The Bible - Jesus’ Story Part 4

HOPE CHAPEL Sunday Service Notes

Teaching Series: “The Bible - Jesus’ Story”
Today’s Topic: “Week 4: Jesus in the Acts & Epistles”

We have been examining the Bible from the perspective that it doesn’t just contain the story of Jesus, it is in fact His story in its entirety.  After the four Gospel accounts of Jesus’ earthly life followed by His ascension into heaven actual sightings and visions of Jesus become far less frequent.  However, we find Jesus alive and well in the lives of the believers.  Today, much of the direction we follow for ‘being the Church’ comes from the letters written by those earliest followers–those who knew Jesus best.  For now, we will focus our discussion on times that Jesus showed up in person and when He showed up through the work of individual believers.

1) Jesus’ Appearances - before the Ascension

• Acts 1:3-4 - “During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.”  During this time, the Gospels tell us of some of the people  Jesus specifically appeared to–first to Mary Magdalene, two disciples on the Road to Emmaus, the disciples (minus Thomas), the disciples (with Thomas), Peter and those who had gone fishing with him
• 1 Corinthians 15:5-7 - Paul also mentions some of these same people, “Jesus appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.  After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.”

2) Jesus’ Appearances - after the Ascension

• Acts 7:55-56 - “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand.  And he told them, ‘Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!’” Why did Jesus appear?  Jesus was there to welcome the first Christian martyr into heaven.
• 1 Corinthians 15:8 - “Jesus appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.”
• Acts 9:3-7 - “As Paul neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.  He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’  ‘Who are you, Lord?’ Saul asked.  ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied.  ‘Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’ The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.”  Jesus appeared to Paul to put a stop to his wild rampage against the believers and to set him on a new path.
• Acts 9:10-17 - “In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, ‘Ananias!’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ he answered.  The Lord told him, ‘Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.  In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.’  ‘Lord,’ Ananias answered, ‘I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem.  And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.’  But the Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.  I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.’  Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’” Jesus appeared to Ananias to put in motion the things He had planned for Paul.
• Acts 18:9-11 - While in Corinth, “One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, ‘Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent!  For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.’  So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God.”  Jesus appeared to encourage Paul and continue to provide direction.

3) Jesus in the Church
The Holy Spirit came - Those who believed were baptized through the Spirit, Jesus’ gift to the Church just as He had promised. [It is interesting to note that a relationship with Jesus is required to receive God’s Holy Spirit.]

• Acts 2:1-4 - “On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place.  Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.  Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.  And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.”

Lives were transformed -
*Peter the denier became Peter the confessor

• Acts 4:13 - “The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.”

*Paul the adversary became Paul the advocate

• Acts 9:1 - “Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers.”
• Acts 9:19b-20 - “Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days.  And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is indeed the Son of God!’”

The Church grew - 3,000 believed, were baptized and added to the Church–in a single day!

• Acts 2:38-41 - “Peter replied, ‘Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.’  Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, ‘Save yourselves from this crooked generation!’  Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.”

Miracles were performed

• Acts 2:43 - “ A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.”
• Acts 3 - A crippled beggar is healed by Peter
• Acts 8:6-8 - Philip traveled to Samaria and “Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did.  Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed.  So there was great joy in that city.”
• Acts 9:32-34 - Aeneas is healed from paralysis
• Acts 9:40 - Tabitha is raised back to life
• Acts 12 - Peter’s miraculous release from prison
• Acts 13:9 - Elymas the sorcerer struck blind by Paul’s words
• Acts 14:8-10 - Man with crippled feet healed
• Acts 16:18 - Girl healed of demon possession
• Acts 19:11-12 - “God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles.  When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled.”
• Acts 20:9-10 - Eutychus brought back to life after falling out a window to his death

The Church flourished under persecution

• Acts 8:1-2,4 - “A great wave of persecution began that day [after Stephen was martyred], sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria.  (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.)... But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.”  They acted upon Jesus’ final commission–telling everyone about God’s promised Messiah and His plan for the world–everywhere they went.

The Church continues today - The existence of today’s Church is ongoing evidence to the veracity of the claims made in the Bible that Jesus is the Messiah; if He had not been ‘Christianity’ would not exist 2000 years later and the Bible would not still enjoy the popularity it has had over the centuries to this current time.

Summary - The Book of Acts tells us that Jesus continued to show Himself to individuals after His ascension, but much less frequently; however, His gift of the Holy Spirit to believers ensured that His work of performing miracles and the spread of the good news of His redemptive work would continue through His disciples, the Church.

The Epistles, the letters written for the early Church, serve as guidance for the new covenant that we now have with God, much as the Pentateuch (first five books of the Old Testament) served as guidelines for God’s chosen people in the old covenant.  They do not contain historical  ‘sightings’ of Jesus per se, but cannot be read as anything less than Jesus’ directions for us, today.

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Next week: “Jesus in Revelation - He’s Coming Back”