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Read (and listen!) through the amazing story of Luke and Acts!
Immerse: Luke and Acts is part of Immerse: The Reading Bible, which takes you on a new and unique journey through the books of Luke and Acts in the New Testament. This fresh arrangement of the books highlights the depth of the New Testament’s fourfold witness to Jesus the Messiah. The Son of God, who fulfills all the longings and promises of the collected Scriptures. The goal of Bible reading is to understand the sacred writings in depth so we can learn to live with them. Using the text of the New Living Translation (NLT) from Tyndale Publishing, now you can experience Luke and Acts the same way the original readers did and be fully immersed in the most amazing story of all time!
Alan: Welcome to Immerse Luke
and Acts, Day eleven, Week three
.
Volume 2 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 forty 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, Bartholomew, Matthew, James, son
of Alphaeus, 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
Akaldama, 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 Barsabbas, also
known as Justice, and Matthias.
Then they all prayed, O
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 Matthias was selected to
become an apostle with the other eleven.
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 and settled
on each of them, and everyone present
was filled with the Holy Spirit and
began speaking in other languages.
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, Medes.
Parthians Elamites, people from
Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus,
the province of Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia,
Egypt and the areas of Libya around
Cyrene, 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
eleven 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.
9 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.
We'll 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 pierce 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 3, 000 in all.
All the believers devoted themselves
to the apostles teaching, and to
fellowship, and to sharing in meals.
This 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 worshipped 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 colonnade, 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.
Amen 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 promised 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.
Oliver: This concludes today's
Immerse Reading Experience.
Thank you for joining us.