Acts of the Apostles #2 The Establishment of the Church This morning we saw the final preparations being made for the last phase of biblical history: -the

Acts of the Apostles #2The Establishment of the Church

• This morning we saw the final preparations being made for the last phase of biblical history:

-the renewal of the coming of the HolySpirit with Power promises, 1:4-8

-the ascension of Jesus back to heaven,1:9-10

and -the appointment of Matthias to replace Judas, 1:12-26 .


• Now everything is finally in order for God’s eternal plan to save man to come into full view, Eph.3:8-12:

-Christ’s atoning sacrifice is complete,

-He’s returned to His former glory,

-The Place of Judas has been fulfilled,

-The Apostles are awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem- the

city of God.


• Acts 2 is the pivotal chapter of the Bible.

• Everything prior to it points forward.

• Everything after if points back to it as a point of origin….

and ahead to everything which follows it.

• Like Jesus Christ, the establishment of the Church, and through it salvation, is what everything is all about!

• This chapter cannot be over-emphasized.


• The key elements of Acts 2:

-the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the 12Apostles, vv.1-4a

-their speaking in other (unknown) tongues infulfillment of prophecy, vv.4b-21

-the Sermon, vv.22-40


• The main points of the Pentecost Sermon:-Jesus was the Christ as proven by miracles,

wonders, and signs, v.22

-According to the predetermined plan of God,godless men put Him to death, v.23

-But God raised Him from the Dead! vv.24-32

-He has ascended back to heaven and sent forthHis Spirit upon these 12 men, v.33

-He has therefore been made both Lord and Christ-this Jesus whom you crucified! v.36


• The response to the Pentecost Sermon?

Guilt-

“They were pierced to the heart,

and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles,

“Brethren, what shall we do?”

Notice they didn’t ask what they should feel,

or say.

Neither were they told to “Say the sinner’s prayer” or even to Pray through.


• So what were they told to do?

“Repent” - change your mind in such a way as to change your direction.

“Be Baptized” - be immersed in water in the name of Jesus Christ.

• Why?

“for the forgiveness of your sins” and

that you can “receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”

The gift is Salvation! v.39 > Gal.3:14ff


• Then what happened?

They were baptized- 3,000 of them, v.41.

They also “continually devoted themselves to:

-the apostles teaching

-fellowship

-breaking of bread,

and -prayer.” v.42

• The result?

Awe, togetherness, fellowship, growth- vv.43-47


• Chapter 3: Miracle & Message-Peter heals the man lame from his mother’s

womb, vv.1-10.

-As always, the miracle was done to prove theauthenticity of the message, vv.11-26:

>you put to death the Prince of Life, vv.13-15a

>God raised Him up/we are witnesses, v.15b

>by His Power this man walks! v.16

>Therefore, Repent and Return that you maybe Forgiven! v.19


• Chapter 4: The First Persecution-Peter and John were jailed for preaching the

Resurrection of Jesus, vv.1-3

-But the Church continued to grow! v.4

-Peter and John questioned by the Priests &Council, vv.5-7

-Peter still preaches Jesus Crucified andResurrected for Salvation! vv.8-12

-They are threatened and released, vv.13-31

-Note the commonality of the Church, vv.32-37


• Chapter 5: The Church is Purged from within by God and Persecuted from without by the Sadducees-Ananias & Sapphira lie to the Holy Spirit, vv.1-10

Their punishment from God produces:

fear, v.11

and growth, vv.12-14!

-The High Priest & Sadducees became intenselyjealous of the power & success of the Apostles,vv.17-18.


• Chapter 5: (cont.)-The angel released the Apostles and said, “Gopreach the whole message of this Life” v.20.

Note the contents of the sermon:

>Jesus crucified, v.30b

>Jesus resurrected, v.30a

>Jesus exalted, v.31a

>Jesus provides salvation! v.31b-32

-The Council intends to slay them, but Gamalielsaves them- they keep on Preaching! vv.33-42


• Chapter 6: The Church cares for Its Own /Stephen brought before the Council

-Seven deacons chosen to be in charge of physicalneeds of the congregation, vv.1-6

-The Church continues to grow! v.7

-Stephen, one of the seven, is arrested forpreaching Jesus, vv.8-15


• Chapter 7: The First Martyr- Stephen-His sermon to the High Priest and Council is an

excellent summary of biblical history fromAbraham to Jesus, vv.2-50.

-He indicts his audience for having persecuted theprophets before and killing Jesus, vv.51-53.

-They, true to his indictment of them, killed him.vv.54-60


• Chapter 8:1-4: The Persecution of the Church Begins

-Prior to this, the animosities of the Jewish leaders had been directed only to the Apostles &Stephen.

-Now, it is extrapolated to the Church also, vv.1,3.

But external persecution could not deter the Plan of God for the Church-

They kept right on Preaching Jesus! v.4


Conclusion:We see in this section the coming to fruition of God’s

Plan to Save Man from sin.

With the establishment of the Church in Acts 2, the Seed Promise made to Abraham is finally brought

forth.

We also see the dynamic growth of the early Church despite poverty, internal purging, and external

persecutions.

Next, we’ll see it expand beyond Jerusalem!

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Acts of the Apostles #2 The Establishment of the Church This morning we saw the final preparations being made for the last phase of biblical history: -the