The Power to Witness Acts 1:4–8 Grace Church of Lockeford; 1/29/17; 338; #4 Introduction “It Has Often Been Pointed out That

The Power To Witness Acts 1:4–8 Grace Church of Lockeford; 1/29/17; 338; #4

Introduction “It has often been pointed out that the geographical terms of verse 8 provide a sort of “Index of Contents” for Acts. “You will be my witnesses” might be regarded as announcing the theme of the book; “in Jerusalem” covers the first seven chapters, “in all Judaea and Samaria” covers 8:1 to 11:18, and the remainder of the book traces the progress of the gospel outside the frontiers of the Holy Land until at last it reaches Rome.”1

1. The promise of the Holy Spirit’s presence vv. 4-5 a. The source of the promise v. 4a Assembled - συναλίζω synalizō stay with; assemble with. To dine together - to have a meal with company (for fellowship); meaning uncertain.

Commanded - παραγγέλλω paraggellō command; give orders. To order - to give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority.

Wait - περιμένω perimenō wait for. To wait (in place) - to stay in one place and anticipate or expect something.

“The apostles were to wait because Jesus’ heavenly exaltation had to take place before the promised gift of the Spirit could be poured out (2:33). They were to wait in Jerusalem because of the historical and theological significance of that city in God’s dealings with Israel.”2

“Despite Jesus’ recent crucifixion and the patent animosity of the religious leaders the disciples needed to stay together and wait for the Promise of the Father.”3

“Jesus viewed the Spirit as a significant gift of God’s grace to His people (cf. Luke 11:13). He is not just a means to an end but a major part of the blessings of salvation.”4

b. The substance of the promise vv. 4b-5a Baptized - βαπτίζω baptizō baptize. To baptize - to momentarily dip someone into water as a cleansing, ceremonial, and initiatory rite.

Baptized - βαπτίζω baptizō baptize. To be immersed - to be or become engulfed or plunged into something (whether literal or figurative).

“The word baptized, which normally means ‘dipped or immersed,’ here has the idea of ‘uniting with’ (cf. 1 Cor. 10:1–2).”5

“As the Holy Spirit had baptized Jesus and had thereby empowered Him for service, so His successors also needed such a power-producing baptism.”6

1 F. F. Bruce, The Book of the Acts, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1988), 36–37. 2 David G. Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009), 107. 3 Alberto S. Valdés, “The Acts of the Apostles,” in The Grace New Testament Commentary, ed. Robert N. Wilkin (Denton, TX: Grace Evangelical Society, 2010), 484. 4 Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Ac 1:4. 5 Stanley D. Toussaint, “Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 353. 6 Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Ac 1:5. c. The timing of the promise v. 5b Many - πολύς polys great; many; much. Many - a quantifier that can be used with count nouns; amounting to a large but indefinite number.

“Not after many, but after a few.”7

“If Jesus’ instruction here occurs 40 days (Acts 1:3) after Passover when He was crucified (see Luke 2:41 and note), no more than 10 days remain before the Festival of Weeks, or Pentecost (since the two feasts were 50 days apart; Lev 23:16). Pentecost is when the apostles’ baptism by the Holy Spirit took place (Acts 2:1).”8

2. The promise of the Holy Spirit’s power vv. 6-8 “The key to the apostles’ successful fulfillment of Jesus’ commission was their baptism with and consequent indwelling by the Holy Spirit. Without this divine enablement they would only have been able to follow Jesus’ example, but with it Jesus could literally continue to do His work and teach His words through them.”9

a. The desire of the disciples v. 6 Had come together - συνέρχομαι synerchomai assemble; come together. To meet (get together) - to get together for a specific purpose.

Restore - ἀποκαθίστημι apokathistēmi restore; reestablish. To restore - to bring back into original existence, use, function or position.

“Their question (‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore [apokathistaneis] the kingdom to Israel?’) suggests that they were thinking of the immediate completion of the divinely ordered plan for the redemption of Israel and everything associated with that in biblical expectation (cf. Lk. 1:32–33, 46–55, 68–79; 2:29–32, 38).”10

“As a matter of fact the Messianic kingdom for which they are asking is a political kingdom that would throw off the hated Roman yoke. It is a futuristic present and they are uneasy that Jesus may yet fail to fulfil their hopes.”11

“From what Jesus said to the disciples in Matthew 19:28, the disciples thought that he might overthrow the Romans and restore the physical kingdom to Israel.”12

“The timing of the restoration of the kingdom to Israel is a question that naturally arises out of Jesus’ previous teaching (v. 3) and his announcement of the coming of the eschatological gift of the Spirit (vv. 4–5). But the apostles’ attention is diverted by the risen Lord away from ‘times’ and ‘dates’, so that they might face the immediate challenge of being his witnesses.”13

“In the book of Acts, both Israel and the church exist simultaneously. The term Israel is used twenty times and ekklesia (church) nineteen times, yet the two groups are always kept distinct.”14

7 Marvin Richardson Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, vol. 1 (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887), 443. 8 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Ac 1:5. 9 Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Ac 1:5. 10 Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, The Pillar New Testament Commentary, 109. 11 A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933), Ac 1:6. 12 W. Harold Mare, New Testament Background Commentary: A New Dictionary of Words, Phrases and Situations in Bible Order (Ross-shire, UK: Mentor, 2004), 143. 13 Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, The Pillar New Testament Commentary, 108. 14 Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Ac 1:6. ~ 34. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, “Israel and the Church,” in Issues in Dispensationalism, p. 118. He counted and listed 73 occurrences of “Israel” in the New Testament (pp. 118–20).15

b. The decision of Jesus v. 7 “It is often suggested that the apostles’ question was misguided, but this is not so. Jesus did not deny their expectation of the ‘restoration’. He endorsed it, but interpreted it in terms of the gift of the Spirit and the fulfillment of prophecies about the restoration of Israel as a servant community, called to be God’s ‘witnesses’ to the nations (Is. 43:10, 12 and 44:8).”16

Know - γινώσκω ginōskō know. To know (experientially) - to know or have knowledge about (someone or something); normally as acquired through observation or the senses.

“Jesus deflects the apostles’ question and tells them they should not be concerned with timing.”17

Times - χρόνος chronos time. Time (definite) - a period of time marked by specific attributes or activities.

“It is not for you to know the times, &c.—implying not only that this was not the time, but that the question was irrelevant to their present business and future work.”18

Seasons - καιρός kairos season; time. Occasion (event) - the time (or period of time) of a particular event.

“The former of these words, time absolutely, without regard to circumstances; the latter, definite periods, with the idea of fitness.”19

Has put - τίθημι tithēmi put; place; lay. To set - to fix conclusively or authoritatively.

“…emphasizing the sovereignty of the Father in keeping all such matters to himself, a gentle hint to people today about the limits of curiosity.”20

Authority - ἐξουσία exousia power; authority. Ruling authority - authority over a domain or sphere of influence; often pertaining to the political or religious sphere.

“God the Father—in His administrative function as the Planner in the Triune God—sets the times and seasons for the future establishment of the kingdom in Israel. Both lay under God’s sovereign control.”21

“Since this is God’s secret, there is no place for human speculation—a point that might well be borne in mind by those who still anxiously try to calculate the probable course of events in the last days.”22

15 Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003). 16 Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, The Pillar New Testament Commentary, 109. 17 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Ac 1:7. 18 Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 174. 19 Marvin Richardson Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, vol. 1 (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887), 443–444. 20 A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933), Ac 1:7. 21 Valdés, “The Acts of the Apostles,” in The Grace New Testament Commentary, 485. 22 I. Howard Marshall, Acts: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 5, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980), 65. “What should preoccupy believers is the mission plan that Jesus goes on to reveal. By this means he gives his own distinctive meaning and purpose to the critical age in which we live. The period between the ascension of Jesus and his return (v. 11) is to be marked by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit (‘times of refreshing from the Lord’; cf. 3:19 note).”23

“Acts 1:3 states that the Lord instructed the disciples about the kingdom; He certainly gave them the right impression as to its character and future coming. What Jesus discussed here (v. 7) was the time of the coming of the kingdom.”24

c. The direction of the Holy Spirit v. 8 “Verse 8 begins with ‘but’ (alla), suggesting that Jesus is presenting an alternative aspiration for the disciples. Their primary concern should not be the political power that will come with the restoration of Israel’s kingdom. It should be the spiritual power that will come through the baptism with the Holy Spirit, which will enable them to be witnesses ‘to the ends of the earth.’”25

“Rather than trying to figure out when the kingdom would come, the disciples were to give their attention to something different, namely worldwide witness. Moreover the disciples would receive divine enablement for their worldwide mission (cf. Luke 24:47–49). As God’s Spirit had empowered the Israelites and Jesus as they executed their purposes, so God’s Spirit would empower the disciples as they executed their purpose.”26

Receive - λαμβάνω lambanō receive; take. To receive - to get something or come into possession of; whether physical or abstract.

Power - δύναμις dynamis power. Power - possession of controlling influence; often understood as manifesting influence over reality in a supernatural manner. The idea is that of ability. We have the ability to be witnesses because of the Holy Spirit!

“In view of what follows, the power that is promised in 1:8 is essentially related to the task of being Christ’s witnesses, though this is not all that Acts teaches about the role of the Spirit in believers.”27

“God will enable the apostles to accomplish His work, wherever and whatever it is.”28

“The power of the Holy Spirit is the supreme qualification and assurance of Christ’s witnesses. The mission? To be ‘my witnesses.’ The mission’s extent? ‘In Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ The mission’s power? ‘When the Holy Spirit comes on you.’”29

Has come - ἐπέρχομαι eperchomai come; come upon. To come upon - to arrive at or upon someone or something.

“As Jesus had been anointed at his baptism with the Holy Spirit and power, so his followers were now to be similarly anointed and enabled to carry on his work.”30

23 Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, The Pillar New Testament Commentary, 110. 24 Toussaint, “Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary, 354. 25 Ajith Fernando, Acts, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1998), 52. 26 Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Ac 1:8. 27 Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, The Pillar New Testament Commentary, 110. 28 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Ac 1:8. 29 R. Kent Hughes, Acts: The Church Afire, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1996), 19. 30 Bruce, The Book of the Acts, The New International Commentary on the New Testament, 36. “The ministry of the Holy Spirit is not a luxury; it is an absolute necessity.”31

You shall be - ἔσομαι esomai be. To be (quality) - to have the quality of being.

Witnesses - μάρτυς martys witness. Witness - someone who sees an event and reports what happened.

“The meaning of the clause you will be My witnesses is subject to question. Is this a command, or is it a simple statement of fact? Grammatically the words may be taken either way, but because of 10:42 (cf. 4:20) it is clearly an imperative in the future tense.”32

“Whatever else they might become, everything was to be subordinate to the idea of personal testimony.”33

“To be a witness for Christ is to bring a message that is a marvel of simplicity: Jesus Christ is God come in the flesh; he died to pay for our sins; he was resurrected; now he is exalted in Heaven; he calls us to believe in him and so receive forgiveness of sins. This is good news. There is nothing to join, no system to climb—just a person to receive and, in him, eternal life.”34

“Jerusalem? The Lord was crucified there. Judea? They had been rejected there. Samaria? Minster to those half-breeds? The ends of the earth? Gentiles too? The words were not only spiritually revolutionary, but socially and ethnically unheard of.”35

End - ἔσχατος eschatos last. End (length) - either extremity of something that has length.

“A wise strategy for mission or any task: start at home and expand the work from there. The book of Acts is developed from this strategy. The Jerusalem witness of Acts 2 gives in miniature God’s worldwide ministry…”36

“Starting from Jerusalem the gospel message radiated farther and farther as ripples do when a stone lands in a placid pool of water. Rome was over 1,400 miles from Jerusalem.”37 Conclusion “Christians have to live with the tension of knowing that the work of the gospel is central to God’s eschatological plan, but never being able to calculate the exact date of the end.”38

“No matter where we live, as Christians we should begin our witness at home and then extend it ‘into all the world.’”39

“In the final analysis, Luke indicates that effective Christian witness involves both a sharing of the apostolic testimony to Jesus and a demonstration of spiritual and moral transformation arising from personal commitment to the risen Lord (cf. 5:32 note; 6:3, 10).”40

31 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 403. 32 Toussaint, “Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary, 354. 33 Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Ac 1:8. 34 R. Kent Hughes, Acts: The Church Afire, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1996), 16. 35 R. Kent Hughes, Acts: The Church Afire, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1996), 17. 36 Mare, New Testament Background Commentary, 143–144. 37 Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Ac 1:8. 38 Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, The Pillar New Testament Commentary, 111. 39 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 403. 40 Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, The Pillar New Testament Commentary, 112. “If we are to be effective witnesses for our Savior, we cannot be water boys in the game of life. We have to roll up our sleeves and pitch in. Our lives must display the inner reality of what we externally proclaim.”41

41 R. Kent Hughes, Acts: The Church Afire, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1996), 16.