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2 - The Way the Apostles Said You Can Be Saved


INTRODUCTION TO ACTS

Not only did the Messiah introduce the Christian Age with great power, His apostles/eyewitnesses would also be given great power to firmly establish it. For example, at the end of Jesus’ powerful earthly life, He told His apostles to: “Stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Lk 24:49) This power would help them act out the command they received from Jesus, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.” (Mt 28:19)

Tongues of Fire

Acts records how Christ's apostles received this power (they received it in fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy, which Jesus said was the baptism of the Holy Spirit / see Joel 2:28; Ac 1:1-5; Ac 2:17), and how they acted out, or carried out Jesus’ command to go and make disciples. That is why the book is also called The Acts of The Apostles, and that is why it is placed chronologically right after the four Gospel accounts. Therefore, we continue our chronological study of the Bible with the book of Acts. Study how the apostles and those close to them firmly established the disciple making pattern that all must follow. Study what they did to make certain that people would be saved and have life everlasting.

Acts begins with Jesus appearing to his apostles. He told them to wait in Jerusalem until they received power through the Holy Spirit coming upon them and that they would be His witnesses even into the remotest parts of the earth. Then Jesus was lifted up into heaven, never to return again until the end time (Ac 1:3-11). Later, while the disciples were together, Peter told them that they had to choose a replacement for Judas Iscariot, who betrayed the Messiah. This replacement would be an apostle and witness with them of the Lord Jesus. Peter said that the one chosen must have been a man who had been with them since the time of Jesus’ baptism by John, until the time He was taken up into heaven. Two men were brought forth, Joseph and Matthias. They prayed and asked God to help them choose which one to make an apostle. Then they drew lots and the lot fell to Matthias (Ac 1:12-26). Now study the examples of how sinners were saved in the book of the Acts of the Apostles.


HOW SINNERS WERE SAVED

Old City Jerusalem Arial from East

1. Thousands Saved in Jerusalem at Pentecost

Now the day of Pentecost came, and people from all over the world were gathered together in Jerusalem for it. Pentecost means “fiftieth” because the Israelites were to count seven weeks after the Passover Feast, and then celebrate the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost). The Feast of Weeks was a celebration of the first fruits of their harvest. They were to gather together to give some of their increase to the Lord, and rejoice before Him (Ex 23:16; 34:22; De 16:1, 8-11).

(a) The Apostles Preached the Gospel with Power

Now as the apostles were sitting in a house in Jerusalem, there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind. The Holy Spirit came down upon them in the form of a tongue of fire that rested on each one of them. By this powerful outpouring of the Spirit, they began to speak in other languages (Ac 2:1-4).

.... more about this in the Bible Study on Salvation, Part 1