Main Lessons from Acts 4:32-5:16
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
The two married couples in Acts
There are only two married couples mentioned by name in Acts. The first is a couple called Ananias and Sapphira, who are only mentioned in Acts 5:1-10. The second is a Jewish couple called Aquila and Priscilla, who are first mentioned in Acts 18:2. Their attitudes and actions could not be more different. In contrast to the sad ending of Ananias and Sapphira, Aquilla and Priscilla opened their home for Paul to live with them, became fellow workers with Paul, and instructed another prominent evangelist, Apollos, as well as hosting a church in their home in Ephesus.
For more on Aquila and Priscilla, read the following passages:
Acts 18:1-3,18-28
1After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. … 18Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken. 19They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21But as he left, he promised, "I will come back if it is God's will." Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22When he landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.
23After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
24Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
27When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
Romans 16:3
3Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 16:19
19The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.
2 Timothy 4:19
19Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus.
For more on Aquila and Priscilla, read the following passages:
Acts 18:1-3,18-28
1After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. … 18Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken. 19They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21But as he left, he promised, "I will come back if it is God's will." Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22When he landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.
23After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
24Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
27When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
Romans 16:3
3Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 16:19
19The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.
2 Timothy 4:19
19Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Identifying some people from Acts 4:1,5-6
The captain of the temple guard was the leader of the temple police, the priest who ranked next to the high priest.
The Saducees were a political group supported by and supporting the priesthood.
The rulers were collectively known as the Sanhedrin or chief priests, a group of 71 men, led by the high priest. They administered the temple duties.
Elders were family (or clan) leaders in the Jewish community.
The teachers of the Law were the scribes whose job it was to copy, conserve and interpret Scripture. They mostly belonged to the party of the Pharisees.
Acts 4:6 gives more specific details of the rulers who were present. Annas was high priest from AD6-14, but was deposed by the Romans and succeeded by several members of his family. This included his son-in-law Caiaphas, who was high priest from AD18-36. Despite his deposition, Annas still had much influence and he kept his title. Annas and Caiaphas both interviewed Jesus during his trials before his crucifixion . Other members of the high priestly family were the men who help the official positions in the temple administration.
[Sources: I Howard Marshall, Acts (1980) Tyndale New Testament Commentary and John R W Stott, The Message of Acts (1990) The Bible Speaks Today series.]
The Saducees were a political group supported by and supporting the priesthood.
The rulers were collectively known as the Sanhedrin or chief priests, a group of 71 men, led by the high priest. They administered the temple duties.
Elders were family (or clan) leaders in the Jewish community.
The teachers of the Law were the scribes whose job it was to copy, conserve and interpret Scripture. They mostly belonged to the party of the Pharisees.
Acts 4:6 gives more specific details of the rulers who were present. Annas was high priest from AD6-14, but was deposed by the Romans and succeeded by several members of his family. This included his son-in-law Caiaphas, who was high priest from AD18-36. Despite his deposition, Annas still had much influence and he kept his title. Annas and Caiaphas both interviewed Jesus during his trials before his crucifixion . Other members of the high priestly family were the men who help the official positions in the temple administration.
[Sources: I Howard Marshall, Acts (1980) Tyndale New Testament Commentary and John R W Stott, The Message of Acts (1990) The Bible Speaks Today series.]
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
A short history of Jerusalem and the temple
Before His ascension, Jesus told the apostles that they would be His witnesses “in Jerusalem”, and the events of Acts 3-4 describe one of these instances. King David established Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and built his palace there. Later the temple was also built there. When the northern tribes split from Judah and Benjamin, Jerusalem remained the capital of Judah. After the Jews returned from exile, they rebuilt Jerusalem’s wall. In Jesus’ time, the Jews occupied the city of Jerusalem and the surrounding region of Judea, although it was then part of the Roman Empire.
The temple was the centre of Jewish religious practice. The first temple was built by King Solomon , but destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 587BC when Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians. When the Exiles returned, they rebuilt the temple and it was known as Zerubbabel’s Temple. This temple was actually torn down by King Herod the Great, to make way for his own architectural masterpiece. Herod began work in 20BC and it was essentially completed within a decade, a few years before Jesus’ birth and Herod’s subsequent death in 4BC. However, the temple was still having finishing touches added until AD64. It was finally destroyed by the Romans in AD70.
[Image of 1:100 scale model of Herod's Temple, from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/4837608/Farmer-builds-model-of-Biblical-temple.html.]
The temple was the centre of Jewish religious practice. The first temple was built by King Solomon , but destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 587BC when Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians. When the Exiles returned, they rebuilt the temple and it was known as Zerubbabel’s Temple. This temple was actually torn down by King Herod the Great, to make way for his own architectural masterpiece. Herod began work in 20BC and it was essentially completed within a decade, a few years before Jesus’ birth and Herod’s subsequent death in 4BC. However, the temple was still having finishing touches added until AD64. It was finally destroyed by the Romans in AD70.[Image of 1:100 scale model of Herod's Temple, from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/4837608/Farmer-builds-model-of-Biblical-temple.html.]
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Acts 2:42- 4:31
Main Lessons from Acts 2:42- 4:31
~ Miracles, signs and wonders are used by God to get our attention and bring it to His Son, Jesus Christ.
~ Healings are a miracle, and so is the change in behaviour that is seen in new Christians as a result of their indwelling by the Holy Spirit.
~ The name (identity) of Jesus Christ is central to salvation. There is no other way to be saved than to know who Jesus Christ really is, accept it and live one's life believing and trusting He is who He is.
~ The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is a crucial element of who He is. Jesus Christ is not just the atoning Son of Man but also the risen Son of God, whose resurrection vindicates His claims of divinity and proves He has succeeded in assuaging the wrath of God for our sin.
~ A good model for prayer begins with a worshipful acknowledgement of who God is and ends with asking His help to become the people He wants us to be.
~ Miracles, signs and wonders are used by God to get our attention and bring it to His Son, Jesus Christ.
~ Healings are a miracle, and so is the change in behaviour that is seen in new Christians as a result of their indwelling by the Holy Spirit.
~ The name (identity) of Jesus Christ is central to salvation. There is no other way to be saved than to know who Jesus Christ really is, accept it and live one's life believing and trusting He is who He is.
~ The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is a crucial element of who He is. Jesus Christ is not just the atoning Son of Man but also the risen Son of God, whose resurrection vindicates His claims of divinity and proves He has succeeded in assuaging the wrath of God for our sin.
~ A good model for prayer begins with a worshipful acknowledgement of who God is and ends with asking His help to become the people He wants us to be.
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