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When we come back we will continue our verse by verse through Acts chapter 1 picking it back up at verse 10.
Okay . . .
So we left off with Jesus being taken up straight into a cloud while the apostles looked upon Him. Let’s read – verse 10:
Acts 1.19
July 26th 2015
10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
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.”
12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem 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.
14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
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,)
Alright back to verse 10.
And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
The Greek means that their eyes were “fixed” on Him – lukes account says fastened upon Him.
Think about it. They were asking Him when He was going to restore the Kingdom and suddenly they witness something absolutely unheard of or unseen in their day OR ours – He lifts off the earth and heads toward a cloud in heaven – wherein He then disappeared from view.
Apparently, while they were staring on Him two men came into their presence.
Now, as believers we know that in all probability, especially due to their white clothing, that these were two angels who had taken on the appearance of men.
Additionally, angels are often called Men in scripture. Maybe when angels get involved with us down here they take on human form, like in “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
At the resurrection Luke also writes
in Luke 24:4:
“Two men stood by them in shining garments,”
And then two angels are mentioned addressing the apostles after the resurrection of Jesus so it’s a fairly reasonable assumption that these were potentially the same beings.
White clothing is often emblematic of a heavenly origin in scripture so this also lends to the idea that they were angels. Revelation speaks of heavenly beings wearing white in six different places.
That being said, IF we were going to be biblical literalists we could not say these were two angels simply because the Greek word for them is men – males, sirs, misters and not “angellos” (or angels).
In other word, with tongue sort of in cheek, it’s a good passage to use on biblical literalists (or King James Onliests) as a means to have some fun.
Anyway the angels spoke to these men and said (verse 11):
“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.”
Galilee was the place of the former residence of eleven of the original twelve apostles – apparently Judas was from Jerusalem.
“You men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into heaven?”
Now, if any of the apostles were smart alecs they may have replied,
“Because the Lord just floated up into it, that’s why.”
But the angels – and the word angellos means messenger – these angels had a purpose for their visit.
For starters, some suppositional thoughts.
It MAY be that the apostles were sort of bummed out. They had just asked Jesus if this would be the time that He would restore the Kingdom and after a brief answer swoosh! He’s taking off into the sky.
Remember, the Holy Spirit had not fallen yet – that was going to happen in ten days – so the apostles may not have had a firm grasp on things – yet.
Additionally, maybe their hearts were feeling or believing that the Kingdom was never going to be restored – and maybe their hearts were heavy.
Maybe they also thought He was going to come right back down and so they stood there staring into the sky for what COULD have been a bit of time.
I mean maybe they were standing there for a really LONG time and finally God sent the angels to let them know that while He would return it wasn’t going to be immediately.
And maybe, like Jesus was when He was with them, the angels were there to keep them from standing around looking for His return – but to instead get on with what they were called to do.
In this there is a great picture for us as believers today.
There are people who spend a great deal of their Christian walk looking into the clouds, as it were, and waiting for Jesus to return instead of preaching that He came.
Just as there are those who spend an exorbitant amount of time ferreting out the Anti-Christ rather than sharing Jesus Christ.
The picture here is live your life – do what you are called to do by God and don’t let yourself get caught up in what is yet to be instead give your all to what is.
“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.”
I think the first words here are a very comforting statement – “this same Jesus.”
And from it I think we can conclude that who we are in this life, as human beings, are who we are in the life to come.
If we had a child or parent pass I think, due to passages like this, we too can believe that the same people who depart from here in death will be there on the other side.
Just a thought.
“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.”
Jesus being taken “into heaven” is used twice in this passage and I suppose it reiterates for us that this is exactly where He went – into heaven or the presence of God.
We might also conclude that those who have looked to Him in faith certainly follow the same path upon resurrection – straight ahead into heaven.
The words of the angels are interesting because at first glance they would not serve to get the apostles to stop looking into the sky. I mean all they say is “this same Jesus who has been taken up into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen Him go – “ meaning in or through the air.
And if that was the case you would think the apostles had good reason to be standing there gazing.
But this is not the full meaning of the angels words. I think reading between the lines the angels were reminding these men of Jesus promise of a return and that if they thought about it they would also recall that in conjunction with His return a lot of other signs had to occur first.
The Apostles were expecting a kingdom to be established. For this to happen there had to be a destruction of the former kingdom and a new king and His kingdom stepping in.
Jesus promised them that He would return and save those who were His and of His Kingdom and destroy those that were not.
Who did He make these promises to – the apostles in Jerusalem.
And so when He ascended they may have wondered about His return and the establishment of His kingdom and the destruction of their enemies.
We remember that Jesus had promised them that He would return. In John 14:3 He said:
“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again,”
And then in Matthew 24 the apostles came to Jesus who had been describing all sorts of things that would happen at His return with Judgement and so they were taught all these things.
So they angels reiterate to them some of this information by reminding them how He would come to them again –
“In like manner” as how He left – which we might say would be in or through the air and amidst the clouds. In other words, since He left through the air and then disappeared in a cloud then His return would have Him appearing in the clouds and arriving by air.
In 1st Thessalonians 4 Paul, writing to the believers at Thessalonica and as a means to comfort them said:
1st Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Looking back at Jesus own words to the Apostles He said in Matthew 24:30 that after all sorts of signs –
“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
The angels were affirming this part of His return to them.
We will not go into all the rest of the things they were to look for at His coming, but speaking OF His coming it only makes contextual sense that Jesus – who came to the House of Israel, and the House of Israel rejected Him – would return to reap judgment upon them or it.
All of the New Testament epistles are warnings and encouraging believers of that day to stand ready and prepared, that He was coming to vindicate his own and to not only save them but raise them up to glory.
But prior to so doing He promised them that they would be persecuted, oppressed, and put to death – especially His apostles.
Their character was assailed, they were poor, and the “world” around them despised them. He had promised them that He would come back and save them and this was the promise His apostles reiterated over and over to all who stood by and watched the “world” absolutely fall apart.
So after the angel reminding them of this (and we are not told what happened to these two men in white) we read:
12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.
Now, before we continue on with the account here in Acts Luke, the author of acts and his Gospel of Luke (24:52) gives the following account in his Gospel:
Luke 24:50 And he (Jesus) led them (His Apostles) out as far as to Bethany (the part where part of the Mount of Olives made contact with the town), and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
(It’s really interesting that Luke, who authored both accounts gives different insights about the ascension in each of them, isn’t it? Anyway, he continues with his gospel account and says)
51 And it came to pass, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
We have to note that at this point – and from this point forward – Jesus is worshipped – an act, which would in any other case be considered idolatry, was reserved ONLY for God.
Revelation 5-14, speaking of Jesus the Lamb of God says:
8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
I personally see the Lord Jesus Christ as the Word made flesh not being worshipped in the first years of His life.
Speaking of Jesus the boy Luke wrote:
Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
The writer of Hebrews 5:8 plainly states:
“Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.”
In light of these passages I think Jesus, like all of us, faced the great human difficulty of growth, trial, maturation, and suffering.
But I also believe that as a human being He, unlike us, housed the fullness of God within Him from birth and completely overcame the wiles and ways of human flesh.
Having accomplished the Father’s will He perfectly sanctified His flesh and then, having allowed God to reign over Him in total, became the object of our worship as God – except this expression of God was human.
All we can honestly say in the face of this is the existence of Jesus does not alter the fact that there is One God nor does it make Him two. It merely proves that when God is fully present in human form from birth that human will – because God is God – experience deification of the flesh inhabited.
The rest of us are not in the same position because first, we were not born with the fullness of God dwelling in us, neither was God our father with us being His only begotten.
But we can, through Christ and the utter sanctification of His human flesh, receive forgiveness through God’s grace for our failures AND become joint heirs with Christ as we allow His Spirit to reign over us in this life.
Much more on this in . . . Meat.
In any case we return to the account in Act 1:12 which says (that after the two men spake to them):
12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.
Or what could be lawfully travelled by a Jew on the Sabbath – about two thousand paces or cubits, OR seven furlongs and a half OR not quite a mile.
Not one step more or Sabbath breaking was the charge.
Now the distance of a lawful journey on the Sabbath was not determined by the laws of Moses but the Jewish teachers had fixed it at two thousand paces.
This measure was determined by tradition which said that in the camp of the Israelites when they came out from Egypt no part of the camp was more than two thousand paces from the tabernacle.
This became the distance they could therefore travel on the Sabbath day.
We might also look at the fact that this same length was the breadth of the suburbs of the Levitical cities according to Numbers 35:5.
In any case, by Jesus day the lengths of travel were set and Luke points out that after Jesus ascended the apostles traveled a Sabbath-days journey.
Do Sabbath days journeys have ANY bearing on us as believers today?
None whatsoever.
Why? They related to the law and the law was given to the Jews. In Christ, who becomes our law, we have no distances.
What is interesting that when Jesus was telling the Apostles what the signs would exist when He returned He said to them in Matthew 24:20:
“But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day.”
The implication of this is clear – the return He spoke to them about would occur in a day and to a people where the Sabbath day and its rules would still have meaning – their day – and not ours.
Okay, verse 13:
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.
The word translated to upper room occurs four times in the New Testament.
It was typically a place for a gathering OR a place where they would put a body waiting burial.
Because of Luke writing that after Jesus ascension the apostles they –
. . . were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God . . .
some have supposed that the upper room spoken of here was a room in the temple.
Could be. But such rooms were a part of a lot of homes especially in Jerusalem and they probably selected one where they might be together and safe from the Jews.
And what did they do there?
14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
Let me take each of these lines and speak to them because they are all significant.
“These all” all that were originally called by Jesus (except Judas)
“continued”
This word is frequently assigned to the Apostles and their activities.
In Romans 12:12 Paul describes them as saying: “We will give ourselves continually–to the ministry of the word.”
We also read of them, “Continuing instant in prayer,” the word coveys an earnestness.
“With one accord,” I love this line – I love unity and people getting along and being one in Him. The Greek means with one mind, unitedly, unanimously.
There were no schisms, no divided interests, no-discordant purposes. It’s a beautiful picture of devotion.
Psalm 133:1-3 speaks to this and says:
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”
“In prayer and supplication.”
The terms are close to being synonymous, but prayer means an expression while “supplication” means that the expression includes “a request.”
“With the women.”
This is a nice addition isn’t it? These are the women who too had followed the Lord throughout His ministry.
Those particularly mentioned in scripture are
Mary Magdalene,
Mary the mother of James
Joses, the mother of Zebedee’s children,
Joanna the wife of Chuza,
and Susanna.
Besides these, there were certainly others whose names are not mentioned – including the wives of the apostles – whomever they might have been.
Peter is known to have been married (according to Matthew 8:14,) and his wife did seem to accompany him (according to 1st Corinthians 9:5;) and the same could have been true of the other apostles.
Mary, the mother of James is mentioned here and it is the last time we hear of her in the New Testament even though she was in John’s care.
Finally Luke writes, “And with his brethren.”
It is really interesting but Jesus “brethren” (half brothers) were not convinced of His Messiahship when He walked the earth.
John plainly says:
“For neither did his brethren believe in him.”
In all probability His resurrection convinced them and they subsequently converted.
Remember, the conversion window for the Jews – His own brethren included – was from the time Jesus was born until the moment before He returned to Jerusalem with Judgement.
So this initial group of believers were gathered together in an upper room in Jerusalem and were praying and supplicating God.
Now, the next verse seems to suggest that sometime between the time Jesus ascended and the Day of Pentecost the following occurred.
Admittedly it could have occurred in the upper room where they were praying but it seems like the time they were in the upper room was a separate event from what we are about to read.
In other words this could still be in the upper room or it could be another date and place – can’t be sure and there are opinions on either side of the coin. Nevertheless, verse 15
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,)
Now, why was it Peter who stood up?
First of all, like it is today, it was customary that when someone was going to undertake to doing something in a group they would stand.
Then, Peter was not only the most expressive apostles (so to speak) tradition holds that he was also most senior.
But while we don’t agree BECAUSE of BIBLICAL evidence that Peter was the 1st Pope we do believe that Peter was assigned to open the sharing of the Gospel and all that this would entail – that this was a special assignment given Him by Jesus.
The reference is Matthew 16:18-19 where Jesus says to Peter, after he professed that Jesus was the Christ the Son of the Living God:
“That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Now all sorts of things have been said about these words of Jesus to Peter – everything from him being the first Pope, to Jesus giving Peter the keys to a priesthood (as the LDS say) to a number of other factors.
But we have to note that in Jerusalem it was NOT Peter who oversaw the church – it was James.
And we have to also note that Jesus, upon His resurrection gave power and authority to ALL the apostles.
And we also have to note that Paul took Peter on face to face over some issues we will learn about later in our study of Acts.
Finally we have to note that Peter, since his call was to the House of Israel, really faded from view in the New Testament narrative with Paul taking up most of the slack as the Gospel going out to the Gentile world took hold.
So what did Jesus mean when He told Peter He was giving Him the keys to the Kingdom?
Think for a minute about what Peter DOES do in the early Apostolic church.
First, He is the first one to preach to the Jews at Pentecost – wherein over three thousand souls were saved.
What did He do there? He unlocked the Christian church doors which are governed now by the Holy Spirit.
That was Peter.
How about the door to the Gospel going to the Gentiles? Was that Paul? Nope. Again, Peter took the keys given Him by Christ and opened that door too when he personally went to a non-Jews home (Cornelius’s) and as lead by the Holy Spirit introduced the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the rest of the World.
For these things and probably much more, Peter was the one to stand and get this ball rolling – which was to call or elect another apostle to replace Judas.
We will cover this next week.
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