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C:\Users\G\Documents\Corel User Files\Bible Commentaries\ACTS The Acts of the Apostles A Workbook Commentary Prepared by Gary Calton 1288 Hay Meadow Lane Sykesville, Maryland 21784 This workbook uses the New King James Version. I use newer 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 King James Version, Copyright 1079, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc. Copyright MVIM, MMI, MMXIV by Living with the Master Foundation, Sykesville, MD All rights reserved. 1 A Workbook Commentary on the Book of Acts Chapter 1 NKJV 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 Now when Festus had come to the province, ______ ________ ______ he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. Acts 28:16 Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.... Acts 28:19 "But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to _____________, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation.... Acts 28:30 Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to 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 late in AD 62 or early AD 63. During his time in Rome, Paul would write letters to the Ephesians, the Colossians, the Philippians and Philemon. Acts 1:1-2 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom 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 1:1-4 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had _________ _______________ of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed. The account in Acts continues where Luke had stopped his story some time earlier when writing the book bearing his name. Acts 1:3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. 2 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 9:22-28 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are ______ of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; not that He should ________ Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another; He then would have had to suffer often since the __________________ of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. 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 wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed 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 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; Jesus had made this promise to them in John. John 14:16-17 "And I will pray the _____, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever; "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you..... John 16:13-15 "However, when He, the ______ of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you "All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you . As we will see in the second chapter of Acts, his promise was true. Acts 1:5 "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." Jesus differentiated what was going to happen to them from baptism in water, which both His disciples and John had practiced. 3 Luke 3:15-16 Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the ______ or not, John answered, saying to all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. John 4:1-2 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John (though Jesus Himself did not _________, but His disciples), Acts 1:6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time 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 answered, "My __________ is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." His disciples had been distraught over his death, Luke 24:17-21 And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?" Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?" And He said to them, "What things?" So they said to Him, "The things concerning ________ of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, "and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.
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