A Study of Acts: Fulfulling the Great Commision

Chapter Two: The Lord Added to Their Number

In the Gospels we read of the crucifixion of Jesus. We read of how Jesus on the night before his crucifixion, told his disciples as they ate their Passover lamb that Jesus’ blood would become the blood of the new covenant. And even as they were observing the celebration of God’s deliverance of His people from the death that overtook Egypt, Jesus was becoming the Passover lamb whose blood would deliver God’s people from eternal death.

Now, just fifty days later during the celebration of yet another sacred feast, another shadow from the past would find its new covenant fulfillment. It was time for the Feast of Weeks, the Feast of the Harvest, the Feast of Pentecost which was observed seven weeks plus one day after the Sabbath following the Passover. Just as the Feast of Passover had special meaning to Israel, this feast too was revered for it celebrated God giving the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai.

It was on this day, the first day of the week, fifty days after the crucifixion of God’s Passover lamb, that the disciples were still waiting in Jerusalem. They were still waiting in prayer and still waiting on God. But their wait would soon be ended, for as they sat in prayer something amazing was about to happen. While it is unclear if they were in the house where they ate the Passover with Jesus, or the house of God, the temple, one thing is for certain; what was about to happen would forever change the course of history. "Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them (Acts 2:1-4 NIV)." If they were indeed in the temple, then the symbolism is complete. Just as on that ancient day so long ago when God came in fire on Mount Sinai, on this day He once again came down as fire on His holy mountain, this time Temple Mount in Jerusalem. And just as on that ancient day He delivered His word written on tablets of stone, this time He poured His word into vessels of clay and caused them to speak His gospel. Though the Law written in stone by the finger of God was in one language and given to one people, this new gospel was being proclaimed in every man’s language for it was God’s good news to all His people.

Though some scoffed and tried to explain these events with human reason, Peter stood up with his brothers, and in a very non-Peter like manner declared that this was nothing less than God’s fulfillment of prophecy and of His promises to the patriarchs. This was God’s Spirit being poured out to glorify the Son who was crucified by sinful man and raised by the Father after three days in the tomb. This was being done that all of the house of Israel might know that they had killed the Messiah, and that God had raised him from the dead and had now made him both Lord and Christ of all.

What happened next was a watershed event in the history of the Church. It portrays the appropriate response of a sin filled heart when confronted with the blood of the perfect Lamb of God. "When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do (Acts 2:37NIV)?’" In Peter’s simple straightforward answer we find God’s prescription to heal a sin sick world. Peter’s next words were, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-- for all whom the Lord our God will call (Acts 2:38-39 NIV)." Though since that time men have tried to say that Peter didn’t really mean that baptism was necessary for salvation, one thing remains true; the people Peter was talking to knew exactly what needed to be done. According to the Spirit who authored the book of Acts, "Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day (Acts 2:41 NIV)."

Some scoff and try to explain this away with human reason, but the record is clear. Peter was doing the speaking, but it was the Spirit who gave him the words and enabled him to speak (Acts 2:4). Peter was doing the speaking, but it was Jesus who authorized the message. "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age (Matt 28:19-20 NIV)." Some may scoff and try to explain this away with human reason, but the fact remains; these words were authored by the Spirit of God.

In keeping with our four guiding principles in this study, we first accept that the book of Acts was authored by the Holy Spirit. Second, the Spirit does not contradict Himself nor is He in conflict with Himself. Third, any perceived conflicts or contradictions are due to our misunderstanding and can be removed by our coming to a proper understanding, and fourth, we can come to a proper understanding without doing violence to the scriptures. As we continue to study Acts we will encounter other examples of early Christians being converted to Christ. Though some have had a hard time reconciling some of the accounts, if we apply the guiding principles in our study, the Spirit will guide us to a proper understanding of His message.

Before ending there is one more striking parallel in this chapter. Speaking through the pen of Luke in the closing of the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke the Spirit says that "Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men (Luke 2:52 NIV)." In closing the second chapter of Acts, also from the pen of Luke, the Spirit says that these new disciples of Christ "continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:46-47 NIV)."

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A Study of Acts:

Fulfilling the Great Commission