The Book of ACTS

Part Five

Please make sure that you read parts 1, 2, 3, and 4 before you continue.

[This teaching will conclude Acts Chapters One and Two.]

In Part Four, we ended with Acts 2: 22 - 24. Referring back to the Old Testament:

For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: -- Acts 2: 25

The knowledge of the resurrection of Christ was given to David by revelation. Promises such as this one to King David made it possible for Old Testament people to believe and to walk on God’s Word -- because they saw the glory of these future events.

Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover my flesh shall rest in hope: -- Acts 2: 26

This was the first time the word ‘hope’ was used in the Grace Administration. This was Peter’s first sermon in the Christian Church. He is referring back to the revelation that David received in the Old Testament.

Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. -- Acts 2: 27

Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. -- Acts 2: 28

Peter is still speaking of David as we will surely see in the next verse.

Men and brethren, let me speak freely [be permitted to speak freely] unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day. -- Acts 2: 29

Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; -- Acts 2: 30

He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. -- Acts 2: 31

Paul continues with his sermon.

This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. -- Acts 2: 32

Notice that Peter is bringing up the subject of witnessing in his very first sermon to the Christian church. Remember that the Word of reconciliation is committed to us by God. If we don’t share the Word, no one hears it.

Therefore by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the holy ghost [the holy, the spirit], he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. -- Acts 2: 33

What is Peter talking about? He is clearly talking about what took place on this Day of Pentecost. The gift of the holy spirit was given to those that chose to believe on Jesus Christ -- those who confessed Christ to be their Lord. Peter is saying that the multitudes could see the believers speak in tongues and they could hear them also. When God promises something, He always follows through. Now David goes on with his sermon.

For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes [thine enemies] thy footstool. -- Acts 2: 34 - 35

It wasn’t David that ascended into the heavens. David is dead and awaiting the return of Jesus Christ. If you make Jesus Christ Lord in your life and study and apply God’s Word in your life, God Almighty will make your enemies your footstool. Need we elaborate on what that means? Only God’s Word rightly divided defeats Satan. You can make Satan your footstool if you commit to God’s Word. You have free will.

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. -- Acts 2: 36

There is a principle here that you should learn. I want to point out to you the boldness of Peter. You remember not too long ago, that Peter and the other apostles were behind closed doors for fear of the Jews. Now take a look at verse 36 again and you will notice that Peter, standing up in front of the multitude, said to the scribes and Pharisees and unbelievers that “ye” have crucified Jesus Christ. Peter is now acting without fear because he was born again of God’s spirit on that Day of Pentecost. He went from body and soul to body soul and spirit. It is only the spirit of the true God living inside a person that gets rid of all the fear that a person may have. The world’s way of fearlessness is a counterfeit. We see it on the television all of the time. So-called men are always getting into physical confrontations. This leads to nothing but defeat for both parties. I walk away from fights. My earthly father would back down from no one. He got into a number of fights with various people pertaining to various situations. I know I told this story before, but I am going to tell it to you again. At his place of employment, my father got into a number of violent confrontations with people who actually deserved it. One day he got called into the main office. They liked my father because he was a very valuable employee. To me, he was a maintenance genius. Anyway, he was told reluctantly by management that if he got into one more fight, they would have to let him go. I believe this really shook up my father and he told me something very important in the latter part of his life. I am going to share that with you because it says in the Word of God that we are not to be brawlers.

Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; -- I Timothy 3: 3

Now either we listen to God or we do not – we have free will all of the time. Anyway my father said to me: “Remember, the smart man walks away but it is a tough pill to swallow.” To me, those words were great words of wisdom and my father was trying to protect me, because I never take anything from anybody. God will teach you that it is His job to seek vengeance.

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. -- Romans 12: 19

It is amazing how confident and peaceful you can be in the midst of hell. I have bigshot neighbors who own some type of construction company. They always have some heavy equipment in their yard and they just love to make noise. God Almighty has taught me that the one way that you help Him seek vengeance is to do absolutely nothing. When you run across this type of situation, your greatest weapon against Satan’s people is silence. You do not react to what the devil is doing. If you do, you lose. It is an art that you must learn to master. It is not easy, but it works. That is now what I do pertaining to these people who are seriously possessed by devil spirits. I starve them with NO ATTENTION WHATSOEVER!

I tried to use this example even though it may not be the best one. I wanted to show you what happened to Peter after he was born again. He became bold and that simply means that he acted without fear. You are going to run across situations in life where you want to just smash someone in the face. Do not do it. Do not react and simply get away from that situation. That is what God wants you to do so that He can allow the enemy to destroy his own people. This is somewhat advanced material so it is up to you whether you want to believe it or not.

You should go back to verse 36 so you don’t lose your train of thought - and read it.

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? -- Acts 2: 37

Because Peter was speaking fearlessly with great authority, the people who were listening, they wanted to do what Peter was preaching. They felt bad about what he was telling them. They asked Peter, “What shall we do?’ You may not have expected this verse to say what it did. Try to learn a lesson here that when you are witnessing God’s Word, you are really never to look for results. A person who you think is not listening to you may very well be the person who is receiving the Word of God. This actually happened to me when someone was first witnessing God’s Word to me and to my friend. He told me later that he was rather convinced that my friend was receiving the Word that he was speaking. It was my friend who turned his back on everything that this person was saying. His life was eventually destroyed. It was myself who was turning on to the Word. The person who witnessed to me told me this and he was very surprised. This is a another small lesson that you need to learn. The point being made that you are to simply witness the Word of God. Do not try to understand who was listening and who will continue in the Word of God. It is a strange lesson, I know. But it is true and you must remember this.

Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. -- Acts 2: 38

Notice that the word remission is used instead of forgiveness. When we first get born again, all of our old man sins are totally washed away. That is the meaning of the word remission. Now try to get this in your heart and in your mind. After you are born again, you will sin, and then you confess that sin to God, then you receive forgiveness for that sin. Many Christians do not understand this simple concept. You can and you will sin after you are born again of God’s spirit. This subject is covered completely in the epistle of I John, chapter one. Before moving on, you should be able to see that the words’ Holy Ghost’ are in the upper case. Since we are referring to the gift, it should have been written holy ghost.

For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. -- Acts 2: 39

Do you think that includes you? Of course it does. The Word of God is the same as it was back in the time of the apostles. God’s Word never changes. The power that the apostles manifested in the book of Acts and throughout the Word is still the same power that we have today. The reason we do not see it manifested is because people just simply do not believe. They would rather gamble on computer sites – they would rather buy brand-new cars from foreign countries putting Americans out of work. They would rather disagree with each other in the political arena. They want to have as much attention as they can get pertaining to their life. I told you time and time again that this is nothing but idolatry. Idolatry is putting something before God Almighty. This is an abomination to the Lord and it makes him sick to see that happen. He has so much to give and so few people will accept His way of the more than abundant life. The people who study this website are studying the rightly divided Word of God. When I think of it, I feel privileged. Many times I have said to God, “Why me? O’ Lord”? It is because God loves us more than we can ever imagine. When He see someone trying to live by His blueprint for living, it blesses God to no end. You should take a look at Ephesians 3: 20.

Peter continues with this great sermon.

And with many other words did he [Peter] testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. -- Acts 2: 40

That is what we should also do. This present evil world is run and controlled by Satan himself. See II Corinthians 4: 4. Without a knowledge of God’s Word applied, Satan will lead you into following the untoward generation of the present world. Although things may appear ok at first, eventually the devil will steal, kill, and destroy you. He will get you to conform to this world and his ways. I warn you - do not be deceived.

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. -- II Corinthians 11: 14 - 15

There it is, as clear as the sun is bright. It’s not hard to understand. Do you believe that the Word of God is true? Then follow God’s blueprint for living and not the devil’s blueprint for death. Back to Acts.

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. -- Acts 2: 41

CAN YOU IMAGINE THIS?!!!! As a result of Peter’s first sermon given in the Christian church, about 3,00 people were born again of God’s spirit. This all happened as a result of Peter witnessing God’s Word to them. Satan must have been going nuts. What happened here on the Day of Pentecost is still available today. It’s the same Word of God - it’s the same power of God. If we only knew what power we have.

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and [scratch ‘and’] in breaking of bread, and in prayers. -- Acts 2: 42

They made the Word of God their own and they followed those men in the ministry who were leaders. They became committed to the Word, not conformed to the world. They fellowshipped together and loved one another as brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. They renewed their mind according to God’s Word and worshipped the true God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, not the counterfeit god of this world. They supped together and prayed together.

And fear [respect] came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. -- Acts 2: 43

They respected one another. For some strange reason, I think of when I’m driving a car in this day and age. Try to take your time and, lo and behold, there is someone tailgating you about 2 feet behind you. That’s respect!?! I am driving 45 years without an accident and I was always called on to race when I was younger. I never lost. Forgive me here. At times, I wish so much I had the time to reinforce the back end of my car with solid steel and NAIL the brakes for EVERY tailgater. It would feel like heaven, but it’s wrong. We all get angry at times because we are human. Anyone with me on my idea? Ha. The best one I’ve come up with is to pull over to the side of the road - shut off the adversary’s air. It works. Respect - where do you get respect today? It’s all ambitious rivalry - I’m better than you. Well, every dog gets their day, man, you cannot escape God’s laws.

And all that believed were together, and had all things common; -- Acts 2: 44

They shared their wealth and abundance together. How often do you see that today? People live in trailer camps, but buy BMW’s to drive around. No respect for God or others - just wanting to look prosperous even though they don’t have a pot to p__s in or a window to throw it out of. I can buy a new Ferrari. I drive around in 2 cars - one is 14 yrs. old and the other is 12 yrs. Old. Why? Because they never once broke down and they are made in America. Sign and drive - NO KIDDING. Drivers wanted! What a joke. You see the Japanese have already invaded this country. Most people are not near sharp enough to see that this has happened. I’m nasty today, aren’t I? Buy an American car and keep Americans working. I don’t want a foreign car parked in my driveway. My 3^rd car is a like brand new Corvette - no breakdowns in 10 years. It’s 26 years old.

And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, [scratch men - it’s in italics] as every man had need. -- Acts 2: 45

A group of believers came to my city in 1974. They divided up into about 10 families. One family had serious financial problems because they were off the Word in some area. Another prosperous believer in another family simply gave them enough money to get back on their feet. It was an amazing example of sharing his plurality. I never forgot it. My wife and I used to give $500 or $600 a month to the ministry that taught us God’s Word. We just gave it away. Did God make us prosper? Remember the Ferrari. How about the Corvette. Sometimes I feel we have too much money! We don’t know what to do with it. Do you now believe that giving equals receiving? When you give, you receive a lot more back. It’s a law of God and it’s immutable.

And they, [the 3,000 believers] continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, -- Acts 2: 46

It reminds you of one big family - about 3000 believers. Why? Because it was one big family. That’s how we are supposed to conduct ourselves today. They were glad and they were humble. They enjoyed each other’s company. They loved one another.

Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. -- Acts 2: 47

Who were they praising? Who did they have favor with? Who added to the church? It is our job to plant and water the Word. But it is God’s job to give the increase. That is one of the reasons we never argue with people. Truth needs no defense. You can only witness to it.

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This will conclude our study of Acts Chapters 1 and 2. You are exhorted to read the rest of Acts on your own. If you come to some difficult Scriptures or sections, just read over them and continue. I have done my best to show you how important it is to understand the Book of Acts. It is one of the most exciting books of the Bible. God bless you.

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