READING THE BOOK OF ACTS, CHAPTER 3

        READING THE BOOK OF ACTS: CHAPTER 3

 

   

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

1. An Explanation for "Tongues of Fire" - Mrs. Elnora

In the book of Acts, the tongues of fire represent the presence of God, the Holy Spirit. This fulfills John the Baptist's prophecy that the Messiah would baptize "with the Holy Spirit and with fire." In Matthew 3:11-12, which says (11) I baptize you with water for repentance. But there is one coming who is more powerful that I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (12) His shovel fork is in his hand, and He will gather and store his wheat into the barn, but the chaff He will burn up with unquenchable fire, a fire that cannot be put out. 

This also means that the purifying work of the Holy Spirit carries on in our lives today. 

(www.biblestudytools.com) The King James Version "cloven tongues" is somewhat misleading, for it is likely to suggest that each fire-like tongue was cloven or forked, as one sometimes sees in the pictures representing the scene. But this ...[may not be] the meaning of Luke's expression; rather, tongues of parting asunder, tongues distributed among them, each disciple sharing in the gift equally with the others. "Like as of fire," or, more exactly, "as if of fire," indicates the appearance of the tongues, not that they were actually aflame, but that they prefigured the marvelous gift with which the disciples were now endowed. 

The Message translation: Acts 2: 1-4 - When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force-no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them. 

2. An Explanation for Holy Spirit & Various Tongues - Ms. Debbie

3. Comparison of Jesus Breathed Holy Spirit and the Outpouring of Holy Spirit at Pentecost - Jeannie

I found a ton of information related to this topic in the Blue Letter Bible, a commentary website that is pretty phenomenal. Some bible scholars believe that the event where Jesus breathed on the disciples on the day of his resurrection while saying to them, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you. Receive the Holy Spirit." was different from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit which happened at Pentecost. 

Questions posed include the following: 

1. Many assume that the disciples received the filling of Holy Spirit at the moment Jesus breathed on them. If this is true, what occurred at Pentecost? Did they receive the Spirit of God again?

2. If this was not the fullness of the Holy Spirit, they received on the day of his resurrection, then what was it? 

There are several interpretations from various scholars: 

1. The disciples were regenerated at this time. 

2. This was John's description of the Pentecost.

3. This was a symbolic representation. 

4. It was a temporary giving of the Holy Spirit.

5.  Jesus gave his disciples the Holy Spirit so they could proclaim forgiveness

6. It was a prophecy of the coming of the Holy Spirit. *

                                                 CONTEXT FOR ACTS, CHAPTER 3

In Acts 1, Jesus ascended into heaven. In Acts 2, His followers received the Holy Spirit and gave such witness to Jesus, as the risen Savior that three thousand people believed in Him. In this chapter, Peter explains that Jesus' power and authority have healed a lame man, and not him. He explained that the man's healing was the result of faith in God. He also told them how Jesus can heal their sinful hearts, as well.

1) Verses 1-10, Peter Heals a Lame Beggar, MRS. ELNORA

3 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.

SECTION QUESTIONS:

1. What time of day was prayer time? 3 PM

2. What is the name of the gate at the entrance of the temple? Beautiful

3. What did Peter tell the lame beggar? Silver and gold I don't have, but what I have I give to you.

2) Verses 11-26, Peter Speaks to the Onlookers, DESTINY

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.

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.

1. Jesus was denied by others in front of Pilate, but Jesus was glorified by God.

2. The people denied the Holy Spirit but they wanted a murderer among them.

3. In Christ we have strength and courage because of our faith in him. We can have perfect peace in the presence of our enemies.

4. "Repent and God shall send the Messiah unto you."

5. We are the children of the Covenant. God said to Abraham, "In thy see, shall all men be blessed."

6. In turning away from all sin, God sent Jesus to bless us.

SECTION QUESTIONS:

1. Who did Peter tell the Israelites they had killed? (Verse 15) The Author of Life

2. How did the lame beggar receive his healing? by faith in the name of Jesus

3. What did God foretell through all of the prophets? His Messiah would suffer

4. When is Jesus coming back? when God restores everything as He promised

5. What did God tell Abraham? Through your offspring all people on earth will be blessed.