Acts chapter two starts off like a Hollywood blockbuster with supernatural action kicking into high gear.
Following the ascension, the disciples do as Jesus commanded (verse 4) and entered the city of Jerusalem to wait for the Holy Spirit to come upon them. There wait was not to be spent in idleness, however, there was much to do.
Acts picks up where the Gospel of Luke leaves off, with Jesus’ final moments among the disciples and his ascension to heaven and glory.
Today starts the Feast of First Fruits. Leave it to God to not have one feast, but to keep piling them up, one on top of another, in abundance. On the Jewish calendar we see that Passover is celebrated on the 14th of Nissan, the Feast of Unleavened Bread starts on the 15th (and continues through to the 21st), and the Feast of First Fruits on the 16th.
Little is known about the man who took Judas’s place among the 12. From Acts chapter one we know that he was a follower and disciple of Jesus from the beginning, though not one of the 12 called by Christ.
While we’ve made some fun observations about the ascension passage, it should be noted that this is a crucial point of Christian theology almost as important as the resurrection itself.
Here at Think-Biblically.com we’ve provided a number of topical studies that have, hopefully, been teaching you how to think biblically and grow in your relationship with God. We’re about to make a dramatic turn and start a series not on any particular topic, but on the book of Acts.
Today starts the second feast of the Lord, the Feast of Unleavened Bread. A week-long celebration, it begins the day after Passover and is often lumped in with that feast and called the 8 days of Passover.
There is one part of chapter one that we haven’t discussed properly yet, and that is the fate of Judas. This is perhaps one of only two passages that unbelievers know better than believers.
When we last left our disciples at the end of verse three they were preparing to say their goodbye’s to Jesus. The next few verses take place moment before his ascension and both Jesus and his followers are trying to squeeze in as much in as possible.
At the start of my first semester at Moody Bible Institute I sifted through the syllabus for every class and jotter on a calendar the day each assignment was due. I then created a list in chronological order of the assignments so that in every spare moment of time I could glance at the list and write the next paper or read the next book.
Every nation and people group has its holidays, usually celebrating a significant event or person in the nation’s history. Among the many holidays celebrated by Jews are seven feasts – celebrations that are more important and meaningful than any other holiday in any nation and of any time. What makes these seven feasts so remarkable? They are not Jewish feasts, they are God’s.
