Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey.  (13) And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying; Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James, the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son 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 brothers. 

The Acts of the Apostles was written by Luke, physician, Gentile and historian of the early church. Our verses today are in the first chapter of Acts where Luke chronicles the before and after events of Pentecost Sunday when the apostles were utterly transformed. Jesus had been crucified and the apostles had scattered in terror – then Christ had been raised from the dead and appeared to them many times – indeed the point of these verses is that the resurrection is the foundation for our faith and the evidence of this historical occurrence is the credibility of the witnesses.

These witnesses had fled in fear and doubt/disbelief only to be united and dramatically changed in belief that Christ was the risen Messiah.  Luke tells us what happened in the forty day period between the resurrection and the ascension when Jesus appeared to the apostles and taught them; they were, to a man, utterly convinced of this truth. At the end of the forty days Christ rose out of this world after giving the great commission to teach the gospel to all the ends of the earth. So convinced were they that in unity the apostles retired -as directed by Jesus – to the hired upper room in Jerusalem while the city was still crowded and dangerous, to await the promised Spirit. Luke names the apostles in the verses to emphasize that these formerly terrified men were now men of faith and obedience and prayer – the contrast of fear that dispersed the apostles after the crucifixion and  just 40 days after the resurrection, with the conviction that Jesus was exactly who He said He was.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; (16) having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evil doers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.  (17) For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.  (18) For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit. 

In our verses today, Peter calls the faithful to a holy lifestyle because of the great gift of salvation bought for us at the infinite cost of Jesus on the cross.  A holy life is not automatic but is achieved by continuous acts of the will – not by emotion but by the intellect.

Because of sin, man is born with a corrupt nature and there is nothing man can do to save himself/herself. Only the perfect sacrifice of Christ Jesus could redeem us – could save us from spiritual and physical death. At the moment of faith in Christ man is reborn, sealed with the Holy Spirit and transformed. Our sins are covered.

In faith, we want to break with our past lifestyle and in faith we are justified in Christ. We are made right with God. The process of sanctification begins and God will do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.  Good works are not enough – only Jesus is – but sanctification begins in the mind. The faithful begin to act purposefully and what we think and believe we begin to live.

Where there is no conviction (belief) of sin there can be no redemption through Christ. We live in a corrupt and perishable world – we are in enemy territory as strangers in a strange land. Our behavior – all behavior, public and private – must be holy in this secular world. The faithful cannot progress to be Christians unless we grow in personal knowledge of God. The more we give of ourselves the more capable we become of receiving God’s free grace. This growth of knowledge is through prayer and the Scriptures where God reveals Himself to us. Remember it is not important what we think of God but infinitely more important what God thinks of us.

Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.  (2) Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.  (3) Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business, (4) but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” (5) And the saying pleased the whole multitude.  And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, (6) whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.  (7) Then, the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Acts of the apostles was written by Dr. Luke, historian of the early church. In today’s verses we read of a dispute between the Hellenists – Jews of the dispersal who spoke Greek and were raised in that culture – and the Hebrews.  The latter were Jews raised in the culture of Israel and mainly Jerusalem where the church began on Pentecost Sunday. The growth of the early Chirch was miraculous and we are told the Christians lived together in godly ways, sharing everything. The dispute arose over distribution of food to the Hellenist widows.

The Law had always commanded that widows be looked after in their need and this obligation was apparently unfairly meted out – it could have been as simple as geography and accessibility.  But the apostles reacted promptly and correctly by calling the whole group and charging them to appoint seven men – filled with the Spirit and wisdom – to be in charge of this task. The apostles rightly claimed their mission and priority was to spread the word of God and pray.

The names of the men chosen tell us they were Hellenists Jews who were chosen and the inclusion of Nicholas tells us that he was a GENTILE convert to Judaism – this is a turning point in the story of the spread of the church. Verse seven then tells us that many of the priests/ rabbis were also converted to the faith which  also indicates that an era is closing. Persecution of the early Christians has been quiet since the Sanhedrin backed off at the advice of Gamelial and the greatest obstacles to the gospel had been stilled. But now we see the inclusion of diverse groups which indicates opposition is bound to appear.

Hellenistic Jews will oppose Stephen – the first martyr – joined by a roused Sanhedrin. Saul who will become st Paul is about to appear in this history.  The violent death of Stephen ushers in a time of persecution and  dispersal of the Christian Jews to Samaria and  rest of the known world – a time of transition and the plan of God to spread the gospel. The progress of the gospel was all of God but the responsibility for this was that of man

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea, and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.  (36) Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”  (47) Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”  (38) Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  (39) For the promise is  to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”  (40) And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.”  (41) Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

Luke, physician and historian of the early church; dear fellow traveler of the Apostle Paul, wrote the Acts of the Apostles.  Acts  records the transition time between the Old Testament and the New Testament – the founding of the church and the miraculous spread of the gospel. The Messiah has come and His work of redemption is complete.

Our verses today reflect the launch of the Church.  It is fifty days after the resurrection of  Christ Jesus and Peter and the eleven are in Jerusalem.  They remained there at the commandment of the Lord – they were witnesses to the living Christ.  At the time of the crucifixion this group had deserted Jesus and fled terrified that they would be seized and killed next.  Their future leader, Peter, had followed Jesus after his arrest and in his fear Peter denied him three times. The group was in complete disarray and ignorance of the import of what they were living through.

Now it is Pentecost Sunday and the promised Spirit has descended on the group.  There was a sudden and enormous wind which caused the Jews in the city to rush find its source.  Peter, an illiterate fisherman and no orator, addressed the crowds with words so persuasive – read true – that 3000 Jewish people were moved to abandon their lifelong culture, laws and tradition.  And this happened in Jerusalem on a Jewish feast day.

Our verses today reflect the launch of the Church.  The geographically diverse group heard the words of Peter in their own native tongues – and how did this crowd of people hear him at all?? And what caused the alarming sudden sound and force of the wind that caused them to gather?  We are given only the gist of this sermon but God was clearly at work.  Peters words were powerful and bold but he was the instrument and the invitation was of God.  Peter, like us, was/is responsible for the effort to deliver the message but clearly the outcome was of God.  His message was that Jesus did not die as a victim – but was murdered by the Jews in fulfillment of the Scriptures and of God’s decree.  This does not mean men are not responsible but that God used evil men for His purpose – the culpability lies on man, not God.  The Spirit entered those chosen with deep conviction that Christ was the Messiah and they had His blood on their hands  – this conviction of sin was needed for repentance.

The message was/is to repent, to be baptized and that God will keep his promise of eternal life.  This does not contradict the doctrine that faith is all – we don’t have real faith unless we see ourselves clearly.   We are reborn and changed people and baptism is a public sign of this personal commitment.  Baptism and good works are a result of real faith but they are an outcome of faith – a result of faith.

And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;  (18) knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, (19) but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.  (20) He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you (21) who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 

The apostle Peter wrote this letter to suffering Christians while in a Roman prison for his preaching of the gospel. The occasion for this letter was to console fellow Christians in a time of terrible persecution for the faith. Peter writes – and lived – in such a consuming passion for the truth of the gospel and the enormity of the redemption of the faithful through Christ Jesus.  He personally experienced Christ both as true man in this world and as the risen Messiah and communicates God’s message of redemption through the cross.

In our verses today Peter begins with threatening words; there is nothing in our worldly experience that can compare with Gods promise of eternal life. He calls on his readers to live  a holy life – as we are, through Christ, made right again with God.  We are reborn in faith (also a gift) and faith in Christ will radically  change our priorities. The process of justification does not happen automatically but calls for discipline, character and obedience. With the indwelling Spirit we are given the power and desire to pursue a higher calling – our former life seems meaningless.  And we WANT to live a holy life.   Peter tells us we should be holy – separate from this world – because we are right with God Who is our father, but also because God is the judge of our actions and motivations. Our sins have been covered by Christ in faith but we will also be held accountable.

We are in this world temporarily – some closer to the end than the beginning.  As we are told in Genesis the sin of the first man earned us death, both physical and spiritual. The ultimate price of sin was separation from God.  Also in Genesis God tells us of His plan for salvation through the perfect and acceptable sacrifice of the perfect  man Jesus Christ. What a plan – the depth of our sinful nature can only be measured by the enormity of the price for our salvation. All men are imperfect, all are flawed. Man can never be good enough to earn salvation – only the Christ. There is no room in our lives for pride as redemption is of the Lord; not of man and not of men’s works.

We never want to hear the words from the risen Christ: depart from Me, I never knew you.