making the scriptures plain

Notes

On this page Luke takes us from the resurrection of Jesus through to the stoning of Stephen. A new church is born.

He confirms that Jesus, after His resurrection from the dead, met with the believers over a period of forty days, telling them again to wait in Jerusalem for baptism by the Holy Spirit as promised. Jesus patiently dealt with their persistent misunderstandings about His role which they hoped was a political one even at this stage. He gently moved them on to understand what He wanted them to do. To witness to the world. Finally, as He went up in the clouds, two angels promised He will come back one day in the same way.

The Jewish people knew the prophecies concerning the Messiah, from what is now the Bible's Old Testament. The challenge that the believers had at that time was to convince the Jewish people that Jesus of Nazareth, whom they had seen and heard, was Christ the Lord, the promised Messiah. So on the same day after they had received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Peter began the work of preaching this message. And others carry it on, like Stephen, who was stoned as a result.

The message they preached was that Jesus of Nazareth was confirmed by God by miracles, wonders and signs that they saw with their own eyes, was taken and wickedly crucified, according to God's willing plan, and was raised up because death could not hold Him down. As David said (Psalm 16) He would not see corruption, meaning that the Christ, one of his descendants, would be resurrected before His flesh deteriorated. And David called Him Lord.

Jesus fulfilled all those things that all the prophets ever foretold about God raising up a special Prophet and about the Christ's suffering. He is the stone the builders rejects which is now the chief cornerstone. What is more, salvation comes only through Him. And He is now standing at the right hand of God. As is always the case, from Adam, Noah and through to today, some accepted the message of that particular time and some rejected it.

Everything that the believers do is in His name. They repent and are baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, so that He can return to restore all things, as the prophets have always said.

In the name of Jesus Christ they perform miracles of healing. Even the Jewish leaders cautioned them, Don't speak or teach any more in His name. But the group of believers prayed for power to preach about His resurrection, teach and heal in His name, and it was granted. They rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.

The leaders of the people realised in amazement that people like Peter and John, though uneducated and simple men, had confidence and boldness through their relationship with Jesus. But the leaders were angry that they filled Jerusalem with their message, and that they blamed the leaders for Jesus' death.

Stephen said as he died, Lord Jesus receive my spirit, and lay not this sin against them. Here we see that already the Holy Spirit is manifesting His power in the new Christian church, which is now to be taken to the Gentiles.

From the ressurection

Acts.1.1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
Acts.1.2 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:
Acts.1.3 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:
Acts.1.4 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.

Acts.1.5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

To the ascension

Acts.1.6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Acts.1.7 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.

Acts.1.8 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 Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts.1.9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Acts.1.10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Acts.1.11 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.

Judas' betrayel was prophecied by David

Acts.1.14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
Acts.1.16 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.
Acts.1.17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.

Acts.1.18 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.
Acts.1.19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.

Ordained to be a witness

Acts.1.20 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.
Acts.1.21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
Acts.1.22 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.

Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God

Acts.2.22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Acts.2.23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
Acts.2.24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
Acts.2.25 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.2.26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
Acts.2.27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Acts.2.28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

David prophecied His resurrection

Acts.2.29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

Acts.2.30 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.2.31 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.2.32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Acts.2.33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
Acts.2.34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
Acts.2.35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.

God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ

Acts.2.36 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.2.38 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.2.39 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.

Healing through the name of Jesus

Acts.3.6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
Acts.3.13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

Acts.3.14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
Acts.3.15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

Through ignorance ye did it

Acts.3.16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Acts.3.17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

By the mouth of all his holy prophets

Acts.3.18 But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
Acts.3.19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Acts.3.20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
Acts.3.21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

Moses - A prophet shall the Lord your God raise

Acts.3.22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
Acts.3.23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

Acts.3.24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
Acts.3.25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

Having raised up his Son Jesus

Acts.3.26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

The stone which was set at nought

Acts.4.1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
Acts.4.2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
Acts.4.10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

Acts.4.11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

They had been with Jesus

Acts.4.12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Acts.4.13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Witnesses of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus

Acts.4.17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
Acts.4.18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
Acts.4.24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
Acts.4.25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
Acts.4.26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

Acts.4.27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Acts.4.29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
Acts.4.30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
Acts.4.33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

Go, stand and speak in the temple

Acts.5.14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
Acts.5.17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
Acts.5.18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
Acts.5.19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
Acts.5.20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
Acts.5.27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
Acts.5.28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.

A Prince and a Saviour

Acts.5.30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
Acts.5.31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
Acts.5.32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Acts.5.34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
Acts.5.40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
Acts.5.41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
Acts.5.42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Moses met Him by the burning bush

Acts.6.14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.

Acts.7.31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,
Acts.7.32 Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.
Acts.7.33 Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.

The same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer

Acts.7.32 Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.
Acts.7.35 This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.

Acts.7.37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
Acts.7.38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
Acts.7.45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;

Stephen - I see the Son of man standing on the right hand of God

Acts.7.48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
Acts.7.49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
Acts.7.50 Hath not my hand made all these things?
Acts.7.51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

Acts.7.52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
Acts.7.53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
Acts.7.55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
Acts.7.56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

Cried with a loud voice, Lord

Acts.7.59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Acts.7.60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.