Terry Collins

The work of Jesus’ apostles was popular at first, but good can be tolerated only so long. Evil will resist. The Jewish temple leadership would be the first to resist. They undoubtedly hoped that the wave of activity by Jesus’ disciples would ebb. But the truth must be told. The gospel must be preached. Jesus lives and reigns! So Peter and John preached Jesus and the resurrection.

The Sadducees were the Jewish sect that controlled temple activities. The Romans allowed the Jews to police the temple and to judge matters of religion in Jerusalem, as long as they did not contradict Rome. The Sadducees did not believe in Jesus and did not believe in the resurrection, angels, or spirits (Acts 23:7). Since the resurrection is front and center in the gospel story, the Sadducees would not allow it. They arrested Peter and John. But notice verse 4— “Many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand” (Acts 4:4). This number did not include women and younger people. The church multiplied! Summary statements of the growth of the church will continue throughout the book of Acts.

The unbelieving Jewish aristocracy met to judge Peter and John. Speaking with bravery and with the promised Holy Spirit as guide, Peter defended proclaiming the faith. Are you asking if we healed a man by the power of Jesus? You bet we did! Then he quoted Psalm 118:22. Jesus did not fit into the plan of men, but he was the capstone in God’s plan for the church. The capstone or cornerstone is the main building block. Nothing else works without it. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Peter and John were not rabbinical students. They were not trained in the ways of the priests and the Sadducees. Their faith and information came from Jesus! Seeing the healed man standing before them, the Jewish leaders could not deny that a great thing had been done. Putting the apostles aside from the Sanhedrin or Jewish Supreme Court, they decided to simply demand that the apostles stop speaking in Jesus’ name. Peter’s response is classic: “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20).

Don’t you love the church’s response to the threat? They met for prayer. Why do unbelievers see such a threat in Jesus? While they may hurt us physically, they cannot prevent the spread of the truth (Matt. 10:28). Ours is a warfare of ideals, seeking to change minds and save souls (2 Cor. 10:3-5). When the place shook by the power of the Spirit it was clear the cause would go on. It still does. Let us speak boldly for Jesus.

The display of Christian generosity is a beautiful demonstration of the love Jesus teaches. It is not a call for a promised standard of living. Those who have plenty must help those in genuine need (1 John 3:17). Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus was a man of great generosity. He was called Barnabas, or Son of Encouragement by the apostles. Be a Barnabas!

My comments are not an inspired commentary, but rather a few words to draw attention to the background, context, and dynamic situation of the book of Acts. May God bless your reading of His Word. T.C.

The power of the Holy Spirit given to the Apostles at Pentecost continued throughout the lives of these men. Miracles were performed primarily to call attention to the power behind the event. These supernatural events continued to give proof that Jesus is the Son of God (Heb. 2:3-4). The miracles of both Jesus and the Apostles were of such a nature that no one thought, “Well they just faked that.” Modern-day “miracle workers” have been caught adjusting a shoe in pretending to make one leg equal to the length of the other.

Peter and John were headed to the Temple, not to worship as Old Testament believers, but to proclaim the Gospel of Christ. Find the people where they are and preach Jesus. The Temple would remain a popular place until it was demolished by the Romans 40 years later. On their way, Peter and John encountered a man crippled from birth. Truly disabled. A man who depended on begging to live. While he expected money, he received something far greater. As Peter healed the crippled beggar, he gave credit and glory to Jesus. The man jumped to his feet and accompanied them through the temple courts, “walking and jumping, and praising God” (Acts 3:8). If that won’t get your attention, what will? Onlookers knew the man and were amazed at the healing.

Solomon’s Colonnade was a porch along the inner side of a wall enclosing the outer court of the Temple. This beautiful place provided the setting for Peter’s second recorded sermon. Astounded Israelites were ready to listen. Peter declared that the very Jesus they had killed had healed the crippled man. They had killed Jesus in ignorance, but they were still responsible for their actions. Peter challenged them to “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out” (Acts 3:19). Repentance is a change of mind. Turning to God involves the baptism commanded in Acts 2:38. All cases of conversion in the book of Acts agree in essential details, but different words and phrases are used to describe them.

In his sermon from Solomon’s Colonnade, Peter refers to Moses’ prophecy of the Christ (Deut. 18:15-19). A prophet is an inspired spokesman. The office of prophecy would be especially important in the Mosaic Age and early in the Christian Age. Jesus is the ultimate spokesman for God. “Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people” (Acts 3:23; 2 Thess. 1:7-9). Peter continued to connect Jesus to the Old Testament narrative, declaring that “all the prophets” foretold the coming of Jesus Christ. Christians are heirs of all that God promised to Abraham and continued to promise through the prophets (Gal. 3:26-29). Jesus is not to be seen as an upstart challenger to the Old Testament message, but as the ultimate fulfillment of the Old Covenant (Matt. 5:17-18).

My comments are not an inspired commentary, but rather a few words to draw attention to the background, context, and dynamic situation of the book of Acts. May God bless your reading of His Word. T.C.

This chapter has been aptly called “the hub of the Bible.” Everything that comes before leads to the culmination of God’s plan in Acts 2. Promises and prophecies of the Old Testament are fulfilled here. Isaiah 2, Daniel 2, and Joel 2 find their fulfillment in the establishment of the church in Jerusalem, as recorded in this chapter. It is not possible to overstate the importance of what occurs here. The first gospel sermon is preached. For the first time, sinners learn how to obey the gospel and be saved through Jesus’ sacrifice. The church is founded, forming the community of believers that Jesus promised in Matt. 16 and prayed for in John 17. This is the assembly of souls that Jesus died for, purchasing the church with his own blood (Acts 20:28).

It is important to note that only the apostles were recipients of the baptism of the Holy Spirit on this occasion. Although 120 believers are mentioned in the previous chapter, the focus has shifted to the apostles. No chapter divisions existed in original New Testament documents. The antecedent of “they” in 2:1 is “apostles” in 1:26. Jesus grants this special guidance and power to the few men he had personally trained to carry on his work (Acts 2:7, 14).

Multitudes of Jews had gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost, the last Old Testament festival ever celebrated with God’s approval. This was the day of transition from Old Covenant to New. From the Law to the Gospel (John 1:17). The sound like wind and the appearance of fiery tongues signaled the arrival of the Holy Spirit. Among the crowd of Jewish celebrants, the apostles began to preach the good news of Jesus. The apostles were enabled to speak in the dialects and languages of all those who gathered. This miraculous ability helped convince listeners that both the gift of tongues and the message of the speakers must be from God.

Having gained their attention, Peter began to speak to the whole crowd in their common language. Peter explained that the amazing arrival of the Spirit was fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy about the outpouring of the Spirit to usher in the last days, the Christian age (Joel 2:28-32). Peter plainly preached Jesus as the Son of God and Savior of mankind. That generation of Israelites had Jesus killed through the instrument of the Roman government, but we are all responsible for his death. Only through his death could we all be saved.

While the death of Jesus atones for sins, his resurrection is equally important (Rom. 1:4). He arose from the dead and reigns over his church from the side of the Heavenly Father. Peter quotes the Psalmist to establish that the Savior would not be defeated by death. Even as Jesus promised, the gates of hades (the unseen place of departed spirits) would not overcome his efforts. The apostles served as credible, literal witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.

The gospel is God’s power for leading souls to salvation (Rom. 1:16-17). Many in the crowd of listeners were genuinely cut to the heart by Peter’s powerful message. They cried out for instruction. How could they be saved? What must they do? The answer given to them is also the answer for us today. Having believed that Jesus is God’s Son, they are told to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. The word “remission” in the King James Version is not sufficient to express what Peter states in the original language. To forgive is to pardon and to let go of the offense and its guilt. Repentance is the change of mind that leads to a change of heart. Penitent sinners must be baptized (immersed) in the name of Jesus Christ to obtain the forgiveness made possible by Jesus’ death (Matt. 26:28). The water does not save, but God meets us in baptism with forgiveness. Baptism is a picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (Rom. 6:1-4). We die to our sins, we are buried in water, and we arise a new creation, born again (2 Cor. 5:17; John 3:3-5). It is foolish to discount the act of baptism in the process of salvation (1 Pet. 3:21). Do you remember your baptism? The setting, the decision, the knowledge that your sins were truly forgiven? If you have not obeyed the Lord in this way, please do not wait. We would be delighted to assist you (Acts 22:16). “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation” (Acts 2:40). About 3,000 obeyed the gospel on that great day. Some were local residents, but many came from other communities in Israel and from lands beyond. God’s beautiful plan for the church community immediately became evident. The believers, later known as Christians, began to worship together and to enjoy fellowship in Christ. They practiced the love, hospitality, and generosity the Lord teaches. The power of the gospel continued to persuade others, and the church grew rapidly (Acts 2:47). Would it not be wonderful to see a return to days like these? The gospel is still good news to all who need it. God’s people must share it.

My comments are not an inspired commentary, but rather a few words to draw attention to the background, context, and dynamic situation of the book of Acts. May God bless your reading of His Word. T.C.

Luke is the author of both the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. In chapter one, Luke’s inspired story of Jesus and the story of his church dovetail. Luke summarizes the contents of his first volume and provides a brief outline of the contents of the second volume, the book of Acts (Acts 1:8). The church is established, the gospel spreads, and congregations are established throughout the world. Luke writes an inspired history of the beginning and spread of Jesus’ church. Acts covers about 30 years of church history.

The apostles of Jesus Christ are the primary evangelists in the book of Acts. The Lord continues to instruct them for 40 days following his resurrection. Jesus tells them to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit. They will be baptized (completely covered) with power given by the Spirit. It seems the apostles still expect a physical kingdom, but they will soon see more clearly, when the Holy Spirit guides them into all truth. Jesus had promised this guidance and revelation of the truth in the Upper Room conversation (John chapters 14-16).

After restating the Great Commission, Jesus is taken up to heaven in dramatic fashion from the Mount of Olives. Angels assure the apostles that Jesus will return in similar fashion someday. We must remain ready and watchful for his return (Matt. 24:42).

Jesus had taught that the kingdom would come within the lifetime of some who heard his voice (Mark 9:1). The kingdom would come with power, and power would come with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). As the apostles and others anticipated the coming of the Holy Spirit, “They all joined together constantly in prayer” (Acts 1:14). Prayer plays a major role in the book of Acts. About 120 disciples were on vigil as the kingdom approached.

Jesus was betrayed by Judas, one of his own apostles. The Lord had known from the beginning that one of his own would hand him over to be executed. But in keeping with the will of God, he allowed the narrative to play out. He still treated Judas as he treated the others, until the occasion of the Last Supper. Judas had been played by the devil, but he made his own choice. Luke makes it clear that Judas had truly been one of the inner circle, yet he fell. We all make our own choice.

It is apparent the apostles were led by the Lord to appoint a replacement for Judas, the son of perdition. Peter refers to Psalms 69:25 and 109:8 as the ground for replacing Judas. General principles guide the apostles to a specific fulfillment. The words, “Therefore it is necessary” indicate the apostles knew this choice to be the will of God (Acts 1:21). The apostles sought out one who had been with them from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.

Although we learn all three names of one man who would qualify, the other man is chosen. Matthias becomes the 12^th apostle of Jesus Christ, an authoritative witness to the story of Jesus Christ. The casting of lots was an ancient way of impartial choice, like drawing straws. By this means, God was called on to make the choice (Prov. 16:33). As chapter 1 ends, the full complement of apostles continues to await the promised Spirit (Luke 24:49).

My comments are not an inspired commentary, but rather a few words to draw attention to the background, context, and dynamic situation of the book of Acts. May God bless your reading of His Word. T.C.