seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Acts 1:1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.
I don't think I've done the Book of Acts in a very, very, very long time, if at all. This book was written by Dr. Luke. Yep, the one that wrote the Gospel of Luke, wrote the Book of Acts... describing what the Apostles did after Jesus left. One commentary said the Book of Acts was a second volume of the Gospel of Luke. It was once considered one book.
These verses are about His departure.
The commentaries don't really specify who Theophilus is, or was. The meaning of the word "Theophilus" is apparently "Friend of God". So, it's my opinion that Dr. Luke was writing to the "generic friends of God". In plain words... Luke wrote this book for us.
Jesus gave them some simple instruction. Go to Jerusalem and wait. That's all they were supposed to do.
I guess in modern language... Jesus told them to go to Jerusalem and wait, while things cooled down. Then, according to the instructions Luke has recorded, they would receive the Spirit. Jesus told them about the Spirit while He was working with them.... but I'm sure they had no clue what would happen when the "Spirit" did arrive.
So, Friends of God, Jesus told the disciples they were to go to occupied Jerusalem. They were to wait for further instructions. It would be up to them to spread the Word. These were very dangerous instructions. No doubt Caiaphas and company were looking for the disciples of the Resistance Leader, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus told them to go to Jerusalem and wait.
Now the commentary had some interesting points to make about where they would be working, when they got started.
- Jerusalem was where Jesus was executed at the word of an angry mob.
- Judea rejected His ministry.
- Samaria was regarded as a wasteland of impure half-breeds.
- In the uttermost parts of the earth, the Gentiles were seen by some Jews of that day as nothing better than fuel for the fires of Hell.
A cloud picked Him up. Is that like a clean tornado? I'd love to say it was a cloud shaped spacecraft... but it would make more sense if it were the steamy exhaust from the spacecraft. At any rate... Jesus was on His way back to Headquarters [Heaven]. He was going to report to His Dad [God].
Jesus gave them their orders. Go to Jerusalem and wait. So, did they get their packs and take off for Jerusalem? Nope... They stood there looking at the sky.
Two "men" appeared out of nowhere... and said "Well what are you waiting for? Get to Jerusalem. Follow your orders."
Final orders and departure....
