Henry: Welcome to immerse, the daily bible reading experience.
Day eleven.
volume two of Luke Acts, the book of Acts.
In my first book, I told you Theophilus about everything Jesus
began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven.
After giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit
during the 40 days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from
time to time and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive and he
talked to them about the kingdom of God.
Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them.
Do not leave Jerusalem until the father sends you the gift.
He promised.
As I told you before John baptized with water, but in just a few days you
will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, Lord
has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom.
He replied, the father alone has the authority to set those dates and times,
and they are not for you to know, but you will receive power when the Holy
Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses, telling people about me
everywhere in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and
they could no longer see him as they strained to see him rising into heaven.
Two white robed men suddenly stood among them men of Galilee.
They said, why are you standing here staring into heaven?
Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from
heaven in the same way you saw him go.
Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of
Olives, a distance of half a mile.
When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the
house where they were staying.
Here are the names of those who are present.
Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Thomas
Bartholomew, Matthew James, Val.
Simon, the zealot and Judas son of James, they all met together and were
constantly united in prayer, along with Mary, the mother of Jesus, several
other women and the brothers of Jesus.
During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter
stood up and addressed them brothers.
He said the scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who
guided those who arrested Jesus.
This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit speaking through
King David Judas was one of us and shared in the ministry with us.
Judas had bought a field with the money he received for his
treachery falling headfirst there.
His body split open, spilling out all his intestines.
The news of his death spread to all the people of Jerusalem, and they
gave the place the Aramaic name, AAMA, which means field of blood.
Peter continued.
This was written in the Book of Psalms where it says, let his home become
desolate with no one living in it.
It also says, let someone else take his position.
So now we must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who
were with us the entire time we were traveling with the Lord Jesus from
the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us.
Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus' resurrection.
So they nominated two men, Joseph called Barsabas, also
known as Justice and Mathias.
Then they all prayed, oh Lord, you know, every heart show us which of these
men you have chosen as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry for he has
deserted us and gone where he belongs.
Then they cast lots and Mathias was selected to become an
apostle with the other 11.
On the day of Pentecost, all the believers were meeting together in one place.
Suddenly there was a sound from heaven, like the roaring of a
mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.
Then what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared in, settled on each
of them, and everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began
speaking in other languages as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
At that time, there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem.
When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running and they were
bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.
They were completely amazed.
How can this be?
They exclaimed?
These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking
in our own native languages.
Here we are.
Parthians Meads, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus,
the province of Asia, regia, paraphilia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around
Cyi visitors from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs.
And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about
the wonderful things God has done.
They stood there amazed and perplexed.
What can this mean?
They asked each other, but others in the crowd ridiculed
them, saying They're just drunk.
That's all.
Then Peter stepped forward with the 11 other apostles and shouted to the crowd.
Listen carefully, all of you fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem,
make no mistake about this.
These people are not drunk as some of you are assuming.
Nine o'clock in the morning is much too early for that.
No.
What you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel.
In the last days.
God says, I will pour out my spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.
In those days, I will pour out my spirit, even on my servants, men and
women alike, and they will prophesy.
And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below
blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
The sun will become dark and the moon will turn blood red before that
great and glorious day of the Lord arrives, but everyone who calls on
the name of the Lord will be saved.
People of Israel, listen, God publicly endorsed Jesus The Nazarene by
doing powerful miracles, wonders and signs through him, as you well know.
But God knew what would happen and his prearranged plan was carried out.
When Jesus was betrayed with the help of lawless gentiles, you nailed
him to a cross and killed him.
But God released him from the horrors of death and raised
him back to life for death.
Could not keep him in its grip.
King David said this about him.
I see that the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken for he is right beside me.
No wonder my heart is glad and my tongue shouts.
His praises.
My body rests in hope for you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow
your holy one to rot in the grave.
You have shown me the way of life and you will fill me
with the joy of your presence.
Dear brothers, think about this.
You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn't referring to himself for
he died and was buried and his tomb is still here among us, but he was a
prophet and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David's own
descendants would sit on his throne.
David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah's
resurrection, he was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or
allow his body to rot in the grave.
God raised Jesus from the dead and we are all witnesses of this now.
He is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven at God's right hand,
and the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out
upon us just as you see and hear today.
For David himself, never ascended into heaven yet he said, the Lord said to my
Lord, sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies,
making them a footstool under your feet.
So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you
crucified to be both Lord and Messiah.
Peter's words pierced their hearts and they said to him and to the other
apostles, Brothers, what should we do?
Peter replied, each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God and be
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away, all who
have been called by the Lord our God.
Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging
all his listeners, save yourselves from this crooked generation.
Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the
church that day, about 3000 in all.
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship
and to sharing in meals, including the Lord's Supper and to prayer.
A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many
miraculous signs and wonders, and all the believers met together in one
place and shared everything they had.
They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.
They worshiped together at the temple each day, met in homes for
the Lord's Supper and shared their meals with great joy and generosity.
All the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people, and
each day, the Lord added to their fellowship, those who were being saved.
Peter and John went to the temple one afternoon to take part in
the three o'clock prayer service.
As they approached the temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in each day.
He was put beside the temple gate, the one called the beautiful gate, so he could
beg from the people going into the temple.
When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.
Peter and John looked at him intently and Peter said, look at us.
The lame man looked at them eagerly expecting some money, but Peter
said, I don't have any silver or gold for you, but I'll give you what
I have in the name of Jesus Christ.
The Nazarene get up and walk.
Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up, and as
he did, the man's feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened.
He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk.
Then walking, leaping and praising God.
He went into the temple with them.
All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God.
When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the beautiful
gate, they were absolutely astounded.
They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon's colon aid where the man was
holding tightly to Peter and John.
Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd people of Israel.
He said, what is so surprising about this and why stare at us as
though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness?
For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of all our ancestors who
has brought glory to his servant Jesus.
By doing this, this is the same Jesus whom you handed over
and rejected before Pilate.
Despite Pilate's decision to release him, you rejected this
holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer.
You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead.
And we are witnesses of this fact through faith in the name
of Jesus, this man was healed.
And you know how crippled he was before faith in Jesus' name has healed him.
Before your very eyes friends, I realize that what you and your leaders
did to Jesus was done in ignorance, but God was fulfilling what all the
prophets had foretold about the Messiah, that he must suffer these things.
Now repent of your sins and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped away.
Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord and he will again
send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah for he must remain in heaven until the time
for the final restoration of all things.
As God promised long ago through his holy prophets, Moses said, the Lord
your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people.
Listen carefully to everything he tells you.
Then Moses said, anyone who will not listen to that prophet will be
completely cut off from God's people.
Starting with Samuel, every prophet spoke about what is happening today.
You are the children of those prophets and you are included in the covenant
God promise to your ancestors.
For God said to Abraham through your descendants, all the
families on Earth will be blessed.
When God raised up his servant, Jesus, he sent him first to you people of
Israel to bless you by turning each of you back from your sinful ways.
While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted
by the priests, the captain of the Temple Guard and some of the Sadducees.
These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching
the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead.
They arrested them and since it was already evening, put
them in jail until morning.
But many of the people who heard their message believed it.
So the number of men who believed now totaled about 5,000.
This concludes today's Immerse Reading experience.
Thank you for joining us.