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THE ACTS of the APOSTLES Contributions from the " Young Men's Corner "—Twelfth Series, 1931

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THE ACTS of the APOSTLES Contributions from the THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES Contributions from the " Young Men's Corner "—Twelfth series, 1931. " Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so" (Acts 17. 11). Issued by : " NEEDED TRUTH " Publishing Office. To be obtained from : Mr. R. T. H. HORNE, 57, Church Road, Higher Tranmere, Birkenhead. ii CONTENTS. Acts. Subject. Page. — Introduction ...... 1 1. 1—26. The Forty Days ...... 2 2. 1—47. Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit, and what follows 13, 17 3. 1—4. 31. The lame man healed, but Israel despised the power of the Name . 18 4. 32—5. 11. Barnabas gives, to be rich ; Ananias and Sapphira covet, lie, and lose all . 27 5. 12—42. Multitudes added, the Apostles interdicted, and Gamaliel's advice .... 33 6. 1—7. 60. Stephen, a fellow servant, and also a witness of Jesus Christ 38, 49 8. 1—40. Saul's persecution, and Philip's preaching . 50 9. 1—31. Saul's conversion, and his experience at Damascus and Jerusalem . .59, 65 9. 32—10. 48. The work of Peter, and the Door opened to the Gentiles 68, 81 11. 1—18. Peter's reply to the Circumcision ... 76 11. 19—30. The scattering abroad and the work at Antioch 82 12. 1—23. Herod, Satan's tool, and his end . .92, 97 12. 24—13. 52. Antioch : and the sending forth of Barnabas and Saul 97 14. 1—28. The first journey and the return to Antioch 109, 113 15. 1—16. 5. The question of circumcision: Paul and Barnabas parted ; Silas and Timothy join Paul .114 16. 6—17. 34. Paul and his company reach Europe—Philippi, Thessalonica, Beroea, Athens . 124, 129 18. 1—28. Paul at Corinth and Ephesus, and his return to Antioch 131 19. 1—41. Paul's great work at Ephesus . 141, 145 20. 1—38. Through Macedonia and Greece, and at Troas and Miletus 146 21. 1—40. Paul's journey to, and arrival at, Jerusalem . 156 22. 1—23. 35. Paul's defence in Jerusalem and its conse- quences ...... 162 24. 1—26. 32. Before Felix, Festus and King Agrippa . 170 27. 1—44. Paul's journey to Rome, and the shipwreck . 177 28. 1—31. Paul in Melita, and his arrivaPages.l and abode in Questions and AnswerRoms e . 29, 48, 79, 95, 112, 128, 144, 161805 Was there a Church of God in Damascus ? . .78 Explanations from Cardiff and London . Ill, 144 Erratum 144 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. Young Men's Corner Twelfth Series. January, 1931 " Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so." (Acts 17. 11). CONTENTS. PAGE Introduction 1 The Forty Days—Acts 1. 1-26 2 Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit, and what follows. Acts 2. 1-47 13 INTRODUCTION. Both the " Acts of the Apostles," and the third Gospel (in order), are anonymous, but it would appear reasonable to deduce that the author of both books was one and the same person, from the following reasons :— 1. Both are addressed to the same person. 2. The former (i.e., the Gospel) is mentioned in the second treatise (i.e., " The Acts of the Apostles ") as emanating from the same writer. 3. Those who can judge state that the two works resemble one another in style and language. This is not altogether conclusive that Luke was the Author, for his name does not appear in either record, but from an internal examination of the " Acts " (16. 10-17 and 21. 1-8, etc.), where the record shows that the writer associates himself with the Apostle Paul in the pronoun "we," and from Colossians 4. 14 (written from a Roman prison about A.D. 65) and later, from 2 Timothy 4. 11, it seems probable that the writer of the " Acts of the Apostles " was the beloved physician, Luke, fellow-companion to the Apostle Paul. The period covered by our present study is from the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ (about A.D. 33) till two years after the arrival of Paul in Rome (about A.D. 65)—a comparatively short period of time, but one filled with important events for the children of God in this dispensation. The " former treatise " dealt with the beginning of the deeds and words of our Lord Jesus Christ; this treatise also deals with beginnings. It is, therefore, important that the first principles and patterns be also " accurately traced," and studied. We are early introduced to the risen Master, Himself, and to the subject of His discourses with the Apostles during His sojourn of 40 days. This important theme—things concerning the Kingdom of God—and the course, marked out by Himself for the publication of the Gospel, form the basis or framework of the ensuing record. The deeds and words of two great men—Peter and Paul— dominate the following pages, but behind all is seen the powerful working of the blessed Holy Spirit. The account of the Apostle Paul's work in the various churches, during his travels, affords a most valuable background for a fuller understanding of the Epistles which were later written to these churches 2 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. (although the author of the " Acts " makes no reference to any of these letters). Undoubtedly the account bears the stamp of Divine origin, in the signs and miracles and wonders, and though we need seek no further proof of its truthfulness and genuineness, we find reference to contemporary events, men and customs, allusions to and descriptions of well-known places, verbatim reports of speeches, all varying in style and matter, accurate and exact according to profane historical records. The magnitude of the work performed in spreading the word of life, from such humble beginnings, during the thirty odd years with which the record deals, staggers the mind, but also demonstrates what can be done under the Holy Spirit's guidance and power. J. MARTIN. THE FORTY DAYS.—ACTS 1. 1-26. FROM ILFORD.—Luke, the writer of the Acts, was referred to by Paul in Colossians 4. 14 as the beloved physician ; he companied with the Apostle, and probably was with him to the last. In Luke's Gospel Theophilus was addressed as " most excellent,'* but not so in this treatise. It was suggested that Theophilus might have been, when first addressed, an official of high standing entitled to such a deferential greeting, but that by the time the " Acts " is written he may have ceased to occupy such a position. Alternatively it was thought that the friendship between Luke and Theophilus had so developed that intimacy justified a more familiar address. We read that Jesus showed Himself alive by many proofs, during forty days. 1 Corinthians 15. 6 tells us that on one occasion He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once. There are two well-defined lines of testimony throughout this book—testimony to Jesus as the Christ, and testimony to the things concerning the Kingdom of God. The disciples' question in verse 6 shows that they had hardly, up to this time, discerned the nature of the Kingdom ; it was not until after Pentecost that they learned that Kingdom-truth meant for them reviling, afflictions, buffetings, stripes, imprisonment, and In the Holy Spirit thanked God that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonour for the Name. The main element in their testimony to Jesus Christ as Lord was contained in the word of the Commission ; " All authority hath been given unto me ... Go ye therefore . and make disciples, baptising them . and teaching them " (Matthew 28. 18-20). On the day of the Lord's resurrection He said to Mary, "Touch Me not, for I am not yet ascended unto My Father." Later He said "... handle Me . ." Evidently between the two occasions He has ascended ; time and space no longer governed Him but were, so it seems, annihilated. [Note how closely related as to time John 20. 17 is with Matthew 28. 9. In the former He said, " Touch Me not," whereas in the latter " they came and took hold of His feet." May there not be some other reason for the Lord's words in John than the reason our friends suggest?—J.M.]. How very wrong it is for any to fix dates for the accomplishment of prophecy, seeing the Father hath set such within His own authority I Those who saw Him go were left without a shadow of a doubt that the very One they had known and loved on earth had returned to heaven as a Man. We observed that Mary, the mother of Jesus, knelt in company with the others, and is not otherwise prominent, so that no sanction is given to Mariolatry. THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. 3 FROM EDINBURGH AND MUSSELBURGH.—In this portion of Scripture we have convincing evidence of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, in that He was with them for 40 days, "speaking the things concerning the kingdom of God." The Lord appeared first to Mary Magdalene (John 20. 16). That same day the Lord appeared to others. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 15., does not mention women, but says the Lord " appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve, then to over five hundred brethren at once," and so forth. According to Mark 16. 14, and Luke 24. 33, only eleven are mentioned ; in John 20.
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