Brian and Cathy Gray Bible study

Pentecost

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Acts 2:1-2

Pentecost is the 5th of eight feasts, sometimes called the second of three Great Feasts of the Lord established before God created man.

And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years,

Genesis 1:14

Seasons in Hebrew is mow`ed, an appointed time, meeting, or feast. A place of, assembly, congregation… God appointed These Feasts, which were formally established in Leviticus 23.

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, These are the appointed feasts of the Lord that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are my appointed feasts.

Leviticus 23:1

Convocations is miqra’ something called out, i.e. a public meeting, a rehearsal.

Pentecost is the conclusion of the Feast of Weeks. A week is seven days. Seven weeks is 49 days. The fiftieth day is Pentecost. Pente is fifty. The Feast of Weeks follows the Feast of First Fruits, the beginning of the forty-nine-day harvest marked by a daily counting of the Omer. An Omer was a dry measure that would be about two quarts of wheat today. The counting of the Omer signified the connection between Passover and the giving of the Torah (The Ten Commandments) to Moses on Mount Sinai or Shavuot. Shavuot was the first Pentecost.

It is important to note that the Great Feast of Passover, which originated in Exodus 12, contains three feasts, Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits. Jesus was the fulfillment of all three feasts. Biblically speaking, Fulfillment means to give the correct interpretation of something. Think of it as the difference between seeing a photograph of someone and then meeting them for the first time in person. The meeting is the fulfillment. Jesus fulfilled all three Feasts. He was crucified on the day of Passover. He was in the tomb during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. He was resurrected at the commencement of the Feast of First Fruits. Hence, Paul is speaking literally in 1 Corinthians 15.

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:20

The God’s chosen people were rehearsing the death and resurrection of Jesus for at least 1500 years but missed Jesus when He came. That should give all of us reason to pause and reflect.

Shavuot

On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. 

Exodus 19:16

The giving of the Law, the Torah, the Ten Commandments came amidst a storm after three days of consecration. Some versions say sanctify.

When Moses told the words of the people to the Lord, the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

Exodus 19:10-11

Consecrate is qadash –  prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate.

In Acts chapter two, the 120 had consecrated themselves in prayer. They were of one accord. Accord in Greek is homothymadón

Homothymadón is a unique Greek word, used 10 of its 12 New Testament occurrences in the Book of Acts, helps us understand the uniqueness of the Christian community. Homothumadon is a compound of two words meaning to “rushalong” and “in unison”. The image is almost musical; a number of notes are sounded which, while different, harmonise in pitch and tone. As the instruments of a great concert under the direction of a concert master, so the Holy Spirit blends together the lives of members of Christ’s church.

– Strongs Concordance-

The first Pentecost was characterized by rebellion of all involved, including Moses, who broke the first tablets in a fit of rage when he saw the Israelites worshipping the golden calf. In contrast, the fulfillment of Pentecost was characterized by radical obedience to the command of Jesus among all involved. The first Pentecost took place after three days of waiting for the law. It seems to me those three days were a foreshadowing of three days in the tomb before the fulfillment of the law came in the resurrected Jesus.

The fulfillment of Pentecost came after ten days in the upper room. We know it was ten days because Jesus ascended on the 40th day of the Feast of Weeks. Pentecost came ten days later. The first Pentecost began with thunder and lightning, a thick cloud, and a very loud trumpet blast... The fulfillment of Pentecost came with a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, that filled all the house… The people were terrified on the first Pentecost. The fulfillment of Pentecost  brought the comforter.

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 14:26

The promised Holy Spirit came. Then Galilaens, Parthians, and Medes, Elamites, and Mesopotamians, Judaeans and Cappadocians, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, Egypt, Libya, Cyrene, strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, heard everyone speak the in their own language.

Approximately two thousand years after God confounded the language of men at the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11, Holy Spirit restores the understanding of the very same people groups at Pentecost.

The motivation for building a tower to heaven was self glorification.

And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

Genesis 11:4

Name is Shem, ironically pronounced Shame.  It means reputation, fame, and glory. They wanted to glorify their name, not God’s.

And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

Genesis 11:6

The people in Genesis 11 were of one accord to glorify themselves. Therefore God broke the accord.

Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.

Genesis 11:7

In contrast, the 120 were in one accord. Holy Spirit came, restored thier understanding and they did

hear them speak in their tongues the wonderful works of God.

Acts 2:11

How ironic that the root issue in Genesis 11 is rectified in verse 11 of Acts 2.  It’s no coincidence that self-glorification remains the core struggle for the body of Christ today. Let’s pay attention as we move on in Acts. Are the Apostles and disciples primarily focused on their identity, authority, gifting, and power? Or does their spiritual self-esteem take a back seat for His namesake and glory?

Maranatha

Brian and Cathy Gray Bible study

Casting Lots

The Book of Acts records the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the birth and growth of the church. The overarching theme among believers is obedience beginning with 10 days of prayer as they waited in the upper room.

The first Twelve Apostles were chosen by Jesus. They walked with Him and talked with Him until He was arrested following His betrayal by Judas. Peter explained that David prophesied the replacement of Judas in Psalms 69 and 109.

So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Acts 1:21-26

There were two ways that lots were cast. One would be to throw two stones with markings likened to a “yes” or a “no”. The other was done with a bag of stones. One stone was black. The others were white. The black stone was the determining factor. Acts does not tell us which method was employed in choosing Matthias. All we know is that Matthias was chosen by God who spoke through the process.

It might be easy to pass over these verses thinking that knowing Matthias replaced Judas is enough.

Another important point is the criteria for the office of Apostle.

  1. Called by Jesus.
  2. Walked with Jesus from His Baptism by John through His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.

This seems to be the primary reason why many outside the charismatic stream so fervently declare,

There are no Apostles today!

“But Matthias wasn’t chosen by Jesus,” you say. The Apostles alone made the choice between the two candidates. Did they?

And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

As it turns out the casting of lots was a carryover from the Priestly Urim and Thummim.

The Urim and Thummim, Exodus 28, are somewhat ambiguous regarding their composition and use. We know they were located in the breastplate and were used in clarifying God’s will where His will was not clear. At first look, the casting of lots might be likened to the contemporary practice of flipping a coin. The difference is that God, not probability, determined the outcome.

The lot is cast into the lap,
    but its every decision is from the Lord.

Proverbs 16:33

And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron’s heart, when he goes in before the Lord. Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the Lord regularly.

Exodus 28:30

The Hebrew word for Judgment in Exodus 28, mishpat, is the same word for Decision in Proverbs 16. Hence the correlation between lot casting and the Urim and Thummim.

That said, decision-making by casting lots is found throughout the Bible. Land was divided by casting lots in Numbers 26:55. David organized the priests according to lot in 1 Chronicles 24. Sailors determined Jonah had caused God’s wrath to come on the ship in Jonah 1:7.

I should mention that lot casting was also done by pagans as evidenced by the division of Jesus’s clothing while He hung on the cross in Mathew 27:35. The difference is in the prayerful inquiry regarding God’s will.

So why don’t we cast lots today? My best guess is that lot casting was done before Holy Spirit was made available to all believers. We don’t cast lots today because we can come boldly to the throne of Grace. Heb 4:16 If we need confirmation of what Holy Spirit is saying, we can get it by two or more witnesses. 2 Cor 13:1

So then Matthias was the last of the Apostles? What about Paul? He never walked with Jesus. He didn’t see Him crucified, and certainly didn’t witness His resurrection. Paul’s encounter with Jesus began with a rebuke and three days of blindness while on the road to Damascus. That was followed by divine healing and a call to be an apostle to the Gentiles by someone he had never met. As we will see later, that person only knew Paul by divine revelation and obedience to God.

So are there genuine Apostles on earth today? Lots of people claim the office. I am not aware of any scripture that clearly states that none can exist. Quite the contrary.

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 

Ephesians 4:11-12

Rick Renner points out the fact that the original meaning of the word Apostle was akin to an admiral. These admirals would sail to uncivilized places and colonize them. Hence they were colonizers. They would bring teachers and builders and establish civilization where none existed. New Testament Apostles planted Churches. As we will continue to see, Paul is the one who ultimately defines what is and is not Apostolic. Interestingly he names patience as the first gifting of an Apostle in 2 Corinthians.

Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

2 Corinthians 12:12

In any case,discerning true Apostles from false ones was important enough for Jesus to point out in the letter to the church in Ephesus.

I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false…

Revelation 2:2

We will discuss this along with the other offices in the five-fold ministry as we read more about the foundations of the church in the book of Acts. The takeaway for me this week is that I need to constantly remind myself not to glance over seemingly insignificant details in the Bible.

Maranatha

Brian and Cathy Gray Bible study

Acts: Background and Mystery

The Gospel of Luke was written by Luke. However, Luke was not one of the original 12 Disciples and never saw Jesus face to face. That said, Luke is regarded as the most credible historical source for this time and casts himself in the role of a historian in Luke 1:1-4. More than a few scholars like William Mitchel Ramsay, have tried to refute Luke’s authorship. Yet archaeological discoveries have repeatedly verified Luke’s accounts in Acts. This matters because Acts is in fact, a continuation of the book of Luke.

What other evidence do we have that Luke wrote Acts?


The “we” narratives in Acts 16:10–17; 20:5–15; 21:1–18; 27:1–28:16 indicate that the author was a traveling companion of Paul on his missionary journeys. Luke is named as one of Paul’s closest associates in Col. 4:14; Phlm 24:2, Tim 4:11. 

Acts was regarded as a continuation of the Gospel of Luke because the prologue of Acts 1:1-2 references a former account, the book of Luke. This is further supported by the fact that Acts is addressed to Theophilus, Acts 1:1, as is the Gospel of Luke. Luke 1:3. Theophilus translates to “Lover of God” in Greek. It is questionable whether Theophilus was a specific individual or if Luke was addressing his general readership as “lovers of God”. In any case, both books share a similar writing style, vocabulary, and theological theme, suggesting a common author. 

Irenaeus, who was discipled by Polycarp, who was discipled by John, explicitly attributes Acts to Luke in his book “Against Heresies”.  Other early witnesses include Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Origen, and Eusebius, all affirming Luke’s authorship. No early Christian accounts attribute Acts to anyone but Luke.

We could go on with more evidence, but I think it’s safe to say that Luke wrote Acts. Still, it is more important to grasp the underlying Acts 17:11 Berean supporting argument presented as proof of Luke’s authorship. The reason is that disputing authorship is often the enemy’s first mode of attack on the credibility of God’s word. The argument usually begins along the lines of, “If the author is fake, then how can we say the book isn’t fake?” At the end of the day, Acts is an apologetic work rooted in verified history and the fulfillment of scripture. Our chief underlying presupposition remains the same.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Hence, the book of Acts is a work of Holy Spirit.

Luke begins Acts with a reiteration of the forty days following Jesus’s resurrection covered in Luke 24. Jesus promises the baptism of Holy Spirit. Luke 24:50 tells us that the ascension took place in Bethany less than half a mile from Jerusalem. Luke expands on the ascension beginning in Acts 1:6

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 

Acts 1:6-7

As it says in 1 Corinthians 1:23, the crucifixion was a stumbling block to the Jews. The Jewish disciples were expecting a warrior king for a messiah who would restore Jewish rule over Israel. Even the disciples whom Jesus personally taught in Mat 24:3-31 didn’t understand. Now that He was resurrected they thought He would establish His Kingdom on earth. Instead, in verse 8, Jesus tells them they will receive the power to lay the foundation for the eventual Heavenly Kingdom.

They remain confused.

And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Acts 1:9-11

This is deeply powerful. The angel reiterated the very thing that had so enraged Caiaphas when Jesus was first arrested as the disciples witnessed a partial fulfillment of prophecy.

But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”

Mathew 26:63-68

Caiaphas understood that Jesus had declared He was God via His quotation of Daniel.

 “I saw in the night visions,and behold, with the clouds of heaven
    there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
    and was presented before him.
 And to him was given dominion
    and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
    should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
    which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
    that shall not be destroyed.

Daniel 7:13-14

Unlike most of the book of Daniel that was written in Hebrew, Daniel 7 was written in Aramaic. This is significant because “Son of Man” in Hebrew (ben adam) means “son of Adam”. “Son of Man” in Aramaic bar ‘ěnoš is a declaration of deity. Jesus spoke Aramaic to Caiaphas and declared His deity. Hence the violent reaction that followed.

Before His crucifixion, Jesus quoted Daniel 7 when explaining His return following the tribulation, Mathew 24.

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Mathew 24:29-31

The partial fulfillment of prophecy in the ascension points to the partial fulfillment of Jesus’s earthly purpose. Sin and eternal death are conquered on the cross. The Kingdom of God remains to be fulfilled. Consider this mind-boggling mystery and prophetic confirmation, and we are only eleven verses into the book of Acts!

Buckle up!

Maranatha

Here is a timeline of the book of Acts for historical and contextual reference. I will print hard copies for our regular Bible study attendees. Let me know if you want a copy.

Tiberius is the Emperor of Rome – 14-37 AD 

 

Pontius Pilate Governor of Judaea – 26-37 AD 

 

Jesus’ Death, Burial, and Ascension – 29 AD – Luke 23-Acts 1

 

Matthias is Chosen as the 12th Apostle – 29 AD – Acts 1:15-26

 

The Day of Pentecost – 29 AD – Acts 2

 

3,000 People Baptized – 29 AD – Acts 2:41

 

The Disciples Enjoy Daily Fellowship – 29 AD – Acts 2:42-47

 

Peter and John Heal a Lame Man at the Temple – 29 AD – Acts 3:1-10

 

Peter Preaches in the Portico of Solomon – 29 AD – Acts 3:26

 

Peter and John Arrested by the Council – 29 AD – Acts 4:1-22

 

The Holy Spirit Fills the Disciples – 29 AD – Acts 4:23-31

 

The Believers Share Their Possessions – 29-31 AD – Acts 4:32-35

 

Barnabas Sells a Field and Contributes the Money – 29-31 AD – Acts 4:36-37

 

Ananias and Sapphira Die for Lying – 29-31 AD – Acts 5:11

 

 

The Disciples Grow in Number and Work Miracles – 29-31 AD – Acts 5:12-16

 

The Apostles are Arrested but Freed by an Angel – 29-35 AD – Acts 5:17-25

 

The Apostles are Questioned by the Council – 29-35 AD – Acts 5:26-42

 

7 Men Chosen to Care for the Neglected Widows – 31-35 AD – Acts 6:1-7

 

Stephen Arrested and Stoned – 33-35 AD – Acts 6:8-7:60

 

Paul Persecutes the Church – 33-35 AD – Acts 8:1-3

 

Philip Preaches in Samaria – 33-35 AD – Acts 8:4-25

 

Philip Preaches to the Ethiopian Eunuch – 33-35 AD – Acts 8:26-40

 

Saul’s (Paul) Conversion – 35-36 AD – Acts 9:1-18

 

*Caligula Emperor in Rome – 37-41 AD

 

Saul in Damascus and Arabia (Gal 1:17-18) – 36-39 AD – Acts 9:19-25

 

Saul Visits Jerusalem for 15 days – 39 AD – Gal 1:18

 

Saul Goes to Preach in Syria and Cilicia – 39-43 AD – Gal 1:21-24

 

Peter Shares the Gospel with Cornelius – 39-40 AD – Acts 10:1-48

 

 

Peter Visits Jerusalem – 39-40 AD – Acts 11:1-18

 

*Claudius is Emperor in Rome – 41-54 AD

 

Barnabas Works with the Church in Antioch – 41-43 AD – Acts 11:19-24

 

Barnabas Finds Saul and Returns to Antioch – 43-44 AD – Acts 11:25-27

 

Agabus Prophesies a Famine – 43-44 AD – Acts 11:28-30

 

Herod Agrippa I Kills the Apostle James – 44 AD – Acts 12:1-2

 

Peter Imprisoned but Released by an Angel – 44 AD – Acts 12:3-19

 

God Kills Herod Agrippa I – 44 AD – Acts 12:20-25

 

1st Missionary Journey of Paul & Barnabas – 46-47 AD – Acts 13:1-14:27

 

Paul & Barnabas Stay in Antioch – 47-48 AD – Acts 14:28

 

The Council at Jerusalem – 48 AD – Acts 15:1-29

 

Paul & Barnabas Return to Antioch – 48-49 AD – Acts 15:30-35

 

Emperor Claudius Expels Jews from Rome – 49-51 AD – Acts 18:2

 

Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey – 49-52 AD – Acts 16:1-18:22

 

 

Herod Agrippa II made a King by Claudius – 53 AD

 

Conversion of Apollos – 52-54 AD – Acts 18:24-28

 

Nero is Emperor in Rome – 54-68 AD

 

Paul’s 3rd Missionary Journey – 53-57 AD – Acts 18:23-21:14

 

Paul Goes to Jerusalem and is Arrested – 57 AD – Acts 21:15-37

 

Paul Preaches to the Jews from the Barracks – 57 AD – Acts 21:38-22:22

 

Paul Imprisoned and on Trial Before the Council – 57 AD – Acts 22:23-23:10

 

The Jews Plot to Kill Paul – 57 AD – Acts 23:11-22

 

Paul is Moved to Caesarea – 57 AD – Acts 23:23-35

 

Paul on Trial Before Governor Felix – 57 AD – Acts 24:1-21

 

Felix Keeps Paul in Prison for 2 Years – 57-59 AD – Acts 24:22-27

 

Paul Appears Before Festus and Appeals to Caesar – 59 AD – Acts 25:1-12

 

Paul Appears Before King Agrippa – 59 AD – Acts 25:13-26:32

 

Paul Leaves on a Ship for Rome – 59 AD – Acts 27:1-12

 

 

Paul Shipwrecked on the Island of Malta – 59 AD – Acts 27:13-28:1

 

Paul Winters on Malta before Arriving in Rome – 59-60 AD – Acts 28:1-28

 

Paul Remained in House Arrest for 2 Years – 60-62 AD – Acts 28:19-31