The beginning of the church

NT2 – Study 2

Outline of this study

1. Prologue to Acts (1:1-11)2. The twelfth apostle (1:12-36)3. Pentecost: the coming of the

Spirit (2:1-13)4. Peter’s sermon (2:14-41)5. The significance of Pentecost6. The new community (2:42-47)

1. Prologue to Acts (1:1-11)

WHICH PUMP??WHICH PUMP???

1. Prologue to Acts (1:1-11)

• UNITY between Jesus & early church

Luke’s Gospel (Vol 1)

• Dedication & statement of purpose (Lk 1:1-4)• What Jesus ‘began to do and teach’ • Show forth salvation of Jesus (Lk 19:10)

Acts (Vol 2)

• Re-dedication & summarise what Jesus has done (Ac 1:1-2)• Purpose?

Link??Link??

1. Prologue to Acts (1:1-11)

WAIT for God’s promised gift

REVISIT expectations about the kingdom

ENLARGE scope of witness

• INSTRUCTIONS to disciples

1. Prologue to Acts (1:1-11)

1.1 ‘The kingdom of God’ (KOG) Jesus’ agenda ...

-> “speaking about the kingdom of God.” (1:4) ... according to Scriptures (cf. Lk 24:25-27, 44-49)

-> God’s sovereignty decisively manifested through death & resurrection of Jesus

... now continues through preaching of the gospel-> bringing “all flesh” under God’s Messiah-> by the power of the Spirit

1. Prologue to Acts (1:1-11)

1.2 Beginning in Jerusalem Jerusalem is the ordained centre of God's earthly

purposes (cf. Lk 1 & 24, Acts 1) Cf. OT prophesies -> Jerusalem/Zion as the centre of

blessing for the whole world in last days (e.g. Isa 2:1-4; 62:1-7; Zech 8)

1. Prologue to Acts (1:1-11)

1.3 The kingdom & Israel Disciple's question in 1:6 sets the stage: RESTORE

KINGDOM TO ISRAEL NOW? Jewish expectation of KOG (cf. Spencer, 36)

• Mass return of scattered Israelites to the holy city• Glorious new Israelite kingdom under a Davidic king, • Gentile streaming to Jerusalem, acknowledging Israel’s

sovereignty• Gentiles voluntarily converted or forcibly brought to

submission

1. Prologue to Acts (1:1-11)

1.3 ‘The kingdom of God’ (KOG) – cont’d Jesus ENDORSES and RECONFIGURES expectation

• Pentecost endorses reality of some blessings NOW• But NOT YET in full• NOW is time to Preach + Faithful living + Wait

1. Prologue to Acts (1:1-11)

1.3 ‘The kingdom of God’ (KOG) – cont’dThe Jewish expectation

NT Teaching

1. Prologue to Acts (1:1-11)

1.4 Jesus’ ascension ‘taken up’ by God (1:9); ‘a cloud’ (cf. Ex 19:9; Ps

18:11-12; Lk 9:34-35). Implications

-> Replacement of Jerusalem temple? Christ the ascended King, pray “in Jesus’ name”

-> Responsibility to witness? Cf. Jesus’ parables on “parousia” (Lk 12:35-48; 19:12-27)

-> Scope of witness? (see 1.5)

1. Prologue to Acts (1:1-11)

1.5 Salvation to the ends of the earth Ac 1:8 is KEY!!! Interpret THEOLOGICALLY rather than

GEOGRAPHICALLY

STAGE 1: JERUSALEM

where Jesus finished his work and where Israel was to be restored in the remnant of Jews who believed in him as

Messiah

1. Prologue to Acts (1:1-11)

1.5 Salvation to the ends of the earth – cont’d

STAGE 2: “JUDEA-SAMARIA”(Note single article in Greek!)

The area of the ancient kingdoms of Judah and Israel, fulfilling the ancient promises of the restoration of the "whole" house of Israel under one king (Ezk 37:15-19)

1. Prologue to Acts (1:1-11)

1.5 Salvation to the ends of the earth – cont’d

STAGE 3: ‘THE ENDS OF THE EARTH’

A key expression indicating that God intends salvation for all peoples (Isa 49:6; cf. Ac 13:47). The point of the phrase is to

eliminate any stopping point (Rome or elsewhere) before the whole of the inhabited world is covered. The closing

words of Acts are deliberately open-ended.

2. The twelfth apostle (1:12-36)

2. The twelfth apostle (1:12-36) "Twelve“

-> representing the whole of Israel (cf. 22:28-30), while the stated criteria (1:21-22) reinforces the scope of their "witness" (cf. ‘all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up’, 1:1-2)-> apart from Peter and John, all the others received their last mention in 1:13, while new witnesses are encountered: Barnabas, Stephen, Philip, James, and Paul!

=> Possibility for others to join the original band of disciples (Spencer, 40)

3. Pentecost: the coming of the Spirit (2:1-13)

3. Pentecost: the coming of the Spirit

3.1 “Pentecost”: A Jewish festival “Fiftieth“ – celebrated 50 days or 7 weeks after

Passover. Originally Festival of Firstfruits (Lev 23:15-22),

a.k.a. “Feast of Weeks”, when wheat harvest was celebrated.

God's covenant with Noah and Moses recalled + anniversary of the giving of the Law at Mt Sinai.

3. Pentecost: the coming of the Spirit

3.2 Signs of God’s presence Recalls Numbers 11 (70 elders) -> significance? Several signs:

• “violent wind from heaven” -> OT description of God’s presence (1 Kgs 19:11; Job 38:1; Isa 6:4)

• “tongues of fire” -> divine theophanies “Fire” + “wind” -> recalls promise of Lk 3:16,

“baptism with Holy Spirit and fire”

3. Pentecost: the coming of the Spirit

3.3 Speaking with tongues “other tongues” in Acts = other human languages cf. 1 Corinthians “tongues of men and of angels”

(1 Cor 13:1; cf. 12:10, 28, 30; 13:8; 14:5-6, 18, 21-23; 14:39)

3. Pentecost: the coming of the Spirit

3.4 Filled with the Holy Spirit “filled with the Spirit”

= “baptised with the Spirit” (1:5; cf. 11:16)= “pouring out” (2:17-18; 10:45)= “receiving” of the Spirit (10:47)

(Note: “baptised” not used for subsequent experiences)

3. Pentecost: the coming of the Spirit

3.5 The gathering of Israel “nations” = Jews "from every nation under heaven"

4. Peter’s sermon (2:14-41)

4. Peter’s sermon (2:14-41) “Picture (or “signs”) speaks a thousand words”?? .... but which “interpretation” is true? Peter’s speech

-> Provides Spirit-inspired AUTHORITATIVE interpretation of the signs of Pentecost -> not word-for-word, but accurate summaries (recalling Luke's careful investigation!)

4. Peter’s sermon (2:14-41)

Key ideas include: Seeing OT promises FULFILLED

• Joel 2:28-32 -> beginning of fulfilment of new covenant blessings

• Pentecost only partial fulfillment ... just beginning!• Similar outpourings when new groups respond to

the Word (Samaritans 8:15-17; Cornelius 10:44-45; 11:15, 17; disciples in Ephesus 19:1-7)

• Continues to “all flesh”, “to the ends of the earth”

4. Peter’s sermon (2:14-41)

Key ideas include: (cont’d) Understanding THE TIMES

• “in the last days” (2:17; cf. Num 11:29; Isa 32:15; 44:3; Ezk 36:27)

4. Peter’s sermon (2:14-41)

Key ideas include: (cont’d) Recognising THE CHRIST

• ‘Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.’ (2:36)

• Focus not on the Spirit, but on Jesus as Lord + Christ!!

4. Peter’s sermon (2:14-41)

Key ideas include: (cont’d)• Jesus raised from the dead fulfilled Psalm 16, and

since Psalm 16 refers to the Messianic King (Son of David) => Jesus is the Christ (“Messiah”)

• Jesus raised from death + exalted to heaven, evidenced by pouring out of the Spirit

=> fulfills Psalm 110, reigning at God's right hand as (David's) Lord (“Adonai”)!

4. Peter’s sermon (2:14-41)

Key ideas include: (cont’d) Demanding ACCOUNTABILITY:

• ‘delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.’ (2:23; cf. also 2:36)

• Divine purpose + personal responsibility• Primary sin = rejection of the Lord's anointed!• THEREFORE => required response = 2:38

5. The significance of Pentecost

5. The significance of Pentecost

CLIMAX in God’s saving

plan

BEGINNING of “new”

age

Covenant promise

FULFILLED

Jesus is LORD

Salvation for all PEOPLES

6. The new community (2:42-47)

6. The new community (2:42-47)

6.1 The renewed remnant of Israel “assembly” and “togetherness” prominent from

the start=> salvation PERSONAL but not INDIVIDUALISTIC

Jerusalem church = “a remnant of Israel, restored and given new life and utterance by the Spirit of God.”

From 120 ---> 3000+ ---> more added daily=> “time for God to restore everything” (3:21)

6. The new community (2:42-47)

6.2 The function of this ‘Church’ 2:42 -> TEACHING + FELLOWSHIP + PRAYER

==> Salvation of other Jews Emphasis on CHEERFUL GENEROSITY (2:44-47)

=> Why?? (cf. Tim Keller’s “Generous justice”)

Questions & Answers

JUMPA LAGI !!!