just worship God: acts

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Video Bible Study - Acts 2:42-47 The Church: God's community

Jesus stands up

Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:54-60, ESV)

Stephen sees a vision of the glory of God with Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Jesus normally sits at the right hand of God. His work is completed and he sits down at the throne, the sitting is significant. So it is also significant that he stands up as Stephen is about to die. Jesus was not absent when Stephen was stoned, this was not outside Jesus power or concern. Stephen was about to go to Jesus, and Jesus stands.

"He stands ready to receive him and crown him, and in the mean time to give him a prospect of the joy set before him" Matthew Henry

"He has stood to receive Stephen’s testimony and to be his advocate. He has stood that he might come forward to be the judge of those who will trample upon God’s prophet. Jesus is rising from his throne to come to Stephen’s defense and to judge his persecutors." Kevin Deyoung

unfair opposition

And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel. (Acts 6:8-15, ESV)

Stephen was obviously a respected and trustworthy man, a faithful believer in Jesus, someone full of the spirit, someone witnessing for Jesus - but that doesn't stop people sinning against him. We should not be surprised when some people attack us and speak falsely about us. We are told that they could not withstand the wisdom and Spirit with which he was speaking - they couldn't prove him wrong, but that didn't stop them stirring up lies about him and twisting his words. His face looked like the face of an angel, but that didn't stop his shotgun trial and eventual death. We should be ready for the fact that, no matter what we do, some people will oppose us and tell lies about us. We should pray that God helps us to respond like Stephen is about to - with a gracious and clear explanation of the gospel

practical leaders

Acts 6:1-7

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

This is a classic church problem - organisation and adminstration of neccessary practical situations threatens to dominate and distract from the focus of the gospel. The disciples recognise that caring for widows is important and needs to be done and organised effectively. But they refuse to let that, or anything, detract from the mission of the church - spreading the good news about Jesus.

Sensibly, this tasks is delegated to other leaders. Interestingly the main criteria for choosing these leaders is spiritual. They are not chosen on whether they are skilled enough for the job (although they would certainly need that), but the primary consideration is that they are men of good repute (they are living the christian life), full of the Spirit and wisdom and full of faith. Even if their "task" does not seem "spiritual", the most important thing is their relationship with Jesus.

no stopping

Acts 5:40-42

40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

The apostles were beaten and told no to teach about Jesus. So what did they do? They rejoiced that their suffering was in the name of Jesus and "did not cease to teach and preach in Jesus name"! One thing mattered to them - the good news about who Jesus is and what he has done. If their suffering draws attention to that, then praise God. And whether they were suffering or not, in prison or out, their life mission was to spread that news.

you can't lock it up

Acts 5:18-25

18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.

Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.”

The miracle of the release from prison is to show that nothing can stop the gospel spreading. It is not primarily for the apostles benefit, but to show the leaders and the people that God's message can not be locked up - he can simply open the doors. The apostles understood this as they went straight back to preaching, not into hiding.

jealous leaders

Acts 5:17-18

But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.

The high priest and Sadducees certainly do have a theological problem with the early church, but the reason for their severe reaction and desperation to stop this message is jealousy. The gospel was transforming people, it was causing a stir. The religious leaders were no longer in control and they wanted that back. Do we find ourselves over-reacting about theological differences with others rather than dealing with them calmly and sensitively? Then maybe jealousy has entered the equation.

forming community

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. (Acts 4:32-37, ESV)

These verses describe what a community transformed by the gospel looks like. They are united. They love each other to the degree that they are willing to sacrificially give to others in need. And they were spreading the message of Jesus' resurrection. This describes a type of church that we would all no doubt love to be a part of. But we can't afford to separate these verses from the preceding chapters and miss what has caused this.

Jesus didn't tell them to set up this sort of community and then they went away and tried really hard to create it. This community was created by the gospel - the good news about Jesus' life, death and resurrection. Jesus' followers weren't like this before the cross, the empty tomb and the arrival of the Holy Spirit. If we are concentrating on forming this type of community, it will be incredibly hard work probably doomed to failure. If we concentrate on Jesus, this sort of community follows.

facing opposition

When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,

and the peoples plot in vain?The kings of the earth set themselves,

and the rulers were gathered together,against the Lord and against his Anointed’—for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:23-31, ESV)

the wrong motivation for leaders

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

(Acts 4:13-20, ESV)

"Sadly, the leaders were motivated by fear of losing power and influence rather than by a desire to glorify God, to be faithful to his Word, or to spread the true knowledge of salvation."
ESV study bible

same message

On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:5-12, ESV)

There could be no doubt about the one, consistant message from the early church - it is all about Jesus. Peter makes it clear again that:

the crippled man was healed in Jesus name
they crucified Jesus
God raised Jesus from the dead
Old Testament prophesy is about Jesus
Salvation is found only in Jesus

Peter, and the early church, were about one thing - Jesus

signpost

The healing in Acts 3 was dramatic, it caused crowds to gather around Peter and John in the temple but, even with all the drama, the healing itself was not the focus. The man was healed in the name of Jesus and Peter used the opportunity of the crowds gathering to point to that name again. His sermon wasn't used to tell people that God can heal and he can do it again - even though that is true. The focus of attention is the healer not the healing, the healing is just the context and catalyst for people to hear about Jesus.

cut to the heart

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:37-41, ESV)

The people who heard Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost were "cut to the heart" and respond. This is a work of the Holy Spirit because, a couple of chapters later, after a very similar sermon, the hearers respond in anger. Peter's job is to "bear witness" to Jesus, the Holy Spirit does the work on the heart. We cannot make people respond, we cannot convict people of sin, we cannot transform hearts, we cannot produce faith. Thankfully, there is someone who can!

language barrier

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4, ESV)

"we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God" v11b

The first activity of the holy spirit in the church is to allow them to talk in languages that they do not understand. This wasn't a freak show to attract attention (although it did attract attention), it was to cut across language barriers to share the news of the gospel. The point isn't the gift of tongues in itself, it is what they were saying. No matter what language you spoke on that day, you heard about "the mighty works of God". The tongues were the means by which the gospel was going out, not the focus in themselves.

active waiting

And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11, ESV)

No longer having Jesus with them could be seen as a massive blow to the disciples. It would be a massive blow if it wasn't for the Holy Spirit. Jesus' ministry will no longer be limited to the physical place he is standing because his presence is no longer limited to there. The Holy Spirit inhabiting the church will spread around the globe.

The angels tell the disciples that Jesus will return but question why they are standing staring up into heaven. Jesus will return, and while we should be expectantly waiting for that, that waiting doesn't involve standing around looking at the sky and speculating about his return. The waiting involves getting on with what he has given us to do: Holy Spirit empowered mission.

getting the church started

Acts 1:4-8
And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

The book of acts tells the story of how Jesus builds His church. His first command is to wait. The disciples could have started the church by recruiting people. They could have started passing on Jesus' teaching. They could have started by doing a lot of good things - but they are all pointless without the Spirit. Jesus told them to wait for the Holy Spirit because He is where the power comes from. He is the one who convicts of sin and opens hearts to the gospel. He is the one who is building the church.

The disciples appeared to be expecting some sort of political, national kingdom. They were thinking to small. The church is going to spread way beyond the people of Israel.

Again, Jesus tells them that it starts with the Holy Spirit. He will give them power. The purpose of the power is that they will be witnesses - they will be able to tell people what they have seen and heard. They can do nothing in their own strength, they need the Spirit. But the purpose of the Spirit isn't primarily signs or wonders or feelings or miracles. It's to empower people to tell everyone on the planet who Jesus is and what He has done.

a Spirit-filled church

"The mission of the church, the reason we exist, is to bear witness to the present reign and rule of Christ, who is at the right hand of God. If we try to do it in our own power, we will fail. The reason for the outpouring of the Spirit is not to make us feel spiritual. It is not to give us a spiritual high. It is so that we can do the job that Jesus gave the church to do...
The Holy Spirit always points beyond Himself to Christ. If you are in a Spirit-filled church that does not focus on the ministry of Christ, you are not in a Spirit-filled church. It is that simple. The Holy Spirit is sent to empower the church to bear witness to Christ, to apply the work of Christ on the cross in terms of its redemptive significance to all who believe. The Father sends, the Son accomplishes, and the Spirit applies the work of Christ."

RC Sproul, Acts

continued

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, (Acts 1:1, ESV)

Luke describes his first book (Luke) as what Jesus began to do and teach, suggesting that Acts, his second book, is what Jesus continued to do and teach. In Luke, Jesus does it in person, in Acts He does it through the church. Acts is not the story of what Jesus' followers decided to do with his legacy, it's the story of what He is doing through them. It's Jesus' church and He's the one building it.

the christian community

Acts 2:42-27

42And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Together

We are not saved to be individual, lone-ranger Christians. We are saved to be part of a community of Christians - the church. The church is the way that God has designed the Christian life to work, it is the way that he intends for us to grow. Discipleship is a community project. We can’t just opt out. The early church were “devoted” to this, that is not language that suggests turning up for an hour and a half on a Sunday, as long as there is nothing better on! They were committed to this. They were together - listening together, teaching together, praying together, eating together, serving together, praising god together.

Gospel Partnership

This wasn’t a community focused on building community. It was a community focused on the gospel. Fellowship wasn’t the goal, God was the goal. They were devoted to the apostles teaching, the breaking of bread and prayers. The church community grows closer to God and each other by being centered around God’s word, studying it and letting it shape our lives. The church community is united, not by their uniformity, but by their common focal point of the gospel, continually remembering Jesus death and resurrection through the breaking of bread. The church community prays for each other.

All of life

They were attending the temple together - being the church does involve gathering together for communal worship, regularly - but they were also breaking bread in their homes - living life with people during the week. Christianity wasn’t about changing what they did on a Sunday morning, but it was about all of their life. They met each other’s practical needs when they saw them. Their “spiritual life” wasn’t restricted to a certain time or certain location. They were talking about God with each other, encouraging each other, praying for each other. ("we should be teaching each other the bible as we are out walking, driving the car or washing up" Total Church p115)