ACTS 1

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ACTS 1

• WAITING FOR PENTECOST

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ACTS 11-5 - INTRODUCTION

• ADDRESSED TO MOST EXCELLENT THEOPHILIUS
• Who is he?
• A Roman official/ a convert
• An alias to protect persons name lover of God
• Any Christian reader, as they are lover of God!
• Author has written another book Lukes
  Gospelthis is Volume 2
• Luke 11following claims reliability and
  accuracy

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ACTS 16-8 THE COMMISSION

• After the resurrection Jesus is still teaching
  the apostles.
• He spoke to them about the Kingdom of God
• To wait for the gift of the Spirit
• They still misunderstand the meaning of the
  Kingdom, and the nature of the kingdom and
  Spirit.

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ACTS 16-8 THE COMMISSION

• The Kingdom of God is Spiritual in character.
• (See Stott, p.41 footnote 6) It is not a
  geographical place, or a political territory. It
  is a kingdom of the Holy Spirit. A kingdom where
  God rules in the hearts of his people through the
  Spirit.

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ACTS 16-8 THE COMMISSION

• The Kingdom of God is International in
  membership.
• The Holy Spirit will empower his followers to
  be witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
  Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts
  18).
• This is a very different idea to traditional
  Jewish thinking. People are going out,
  centrifugal mission (out from the centre) and
  not waiting for people to come in, centripetal.
  Christ rules not just Israel, but over the whole
  of creation race, rank, sex, colour,
  nationality, language are no barriers to
  Christian fellowship.

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ACTS 16-8 THE COMMISSION

• The Kingdom of God is Gradual in process. When
  the disciples ask Jesus if This is the time, he
  replies that -
• It is not their position or job to know- times
  and dates are for God to decide. The Parousia
  is at a time of Gods choosing.
• Between Pentecost and Parousia they have work to
  do the world-wide mission of the church

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Acts 112-14

• After the short walk back to Jerusalem they spend
  their time in prayer.
• There are two characteristics of this prayer
• Their prayer was UNITED. The 11 are named plus
  the women who have followed and supported Jesus
  and the disciples. Luke emphasises the
  single-mindedness of the followers and their
  unity
• Their prayer was PERSEVERING. It was constant
  and persistent. The Apostles follow Jesus
  command to wait for the Spirit they are
  together, they are praying and confident.

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Acts 115-26 Final acts before Pentecost

• 1. The Death of Judas (118-19)
• Luke describes Judas act as wicked
• Matthew describes his death as suicide not here.
• Who bought the field?
• Akeldama Field of Blood. Judas blood spilt on
  it or Blood money?

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Acts 115-26 Final acts before Pentecost

• 2. Fulfilment of scripture (115-17 20)
• Scripture is used as evidence to explain what had
  happened.
• This emphasises that the new covenant is a
  continuation of the old, and indeed its
  fulfilment. This is what everything has been
  leading up to!

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Acts 115-26 Final acts before Pentecost

• 3. The Choice of Matthias (121-26)
• Apostolic ministry- the apostles have to preach
  about Jesus and the Resurrection.
• Apostolic Qualification-a follower of Jesus from
  his baptism, and, a witness to the resurrection.
• Apostolic Appointment- Jesus chose Matthias, not
  anyone else!
• The 12 are reformed/ completethe New people of
  God / the new Israel / the new covenant

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Acts 115-26 Final acts before Pentecost

• Even though they cast lots, it is Christ who
  decided. How they make the choice
• Follow Scripture (116-21)
• Common sense, they need to replace Judas
• Prayed
• Cast lots
• Now everything is in place for Pentecost.