STUDIES IN THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES- PART 2

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Chapter one, verse one- Luke begins with reference to his “former

treatise” (literally, first word) which would be the Gospel of Luke and dedicates Acts to Theophilus, also named in Luke 1:3.  It was not uncommon to present such persons in a dedicatory introduction.

   “of all” [things] found also in Luke 1:3, referring to the things

that “Jesus began to do and teach”—Luke has emphasized actions

and instruction by Jesus.  No title (Lord or Christ) used clearly until

2:36 in Peter’s sermon. 

 

Chapter one, verse two-“until the day in which he was taken up”-

The ascension will receive more detail in 1:9-11.  “after that he through the Holy Spirit had given commandments”- this is the first mention of the Holy Spirit who will be prominent in Acts.  Such language moves our attention from Christ to the Spirit and implies

the second is an extension of the first. 

 

Chapter one, verse three- “to whom he showed himself alive..”

These chosen apostles were to be blessed with appearances of Jesus following His resurrection.  These appearances were deliberate and intended to encourage them to have confidence He, in fact, was alive

from the dead.  “after his passion”- (pathein=suffer) – referring to

His experience of beating, abuse and then crucifixion.

  “by many infallible proofs”- the Greek word is tekmariois- the only appearance of the word in scripture.  It means “signs” or sure signs.

[NIV has “convincing proofs”.]  It is strong language to assure the reader of Acts that Jesus’ appearance was no delusion.  When we consider the words of Luke 1:3-4, we believe Luke intended to give

maximum certainty to the reports of a resurrected Jesus and all that meant.  Luke’s gospel and Acts have come under severe attack by

German critics, but work done by Sir Wm. Ramsay (1851-1939), a classical scholar from Britain has shown Luke to be a meticulous historian and his data reliable.

  “being seen of them 40 days” (the Gk. text has ‘dia’ indicating

during a period of 40 days-NIV).

   There are 3 views of Jesus’ resurrection/ascension worth noting:

1) The resurrection of Jesus followed by His ascension and exaltation

   40 days later--  This is a more straightforward and literal view.

   Some have suggested that during the 40 days that His spiritual

   and resurrection body went through changes resulting in Him

   being more glorious after His ascension than before.  This explains

   how He appears in a greater degree of glory from heaven than

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   here on earth- Acts 9:3 and Rev. 1:13-18.

 

2) The resurrection of Jesus on Easter morning and His ascension

   and exaltation of Easter evening--  This views events of Luke 24 as

   occurring ALL on the same day.  The other appearances are then

   post-ascension.  Under this system, Jesus would lead his disciples

   to Bethany, after they have had time to absorb the truth of His

   bodily resurrection.  Proponents of this point to Mt.28:18 where

   Jesus speaks of “all authority is given to me..”—only an exalted

   Christ has authority and they point to Jn.20:22 where He gives

   them the Holy Spirit.  This dispensing of the Spirit could only occur

   after ascension/exaltation.

 

3) The resurrection, ascension, and exaltation of Jesus on Easter

   morning, followed by a series of appearances from heaven—

   Under this view, Jesus was exalted immediately after His

   resurrection in what may be called an invisible ascension- see

   John 20:17.  Then, later He dramatizes and manifests His ascension

   visibly.

    

These proposals are attempts to satisfy the question of where was

Jesus during the 40 days.  It would seem from scripture that He was not always present with the disciples- see John 20:19, 26,  and 

Luke 24:31.