Study From the Book of Acts,1

Study From the Book of Acts,1  

Today we study the first chapter of the Book of Acts and we choose two biblical principles and their lessons which are useful in Biblical Counselling.

Luke addressed his Gospel to the most excellent Theophilus, using a title that indicates Theophilus was a person of high rank. The formal title is dropped here.

The resurrected Jesus presented Himself not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen by God. In the forty days between Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, there are recoded some ten or eleven appearances. The Lord Jesus gathered His apostles and commanded them not to leave Jerusalem until they receive the Promise of the Father which is the baptism in the Holy Spirit. That baptism with the Holy Spirit indicates that baptism does not depend upon our efforts, but upon the Lord’s will.

Instead of being concerned about the date of Christ’s return, the disciples’ job was to carry His message throughout the world. They shall receive power for a new task-namely to take the gospel to the ends of the earth regardless of the consequences. God empowered His disciples to be faithful witnesses even when they faced the most vehement opposition. The same power for witnessing is available to us today. Our task is not to convince people, but to testify of the truth of the gospel. The Lord Jesus promised that He would not leave nor forsake us,

but would be with us always, even to the end of the age.

This chapter ends choosing another disciple to replace Judas the traitor who killed himself. And they casted their lots between two: Matthias and Justus and the fall of the lot was determined not by chance but by God. So, God chose Matthias.

Structure:

Verses 1-3: prologue

Verses 4-8: the Holy Spirit promised.

Verses 9-11: Jesus ascends to heaven

Verses 12-14: the upper room prayer meeting.

Verses 15-26: Matthias chosen.

Principle 1: verse 1:5- “…for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptised with the Holy Spirit.”

 Lesson 1: Every believer in Jesus is baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ at the moment of conversion (1 Cor.12-13). From then on, the Spirit lives inside the believer, empowered him or her for service of Christ.

Principle 2: verse 1:8- “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Lesson 2: God calls us to be His ambassadors in this world, introducing people who don’t yet know Jesus, to the love and grace of God available to them in Christ. We become effective witnesses only through the power of the Spirit. 2/2/2025.