance, that the second coming of Jesus occurs, not when Christ Himself returns to earth but when His Spirit is made manifest in His church on … Continue reading –>
