Acts: Titles, Notes & Questions

ACTS

T. N. Q.

Titles, Notes, and Questions

A Teaching Commentary on the

Acts of the Apostles

Edgar A. Bryan

Published by Edgar A. Bryan

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2013 Edgar A. Bryan

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - Matthias Ordained

Chapter 2 - Christian Pentecost

Chapter 3 - God? or Gold?

Chapter 4 - Lord, Grant Boldness

Chapter 5 - Ananias and Sapphira

Chapter 6 - Deacons Chosen

Chapter 7 - Stephen Martyred

Chapter 8 - Ethiopian Eunuch

Chapter 9 - Saul Sanctified

Chapter 10 - Devout Cornelius

Chapter 11 - Peter Defends Vision

Chapter 12 - Peter Leaves Prison

Chapter 13 - Barnabas Saul Called

Chapter 14 - Paul Stoned

Chapter 15 - Paul Barnabas Part

Chapter 16 - Paul Silas Prayed

Chapter 17 - Mars’ Hill Sermon

Chapter 18 - Aquila and Priscilla)

Chapter 19 - School of Tyrannus

Chapter 20 - Eutychus Raised

Chapter 21 - Paul’s Pedigree

Chapter 22 - Paul’s First Testimony

Chapter 23 - Nephew Tells Chief

Chapter 24 - Felix Pleased Jews

Chapter 25 - Festus Pleased Jews

Chapter 26 - Testimony Before Agrippa

Chapter 27 - Wrecked on Melita

Chapter 28 - Paul at Rome

About the Author

Sample passages from other books

Preface

Acts is the greatest, most complete History of the first century after Christ’s birth. Much was happening and God inspired a physician, Dr. Luke (a man of detail as doctors should be), to give posterity glimpses into that intensely formative era.

ACTS – Titles, Notes, and Questions is a tool to help moderns better visualize Luke’s collection of events. ACTS looks below the surface with the help of the W words. With over two decades of full-time teaching experience Bryan is asking questions. (Don’t all teachers ask questions? ) Who? What? Where? When? and Why? pick away at nuggets and shovel into new depths. Questions average 27 per chapter and have suggested answers at each chapter’s end.

So for what are you waiting? Buy this tool today. ACTS – Titles, Notes, and Questions could add a new level to your own Bible knowledge. ACTS could assist you in leading your family/friends in a wholesome, interesting study of the historic Acts of the Apostles.

Let me know how you like it. Love to hear from ones who have benefited from my books.

Blessings,

eab

Chapter 1 - Matthias Ordained

or Ye…Receive Power (v8) Chapter has a Content title above and Quote title to the left. Learn one or both.

1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do AND teach,

Please note - the Bible has no underlining, bold type, numbers, words in all caps (except LORD) or words in [brackets]. These are used to tie ideas together and/or insert a brief question/comment.

When a word occurs only once it is called hapax legomena. There are hundreds such words in the Scriptures. This is the sole appearance of treatise.

1. What is a treatise?

2. Who is Theophilus?

The Gospel of Luke is also dedicated to this man Theophilus. This dual dedication is one of the things which shows Luke is the author of Acts. Having written numerous paragraphs about Jesus in his Gospel, Luke now assumes that his friend will remember who Jesus is and that he will appreciate the extended story.

Luke portrays Jesus as both a Doer and a Teacher. Some men do very well but either cannot or will not teach. Other men are teachers (of sorts) but their knowledge is almost all school learned or book bred. They do not know how to show their pupils, how to do.

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:

Until is a reminder that Luke is the teller of Christ’s birth. His until begins when the human side of Christ begins. Luke’s until the day carried Theophilus - and all of us who have gratefully looked over his shoulder - forward to the day that the human form of Jesus disappeared upward through earth’s atmosphere.

Luke uses Holy Ghost for the first time in his famous history Book. Dr. Luke uses Holy Ghost more than any other Evangelist.

There are inter-workings and cross-personal relationships within the One-in-Three (and Three-in-One) which men will never understand. Jesus promised the Holy Ghost to come (happened at the Christian Pentecost) yet the Holy Ghost was already here. Christ through the Spirit gave NT (New Testament) commandments.

3 To whom also He showed Himself alive after His passion [How?] by many infallible proofs being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

Infallible is another hapax legomena (word occurring only once).

Christ chose to reveal Himself to mankind after His death.

1) He showed Himself

2) He showed Himself with many infallible proofs

3) He showed Himself over a period of nearly six weeks

3. To whom did Jesus reveal Himself?

Piety Prodder: Christ talked about the Kingdom of God – Of what do we (who are to be little Christs) speak?

Luke tells his readers that Jesus talked but is not inspired to record even one sentence of His words. Moderns can read this and wish Luke had recorded specifics but, no, we must live without them.

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.

4. What is Jerusalem?

Evangelicals have emphasized Go ye (Mar 28.19). The holiness people have emphasized Tarry Ye (Luk 24.49). (Sadly, many evangelicals do not believe in a second definite work of grace.) Holiness people are for the go ye also, but only after they have tarried for power from on high.

Some have opposed the concept of the Holy Trinity. (Some even imagine that Trinity was a catholic invention - far from it.) The Trinity is seen several places across the landscape of Scripture, here is one. In this section Jesus is found first (v1), the Holy Ghost (v2) appears next, and the Father last (v4). The Trinity is all presented.

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

Jesus’ attitude is not one of criticism when He states, "John baptized with water. He is stating the historic past! He Himself was baptized in water by this famous man. But ye (speaking some three years after John’s baptism) shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost."

5. What is the difference between water and Spirit baptism?

But is the strongest contrasting conjunction in the English tongue. Christ intentionally contrasted these two baptisms. Fire and water are the strongest contrasts known and Luke is not oblivious to that.

Note, Jesus did not say, If you do this then you’ll be Spirit baptized. Nor did He say, If you do that then You will be baptized...

6. To whom is the Lord thus promising the Holy Ghost?

6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

The apostles were all grown men yet they had a curiosity ...wilt Thou at this time restore...kingdom to Israel? Curiosity can be a wonderful thing and can make life an interesting, full reality. But curiosity can also lead you directly into sin. Habits which bind for life can be started by indulging a too-strong curiosity. Watch yourself.

7. Is Kingdom of God the same as Kingdom of Israel?

Being filled with the Spirit allows us to grow beyond provincialism! Geographical boundaries fade in importance to the Christian and, if anything, fade more in the eyes of the Spirit-filled Christian. There is nothing wrong with loving your familiar valleys and hills, loving your native land. But there is everything wrong with loving your country more than you love the Kingdom of God.

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.

The Lord uses both times and seasons showing that they differ one from another. Seasons could be taken literally as spring, summer, fall, and winter. They could be taken as quarters of the year (or as lesser divisions of the year). Times (from other Biblical references) seem to mean years.

Memorize 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 Judea, and

in Samaria and

unto the uttermost part of the earth" *Please consider memorizing ALL CAPS words & reference, 2.1*

8. What is probably the word most omitted in Acts 1.8?

Almost everyone knows that but is a powerful conjunction; it shows contrast; But could be compared to the therefore which people look to see what it’s therefore.  You should look above but to see the contrasting idea. Checking above here shows –

No, the disciples will not witness God’s perfect time schedule, but

Yes, they will have the Power and will witness to His Perfection.

I. Ye shall be Baptized with the Holy Ghost... v5

II. Ye shall receive Power... v8

III. Ye shall be witnesses unto Me... v8

There is definitely a Power for Purity. That has been preached and rightly so. To say there has been too much preaching about power for purity would be highly erroneous. But without error it can be said there has been too little preaching on power for witnessing.

The witnessing is unto (about, or for) Christ. The witnessing is not about man, individually or collectively. As the converted Jimmy Willis (original Kingfish of the Amos and Andy radio show) wrote in the author’s Bible after an afternoon chapel at God’s Bible School, Give God the Glory.

Ponder this

Jerusalem, ALL Judea, Samaria, Uttermost part of earth, are similar to a set of concentric circles. The man saved, (Convert # 1) under the Apostle in Jerusalem, has the same set of concentric circles as the Apostle had. But look what happens to Convert number two who is saved in the Apostles’ Judea. That becomes his Jerusalem (Convert #2) and a new set of concentric circles starts. Meanwhile the Apostle has won Convert number three in Samaria. For him (Convert #3) Samaria is his Jerusalem; a third set of concentric circles has begun. Convert number two has different spheres of influences than the Apostle. Convert # 3 has yet another area of influence differing from the Apostle or Convert # 2. Sets of concentric circles become series of concentric circles and the Gospel spreads on levels and plains to towns and friendships throughout the entire world.

Ah, how excellent are God’s ways!

Much could be written about the three proper names (Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria) and the fourth descriptive term. Simply put, one is a city, the most important city in the world. One is a tiny country, the most important country on earth. (Judea was the birth-land of the earth’s Savior and soon-coming King, Jesus Christ.)

Samaria was chosen for this illustrious list for at least two reasons: it was a neighboring section of land, and it contained a people with which the average Jew struggled because of their religion. The fourth place to witness includes the entire world. Uttermost part of the earth is both non-specific and picturesquely descriptive.

9 And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

Shepherds did not witness the Lord’s birth (Mary’s modesty needed to be preserved) but they were there within hours (maybe minutes) of His birth. He taught daily in the temple (Luke 19.47). His death was a public display. His tomb was opened for all to enter, and see, and hear its hollow echo. So why should not His ascension be visible? Divinity has nothing to hide. Count that religion false which has something to hide.

Gravity lost hold on His body. Yes, even His glorified body seems to have been compatible with gravity until, UNTIL He was finished with gravity’s grip. This Man who earlier showed Himself more than a conqueror over sickness and sin, this One who has most recently shown He could conquer the enemy called death, now sheds the hold of one of earth’s most common laws. Christ ascended.

1.10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel;

9. What may be significant about white apparel?

The disciples were probably not expecting Jesus to depart, or perhaps not expecting Him to do it so quickly.

His departure would have disappointed all who love rite, pomp, and trumpery. He calmly, clearly, and completely left earth behind.

Any reader who has hunted whitetail knows how easy it is to look at a spot, glance away, and when you look back boom, there is a deer. The disciples were looking and boom, there stood two men.

With little doubt these men are angels. Angel or angels occurs almost three hundred times in Holy Writ - we ought to know a lot about them, right? But all men get is a Scriptural glimpse, similar to this. We are told they were there. Before we can ask about their nature, their looks, or their origin, they disappear into the spirit world again.

Angels time and again look like men in the Bible. Angels are never mentioned as having wings. (Do not imagine these would have been called men if they had had feathery wings.)

Note – make sure to distinguish between angels, and the holy beings as those called cherubim, which have at least two wings. (Eze 10 is the cherubim chapter.) and seraphim. Seraphim also have wings - six each. The only place seraphim are found is Isaiah, chapter six. (They have six wings and are found in chapter six - that makes the reference easy to remember.)

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.

The angels knew that these men were Galileans.

10. What is Galilee?

Men have gotten too used to speaking of the devil in unscriptural ways. Many give the devil a near omnipresent ability. No, the devil has no such strength. Only God is Omnipresent, Omniscient, and Omnipotent. Observing the powers angels might help us have a more true sense of the power the deceiver has.

Christ had spoken of His return in the Gospels. His inspired writers will speak of His coming more in the epistles which follow. But here in the NT’s only history book, angels preach of the Lord’s coming.

11. Why would Luke have bothered to mention a cloud?

Shall so come is angelic testimony that Christ will return to this earth some day. He will come bodily – as He left. And, He will come in a cloud. A rather high percentage of the earth has a degree of cloud coverage any given day.

Ante ~ Nicene Quote

…The second in which He will come on the clouds, bringing on the day which burns as a furnace, and smitting the earth with the word of His mouth and slaying the impious with the breath of His lips, and having a fan in His hands and cleansing His floor and gathering the wheat into His barn but burning the chaff with unquenchable fire. ~IRENAEUS, AD 120-202 (Against Heresies 506)

There seems to be slowness about the disciples. They are so slow they were asked, Why stand ye gazing up into heaven? Their best Friend, their Risen-from-dead-Friend, just floated toward heaven. Moderns should not be hard on them if they are thinking slowly, perhaps not thinking at all. They could have been in a type of daze.

12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a Sabbath day's journey.

It was perhaps not a pleasant thought - this idea of returning to Jerusalem. That was where Jesus was so unjustly mistreated by the Jewish leadership. That was where these same guys had arranged for that gory death of their Lord. They could have thought, Do we have to go back and face such scenes of sorrow and separation?

Not all Christians are beautiful or handsome. Not all are healthy, or financially blessed. But all Christians can be (must be) obedient. Obedience (to clear, heavenly signals) is a hallmark of the Christian ─ always has been, always will be. There is no substitute for obedience.

Christians are children of God. Just as obedience is a real must in natural children’s lives, obeying is an absolute necessity in the Christian life. Reader, are you obeying God? The devil tries to make obedience look impossible. Always remember - satan is a liar! …When he speaketh a lie he speaketh of his own…he is a liar… (Joh 8.44.)

Jesus had already told them (v4), to not depart from Jerusalem. Logic demands, in order to not depart (until Holy-Ghost-filled) they would have to return. The messenger said to go back to Jerusalem and they did just that, though humanly they may not have wanted to.

This is the second (and last) citing of Olivet. It is mentioned in 2Ki 15.30 when King David was on it. And it is mentioned now when the Son of David ascended from it. (It’s the same as Mount of Olives.)

12. How far is a Sabbath day’s journey?

13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both

Peter and James and John and Andrew

Philip and Thomas Bartholomew and Matthew

James the son of Alphaeus and Simon Zelotes and Judas the brother of James.

Not only did the disciples return to Jerusalem, they banded together in the best known upper-floor room in history. It would be nice to know its location and dimensions but in reality such information would add nothing to the Waiting and the Filling which transpired there.

The disciples are listed by the Evangelists: Matthew (10.2-4), Mark (3.16-19), and Luke (6.14-16). (See Matthew - Titles, Notes, and Questions, for a comparison of the disciples’ lists.) Luke now lists them again in his History Text. (This list, of course, has no Judas in it.)

14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren.

Some have imagined the disciples and others were scurrying about the room asking forgiveness, making apologies. This has even been preached. This author is sure if God directed any one to straighten-up some problem, he/she did it. (The Spirit would not have descended on a stiff heart, needing to apologize, or one without forgiveness.)

Allow an opposing idea to be presented. These faithful followers had four times as long before the Christian Pentecost to do backing-up if they needed to do, as they did in this ten-day wait. They had the powerful and personal presence of Christ on visits, which could easily have convicted hearts if forgiveness was in order. Why would they not have resolved problems in those precious times with their Lord?

There is another reason for this being mentioned. The Bible does not say a word about these men and women seeking or finding any resolutions to carnal problems. Since the Book does not say they did, who is the preacher that dares to say the disciples need such action? It’s easy to preach ideas instead of staying with the precious Book.

The Bible doesn’t say they were apologizing. But It tells us what they were doing during those days. They were praying.

13. Who are His brethren?

Not much is known about the Lord’s human-family side. Jesus had (at least) two unnamed, half-sisters. His step-dad, Joseph, is not heard of after the window when Jesus is found in the temple at twelve.

A little more is known about His half-brothers. They are mentioned in the synoptic Gospels. John not only has them appear (outside, waiting for Him) but informs his readers that the Lord’s half-brothers were not believers (Joh 7.5). But the Lord’s half-brothers (if not all four, at least two) are here in the upper room. When were they saved?

This author has a couple theories, note that is all they are - theories. Perhaps some or all the half-siblings were present the gruesome day when their Elder Brother was crucified. Conversions could easily have taken place as they saw the sky darken at noon, heard Him forgive His persecutors, or as they witnessed the conversion of the thief on the neighboring cross.

The second theory would place their conversions on Resurrection Morning. If your oldest Brother had predicted that He would be killed but that He would arise again the third day, would you have stayed near to see if He really did rise again? Yes, is a very logical answer. And if they were there and saw Him again, surely they could easily have become believers that glorious morning!

1.15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty)

It is unknown what items were discussed during the ten days waiting in the upper room. Unknown, that is, except for this one thing - Peter feels constrained to fill the chair left vacant with the fall of Judas.

The fact there were about an hundred and twenty has eluded some. They glibly say that there were an hundred and twenty ignoring the about. Does this round number show carelessness on the part of the men and women gathered there or on Luke’s part, the inspired penman? Probably neither. Maybe it shows the action that took place there was far more important than the counting of noses.

Are moderns too concerned with numbers?

Do numbers mean more to us than the visitation of the Holy One?

16 "Men, 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.

14. Who is Judas?

Peter: 1) verifies that the Holy Ghost spoke through David (Who thus was active in OT), and 2) Proves that David was a prophet.

It is inspiring to see this belief in the Holy Ghost. Peter has no doubts - the Holy Ghost (promised to the disciples, but not yet received by them in His fullness), that Spirit spake...by the mouth of David.

17 "For he was numbered with us and had obtained part of this ministry.

The reference to Judas was probably painful for them all. After all, he was an old school chum, having walked and sailed with them in their three-year, out-door, Bible college. The Gospels show Judas also obtained his full share of this ministry.

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.

15. In what way can it be said Judas purchased a field?

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.’

Luke was inspired give his readers the name and to translate it also.

1.20 "For it is written in the book of Psalms,

‘Let his habitation be desolate, and

let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick

let another take.’

16. From which Psalm does this come?

Bishoprick episkoph "position or office as an overseer… especially

the office of bishop" suggests all apostles were bishops.

21 "Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

Companied with us is an interesting concept. Reading the Gospels one can imagine twelve men, only twelve men sitting in class, strolling a sea shore, climbing a mountain with Jesus etc. Yes, we know there were five thousand men fed and that crowds pressed in upon Him, but still the idea of the ideal twelve men persists.

The fact that Peter thinks this way shows others were there often, often enough he would consider they had seen the important points of Jesus’ ministry. Peter does this in the presence of the other ten. No once stood up and said You’ve ask the impossible, no one qualifies.

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.

This is a call for ordination …must one be ordained. The church still ordains men to holy office. Such ordination should not be taken lightly by the ones ordaining or by the men being placed in the office.

Peter, a born leader, saw the need for human leadership. Nor could this be just any leader. Peter set forth a qualification. The new bishop was to have been a part of the years from the time Jesus was baptized until He physically removed from their midst on the Mount of Olives. This naturally included being a witnesses of His resurrection, that powerful, memorable moment just a few days ago.

23 And they appointed two; Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

They appointed two holds intrigue for all who’ve chaired business sessions. How were these appointed? Nomination? Motion? Hand vote? Voice? Assent? (As an aside, how many perhaps equally qualified men were not appointed?)

Though we do not know the method chosen, it is clear there was an action taken at level A followed by a second action on level B.

It may be argued one is congregational …they appointed two.

Some are uncomfortable with an empowered church and one can surely have too much democracy in the place where God is to rule. Yet, for all one’s reservations, the first action could have been spread across the entire men and brethren.

24 And they prayed, and said, "Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all, show whether of these two thou hast chosen,

These are the most God-like men on the planet. They will soon be filled with the Holy Ghost but there is no earlier mention of prayer. They did not pray until they were ready for the runoff. Interesting.

The prayer is one hundred percent accurate; surely God knows the hearts of all. This is a nice thought for those who are doing good deeds and alms on the sly. God knows and accurately records all such actions. This is not such a happy thought for those who are secretly sinning and supposedly getting by.

The Lord is distinctly invited to direct this election.

1.25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

There is a theology that argues anyone who appears to backslide never was born again. And, there are, with little doubt, some converts made on converted ball fields, etc., whose change was about as permanent as the arena; both were only temporarily converted, but reverted to original form in a matter of hours.

But to argue that Judas, the Lord’s disciple, was never converted is to grapple with the inspired word fell. Logic demands an up if there is a down. It demands a higher, if one falls into a lower state.

Many adherents to the-above-mentioned-theology also believe one has to sin; even that Christians sin - everyday. So the word transgression may be sticky. Peter has no question; the thing that caused Judas to fall was a transgression. Trust the ones who witnessed it not some centuries-later-theologian.

26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

One level of acceptance (v23) is shown. If, as suggested above, the first is the will of the congregation, we here see that such power has its limits. Now after a short (if we have its entirety) but sincere prayer, the second level is carried out. A new man is accepted into Apostleship …take part of Apostleship.

The reader has already noticed the they of verses 23, 24, and 26

DISCUSSION QUESTION: Who are they (v23, 24, 26)?

Little is known about either candidate. And interestingly enough the one with whom three names are associated (therefore telling us something) is not the one that God directed the lot to acclaim.

Some have tried to equate lots with gambling. That is so inaccurate. Lots are referenced in Leviticus 16.8 when Aaron cast lots on two goats. Joshua did a second casting of lots. (Granted the only other NT usages are the Roman soldiers for Christ’s cloths but because they did it, doesn’t make it bad - they were not gambling.)

17. What key element must be present for it to be gambling?

This choosing is an example of human action linked with Divine action, …prayed…gave forth their lots. God could have sent a visual/auditable sign and let all know that Matthias was His choice. Instead He allowed directed human action (they had prayed).

18. How many apostles are there?

Reader - God still wants human/Divine inter-relationships.

Chapter 1 suggested answers. Readers may have better answers.  Allow questions to deepen your life.

1. v1 Treatise comes from the Greek word Logos meaning word.

2. v1 Theophilus is a Christian of prominence, to whom Lk [Luke] (1:3) and Ac [Acts] (1:1) are dedicated. -William Arndt & Wilbur Gingrich, Greek-English Lexicon (Chicago: U. of C. Press, 1979), 358d.

…The literal import of this word is friend of God, …Theophilus appears to have been some very reputable Greek or Roman, who was one of St. Luke's disciples.

- Adam Clarke, Commentary (NY: Abingdon Press, n.d.), vol. V, 355.

3. v3 Jesus revealed Himself to His followers. There is