To the ends of the earth

Acts 1:1-26

Key Verse 1:8 

This passage describes the way the Lord God forged the disciples into a body of people ready for the Lord's use for the Lord's world mission purpose. 

1. The book of Acts was addressed to Theophilus, which means “lover of God” (v. 1).  Why is it important to love God? (Isaiah 55:8-9)  The full title of this book is “The Acts of the Apostles.”  How does this title relate to ‘Theophilus’? (John 14:15)  Based on this, what attitude should we have as we study the book of Acts?

** It is not enough for us to know what is good or better. We need to go for what is best, for what is better is the enemy of what is best. Loving God is the key to going for God's best, for God's ideas are always better than ours.

** You do what you love. Love is the mother of action. One always goes to the restaurant where he thinks he can find the kind of food he loves. Likewise, loving the Lord God is the key to doing what the Lord God desires (his children) to do, and God never asks his children to do what they would end up hating. 

** The right attitude is to approach it with love for all the truths of God, especially God himself. 

2. Verses 1-3 emphasize two points about Jesus’ ministry before His ascension: 1) convincing proofs that He was alive; and 2) the kingdom of God.  Why are these points important?

** They are important to us for they are two essential components for perfect happiness in perfect paradise. The first condition (the resurrection of Jesus), has to do with the resident's status in which the enjoyment of the paradise is to be made, whereas the kingdom of God refers to the environment in which the resident is to enjoy paradise. The deal is that because Jesus rose, all who believe him will also be like Jesus upon His return, so that it is in the state of a resurrected body that proper enjoyment of the good to come can be had.

In 1 Peter 1:4, Peter explained this concept in a negative way, that is, by describing that this world is not a proper place for the enjoyment of the true reward from God, for it will   soon perish, spoil, or fade. 

3. According to the conversation between the Risen Lord and His disciples in verses 4-8, there is a big difference between the disciples’ thinking and the Father’s thinking.  How are the two different?  Did Jesus ignore what the disciples had in mind?  What does verse 8 show about the position of the disciples in Jesus’ mind?

 

** The disciples' agenda was limited to their own race, whereas God's agenda embraces all peoples on earth, from all generations. 

** No. 

** Their position was not just as members of the Jewish nation, but as members of God's kingdom, called to serve God's heavenly government where God is the king of the universe. 

4. Verse 8 describes the way the Father will fulfill His work.  What does it mean to be Jesus’ witnesses: 1) in Jerusalem; 2) in all Judea; 3) in Samaria; and 4) to the ends of the earth?  Why does this mission require power from the Holy Spirit?  What does this show about God’s will for all people on earth?

** Jerusalem refers to the place which is controlled by the enemies of God who murdered Jesus Christ, the Savior. So this meant they would even brave martyrdom.

** Judea refers to the people steeped in Judaism which denies Jesus' deity and his identity as the Savior of the world. It is, at the same time, the disciples' home ground where they had to witness to their brothers and sisters, mothers and parents. It is not easy for you to witness to people who are close to you. 

** Samaria means somewhere between Judea and the ends of the world. These people are like your next door neighbors who do not necessarily see you and what you believe in a favorable light. See how belligerent the Samaritan woman was towards Jesus when Jesus first tried to evangelize her.

** The ends of the earth refer to the world of hardcore Gentiles whom the Jewish people regarded as no better than or as bad as dogs. But Jesus represents the Spirit of God, whereas people like dogs refer to those who live purely on a carnal, fleshly dimension. They may enjoy high culture in a fine environment with their fine education, but still they may live purely on a fleshly level, so it means it will be very challenging for one to preach Jesus Christ, who is the Word which is breathed by God's Spirit.

** God's Spirit breaks down all barriers - religious, cultural, ideological, or physical barriers. It also helps you to overcome even language barriers.

** God's will is to help people to be like Jesus, the Son of God.

5. Jesus’ ascension and the promise of His return in verses 9-11 are truly remarkable.  Compare this passage with Luke 24:50-53.  Who are the “two men”? (Hebrews 1:14)  What do you think God had in mind when He sent them to say the following words to the disciples: 1) Men of Galilee; 2) Why do you stand here looking into the sky?; 3) This same Jesus, who has taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him going into heaven.

** The angels. Angels mean "messengers" who are called to deliver God's messages. They are in God's courier service business, so to speak. 

** Men of Galilee - their mission is to live as "fishers of men", fishing men into God's fishnet.

** Why do you stand here... - Maybe at the end of "stand here", they might have wanted to add, "doing nothing." 

** This same Jesus... - this is to remind them that until Jesus returns they are to take over Jesus' ministry and serve the Lord as partners in Jesus' kingdom work. 

6. Verses 12-14 describe the prayer meeting held by the followers of Jesus.  Why did they stay in the upstairs room in Jerusalem to pray?  Why might it have been difficult for all of them (including the women) to join together constantly in prayer?  What can we learn from them?

** It might have taken great courage and firm resolution to even suffer martyrdom. They might have been tempted to run away to no man's land to avoid persecution. But they overcame the fear of death.

** The upstairs could very well be located inside of the Lord's temple in Jerusalem where the women's court was separated from the men's court. But in Jesus, there is no barrier. So both men and women all joined together and prayed together. This is truly remarkable, for in Jesus one can set aside all kinds of barriers and work together for one common purpose. Please also consider that the disciples set aside their own individual differences and worked together for a common purpose, that is, to serve Jesus' interest. 

** First, the spirit of prayer. Whenever we feel helpless, we still can rely on the power of prayer. Then God starts working in us.

Second, we learn their spirit of participation which is the key to forming team spirit, for they all prayed together. 

7. The remainder of the passage begins with “Peter stood up among the believers…”  What does the phrase “stood up” indicate about the change that took place in Peter?  Why is his decision to fill Judas Iscariot’s place with another witness important?

** Peter remained down, just like a PC which disfunctioned due to a virus infection etc. He denied Jesus three times. But through the prayer meeting he his problem was resolved. Apparently he received an inner unction. Wounds were healed. His relationship with Jesus was recovered. Now he could stand up with his spirit up and running. 

** It was like removing a tumor. Perhaps the memory of Judas Iscariot caused a lot of doubt about God's calling for each of them, for he left for the world even though he was one of the twelve whom Jesus called. Peter removed this based on God's word. 

Psalms 69:25 May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents.

Psalms 109:8 May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership.

The end.