E1 The Holy Spirit -- Book of Acts Series
The Book of Acts
The Church in the World
Preface
To follow the life and ministry of Jesus, our Saviour, not only in one single account, but as given through four different men is an awesome privilege. To really get to know Him is to love Him. But as a person comes to the end of the story, so to speak, we find ourselves wanting more. The gospel story ends with Jesus, having purchased our redemption by paying for our sin debt by dying on a cross, then securing our eternal life by His rising from the dead, and ultimately ascending to heaven to secure us a place there. He is there now, interceding for each one of His followers, His church family that He created.
But wait, there is more! There is a sequel to the gospel story. It is the book of Acts.
The book of Acts was given to us for a number of purposes.
First of all, it is an accurate history of the beginning years of the church in the world. That is, events, actions and decisions were included regardless of whether they were correct or not. These would give us an accurate record of church growth, church or leadership decisions, the influence of the world upon the church, the impact of the church in the world and so forth.
But, in some cases, leadership decisions would be recorded without any narrative or explanation. They are simply recorded. To determine whether some of the decisions were incorrect or unwise, the reader must read on and examine the decision in light of the original instructions from scripture or words spoken directly from God to the believers in charge. In some cases we must consult scriptures in the widest possible sense in order to put more light on the incident in question. So, one reason for this sequel to the gospel is simply for historical information.
The Book of Acts is also an incredible incentive for us to trust the leading of the Holy Spirit for our present ministries in the world. Jesus promised His church that He would be with them, helping and protecting them, right to the end of the age, but that He would do so by sending the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit was given to enable (empower) the church to fulfill its worldwide mission. How this was exactly accomplished is observable in the Book of Acts and it is qualified in later New Testament books. We will do some comparison as we go through this study.
Another purpose of the Book of Acts has to do with the church in the world. This should be especially meaningful to the church in this present age. The question of church involvement, agreement, co-operation and obedience to the authorities of this world can clearly be seen from the beginning to the end of the book.
In this present age, and particularly within the past year or so, various assertions and postulations, reflecting differences of opinions, have been presented, sometimes vocally, sometimes in print, and also in behaviour.
Differences between believers can be dealt with graciously, but in some cases, they create division and pain.
The Book of Acts will not make any clear statements of what the church should or should not do regarding our involvement in the world … but it is something that is present in every situation from start to finish. It is called ‘getting the big picture’.
So we will simply start at the beginning, progress verse by verse, make each verse and section as clear as possible, but all the while allowing a ‘big picture’ to form. And in all of this we hope to bring adequate biblical support from other clear New Testament comments that will give more clarity to areas that might be unclear, and in some cases, controversial.
-1-
The Promise of the Holy Spirit and the Ascension of Jesus
Book of Acts, Chapter one.
The author’s introduction.
1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach,
2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
The speaker (writer) is Luke, a physician, a Christian, a personal support and companion to the Apostle Paul in much of the traveling the two of them experienced as missionaries. He is telling us that he wrote more than one book.
The person to whom he writes is the recipient of the first book and of this one as well. Who is Theophilus? I don’t think anyone knows for sure, but if you want some theories and suggestions, there are plenty of them on the Web. And it does not really matter whether we know for sure who this man was … for the simple reason that the Holy Spirit is using Luke to write … to us. So we Christians are the recipients, at least indirectly.
The range of Luke’s first book is the gospel story of the life of Jesus from birth to ascension. And it has been called the Gospel according to Luke.
Here is how Luke ended his first book: And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. Luke 24:50
This event is called the ascension of Jesus. As simply as Luke stated it, there is nothing simple about it. This would have been ‘jaw-dropping’ incredible. Never had anyone present (and there were likely over 500 hundred of them there at the time,) never had they ever witnessed anything like this.
Luke begins his second book by restating the ascension account. It is as though this is Luke, Part Two. He is writing a continuation of the story.
This time Luke expands on the ascension event.
2 I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
We don’t want to miss the dual purpose of Jesus making appearances after His resurrection. That is, according to Luke.
The first reason is the most obvious. No one rises from the dead with a glorified non-mortal body. It does not happen. It is impossible. But God sent His Son to earth to purchase salvation for us. The disciples, and the public in general, knew Jesus as a regular human being. Jesus made claims of His Deity. He said, “I and the Father are One.” How could this be proven? There is no greater proof of this than the fact that Jesus rose with a powerful and eternal glorified body. The proof of His Deity is the very center of Christianity. And so Jesus proved it over and over again for forty days. This is one of the reasons that he appeared at various times after His resurrection.
But there is another reason that Luke gives and that is the topic that Jesus dwelt on as he talked with them. Luke says that He talked about the kingdom of God. But before we look at this second reason for Jesus’ appearances after his resurrection, let’s look a little closer at some of the interactions that he had during these forty days.
If we want a clearer picture of Jesus’ ministry after He rose from the dead we would need to look at the closing section of each of the four gospels.
But what I will do right at this point is list just a few of the appearances of Jesus during the forty days following His resurrection.
He appeared (in this order, we believe,) to
Luke uses these words, many proofs, appearing to them during forty days.
So we have these 10, at least. I believe that many other appearances, besides these ten, were made by Jesus. Why do I believe this? Because of the words of apostle John:
...Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that could be written. That is quite a statement. And it unlocks the door of our imagination. Luke said that Jesus has appeared alive many times, as proof of His resurrection.
Luke also tells us that Jesus was speaking about the kingdom of God.
Just before a loved one passes away, we have the incredible desire to make the last moments count. We want to say our most important words to the one who is departing. We want to hear things that will remain with us forever.
Jesus did that. He spoke with great intention and emotion with his disciples on the night before He died. You can read His last words to them in the gospel of John, beginning with chapter 13 and continuing all the way to the end of chapter 17. These were very important words.
But what Luke is saying to us here is that Jesus had even more to say before His final departure. He appeared many times and He spoke the most important words that He possibly could speak. He spoke about the kingdom of God. This was not new to them. Jesus spoke about the kingdom of God all during His earthly ministry i.e. Matt 4.7 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom …
This sounds to me like the life we will live with Jesus in the near future will be much more than drifting from person to person in heaven, connecting, re-connecting, laughing, talking etc. etc.
It looks to me like we will be part of an amazing kingdom of order and beauty. We are being asked to rule and to reign with Him. What would that look like? Well, that is part of another study. We will move on in the book of Acts.
4 And while staying with them He ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, He said, “You heard from me;
5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.
The words, staying with them actually have the meaning, ‘eating with them’. Just like on that first day, appearing in the locked room with the disciples, he asked for and received food … a proof that he was real … not a ghost. Imagine actually sitting with and eating with Jesus, perhaps several times after He rose from the dead!
These early Christians were absolutely convinced … Jesus is alive! You and I were not there, but we have the witness of over 500 hundred of our fellow Christians who WERE there. We can share this incredible news in total confidence!
The disciples had been seeing and hearing Jesus for more than a month. They had been told “Go to Galilee, I will meet you there”. That is a couple-day hike from Jerusalem. Later they were told to meet Him on the mount of Olives in Jerusalem. Another two day hike. We don’t know why they had to travel back and forth, unless Jesus wanted to also speak with those persons who were unable to travel back and forth.
But coming to the end of the forty days, the disciples now all back in Jerusalem, He ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem.
Order is a strong word. But Jesus is our ‘authority’. He is our commanding officer. When He orders something, we do it, right? But Jesus included more in his ‘order’ than to merely stay in Jerusalem …. He indicated how long they should remain there and why they were remaining there. He said that it would not be for many days. And He said it was for the purpose of being baptized with the Holy Spirit.
As it turns out, the baptism took place 10 days later. But the disciples were not told the exact number of days they would have to wait. All they were told was, “not many days from now”
Luke adds a few more words. He expands on the very last meeting with Jesus.
6 So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
For forty days, off and on, Jesus has been talking about the kingdom of God. It is to be an eternal kingdom. I would love to know everything He said about it. But for some reason or other, these disciples are still expecting nothing more than for Jesus to overturn the Roman government and once again allow the Jews to be an independent nation of God’s people.
As we now know and understand, that was not Jesus' intention then nor will it ever be God’s intention to put Israel back in the position of being his ruling nation on earth. Later on the apostle Peter would write concerning all Christians, saying, But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, holy nation, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people, once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. I Peter 2:9,10
The disciples were left a bit confused and disappointed when Jesus, instead of defeating Rome, ended up dead and buried. But he is alive, right in front of them! But all they seem to want is another chance for freedom from Rome.
Jesus lovingly says, 7 It is not for you to know the times or the seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
We need to take note, the Father DOES have fixed times and seasons on His calendar, on his timetable, to accomplish His eternal purposes. But, as we have just read, it was not for these disciples, almost 2000 years ago, to know what these dates were to be. Is it for us, in our time, to know these times? That is another question for another time.
Jesus himself did not know the times and the seasons. He said, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. (Matt 24:36)
Now that Jesus has ascended up to heaven … does he still not know the day nor the hour of his return?
As we read the Revelation it seems quite clear that Jesus is fully informed. There was a reason that he did not know the day or the hour while he was here on earth. That reason no longer exists. The situation has totally changed.
As we get into the book of Acts we will notice that it covers a period of church history that does not go as far as the year AD 70. That was the year that the Jews were scattered all over the world and Jerusalem and the temple were completely destroyed. That event is not recorded in Acts because Acts was written just before it happened.
But time moved on and in about the year AD 95 the apostle John wrote the book of Revelation. In that book there is much more information given about God’s intentions with the end of this age.
Daniel, many years before Jesus was here, was given ‘end-time’ prophecies … but did he know the day and the hour of the second coming? No. He asked the angel about it specifically. He said, I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. (Daniel 12:8,9)
So Daniel also did not know. But situations change. The angel said that this knowledge was to be sealed until the time of the end. That means the disciples to whom Jesus was speaking during these forty days did not have the privilege of knowing. But this also points out that times and seasons, days and hours WOULD be revealed at the end time. The writer of Hebrews states that when it gets close, Christians would be able to see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25). Judging by end-time prophecies that have already clearly been fulfilled, we are living in the days where we see the day approaching. More than ever before, we need to be encouraging one another.
So, Jesus has been saying, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
and He goes on to say,
8. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
This is what we have come to know as ‘The Great Commission’. It is more completely stated by Matthew in chapter 28 of his book.
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
By reading the commission of Jesus to his church, both in Acts and in Matthew, we come to understand that it is to be in effect to ‘the end of the earth’ and to ‘the end of the age’. Jesus said, This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matt 24:14)
His small church was faced with this enormous commission. Almost two thousand years have passed and we are still struggling with this task. Are we getting any closer to getting the gospel into the whole world? In certain parts of the world the church has had to do their evangelizing in secret. In those places Christianity is out-lawed. Does the Great Commission slow to a stand-still? Not at all. The numbers continue to grow as multiple house churches are formed.
In other parts of the world where becoming a Christian is free and easy … the Great Commission does almost grind to a stop. Some churches have attempted to be creative and use other means of attracting people. Laser tag has been used as a drawing card to bring in young people in the hopes that ‘being in a church building’ would be the first step in Christianity rubbing off on them. I don’t know how effective these creative outreach methods actually are in producing long-term committed believers who are ready to lay down their lives for Jesus, if it were to come to that. As a matter of fact … what about most of us living in our free and easy world? Is our faith and commitment being tested? We may find out in the not-too-distant future.
Things are changing globally. This early church we are reading about in Acts was about to receive power via the Holy Spirit. They had no idea what form this power would come in, but I am sure when they heard the commission they thought,”Boy, we are we going to need help!"
To follow the life and ministry of Jesus, our Saviour, not only in one single account, but as given through four different men is an awesome privilege. To really get to know Him is to love Him. But as a person comes to the end of the story, so to speak, we find ourselves wanting more. The gospel story ends with Jesus, having purchased our redemption by paying for our sin debt by dying on a cross, then securing our eternal life by His rising from the dead, and ultimately ascending to heaven to secure us a place there. He is there now, interceding for each one of His followers, His church family that He created.
But wait, there is more! There is a sequel to the gospel story. It is the book of Acts.
The book of Acts was given to us for a number of purposes.
First of all, it is an accurate history of the beginning years of the church in the world. That is, events, actions and decisions were included regardless of whether they were correct or not. These would give us an accurate record of church growth, church or leadership decisions, the influence of the world upon the church, the impact of the church in the world and so forth.
But, in some cases, leadership decisions would be recorded without any narrative or explanation. They are simply recorded. To determine whether some of the decisions were incorrect or unwise, the reader must read on and examine the decision in light of the original instructions from scripture or words spoken directly from God to the believers in charge. In some cases we must consult scriptures in the widest possible sense in order to put more light on the incident in question. So, one reason for this sequel to the gospel is simply for historical information.
The Book of Acts is also an incredible incentive for us to trust the leading of the Holy Spirit for our present ministries in the world. Jesus promised His church that He would be with them, helping and protecting them, right to the end of the age, but that He would do so by sending the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit was given to enable (empower) the church to fulfill its worldwide mission. How this was exactly accomplished is observable in the Book of Acts and it is qualified in later New Testament books. We will do some comparison as we go through this study.
Another purpose of the Book of Acts has to do with the church in the world. This should be especially meaningful to the church in this present age. The question of church involvement, agreement, co-operation and obedience to the authorities of this world can clearly be seen from the beginning to the end of the book.
In this present age, and particularly within the past year or so, various assertions and postulations, reflecting differences of opinions, have been presented, sometimes vocally, sometimes in print, and also in behaviour.
Differences between believers can be dealt with graciously, but in some cases, they create division and pain.
The Book of Acts will not make any clear statements of what the church should or should not do regarding our involvement in the world … but it is something that is present in every situation from start to finish. It is called ‘getting the big picture’.
So we will simply start at the beginning, progress verse by verse, make each verse and section as clear as possible, but all the while allowing a ‘big picture’ to form. And in all of this we hope to bring adequate biblical support from other clear New Testament comments that will give more clarity to areas that might be unclear, and in some cases, controversial.
-1-
The Promise of the Holy Spirit and the Ascension of Jesus
Book of Acts, Chapter one.
The author’s introduction.
1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach,
2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
The speaker (writer) is Luke, a physician, a Christian, a personal support and companion to the Apostle Paul in much of the traveling the two of them experienced as missionaries. He is telling us that he wrote more than one book.
The person to whom he writes is the recipient of the first book and of this one as well. Who is Theophilus? I don’t think anyone knows for sure, but if you want some theories and suggestions, there are plenty of them on the Web. And it does not really matter whether we know for sure who this man was … for the simple reason that the Holy Spirit is using Luke to write … to us. So we Christians are the recipients, at least indirectly.
The range of Luke’s first book is the gospel story of the life of Jesus from birth to ascension. And it has been called the Gospel according to Luke.
Here is how Luke ended his first book: And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. Luke 24:50
This event is called the ascension of Jesus. As simply as Luke stated it, there is nothing simple about it. This would have been ‘jaw-dropping’ incredible. Never had anyone present (and there were likely over 500 hundred of them there at the time,) never had they ever witnessed anything like this.
Luke begins his second book by restating the ascension account. It is as though this is Luke, Part Two. He is writing a continuation of the story.
This time Luke expands on the ascension event.
2 I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
We don’t want to miss the dual purpose of Jesus making appearances after His resurrection. That is, according to Luke.
The first reason is the most obvious. No one rises from the dead with a glorified non-mortal body. It does not happen. It is impossible. But God sent His Son to earth to purchase salvation for us. The disciples, and the public in general, knew Jesus as a regular human being. Jesus made claims of His Deity. He said, “I and the Father are One.” How could this be proven? There is no greater proof of this than the fact that Jesus rose with a powerful and eternal glorified body. The proof of His Deity is the very center of Christianity. And so Jesus proved it over and over again for forty days. This is one of the reasons that he appeared at various times after His resurrection.
But there is another reason that Luke gives and that is the topic that Jesus dwelt on as he talked with them. Luke says that He talked about the kingdom of God. But before we look at this second reason for Jesus’ appearances after his resurrection, let’s look a little closer at some of the interactions that he had during these forty days.
If we want a clearer picture of Jesus’ ministry after He rose from the dead we would need to look at the closing section of each of the four gospels.
But what I will do right at this point is list just a few of the appearances of Jesus during the forty days following His resurrection.
He appeared (in this order, we believe,) to
- Mary Magdalene- John 10
- The “other Mary”, Salome, and Joanna- Matt 28:1, Mk 16.1,Luke 24.10.
- Simon Peter- Luke 24.14, 1 Cor 15.1
- Two on the road to Emmaus- Luke 24.13
- 10 of the Apostles- Luke 24.16, John 20.19
- 11 Apostles- John 20.26 (eight days later)
- 7 Apostles on the lake-shore in Galilee, John 21.1
- 11 Apostles plus a large gathering in Galilee- Matt 28.16, 1 Corinthians 15.6
- James, Jesus half brother- 1 Corinthians 15.7
- 11 Apostles in Jerusalem- Luke 24.19, Acts 1
Luke uses these words, many proofs, appearing to them during forty days.
So we have these 10, at least. I believe that many other appearances, besides these ten, were made by Jesus. Why do I believe this? Because of the words of apostle John:
...Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that could be written. That is quite a statement. And it unlocks the door of our imagination. Luke said that Jesus has appeared alive many times, as proof of His resurrection.
Luke also tells us that Jesus was speaking about the kingdom of God.
Just before a loved one passes away, we have the incredible desire to make the last moments count. We want to say our most important words to the one who is departing. We want to hear things that will remain with us forever.
Jesus did that. He spoke with great intention and emotion with his disciples on the night before He died. You can read His last words to them in the gospel of John, beginning with chapter 13 and continuing all the way to the end of chapter 17. These were very important words.
But what Luke is saying to us here is that Jesus had even more to say before His final departure. He appeared many times and He spoke the most important words that He possibly could speak. He spoke about the kingdom of God. This was not new to them. Jesus spoke about the kingdom of God all during His earthly ministry i.e. Matt 4.7 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom …
This sounds to me like the life we will live with Jesus in the near future will be much more than drifting from person to person in heaven, connecting, re-connecting, laughing, talking etc. etc.
It looks to me like we will be part of an amazing kingdom of order and beauty. We are being asked to rule and to reign with Him. What would that look like? Well, that is part of another study. We will move on in the book of Acts.
4 And while staying with them He ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, He said, “You heard from me;
5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.
The words, staying with them actually have the meaning, ‘eating with them’. Just like on that first day, appearing in the locked room with the disciples, he asked for and received food … a proof that he was real … not a ghost. Imagine actually sitting with and eating with Jesus, perhaps several times after He rose from the dead!
These early Christians were absolutely convinced … Jesus is alive! You and I were not there, but we have the witness of over 500 hundred of our fellow Christians who WERE there. We can share this incredible news in total confidence!
The disciples had been seeing and hearing Jesus for more than a month. They had been told “Go to Galilee, I will meet you there”. That is a couple-day hike from Jerusalem. Later they were told to meet Him on the mount of Olives in Jerusalem. Another two day hike. We don’t know why they had to travel back and forth, unless Jesus wanted to also speak with those persons who were unable to travel back and forth.
But coming to the end of the forty days, the disciples now all back in Jerusalem, He ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem.
Order is a strong word. But Jesus is our ‘authority’. He is our commanding officer. When He orders something, we do it, right? But Jesus included more in his ‘order’ than to merely stay in Jerusalem …. He indicated how long they should remain there and why they were remaining there. He said that it would not be for many days. And He said it was for the purpose of being baptized with the Holy Spirit.
As it turns out, the baptism took place 10 days later. But the disciples were not told the exact number of days they would have to wait. All they were told was, “not many days from now”
Luke adds a few more words. He expands on the very last meeting with Jesus.
6 So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
For forty days, off and on, Jesus has been talking about the kingdom of God. It is to be an eternal kingdom. I would love to know everything He said about it. But for some reason or other, these disciples are still expecting nothing more than for Jesus to overturn the Roman government and once again allow the Jews to be an independent nation of God’s people.
As we now know and understand, that was not Jesus' intention then nor will it ever be God’s intention to put Israel back in the position of being his ruling nation on earth. Later on the apostle Peter would write concerning all Christians, saying, But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, holy nation, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people, once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. I Peter 2:9,10
The disciples were left a bit confused and disappointed when Jesus, instead of defeating Rome, ended up dead and buried. But he is alive, right in front of them! But all they seem to want is another chance for freedom from Rome.
Jesus lovingly says, 7 It is not for you to know the times or the seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
We need to take note, the Father DOES have fixed times and seasons on His calendar, on his timetable, to accomplish His eternal purposes. But, as we have just read, it was not for these disciples, almost 2000 years ago, to know what these dates were to be. Is it for us, in our time, to know these times? That is another question for another time.
Jesus himself did not know the times and the seasons. He said, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. (Matt 24:36)
Now that Jesus has ascended up to heaven … does he still not know the day nor the hour of his return?
As we read the Revelation it seems quite clear that Jesus is fully informed. There was a reason that he did not know the day or the hour while he was here on earth. That reason no longer exists. The situation has totally changed.
As we get into the book of Acts we will notice that it covers a period of church history that does not go as far as the year AD 70. That was the year that the Jews were scattered all over the world and Jerusalem and the temple were completely destroyed. That event is not recorded in Acts because Acts was written just before it happened.
But time moved on and in about the year AD 95 the apostle John wrote the book of Revelation. In that book there is much more information given about God’s intentions with the end of this age.
Daniel, many years before Jesus was here, was given ‘end-time’ prophecies … but did he know the day and the hour of the second coming? No. He asked the angel about it specifically. He said, I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. (Daniel 12:8,9)
So Daniel also did not know. But situations change. The angel said that this knowledge was to be sealed until the time of the end. That means the disciples to whom Jesus was speaking during these forty days did not have the privilege of knowing. But this also points out that times and seasons, days and hours WOULD be revealed at the end time. The writer of Hebrews states that when it gets close, Christians would be able to see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25). Judging by end-time prophecies that have already clearly been fulfilled, we are living in the days where we see the day approaching. More than ever before, we need to be encouraging one another.
So, Jesus has been saying, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
and He goes on to say,
8. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
This is what we have come to know as ‘The Great Commission’. It is more completely stated by Matthew in chapter 28 of his book.
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
By reading the commission of Jesus to his church, both in Acts and in Matthew, we come to understand that it is to be in effect to ‘the end of the earth’ and to ‘the end of the age’. Jesus said, This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matt 24:14)
His small church was faced with this enormous commission. Almost two thousand years have passed and we are still struggling with this task. Are we getting any closer to getting the gospel into the whole world? In certain parts of the world the church has had to do their evangelizing in secret. In those places Christianity is out-lawed. Does the Great Commission slow to a stand-still? Not at all. The numbers continue to grow as multiple house churches are formed.
In other parts of the world where becoming a Christian is free and easy … the Great Commission does almost grind to a stop. Some churches have attempted to be creative and use other means of attracting people. Laser tag has been used as a drawing card to bring in young people in the hopes that ‘being in a church building’ would be the first step in Christianity rubbing off on them. I don’t know how effective these creative outreach methods actually are in producing long-term committed believers who are ready to lay down their lives for Jesus, if it were to come to that. As a matter of fact … what about most of us living in our free and easy world? Is our faith and commitment being tested? We may find out in the not-too-distant future.
Things are changing globally. This early church we are reading about in Acts was about to receive power via the Holy Spirit. They had no idea what form this power would come in, but I am sure when they heard the commission they thought,”Boy, we are we going to need help!"