Thursday, December 9, 2010

Acts 1 - 5



The

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

CHAPTER 1

(A.D. 33)

POST-RESURRECTION

1 The former treatise have I made (refers to the Gospel of Luke, which was probably finished a year or so before the writing of this account called, “The Acts of the Apostles”), O Theophilus (the same person addressed by Luke in that Gospel), of all that Jesus began both to do and teach (is the Standard, the Principal, and the Foundation of the Gospel),

2 Until the day in which He was taken up (the Resurrection), after that He through the Holy Spirit (refers to the fact that the Spirit of God is the Speaker and Actor in this Book) had given Commandments unto the Apostles whom He had chosen (refers to our Lord’s Ministry of some three and a half years, which the Apostles witnessed):

3 To whom also He showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs (many people saw Him after His Resurrection, and before His Ascension), being seen of them forty days (from the time of the Resurrection to the time of His Ascension), and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God (it seems that much teaching was included during this period of time):

HOLY SPIRIT

4 And, being assembled together with them (speaks of the time He ascended back to the Father; this was probably the time of the “above five hundred” [I Cor. 15:6]), Commanded them (not a suggestion) that they should not depart from Jerusalem (the site of the Temple where the Holy Spirit would descend), but wait for the Promise of the Father (spoke of the Holy Spirit which had been promised by the Father [Lk. 24:49; Joel, Chpt. 2]), which, said He, you have heard of Me (you have also heard Me say these things [Jn. 7:37-39; 14:12-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-15]).

PROPHECY

5 For John truly baptized with water (merely symbolized the very best Baptism Believers could receive before the Day of Pentecost); but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence (spoke of the coming Day of Pentecost, although Jesus did not use that term at that time).

6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying (seemingly presents the last meeting before the Ascension), Lord, will You at this time restore again the Kingdom to Israel? (He would later answer this question through the Apostle Paul [II Thess., Chpt. 2].)

7 And He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in His Own power (the Master is saying that it is not the business of the followers of Christ to know this information, but rather to “occupy till I come” [Lk. 19:13]).

POWER

8 But you shall receive power (Miracle-working Power), after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you (specifically states that this “Power” is inherent in the Holy Spirit, and solely in His Domain): and you shall be witnesses (doesn’t mean witnessing to souls, but rather to one giving one’s all in every capacity for Christ, even to the laying down of one’s life) unto Me (without the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, one cannot really know Jesus as one should) both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the Earth (proclaims the Work of God as being worldwide).

THE ASCENSION

9 And when He had spoken these things (refers to His last instructions to His followers), while they beheld, He was taken up (refers to Him ascending before their very eyes); and a cloud received Him out of their sight (represents the Shekinah Glory of God, which enveloped Christ as He ascended).

SECOND ADVENT

10 And while they looked stedfastly toward Heaven as He went up (these statements are important because they affirm His actual Ascension testified to by eyewitnesses), behold, two men stood by them in white apparel (these two “men” were actually Angels);

11 Which also said, You men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into Heaven? (This does not mean that it was only men who were present, but rather that this was a common term used for both men and women.) this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into Heaven (refers to the same Human Body with the nail prints in His Hands and Feet, etc.), shall so come in like manner as you have seen Him go into Heaven (refers to the same place, which is the Mount of Olivet).

THE UPPER ROOM

12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the Mount called Olivet (represents, as stated, the place of His Ascent, which will also be the place of His Descent), which is from Jerusalem a Sabbath Day’s journey (represents a little over half a mile).

13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room (was probably the same room where they had eaten the Passover with Christ [Lk. 22:12]), where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James (this Judas is also called “Lebbaeus” and “Thaddaeus” [Mat. 10:3; Mk. 3:18]).

14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication (proclaims the manner in which these meetings were conducted), with the women, and Mary the Mother of Jesus (concerns the women who followed Christ from Galilee [Mat. 27:55-56]), and with His Brethren.

THE SUCCESSOR TO JUDAS ISCARIOT

15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the Disciples (represents Peter taking the lead), and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) (in essence forms the beginning of the “Church”).

16 Men and brethren, this Scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit by the mouth of David spoke before concerning Judas, which was guide to them who took Jesus (is derived from Ps. 69:25-28).

17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this Ministry (means he was one of the Apostles, and chosen by the Lord).

18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity (refers to Pharisees taking the blood money from Judas, and buying his burying place [Mat. 27:6-8]); and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out (he committed suicide [Mat. 27:3-8]).

19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem (actually means that it “became known”); insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood (was also known as the “Potter’s Field”).

20 For it is written in the Book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein (the indication is that the name of Judas had been in the Book of Life, but had been blotted out because of his sin): and his bishoprick let another take (refers to his Apostleship).

21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us (probably spoke of the seventy [Lk. 10:17]),

22 Beginning from the Baptism of John, unto that same day that He was taken up from us (spans the entirety of the three and one half years of the Ministry of Christ), must one be ordained to be a witness with us of His Resurrection (we learn from this that the Resurrection of Christ from the dead is a Cardinal Doctrine of the Gospel).

23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias (they would present these two to the Lord for His choice).

24 And they prayed (shows their utter dependence on the Lord for leading and guidance), and said, You, Lord, which knows the hearts of all men (tells us where alone the Truth can be found), show whether of these two You have chosen (proclaims their desire for God’s Choice, and His Choice Alone),

25 That he may take part of this Ministry and Apostleship (the Foundation of the Church), from which Judas by transgression fell (tells us plainly that Judas once knew the Lord, for how can one fall from something to which one has never attained), that he might go to his own place (self-will will take one to eternal hell, even as it did Judas).

26 And they gave forth their lots (was similar to the Urim and Thummim with which the Disciples would have been familiar and the Lord, in Old Testament times, gave leading to His People [Deut. 33:8-10; Num. 27:21]); and the lot fell upon Matthias (probably means that the names of the two men were placed on two stones, pieces of parchment, or wood, and then placed into an urn, with one lot drawn out [Lev. 16:8-9; Josh. 14:2]); and he was numbered with the Eleven Apostles (indicates that he was God’s Choice).

Chapter 2

(A.D. 33)

PENTECOST

1 And when the Day of Pentecost was fully come (the Feast of Pentecost, one of the seven great Feasts ordained by God and practiced by Israel yearly; it took place fifty days after Passover), they were all with one accord in one place (not the Upper Room where they had been previously meeting, but rather the Temple [Lk. 24:53; Acts 2:46]).

2 And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven as of a rushing mighty wind (portrays the coming of the Holy Spirit in a new dimension, all made possible by the Cross), and it filled all the house (the Temple) where they were sitting (they were probably in the Court of the Gentiles).

3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire (the only record of such in the New Testament, and was the fulfillment of the Prophecy of John the Baptist concerning Jesus [Mat. 3:11]), and it sat upon each of them (refers to all who were there, not just the Twelve Apostles; the exact number is not known).

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit (all were filled, not just the Apostles; due to the Cross, the Holy Spirit could now come into the hearts and lives of all Believers to abide permanently [Jn. 14:16]), and began to speak with other Tongues (the initial physical evidence that one has been baptized with the Spirit, and was predicted by the Prophet Isaiah [Isa. 28:9-12], and by Christ [Mk. 16:17; Jn. 15:26; 16:13]), as the Spirit gave them utterance (meaning they did not initiate this themselves, but that it was initiated by the Spirit; as we shall see, these were languages known somewhere in the world, but not by the speaker).

5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under Heaven (Jews were then scattered all over the Roman World, with thousands coming in from every nation to keep the Feast).

6 Now when this was noised abroad (multitudes who were in the Temple heard and saw the proceedings, and as well, began to tell others), the multitude came together (what was happening attracted a multitude), and was confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language (means that these onlooking Jews heard these people speaking in many different languages, in fact languages of the nations of their residence, wherever that might have been, proving that this was not gibberish or babble as some claim).

7 And they were all amazed and marveled (mostly centered upon this speaking with other tongues), saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? (This means that the Galilaean accent was peculiar and well-known [Mk. 14:70; Lk. 22:59].)

8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? (This proves once again that this was not babble, mere chatter, or gibberish, but rather a language known somewhere in the world, but not by the speaker.)

9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful Works of God (this tells us what speaking in tongues actually is, a recitation of the “Wonderful Works of God”).

12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt (should have been translated, “and were perplexed;” they had no rational answer to their perplexity), saying one to another, What does this mean? (This was asking more in wonder than demanding an answer.)

13 Others mocking said (they scoffed; whether by gesture or word, they jeered at the Testimony of this given by the Holy Spirit), These men are full of new wine (was actually an accusation that they were drunk, i.e., “intoxicated”; some were amazed and some “mocked,” which continues to be done even unto this hour).

PETER

14 But Peter, standing up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them (Peter will now preach the inaugural Message of the Church on that Day of Pentecost), You men of Judaea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words (the Message was probably delivered on Solomon’s Porch, a part of the Court of the Gentiles; it was where debates and such like were commonly conducted):

15 For these are not drunken, as you suppose (in effect, says they are drunk, but not in the common manner), seeing it is but the third hour of the day (9 a.m.).

16 But this is that which was spoken by the Prophet Joel (please notice that Peter did not say, “this fulfills that spoken by the Prophet Joel,” but rather, “this is that . . .” meaning that it will continue);

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God (proclaims these “last days” as beginning on the Day of Pentecost, and continuing through the coming Great Tribulation), I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh (speaks of all people everywhere and, therefore, not limited to some particular geographical location; as well, it is not limited respecting race, color, or creed): and your sons and your daughters shall Prophesy (includes both genders), and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams (all given by the Holy Spirit; the Hebrew language insinuates, “both your young men and old men shall see visions, and both your old men and young men shall dream dreams”; it applies to both genders as well):

18 And on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit (is meant purposely to address two classes of people who had been given very little status in the past, slaves and women); and they shall Prophesy (pertains to one of the “Gifts of the Spirit” [I Cor. 12:8-10]):

19 And I will show wonders in Heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke (pertains to the fact that these “days of My Spirit” will cover the entirety of the Church Age, even into the coming Great Tribulation; that time limit has now been nearly two thousand years):

20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood (not meant to be literal, but rather that the moon will look blood red because of atmospheric conditions), before that great and notable Day of the Lord come (the Second Coming):

21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved (Joel 2:30-32; presents one of the most glorious statements ever made; it includes both Jews and Gentiles equally).

22 You men of Israel, hear these words (the inaugural Message of the Church); Jesus of Nazareth, a Man approved of God among you (Jesus must ever be the theme of our Message; He was approved of God, but not of men) by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you (what Peter knew firsthand, because he was there), as you yourselves also know (so many of these things were done that there was absolutely no excuse for them not to know):

23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God (it was the Plan of God that Jesus would die on the Cross; however, it was not the Plan of God for the religious leaders of Israel to do this thing; that was of their own making and choice), you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain (presents a charge so serious it absolutely defies description! but yet, if they will seek mercy and forgiveness, God will forgive them, even as we shall see):

24 Whom God has raised up (concerns the Resurrection), having loosed the pains of death (death could not hold Him because He atoned for all sin, which occasions death [Rom. 6:23]): because it was not possible that He should be held by it (death would liked to have held Him in its grip, but it could not because He had taken away its legal right; as stated, He atoned for all sin, which defeated death, Satan, and all principalities and powers [Col. 2:14-15]).

25 For David speaks concerning Him (Ps. 16:8-11), I foresaw the Lord always before My face, for He is on My Right Hand, that I should not be moved (through the Cross, Christ would gain this position at the Father’s Right Hand, which speaks of power and authority, all on our behalf [Heb. 1:3]):

26 Therefore did My heart rejoice (concerns Christ rejoicing over His Father’s guarantee and protection regarding His descent into the death world; He knew that the Father would bring Him out), and My tongue was glad (refers to the things He said regarding His Resurrection [Mat. 16:21; 17:23; 20:17-19; Mk. 8:31]); moreover also My flesh shall rest in hope (refers to resting on the Promises of God relating to the Resurrection):

27 Because You will not leave My soul in hell (it was not the burning part of Hell [Lk. 16:19-31], neither will You (God the Father) suffer Your Holy One to see corruption (His physical body, being sinless, saw no corruption, which normally accompanies death; in fact, it was glorified and raised from the dead).

28 You have made known unto Me the ways of Life (presents Christ as the Pattern, and as well presents the Resurrection not only of Himself, but all Believers); You shall make Me full of joy with Your countenance (God’s Face did shine upon Christ, and it shines upon us as well, as we are “in Christ”).

29 Men and Brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the Patriarch David (presents the only time David is referred to in Scripture as a “Patriarch”), that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day (is given here to dispel the erroneous notions held by the Pharisees and religious leaders of Israel concerning the Messiah).

30 Therefore being a Prophet (concerns the many Prophecies given by David in the Psalms regarding Christ), and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh (II Sam. 7:11-16), He (God) would raise up Christ to sit on his throne (to sit on David’s Throne, which has not yet happened, but most surely will in the coming Kingdom Age; all of this portrays the Incarnation, God becoming Man and doing so through the lineage of David);

31 He (David) seeing this before spoke of the Resurrection of Christ (tells the religious leaders of Israel David plainly Prophesied that Jesus would be raised from the dead [Ps. 16:8-11]), that His soul was not left in Hell (as stated, He did not go to the burning side of Hell, but rather into Paradise [Lk. 16], and as well to some particular prisons in that infernal region [I Pet. 3:19-20]), neither did His flesh see corruption (He was not tormented in Hell as some teach, neither was there any decay in His physical Body; rather it was Glorified).

32 This Jesus (the One you Crucified) has God raised up (speaks of the physical Jesus and not some spirit), whereof we all are witnesses (Peter is telling them that despite what they say, all of Israel knows that Jesus was raised from the dead).

33 Therefore being by the Right Hand of God exalted (Christ is now exalted, not only as Creator, but as well as Saviour, the latter made possible by the Cross), and having received of the Father the Promise of the Holy Spirit (proves that Jesus was accepted by the Father because the Holy Spirit was sent back, even as Promised [Jn. 16:7]), He has shed forth this, which you now see and hear (they saw the people, and they heard them speak with tongues).

34 For David is not ascended into the Heavens (given by Peter to prove that these Prophecies were not given to David concerning himself, but rather the One Who was to come, namely the Lord Jesus Christ; evidently, some of the religious leaders of Israel were claiming that these Prophecies pertained to David, and had nothing to do with Jesus, which Peter repudiates here): but he (David) said himself, The LORD said unto My Lord (God the Father said to God the Son), Sit Thou on My Right Hand ([Ps. 110:1] this is where Jesus now abides [Heb. 1:3]),

35 Until I make Your foes Your footstool (all made possible by the Cross [Col. 2:14-15], but will not be fully realized until the conclusion of the Kingdom Age [Rev., Chpt. 20; I Cor. 15:24-25]).

36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly (is leveled by Peter directly toward the religious leadership of Israel, and is inspired by the Holy Spirit), that God has made that same Jesus, Whom you have Crucified, both Lord and Christ (Jesus was and is “Jehovah,” and as well, Israel’s “Messiah”).

THE EFFECT

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart (the convicting Power of the Holy Spirit), and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles, Men and Brethren, what shall we do? (This proclaims these people, whomever they may have been, desiring to get right with God.)

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent (admit that God is right, and we are wrong), and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ (by the authority of that Name; there is no baptismal formula given in the Book of Acts; the only formula given was given by Christ in Mat. 28:19) for the Remission of sins (should have been translated, “because of remission of sins”; one is Baptized in Water because one’s sins have already been remitted due to Faith in Christ, and not that sins should be remitted), and you shall receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit (Repentance guarantees Salvation, which makes the Believer ready to be Baptized with the Holy Spirit; one is not Baptized with the Spirit automatically at conversion; it is an experience that follows Salvation, and is always accompanied by speaking with other tongues [Acts 2:4; 10:44-46; 19:1-7]).

39 For the Promise (of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit) is unto you (directed toward the many Jews standing in the Temple listening to Peter that day), and to your children (means that this great outpouring did not stop with the initial outpouring, but continues on), and to all who are afar off (meaning that it’s not only for those in Jerusalem, but the entirety of the world as well), even as many as the Lord our God shall call (that “Call” is “whosoever will” [Jn. 7:37-39; Rev. 22:17]).

40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort (tells us that we only have a part of Peter’s Message here), saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation (it is a call to Repentance).

41 Then they who gladly received his word were baptized (some believed what Peter said, gave their hearts to God, and repented of their sins; they were then baptized in water): and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls (on the first Day of Pentecost, the Day the Law was given, some three thousand men died [Ex. 32:28]; on this Day of Pentecost, due to the Cross, some three thousand people were saved).

THE EARLY CHURCH

42 And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles’ Doctrine (that Doctrine is found in Verse 38) and fellowship, and in breaking of bread (had to do with the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, which was probably a much more informal setting than presently), and in prayers (simply meant it was a praying Church).

43 And fear came upon every soul (speaks of the Moving and Operation of the Holy Spirit; seeing the things that the Spirit was doing, all had a sense of awe, wonder, and fear): and many wonders and signs were done by the Apostles (the Holy Spirit did this in order to give the Church a great start; it continued, even as it is meant to continue, but on a more limited basis, as the latter part of the Book of Acts bears out).

44 And all who believed were together (due to the great animosity of the Jews against the followers of Christ, Believers had to band together), and had all things common (due to thousands losing their jobs because of persecution, those who had material goods shared with those who didn’t);

45 And sold their possessions and goods (they sold things they did not absolutely need, in order that they may be able to help those who were in great need), and parted them to all men, as every man had need (proclaimed a Christlike community because of the great persecution at hand).

46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the Temple (in a sense, the Temple had been turned into a Church, which must have been extremely irritating to the religious authorities), and breaking bread from house to house (means that the Church per se was actually ensconced in houses all over Jerusalem), did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart (they had a joy that persecution could not hinder),

47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people (Jerusalem as a whole was favorably impressed by what they saw respecting these followers of Christ). And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved (many were coming to the Lord).

Chapter 3

(A.D. 33)

HEALING

1 Now Peter and John went up together into the Temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour (3 o’clock in the afternoon).

2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily (seemed to be a daily occurrence which had taken place in one way or the other since the man was a child; little did he realize that this would be the greatest day of his life) at the gate of the Temple which is called Beautiful (according to Josephus, it was made of costly Corinthian brass; it was said to be about 62 feet wide and 31 feet high), to ask alms of them who entered into the Temple (he was a beggar);

3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the Temple asked an alms.

4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John (indicates they were moved upon by the Holy Spirit to do this thing), said, Look on us (Peter wanted him to hear what he was about to say).

5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them (expecting to receive money).

6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none (I wonder how this statement as given by Peter concerning silver and gold relates to the modern greed message?); but such as I have give I thee (presently, the modern Church has silver and gold, but doesn’t have the Power of God): In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk (it is not in the name of Mohammed, or Confucius, etc.).

7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up (was not presumption, but rather Faith in action): and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength (this was a Miracle).

8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the Temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God (constantly praising God):

10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple (he had been coming there, no doubt, for years): and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him (his healing was indisputable).

11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John (he didn’t want to let Peter and John out of his sight; it was as if his malady would return when they left, or so he thought), all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering (it drew a crowd, which the Holy Spirit intended).

THE SERMON

12 And when Peter saw it (the crowd gathering), he answered unto the people, You men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? (In essence, he is saying that Jesus is alive, and His Work is continuing.) or why look you so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we have made this man to walk? (He turns the attention from himself and John to the Lord Jesus Christ.)

13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His Son Jesus (Chrysostom said, “He thrust himself upon the Fathers of old, lest he should appear to be introducing a new doctrine.”); Whom you delivered up (pertains to the Chief Priest delivering Jesus to Pilate to be Crucified), and denied Him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go (the Holy Spirit puts most of the blame on the religious leaders of Israel).

14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just (proclaims the terrible sin of Israel, and the terrible sin of most of humanity as well, and for all time), and desired a murderer to be granted unto you (speaks of Barabbas [Mat. 27:15-26], and murderers have ruled them ever since!);

15 And killed the Prince of Life (Peter minced no words, not at all softening his Message), Whom God has raised from the dead (the Resurrection, as would be obvious, ratified what was done at the Cross); whereof we are witnesses (means that they had personally seen the Resurrected Christ; there is no greater witness than an eyewitness).

16 And His Name through Faith in His Name has made this man strong (presents the key to all things!), whom you see and know (there was no denying the Miracle): yes, the Faith which is by Him (Jesus) has given him (the crippled man) this perfect soundness in the presence of you all (no partial healing, but a total healing, which is the way the Lord does things).

17 And now, brethren, I reckon that through ignorance you did it, as did also your Rulers (while they were ignorant, regrettably it was a willful ignorance; in other words, they had no desire to know the Truth about Jesus).

18 But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all His Prophets (in other words, had they known the Bible, which they certainly should have known, they would have known about Jesus), that Christ should suffer (the entirety of the story of the Bible is “Jesus Christ and Him Crucified”), He has so fulfilled (proclaims that His Death was predestined, but not who would commit the deed).

19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted (Repentance is an admittance that God is right, and we are wrong; he was speaking to the Rulers as well as to the people), that your sins may be blotted out (speaks of Justification by Faith), when the times of refreshing shall come from the Presence of the Lord (should have been translated, “In order that the times of refreshing shall come from the Presence of the Lord”);

20 And He shall send Jesus Christ (pertains to the Second Coming [Rev., Chpt. 19]), which before was preached unto you (through the Prophets, and as well the public Ministry of Christ to Israel for some three and a half years):

21 Whom the Heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things (refers to Jesus remaining in Heaven until this Dispensation of Grace has run its course, after which He will return to this Earth), which God has spoken by the mouth of all His Holy Prophets since the world began (once again, had they known the Word of God, which then consisted of Genesis through Malachi, they would have known all these things).

22 For Moses truly said unto the Fathers (Deut. 18:15-19), A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me (the Promise of the Messiah); Him shall you hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you (could not be clearer).

23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that Prophet (refers to the entirety of the world), shall be destroyed from among the people (will be eternally lost!).

24 Yes, and all the Prophets from Samuel (even though there were Prophets before Samuel, he was the first one to stand in the Office of the Prophet), and those who follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days (speaks of all the Prophets, at least in one way or another, pointing to the coming Redeemer, Who would be the Lord Jesus Christ).

25 You are the children of the Prophets (means that they should have known what the Prophets had said), and of the Covenant which God made with our Fathers (refers to the Abrahamic Covenant [Gen. 12:1-3]), saying unto Abraham, And in your seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed (speaks of Jesus Christ as that “Seed”).

26 Unto you first (refers to the offer of Salvation being made first to the Jews [Lk. 24:47; Rom. 1:16; 2:10]) God, having raised up His Son Jesus (refers to the Resurrection), sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his (your) iniquities (only Jesus could do this, which He did by His atoning Work at the Cross [Eph. 2:13-18]).

Chapter 4

(A.D. 33)

PERSECUTION

1 And as they spoke unto the people, the Priests, and the captain of the Temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them (the “Sadducees” almost completely controlled the High Priesthood, and actually most of the Priestly duties of the Temple),

2 Being grieved that they taught the people (worried), and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead (they were angry that Jesus and the Resurrection were being preached, which Doctrine the Sadducees denied [Lk. 20:27]).

3 And they laid hands on them (arrested them), and put them in hold unto the next day (a small prison in the confines of the Temple): for it was now evening.

4 Howbeit many of them which heard the Word believed (they believed on Christ, thereby accepting Him as the Messiah of Israel and the Saviour of men); and the number of the men was about five thousand (seems to speak only of men, so including women and children, it could have numbered ten thousand or more).

5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their Rulers, and Elders, and Scribes,

6 And Annas the High Priest, and Caiaphas, and John (probably was Johanan Ben Zakkai, a famous Rabbi of that time), and Alexander (probably was Alexander Lysimachus, one of the richest Jews of his time who contributed very generously to the Temple), and as many as were of the kindred of the High Priest (possibly all five sons of Annas were present), were gathered together at Jerusalem (some of them probably didn’t live in Jerusalem, but happened to be there at that time).

7 And when they had set them in the midst (Peter and John), they asked, By what power, or by what name, have you done this? (By the crippled man being healed, they already knew the answer.)

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them (the Holy Spirit is mentioned in one way or the other in the Book of Acts over fifty times), You Rulers of the people, and Elders of Israel (the Holy Spirit, through Peter, is pointing out the responsibility these religious leaders hold as the spiritual guides of the people),

9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man (proclaims Peter, in effect, asking as to how or why a good deed such as this should be questioned at all?!), by what means he is made whole (presents the cause of the attitude and action of the ruling body of Israel);

10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel (once again, Peter will not mince words), that by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth (he desired that there be no mistake as it regards the One of Whom He was speaking; since the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, Peter is not the same man he was when he denied Christ even before a young maiden; he will now boldly stand up for Christ in front of the entirety of the ruling body of Israel), Whom you Crucified (places the emphasis on the word “you,” thereby pointedly and directly fastening the terrible sin of Crucifying their Messiah squarely on their shoulders; as stated, he pulled no punches), Whom God raised from the dead (proclaims words they certainly didn’t want to hear), even by Him does this man stand here before you whole (the man was evidently brought with Peter and John before the Council; in essence, Peter is saying that a dead man could not produce these results).

11 This is the Stone which was set at nought of you builders (Jesus is the Stone [Ps. 118:22-23]), which is become the Head of the Corner (Israel rejected Him, but it did not stop the Plan of God; Israel only succeeded in destroying themselves).

12 Neither is there Salvation in any other (proclaims unequivocally that Jesus Alone holds the key to Salvation, and in fact is Salvation): for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (says it all!).

RELEASE

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John (pertains not only to what was spoken, but to the power with which it was spoken as well), and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled (means they had not studied in the Rabbinical Schools; in fact, they were not “unlearned and ignorant,” but rather the very opposite!); and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus (this explained it all).

14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them (presents a beautiful picture!), they could say nothing against it (proclaims the proof which was obvious to all!).

15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the Council (proclaims the fact that God had left this Council a long time ago), they conferred among themselves (but not with the Scriptures),

16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? (Why would they want to do anything negative to these men?) for that indeed a notable miracle has been done by them is manifest to all them who dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it (infers that the news of this man’s Miraculous Healing had spread far and wide, even in the last few hours).

17 But that it spread no further among the people (seems to present their greatest fear), let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this Name (automatically places the situation into a posture which cannot be obeyed).

18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the Name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the Sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye (in effect, Peter and John are saying that these religious leaders are not of God, are not doing the Work of God and, consequently, do not have the Mind of God, irrespective of their claims).

20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard (there are two groups of Christians, those who “cannot speak” and those who “cannot but speak”).

21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them (what had they done that warranted punishment?), because of the people (they feared an uprising): for all men Glorified God for that which was done (and rightly so!).

22 For the man was above forty years old (carries the idea that this man was mature, responsible, and, therefore, could be believed), on whom this Miracle of Healing was showed.

PRAISE AND PRAYER

23 And being let go (Peter and John were no longer under arrest), they went to their own company (probably the other Apostles and others, perhaps many others), and reported all that the Chief Priests and Elders had said unto them (presents the first account of opposition against the Early Church; it was not long in coming).

24 And when they heard that (heard the account), they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said (all were praying in one way or the other), Lord, You are God, which has made Heaven, and Earth, and the sea, and all that in them is (a compendium of what was said):

25 Who by the mouth of Your servant David has said (refers to the Second Psalm), Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? (This is used by the Holy Spirit to refer to these religious leaders concerning Jesus. This proclaims the fact that the Messiah is the Person spoken of in the Second Psalm.)

26 The Kings of the earth stood up, and the Rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against His Christ (this Psalm speaks of all the opposition against Christ from the very beginning, but more particularly speaks of the coming Antichrist).

27 For of a truth against Your Holy Child Jesus, Whom You have anointed (proclaims Jesus as the fulfillment of all the Prophecies, the Son of God, the Incarnate One, the Saviour of Men), both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles (the Romans), and the people of Israel, were gathered together (they were “gathered together” for the express purpose of Crucifying Christ),

28 For to do whatsoever Your Hand and Your Counsel determined before to be done (speaks of predestination concerning Christ, His Death on Calvary’s Cross, and His Resurrection from the dead; but again we state that those who were to Crucify Him were not determined by God; they did this cruel deed by their own choice).

29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings (proclaims those praying turning over these rulers and others to the Lord, in order that He may handle the situation): and grant unto Your servants, that with all boldness they may speak Your Word (proclaims the very opposite of that demanded by the religious leaders of Israel),

30 By stretching forth Your Hand to heal (proclaims the request for more Healings and Miracles); and that signs and wonders may be done by the Name of Your Holy Child Jesus (all speak of the Power of God, but in the “Name of Jesus”).

31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together (this literally happened; the assembly place shook, and did so by the Power of God); and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit (it means the Holy Spirit was leading and guiding them), and they spoke the Word of God with boldness (the Lord answered their prayer by giving them more boldness, and they did not hesitate to speak accordingly; this is something the modern Church desperately needs as well, and would have if the Holy Spirit were prevalent and present).

BELIEVERS

32 And the multitude of them who believed were of one heart and of one soul (speaks of unity which can only be brought about by the Holy Spirit; man’s efforts to do such always fall short): neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common (once again, this refers to the great persecution suffered by the Believers in Jerusalem at that time; many who came to Christ lost their jobs because they were excommunicated from the Synagogue; many were put out of their apartments, etc.; so, others who did not suffer such losses had to share, which they gladly did).

33 And with great power gave the Apostles witness of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus (this was done by the Holy Spirit greatly anointing the Apostles to attest to the Resurrection of Christ, and by signs and wonders being performed as well): and great Grace was upon them all (is a portrayal of the beginning of the great dispensation of Grace, which actually began on the Day of Pentecost).

34 Neither was there any among them who lacked (those who lost their employment, etc., had their needs met): for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold (refers to extra possessions, etc.),

35 And laid them down at the Apostles’ feet (they were entrusted with this largesse): and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need (no hint of communism here, as some have suggested).

36 And Joseph, who by the Apostles was surnamed Barnabas (Barnabas became a Prophet and an Apostle [Acts 13:1; 14:14], (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus (he was a Jew who had been born in Cyprus and lived there for a considerable period of time, as likely his father had done before him; being a Levite, he was of the Priestly class, although not a Priest),

37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the Apostles’ feet (probably refers to property in Cyprus).

Chapter 5

(A.D. 33)

ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA

1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession (the story of this man and his wife was placed here in graphic detail by the Holy Spirit as a warning),

2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it (instantly proclaims the conception of this great sin and its deception in being carried out), and brought a certain part, and laid it at the Apostles’ feet (a detailed plan with a very wide application; it was done with a certain purpose in mind).

3 But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled Your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit (presents two Gifts of the Spirit in operation: “Discerning of Spirits,” and “A Word of Knowledge”; how many millions of professing Christians are presently lying to the Holy Spirit?), and to keep back part of the price of the land? (This details their insidious plan.)

4 While it remained, was it not your own? and after it was sold, was it not in your own power? (This means simply that God did not require of them to sell the land, or to give all the money received to the Work of the Lord.) why have you conceived this thing in your heart? (This proclaims to us where sin originates.) you have not lied unto men, but unto God (actually portrays the object of all sin; it is against God!).

5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost (he was stricken dead on the spot): and great fear came on all them who heard these things (this is the type of healthy fear of God that all men should have).

6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him (prepared him for burial).

7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.

8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether you sold the land for so much? And she said, Yes, for so much (all of this seems to indicate that these were not strangers among the thousands who had gotten saved, but were fairly well known; she had an opportunity to tell the truth, but didn’t!).

9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? (Peter’s question concerning the tempting of the Holy Spirit seems to imply that the Spirit of God dealt with them greatly so, but to no avail. They pushed aside His Warnings.) behold, the feet of them which have buried your husband are at the door, and shall carry you out (seems to imply that the Lord had already told Peter what her reaction would be, and that the same young men who had attended her husband were waiting to do the same with her).

10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost (presents the Judgment of God striking her exactly as it had stricken her husband): and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband (prepared her for burial).

11 And great fear came upon all the Church, and upon as many as heard these things (inasmuch as the Holy Spirit again makes the same statement as He had made in Verse 5, we are made to realize that God is to be feared as well as praised; also, if it is to be known, the same Judgment is happening presently, but not so dramatic; the Holy Spirit is the same, so the results have to be the same).

POWER

12 And by the hands of the Apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people (the Church was founded on the Power of God, and is meant to continue by the Power of God); (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch (portrays a roofed colonnade bearing Solomon’s name, which ran along the eastern wall in the Court of the Gentiles of Herod’s Temple).

13 And of the rest does no man join himself to them (to the Apostles): but the people magnified them (they knew the Apostles were of the Lord and that the Lord was greatly using them, so they found no fault with them).

14 And Believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) (It could have been as many as forty or fifty thousand, or even more.)

15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches (evidently refers to two or three different streets on which Peter and the Apostles came to the Temple each day; the crowds were so large they could not all get into the Temple Court), that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them (implying that when this happened, healing resulted).

16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks (proclaims the extent to which this Move of God had reached), and them which were vexed with unclean spirits (probably implying that much of the sickness was caused by demon spirits): and they were healed every one (delivered and healed).

PERSECUTION

17 Then the High Priest rose up (either speaks of Annas or Caiaphas, which one is not clear), and all they who were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation (refers here to “envy” or “jealousy”),

18 And laid their hands on the Apostles (refers to all Twelve), and put them in the common prison.

DELIVERANCE

19 But the Angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors (should have been translated, “an Angel”; it was one of the many Angels who serve as Ministering Spirits to Believers [Heb. 1:14], and brought them forth, and said (brought them out of the prison),

20 Go, stand and speak in the Temple to the people all the words of this life (presents instructions directly opposite of those the religious leaders had given; these were “Words” announcing Eternal Life to dying men).

21 And when they heard that, they entered into the Temple early in the morning, and taught (proclaims it was the night before that they were released by the Angel). But the High Priest came, and they who were with Him, and called the Council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel (the entirety of the Jewish Sanhedrin, the ruling body of Israel), and sent to the prison to have them brought (they were in for quite a surprise).

22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told (presents a scenario which is absolutely unbelievable, but yet totally true!),

23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety (presents the fact that nothing seemed unusual, and that the locks had not been tampered with), and the keepers standing without before the doors (presents the fact that the guards had no idea what had happened): but when we had opened, we found no man within (what must these jailers have thought?).

24 Now when the High Priest and the Captain of the Temple and the Chief Priests heard these things (imagine their surprise!), they doubted of them whereunto this would grow (they were thoroughly perplexed; no one could explain what had happened or where it would stop!).

ON TRIAL

25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the Temple, and teaching the people (they obeyed exactly what the Angel had said do).

26 Then went the Captain with the officers, and brought them without violence (means they did not bind them, but simply asked that they follow): for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned (they feared the people, but they did not fear Him Who manifested His Power in opening the prison, for their hearts and consciences were hardened with hatred against Him and His followers).

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the Council (implies the full Sanhedrin of seventy-one members, plus onlookers): and the High Priest asked them,

28 Saying, Did not we straitly Command you that you should not teach in this Name? and, behold, You have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine (proclaims the success of their Preaching and Teaching), and intend to bring this Man’s blood upon us (seems to now seek to avoid their own imprecation, having previously prayed that “His Blood might be on them and on their children” [Mat. 27: 25]).

29 Then Peter and the other Apostles answered and said (represents their answer being instant and unequivocally clear), We ought to obey God rather than men (in this brave reply there was neither pride nor self-will; there was faithfulness, subjection to Truth, and intelligence in the Scriptures; Hervey said, “The rule is a golden one for all men, all circumstances, and all time”).

30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus (Peter links Jesus with the Patriarchs and Prophets of old, as well with God), Whom you slew and hanged on a tree (places the responsibility of the murder of Christ squarely on the shoulders of the Sanhedrin).

31 Him has God exalted with his Right Hand (refers to the fact that the Power of God not only raised Jesus from the dead, but as well has seated Him at His Own Right Hand in the Heavenlies [Rom. 8:34; Eph. 1:20]) to be a Prince and a Saviour (as “Prince,” He is the Titular Leader of Israel and the Church; as “Saviour,” He is the “Deliverer,” and there is no other), for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins (tells us that not only is the Lord Jesus the Medium of Forgiveness and Life, but He is the Dispenser of both; as well, He “Gives,” not sells!”).

32 And we are His witnesses of these things (in effect, says that their Doctrine was not a mere philosophy, but rather eyewitness accounts); and so is also the Holy Spirit, Whom God has given to them who obey Him (the witness of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and lives of Believers guarantees the veracity of all that Christ has done at the Cross).

33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart (Peter’s words were said with powerful conviction), and took counsel to slay them (is the reaction which normally comes from the world of religion).

GAMALIEL

34 Then stood there up one in the Council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a Doctor of the Law, had in reputation among all the people (constitutes one of the most celebrated and honored Jewish Rabbis; He was Grandson of Hillel and succeeded as President of the Sanhedrin on the death of His Father, Rabbi Simeon, son of Hillel), and commanded to put the Apostles forth a little space (in order that his word of wisdom may be given to the members of the Sanhedrin);

35 And said unto them, You men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do as touching these men (evidently, the Holy Spirit moved upon him to take this position).

36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody (evidently concerns a particular insurrection led by this man, which had recently taken place); to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought (refers to those who were dupes of this self-pronounced Messiah, or some such).

37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him (another insurrectionist): he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed (proclaims these as coming to the same end as those under Theudas).

38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone (in effect, Gamaliel was saying, “let them alone, Rome will handle the problem”): for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought (in this case, such advice was correct):

39 But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it (presents a great Truth as given by Gamaliel); lest haply you be found even to fight against God (presents the very worst position in which anyone can find themselves).

PERSECUTION

40 And to him they agreed (at least about not killing them): and when they had called the Apostles, and beaten them (presents a cruel and brutal punishment which was cowardly and unjust), they commanded that they should not speak in the Name of Jesus, and let them go (presents the second command not to Preach in this Name [Acts 4:17-18]).

REJOICING

41 And they departed from the presence of the Council (proclaims that from which the Lord had long since departed), rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name (presents the first sharp stroke of persecution; it was bitter and painful to the flesh, but caused rejoicing in the spirit; shame is Glory if suffered for the Name).

42 And daily in the Temple (presents them boldly and properly disregarding their illegal Judges, as they kept on preaching that Jesus was the Promised Messiah), and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ (tells us that the Churches then were in houses for the most part, if not altogether).

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