T.O.D. taught from Acts at Paran Baptist Church on Highway 341 / Johnsonville Hwy in Lake City, South Carolina. This commentary is based on the notes he wrote in preparation for the lessons.
The author was licensed to preach the Gospel by Paran on May 26, 1979. He has been a student of Scripture since 1972. He was an art teacher for over 30 years in Florence School District 3.
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Johnston, T.O.D.
A Layman's Commentary on The Acts of the Apostles/Religious Non-fiction
1st Edition 2011
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Dedication:
Dedicated for knowledge, understanding, and inspiration as we seek to follow Our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.
After reading many scholarly commentaries on different books of Scripture, it became my mental habit to sift through the minute discussions of individual words and/or phrases, and the quoting of various scholars of the past of many differing opinions, and center on the most logical and inspirational truths that remained. Thus I relied on the studied scholarship of those who had learned the original languages and had read all the previous scholars that had written to get the best possible understanding of Scripture that I, as a non-scholar, could. It seemed that most church members would not attempt to read scholarly works - but would benefit from their knowledge if presented in a plain and straightforward manner, the truths they had perceived. The following commentary is my attempt to do this. May God bless my efforts to the extent that they increase the understanding and faith of the reader.
T.O.D. Johnston
2005
Introduction
The title of The Acts of the Apostles was given to this treatise by the Christian Church from the first century onward. It records what the Apostles "did" in establishing Christ's Church. It centers around the acts of Peter and Paul. Peter was to proclaim the Gospel to Jews and Gentiles. Paul was to carry the Gospel to the pagan world of the Roman Empire. Some mention of some of the other Apostles was also included. Only the death of James, of the original 11, is recorded.
The book of Acts is the companion record to the Gospel of Luke. Acts has been accepted from the beginning as having been penned by the same author. This treatise claims so, and is addressed to the same individual as the former one (see Luke 1:3). It takes up the narrative at the same place left off in the former record (Acts 1:1,2).
The time written designates the time as around 62 A.D., and no later 63 A.D. This is based on internal evidence of events mentioned, specifically the second year of Paul's residing in Rome. It has been assumed that Luke wrote the book of Acts in Rome. This is based on the mention of Luke's arrival with Paul in Rome (Acts 28:16), and no mention of his leaving that city. The authenticity of the book of Acts has never been questioned. It is selective and limited in its inclusions.
Certain things of importance are highlighted:
1. The historical record of the Promise and coming and working of the Holy Spirit. This was the promise of power from on high to empower the Apostles that they were to tarry in Jerusalem for (Luke 24:49). The greatest triumphs of His finished work would take place after His ascension. Thus this record uniquely shows the roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the Great Work of Redemption. This book was the unique record of the Holy Spirit's work. It continues from the Gospel accounts of Christ's work for man's salvation. The Old Testament shows the Father's preparation.
2. It is the first inspired account of the great working of the Holy Spirit in the minds and hearts of a multitude of people. Also, it shows the power, given to the speakers of the gospels. It also shows the proper response to the Gospel. It is a measure and guide to all subsequent "revivals" and movements: what is proper and genuine.
3. This record suggests that the power and operations of the Holy Spirit should always be expected to occur within the Christian Church. It should also be expected in the spread of the Gospel throughout the world, until Christ comes for His Church.
4. The Church was founded by the bold proclamation of the truth of the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This book contains several of the best examples of this preaching. It also contains the record of the organization of the beginning church. It was the working out of the effect of the Gospel on the mind and heart of each believer individually, and then collectively. Its purpose was to worship God in spirit and truth, and love one another, sharing together and encouraging one another in the faith. There were no outward trappings, no magnificent edifices, no dazzling shows, rites and ceremonies, or fancy clothes, no popes and priests, no show of wealth, no hierarchy of persons, no books of dogma or lists of rules. There was only the Word of God and the Love of Christ.
5. We also observe the nature of the carrying out of the Great Commission. People put this mission first, giving up whatever stood in the way, whether wealth, position, vocation, home, family, even to giving up their lives. Stephen and Paul come to mind immediately. This is the true spirit of the Gospel of Christ.
6. This book also includes many incidental references to persons, places, and events that are recorded in other places in the New Testament – especially the Epistles. Each proves how genuine the authors and their records were.
7. This book is irrefutable proof of the reality of the truth of Christianity. Within 30 years of Christ's death and resurrection, His Gospel had been spread to all parts of the Roman Empire, and well beyond. Its progress was public, profound, and lasting. It penetrated every class, religion, vocation, race, gender, and age. Major cities had churches established, including Jerusalem, Antioch, Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, and Rome. This was all in spite of great and deadly opposition by Jews and pagans alike. This faith was to unseat the established pagan religions, temples, and bloody rites.
Christianity was not spread by force, influence, power, or coercion. There was no wealth, army, hierarchy, indoctrinators, or enforcers. They had experience with Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit, the truth of the Gospel message of love, forgiveness, and salvation – all by the grace and mercy of the only true God.
Whoever does not acknowledge this must explain how this change took place, and then how it continued to this day. If God did not bring this to pass, could men have done it by their own power, by magic, by charisma, or any other means. The preaching of the Gospel still brings people to faith in Christ, that changes them from selfish, self seeking, sinful ways of life to a path of forgiveness, love, faith, and helping and sharing with others. Jesus Christ is and will always be the power of God unto salvation. This remains true in spite of all the things people have added to it: all the pomp and circumstance, rules and regulations, power and wealth, fancy robes and edifices that show man's own vanity.
Intro finis!
The Acts of the Apostles 1:1-8.
1 The former treatise have I made, O The-oph'ilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2 until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
3 to whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
4 and, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
6 ¶ When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
1:1.
The former treatise: this indicates what we know as the Gospel of Luke – treatise meaning narrative. This book is written to the same "Theophilus" as the previous one, for the same purpose: to record the genuine and true historical account of the ascension of Christ, the descent, of the Holy Spirit, and the organization of the church. It would also included examples of preaching the true Gospel of Christ.
Luke accompanied Paul on many of his travels and therefore was eyewitness to most of the activities here recorded. "Of all" means the most important parts of the activities of Christ, both what He did and said. "Began to do!" is a Hebrew expression that means the same as the simple statement of what He did.
Verses 2-5.
Luke continues to summarize the ending of his Gospel account that included the forty days after His resurrection until the day He was taken up into heaven. These included the commandments to stay in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father, which Jesus had promised. Even though John baptized with water, they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
He had shown Himself to be alive after His passion "by many infallible proofs". He was seen of His disciples and He spoke to them about the kingdom of God for 40 days. All these appearances, His eating with them, and His meeting and speaking with them on various occasions were indisputable proof of His resurrection. There was absolutely no chance that they could have been fooled for such a long period of time, and that so many could be included in such a ruse. There are 13 recorded appearances of Christ to His disciples after His resurrection. That He continued the teaching as He had before also shows that it was the same Person who addressed them: the same purposes, and focusing on the future about the spread, organization, and edification of His church.
Verse 4.
Having assembled them together, Jesus gives them direct instruction as to what they must do after He departs from them. He had previously told them about the promise of the Holy Spirit (another comforter). (John 14:6,26; 15:26; 16:7-13.)
Verse 5.
From Matthew 3:11, and John 1:33, John was characterized by baptizing with water, but the Messiah was to baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. This was to take place "not many days hence", on the day of Pentecost.
Verse 6.
At the Mount of Olives, the disciples again questioned Jesus about the common understanding of the Jews concerning the Messiah as conqueror over the foreign oppressor. His death had, at least temporarily, destroyed those hopes. His resurrection had brought these hopes back. This was in spite of Jesus continually teaching the true nature of His mission as the Suffering Servant.
Now, He had shown power even over death, as well as all adversaries. Would He now restore the kingdom? They took it for granted that He could, and that this was part of Biblical prophecy. Jesus answers their specific question - "wilt thou at this time...?" They had in mind a restoration to the former glory, as in the reign of David and Solomon, with the Messiah ruling over all nations.
Verse 7.
Jesus does not discount their question about what He would do - only and directly about the time. The rule was that it is not given for man to know the time of the major events in God's plans. In Matthew 24:3, Jesus says that they were not to know the day or hour, the times or seasons. They were held by the power and authority from the Father only. He will bring them to pass at the time He keeps in His own knowledge. Not even the Son knows the day or the hour. As such, no one can speculate or set dates as to their fulfillment. This does not, unfortunately, stop people from doing so, from the 1st century to the 21st. They are to come as a thief in the night, unexpectedly. This prevents man from focusing on some future event, rather than the necessities of the present. This remains as true as the knowledge of the time of our own death. The possibility of its imminence makes every day of the greatest importance to be about the Lord's work.
Verse 8.
This was what the disciples would be blessed with: "Ye shall receive the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon you." This was the promise of the Guide and Comfortor. The power was that of the indwelling Spirit to speak through them with great effect, and to endure great trials and tribulations. They were to be focused on their role, not on temporal things (such as the kingdom of Israel). Their roles were to be witnesses unto Christ, both in Jerusalem, all Judea, in Samaria, to the uttermost part of the earth.
They had been with Jesus over three years. They had seen His way of living, healing, giving, teaching, reaching out to so many others. They had heard the message of the kingdom of God. They had seen Him after the resurrection, and were now about the see Him ascend to heaven. They were well-qualified as witnesses. They knew and experienced the truth of Christ, and so consistently spread their impartial and genuine experience – without doubt or misgivings. No one could convince them they had been deceived or fooled. They had no other motive than sharing the truth they knew.
The beginning was in Jerusalem, at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came with power. Most of the disciples stayed in Jerusalem until the persecution that began with the death of Stephen (Acts 8:1,4). The apostles stayed until James was put to death by Herod.
This was in about 8 years. During this time, Paul had been called as apostle to the Gentiles. Peter had shared the Gospel with Cornelius. Philip had preached to the Ethiopian Eunuch.
Judea was the southern part of the Holy Land and was reached from the capital at Jerusalem. The middle part of Israel was Samaria. This was only the beginning. As previously directed, they were to go to all nations with the Gospel. This directive continues to this day and remains part of the responsibility of the church.
The Acts of the Apostles 1:9-26.
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
12 ¶ Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Ol'ivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Al'pheus, and Simon Zelo'tes, and Judas the brother of James.
14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
15 ¶ And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about a hundred and twenty,)
16 Men and brethren, this Scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called, in their proper tongue, Acel'dama, that is to say, The field of blood.
20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and, His bishopric let another take.
21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthi'as.
24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, show whether of these two thou hast chosen,
25 that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthi'as; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Verse 9.
Though they did not see Christ rise from the dead, it is affirmed here that they were looking at the risen Christ. Also here they were watching Him at this time when, in normal day, they were talking to Him, and He was taken up out of their sight. This was unmistakably a work of God. This was affirmation of the truth of Christ's finished work.
It also affirmed where Jesus was going. This redirected their thoughts from earthly things to the truth of God's plan for Jesus and for them. This made certain that the nature of the kingdom Jesus came to inaugurate. It was not an earthly kingdom. Therefore, Jesus finished the work the Father had given Him to do on earth, and now He was received back to the glory He had with the Father before the world was.
It was also proper and necessary for the new ministry of the Holy Spirit. Jesus, as a man, could only be in one place at one time. The Holy Spirit could work in all places toward all men. Jesus' new work was intercession for the saints and their ministries. This was the work of an advocate. This followed the work of atonement of the High Priest who presented the blood of sacrifice of the mercy-seat, as priest representing the people. This Christ did in the Heavenly Temple as our High-Priest once and for all, offering His blood as the perfect and final Atonement for our salvation. Christ continues in God's presence interceding for us, continuing to secure the mercy of God towards us, for our best welfare. He appears in the presence of God for us (Hebrews 9:24), presenting the value of His spilt blood. All worlds were made subject to Him for the spread and welfare of His church.
Verse 10.
While they looked steadfastly toward heaven, a cloud received Him. Therefrom He was hidden from their view. It is said that He would in like manner return "in the clouds". They had just asked if He would restore the kingdom at that time. Now with disappointment and amazement and curiosity they gaze upon the ascension.
At the same time, two men appeared. From what they wore, and the nature of their message, they must have been angels. They were sent to give comfort. They took on human form, as did the two who were present at the tomb, after the Resurrection. Clothed in white symbolized purity and was the commonly mentioned apparel of angelic beings. (Revelation 3:4.)
Verse 11.
Their message: they greeted the disciples in general as "Ye men of Galilee", the place of most of their origin. They question why they are still looking up into heaven. He was not going to restore the kingdom. He was not going to return in a few moments. He had foretold this return to heaven, to the Father. They had a mission and a message to carry out.
"This same Jesus" would return from heaven (the immediate presence of God), from the right hand of God, in power, honor, and righteousness. This would be at the time of judgment (John 14:3). He will return in clouds "in like manner" as the left. His role as Mediator will have been completed. The Church will have been saved. It will be according to God's plan that He triumph over the wicked.
Verse 12.
The particular part of the mountain where they were was the eastern side, near the small village of Bethany. The distance was within the 2,000 paces or cubits – not quite one mile. This had been set by the Jewish leaders, not the law of Moses. This had come from the camp of the Israelites. No part was more than 2,000 paces from the tabernacle.
Verse 13.
They arrived in Jerusalem, and went into an upper room. This had apparently been set aside for their assembly – the first chosen apostles named here: Peter, James, and John, Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, James, son of Alpheus, Simon Zelotes, the other Judas, brother of James.
Verse 14.
They persevered with their constant attention, praying for each other and the ministry of the word. This was done with "one accord", one mind. Their focus was the same, their desire to approach the throne of grace, seeking God's guidance and blessing for themselves and each other. Also mentioned are the women. These included those recorded by Luke 8:2,3; 23:49,55; 24:10; Matthew 27:55 – Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Jesus, the wife of Zebedee, Joanna, Chuzas' wife, and Susanna.
Others were not mentioned by name; sons of the relatives of apostles or of Jesus. At least one was with him in His travels (I Corinthians 4:5). Jesus' mother is particularly mentioned. She has been entrusted into John's care (John 19:2,27). This was her last mention in Scripture. Also Christ's half-brothers had become believers at some point; James mentioned first believing after the resurrection.
Verse 15.
On one of the days between the Ascension and the day of Pentecost Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (about 12) and brought up a necessary business of the church. This matter was so important as to be brought before the entire congregation of the assembled believers, the first such call to make a decision.
Verse 16.
"Men and brethren" was a customary form of address, especially towards those one respects and has affection for. Peter then refers to Psalms 41:9 as applied to Judas by Jesus in John 13:18, then to Psalms 69 (referred to in verse 20 – must needs be fulfilled). It is stressed that the Holy Spirit inspired David about Judas who guided the soldiers and Jewish leaders to Jesus.
Verse 17.
This same Judas, numbered as one of the 12, chosen as an