Bible Study on Acts, chapter 4, verses 1 to 4, they preached through Jesus the resurrection of the dead

 

Acts 4:1 ¶  And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2  Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3  And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. 4  Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

 

God uses Peter’s preaching to bring great numbers into the early church. The religious authorities cannot stand what they view as seditious behavior so they arrest the Apostles. There are a couple of English words used in the Bible for a place where people were confined for various reasons. Here, we have hold. Prison and ward are also used elsewhere.

 

It is interesting to note that the Sadducees were part of this group that made the arrest.

 

Acts 23:8  For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

 

Back in 3:15 Peter referred to Christ’s resurrection which would have seriously perturbed this sect of the Jews. Josephus, the Jewish general turncoat who worked for the Romans and wrote histories of the Jews claimed that they believed that the soul could die, that there was no afterlife, that there were no rewards or penalties after death, and that only the written law was valid. They were composed of the upper class and educated elite who oversaw the temple operations and shared with the Roman upper class a denial of the reality of the supernatural. They did, apparently, believe in God but were more political and worldly than the more conservative Pharisees, and they were composed of a ruling class that expected God’s benefits and prosperity now, in this life, and denied even His intervention in history, sources say. They would have been terrified of anything that threatened their position under Roman authority.

Bible Study on Exodus, chapter 11, one more plague, the worst of all

 

Exodus 11:1 ¶  And the LORD said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether. 2  Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold. 3  And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people.

With all of these disasters facing Egypt the Egyptians know that Moses is a very important person. God is about to do something that will certainly result in Pharaoh not just letting the Hebrews go but in him casting them out. The Egyptians will favor them with portable wealth; jewels and gold. I am reminded of the Southern U.S. tongue-in-cheek saying, “I’d rather owe it to you the rest of my life than cheat you out of it.” It is interesting to note that later in history an Egyptian army will despoil Jerusalem.

1Kings 14:25  And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem: 26  And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king’s house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.

Exodus 11:4 ¶  And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: 5  And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts. 6  And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more. 7  But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel. 8  And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger. 9  And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt. 10  And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land.

We’ve already discussed the importance of the eldest son, not just as a child and object of affection, but as the rightful heir to the family’s fortune and its gods in Genesis. There was no one in an ancient family more important to the father, not even the mother. This plague, this curse, would be a bitter affliction and it will cover not only the human kingdom but the kingdom of beasts as well. Every commoner, every impoverished peasant, and every man of authority will suffer under this burden. The nation of Egypt is being judged like no other with judgment visited upon gods and men and beasts.

Bible Study on Acts 3, verses 12 to 26, part 2, children of the prophets

 

One of the common errors of Evangelical Protestantism and Fundamentalism is the belief that the Old Testament Jews were looking forward to the Cross as we look backward to it. It is clear, though, from reading the Bible in context that the Jews did not understand the suffering of their Messiah and knew nothing about the Cross at all.

 

Luke 1:74  That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

 

Luke 1:74 shows that there was an expectation that Christ the Messiah would restore Israel and deliver it from Roman occupation. This expectation persisted even after Christ’s resurrection as shown here in Acts.

This shows how the Fundamentalist doctrine that in the Old Testament the Jews were looking forward to the Cross is wrong. They did not understand Isaiah 53. Their confusion persisted until an eleventh century rabbi nicknamed Rashi developed the idea previously only mentioned by a few that rather than being about a singular man the chapters in Isaiah about the Messiah were actually about the suffering Jewish people as a group thereby totally confusing the Jews with regard to Christ.

Jesus’ Jewish followers literally had no clue what He was talking about when He referred to His impending agony on the Cross or understood anything about His Resurrection.

Matthew 16:21 ¶  From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22  Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23  But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

 

Mark 9:9  And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead. 10  And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean…31  For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. 32 

But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

 

Luke 18:31 ¶  Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 32  For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 33  And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 34  And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

 

John 20:9  For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

 

The Jews, even Christ’s followers, were expecting Him to restore Israel to its former glory. But He makes it clear that this information is not for them, or us.

 

Deuteronomy 29:29  The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

 

The Lord Jesus Christ showed how the prophecies of the Old Testament connected to Him. In the following in Luke is one instance where He, after His resurrection, expounded on these things.

 

Luke 24:25  Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26  Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27  And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

 

Our main issue in our heads in life is death. It is a great concern from the perspective of someone possessing biological life. In life we also have concerns about happiness, fulfillment, respect, even being free. But the real main issue in eternity and in life, the one thing that hangs over our heads, that colors everything else, is our sin. Our sin separates us from our God. Jesus, God in the flesh or the Son of God, living as a man, dying on the Cross for our sins, and being resurrected from death, has removed from us the penalty of that sin, the power of that sin has over us, and one day we will be delivered from even the presence of sin.

 

So, there are two things working in us today. We are saved from the penalty of sin but that would not be enough. It would be an excuse for us to do whatever we pleased to each other and against God because we had a, “get out of jail free,” card, a reference to the board game Monopoly. But Christ has also saved us from the power of sin over us so that we have no excuse for our wicked deeds.

 

1Corinthians 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

 

Hebrews 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

 

For the prophet that Moses spoke of referenced in verse 22 see;

 

Deuteronomy 18:15  The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken…18  I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

 

By comparing verse 23 here in Acts with Deuteronomy 18:19 we see that the definition of require it of him is to hold someone accountable as Genesis 9:5 shows us as well.

 

Genesis 9:5  And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man.

 

For verse 25 see;

 

Genesis 12:3  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

 

Genesis 28:14  And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

 

Also, notice how the definition of Jesus name is given as it means Jehovah is salvation and how it links with verse 26.

 

Matthew 1:21  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

 

The authorities are not going to be happy with this impromptu sermon by Peter.

Bible Study on Exodus 10, verses 21 to 29, darkness over the land of Egypt

 

Exodus 10:21 ¶  And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. 22  And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: 23  They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. 24  And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you. 25  And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God. 26  Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God; and we know not with what we must serve the LORD, until we come thither. 27  But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go. 28  And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die. 29  And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more.

A rod turned into a serpent, infestations of frogs, lice, flies, a great plague among the Egyptian cattle, boils on the Egyptians themselves, hail mingled with thunder and lightning and fire, a gigantic swarm of locusts, and now; pitch black, a darkness that can be felt it is so dark.

Now Moses lays on the Pharaoh that their herds and flocks must go with them for sacrifices and burnt offerings although we all know the intention is to make their escape from Egypt. Pharaoh, who was willing to let the people and even the children go, refuses to permit them take their animals. He says that he will not see Moses and Aaron again and Moses makes his ominous sounding statement.

Bible Study on Acts 3, verses 12 to 26, why marvel ye at this?

 

Acts 3:12 ¶  And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? 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. 14  But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15  And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. 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. 17  And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. 18  But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. 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; 20  And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 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. 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. 23  And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. 24  Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. 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. 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.

 

Peter takes this time to witness again for the Lord Jesus Christ to these Jews who are amazed at what has been done. A soul could sin through ignorance without understanding and an important principle is that one was still held accountable for their sins, even those done in ignorance.

 

King David wrote;

 

Psalm 19:12  Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

 

Peter stated that the people and their rulers murdered Christ out of ignorance. As Jesus Himself said from the cross;

 

Luke 23:34   Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

 

Judas acknowledged that he had betrayed innocent blood in Jesus. First, from Psalms;

 

Psalm 94:21   They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.

 

Matthew 27:3  Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

4  Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

 

The rulers of the Jews had the opportunity to confess their sin but they would not hear when Stephen confronted them and exposed it to them.

 

Acts 7:52  Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 53  Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.

54 ¶  When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

 

Peter says in verse 19 to repent and be converted. They are synonyms by their usage here. These are, as Paul will say, fundamental doctrines of Christ.

 

Hebrews 6:1 ¶  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

 

Dead works are the sins man commits in the flesh.

 

Hebrews 9: 11  But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12  Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13  For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

 

Both involve turning to the Lord. God’s forgiveness blots out, erases sin.

 

Psalm 103:12  As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

 

Isaiah 43:25  I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

 

When they stand before Christ, if they repent and are converted, their sins will not determine their eternal destiny. The times of refreshing are when the heavens and the earth are restored to God’s original intent, when a quantitatively and qualitatively new heavens and new earth are created. See verse 21 for the times of restitution of all things.

 

The importance of God blotting out our sins, our transgressions, as we repent of being a sinner and of sinning, being converted to God, should not be understated. It is mankind’s sin that keeps him apart from his Creator.

 

Isaiah 59:2  But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

 

Notice what Peter says in verses 18 and 24. Peter learned a great deal from Christ which he clearly did not know before he met the Lord. For instance, many preachers like to say that while we look back at the Cross the Jews looked forward to it. This is pure rubbish. Let me repeat what I said regarding chapter 1.

A Psalm for Sunday, Psalm 74, verses 1 to 11, Thine enemies roar

 

Psalm 74:1 ¶  «Maschil of Asaph.» O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture? 2  Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt. 3  Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary. 4  Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs. 5  A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees. 6  But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers. 7  They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground. 8  They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land. 9  We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long. 10  O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever? 11  Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.

 

This Psalm has been said by various commentators to have been written not by the Maschil of David’s time but someone writing at different times like the future Babylonian captivity or even another time. Others have noted how this will apply to the end times and we can see events in the time in which he live now that parallel some of these thoughts.

 

It seems that they should know why God was angry with His people due to their disobedience and idolatry so I am more inclined to believe that this was written during David’s struggles against his son’s rebellion or some like catastrophe such as the census that was taken out of God’s will that resulted in such disaster.

 

In a time of civil war where the kingdom appears to being in danger of being destroyed it is a likely prayer.  We are your people, God, so why are you destroying us?

 

Psalm 60:1 ¶  «To the chief Musician upon Shushaneduth, Michtam of David, to teach; when he strove with Aramnaharaim and with Aramzobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand.» O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.

 

The Psalmist eloquently reminds God that these are His people, purchased and redeemed, and this is where He has dwelt with His people.

 

Psalm 106:40  Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.

 

It seems to indicate that there are internal enemies who oppose God, perhaps idolaters, who participate with the true God’s people in the very sanctuary, the congregation of God.

 

This could easily be a prayer in time of rebellion, in the chaos of civil war, so many of which the details have been left out in the Bible narrative.  The Psalmist laments the enemies of God, the destruction of the local places of assembly, and what appears to be God just standing by and doing nothing about it.

 

Psalm 10:1 ¶  Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

 

Whatever the occasion for which this was written we can understand this lamentation in places like Western Europe where churches are taken over as mosques, where priests and preachers are murdered, men are beheaded, where women are raped, and children are slaughtered, wondering why God appears to be doing nothing about it. We can see this in places like the Sudan where Christians are enslaved, tortured, and murdered for their faith. The Psalmist, like Christians in those places, laments the destruction of God’s people and the appearance of inaction on the part of God Himself. We hear the battle cry of a fierce religion on our computers, phones, and televisions and wonder when God will act as we see the events foretold in Revelation begin to come about, or so it appears, right in front of us.

Bible Study on Acts 3, verses 1 to 11, being healed without faith by the power of God for His purpose

Acts 3:1 ¶  Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2  And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3  Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4  And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5  And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 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. 7  And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8  And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 9  And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10  And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. 11  And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.

 

In the last passage it says the signs and wonders were done by the Apostles. Here, we see an example. The Jews set various times apart for prayer.

 

Psalm 55:17  Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

 

Daniel 6:10  Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

 

The day had 12 hours, starting from 6am according to many commentators.  See John 11:9. Starting the day from 6am the ninth hour of the day would be 3pm, in the afternoon. This is called the hour of prayer so it must have been a well-established custom to attend to prayers at this time. So, the third hour in 2:15 would be 9am and then noon as Psalm 55 states. See Acts 10:9.

 

John Gill noted that the Jews acknowledged there was no divinely appointed time for prayer but that tradition ruled in the custom of when to pray. We see in the Scriptures a warrant for observing certain general times.

 

The Beautiful gate’s location is apparently in question because different commentators have different opinions on it. John Gill reported ancient Jewish commentators as saying that it was the eastern gate of the outside wall which had the most traffic of people going to religious exercises called Shushan for the place in Persia mentioned in more than a dozen verses in the Old Testament. That would relate it to the events of the book of Esther. But, really, scholars aren’t sure. But, since verse 11 had Peter and John at Solomon’s Porch, which was close to the eastern gate, common sense tells us that that is where the Beautiful gate was, called Shushan.

 

Notice in verse 6 this healing did not require faith in Christ on the part of this person who had been handicapped since birth but simply that he obey and get up which was probably not hard to be convinced to do once he received strength in his legs. This person begging alms was well known to those who entered at this place. Having had an intolerance to a class of prescription drugs that caused me to weaken considerably I’ve experienced muscle weakness and then battled back to feel strength again in my legs. Even in my situation which took months I rejoiced at the renewed strength in my limbs as I bounded up stairs I could barely walk up before. This must have been quite a remarkable experience for this man in a matter of moments.

 

This suggests an important thing to us in that sometimes God does something remarkable in our life, overcomes some great obstacle, performs some great healing, and we didn’t even know how to ask for it or how far to go in our prayer. But, God provided it without even our acknowledgement that He would and we have only to claim it, to just accept it. How many of us are missing out on a miracle that has already happened in our lives that all we have to do is to act on it? How many of us have been carrying burdens our entire life that God has already lifted from us but we keep clinging desperately to them. The only thing that could be said about it would be that you should just take God’s hand and let Him lift you up and then leap for joy praising Him. I have seen this myself.