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The Acts of the Apostles A Workbook Commentary Prepared by Gary Calton 5331 Landing Road Elkridge, Maryland 21075 This workbook uses the New International Version. The reason for this is that the NIV has been the largest selling version of the Scriptures since 1990. I recognize that there are errors within this translation, but all must agree that there are errors in any of the translations made by men. I personally use the NIV as another version with which to check the King James Version and the New American Standard Version, these being the versions I use as I preach and teach. I have not used the New American Standard Version as it has not gained wide acceptance although I believe it to be an excellent study Bible in modern English. I use these new translations because of my concern that those who read should understand what they read and not put their trust in me as I translate ancient English. Our schools become ever more lenient in their teaching of the English language and thus render the KJV an ancient version, much like the Latin that the Catholics once used. Regardless of your conviction on these matters, I pray that you will enjoy God's richest blessings as you study his word. All Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright 1973, 1978, International Bible Society. Copyright MVIM, MIIM by the Living with the Master Foundation, Baltimore, MD All rights reserved. A Workbook Commentary on the Book of Acts Chapter 1 The date of the writing of Acts can be fixed with some precision based on the information given at the close of the book. Acts 25:1 Three days after arriving in the province, ____________ went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, Acts 28:16 When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him. ... 19 But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to ____________ that I had any charge to bring against my own people. ... 30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. From secular history, we learn that Festus was sent to Judea in AD 60. This would place Paul's arrest at Pentecost of AD 58. His departure to Rome would have been in the fall of AD 60 and his arrival in Rome would have been in the spring of AD 61. The book of Acts would have been written in early AD 63, since Luke’s closing remarks are that he lived in his own hired house for two years (Acts 28:30). During his time in Rome, Paul would write letters to the Galatians, Ephesians, the Colossians, the Philippians and Philemon. Acts 1:1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. Acts was written for Theophilus. The word "Theophilus" is composed of the Greek words which literally mean lover of God. Thus, we cannot be certain that this is the actual name of a man, although it would appear from this verse and Luke's gospel account, that a specific person was in mind. We also learn that Luke is the writer of this book from his statement in verse 1, but being the precise person (guided by the Holy Spirit) that he was, Luke refers to himself as a companion of Paul in Acts 20:6. At this point the pronoun "we" is used rather than the "he" or "they" used prior to this point. Luke 1:1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 Therefore, since I myself have carefully __________________ everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. The account in Acts continues where Luke had stopped his story some time earlier when writing the gospel bearing his name. 2 Acts 1:3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. We do not find the exact length of time that Jesus was on the earth after his resurrection in any place other than in this verse. This would also tell us the length of time exactly between Jesus' ascension and the day of Pentecost was 10 days. It is worth noting that the fate of those who might have died during this time is exactly the same as those who died under the Law of Moses. Although Jesus had died on the cross, he had not yet offered his blood unto God. His death was the turning point, but the Hebrew writer clearly states Jesus had to enter into heaven and offer his blood to God. Heb 9:22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the ____________ of blood there is no forgiveness. 23 It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For ____________ did not enter a man- made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to ____________ himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. There is no mystery associated with those who died during the 40 days referred to by Luke or during the 10 days covered in this chapter. There is also no discrepancy between the explanation given by the Hebrew writer and Paul in Col 2:14 having canceled the ____________ code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. The events that started at the cross are equated by the Hebrew writer to the shedding of blood, and the triumphant entry into heaven, there to offer his blood to God on our behalf. Acts 1:4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. Jesus had made this promise to them concerning this gift. As we will see in the second chapter of Acts, his promise was true. John 14:16 And I will ask the ____________, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 3 John 16:13 But when he, the ____________ of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. Acts 1:5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." Jesus differentiated what was going to happen to them from baptism in water, which both His disciples and John had practiced. Luke 3:15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the ____________. 16 John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. John 4:1 The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who ____________, but his disciples. Acts 1:6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" The disciples, even at this time, did not understand that Jesus' kingdom was not an earthly kingdom. This longing for an earthly kingdom must have been so ingrained that they still could not accept the nature of the Kingdom. John 18:36 Jesus said, "My _______________ is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." Luke 24:17 He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast.