A Bible Study on the Book of Acts Session 3
The Church of the Holy Apostles;
Based upon the Homilies of St John Chrysostom (SJC)
Chapter 1 v. 6 – Apostles STILL had an incorrect understanding of “the kingdom”. Shows growth (Theosis)
Chapter 1 v. 7 – Jesus is drawing them slowing. Before (Mark 13.32) the answer was “of that day not even the angels in heaven know) NOW, ‘not for you’. HOWEVER….they were learning greater things than they had know before
1. There IS a Son of God
2. Son is equal to the Father (John 5.17-20)
3. There will be a resurrection (Matthew 17.9)
4. Jesus ascended to the Right Hand of God (Luke 22.69)
5. Flesh will be seated in heaven (Mark 16.19)
6. Jesus will come again (Mark 16.19)
7. How Judgment would take place (Matthew 16.27)
8. Jews would be outside the Church while the Gentiles would be inside the Church
Chapter 1 v. 8 – Comfort again. “You will receive Power)
1. You will do great things INCLUDING being witnesses of God
2. Holy Spirit coming on them reveals their equal majesty
Chapter 1 v. 9 – Proof of God in clouds and angels
1. Visible witness to the Ascension of Christ (proof of the prediction – remember last week) Jesus continued to reveal His real presence, but not entirely shown. They only saw Him go up but, didn’t see exactly where He ended up. Angels provided the rest of the story. As compared to the Resurrection when they saw Him resurrected, but the Angels had to fill in the missing details from the middle of the story.
2. Presence of clouds – Psalm 103(4) v.3 “Who makes the clouds His means of approach” – Mount Tabor, Mount Sinai, both express the presence of God.
3. Angels are EVERYWHERE – Nativity, Annunciation, Resurrection, 2nd Coming, etc.
Chapter 1 v. 10 – Vision was not fearful. Angels appeared as men dressed in white. The angels comforted them also by knowing who the Apostles were. They did not speak as strangers. NUANCE – ascended/will come (both speak of His own action) Jesus has the power to COME IN LIKE MANNER provides hope for the future.
Teaching on the Power of Jesus – Deny creation = Deny Jesus – “The denial that God created anything from nothing, and the denial that He raises up what has been buried” leads to evil. It is blasphemous to give evil equal power to God. “Do you see the number of impetuousness and absurdities are here!” (See SJC Homily II, page 15-17)
1. Evils are from God
2. Evil is indestructible
3. Affirm unordered matter to possess inherent power
4. Evil is the cause of God’s goodness
5. Block us from attaining the knowledge of God
6. Bring God down as men, plants, and logs. “They laugh that we say virgin birth, but they believe all things are divine.”
“There is a resurrection of bodies. This the sepulcher which is at Jerusalem declares, this the pillar to which He was bound when He was scourged. Let us then believe in the Resurrection, and do things worthy of it, that we may attain to the goods things which are to come, through Christ Jesus our Lord, with Whom to the Father, and the Holy Spirit together, be power, honor, now and for ever, world without end. Amen.”
Life Application – God may not give you everything you desire, but you have already received even greater things. We have received the same knowledge the Apostles received. We are witnesses to Christ just as the Apostles were. This lifts us higher that we could dream.