Guest Post By Alicia for Sunday

Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is: Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1-2

These passages are some of my favorite in scripture. I love the book of Acts. I am very blessed to be in a church with a pastor passionate about expository preaching. He took years to go through the book of Acts, so forgive me if I reference him a great deal. He was blessed to be taught at The Master's Seminary under the leadership of John MacArthur. The book of acts amazes me because it's the empowerment of the Spirit of Jesus in the ordinary men to accomplish extraordinary events for God's kingdom.

For today's passages his sermon's include:

Mission Possible Acts 1:1-3

Empowered For Ministry Acts 1:4-5

Final Instructions Acts 1:6-14

Credible Christianity Acts 1:15-16

Pentecost Acts 2:1-13

The First Sermon Acts 2:14-41



For further sermons on Acts from Pastor John Marc go here.


There are so many momentous occasions in these passages! The choosing of the disciple to replace Judas, the coming of the promised helper, the first sermon of the spreading of the gospel! Wow.

Just a little note on the choosing of Matthais. This is the last time that lots are cast. Once the Holy Spirit came, there would be no more need for this kind of decision making. We would have the personal, intimate spirit of Jesus to guide us through prayer, council among brothers and sisters, and conviction. I just think it's noteworthy and obvious in timing as the next chapter changes this method forever in the church.

Another great reference for the New Testament books, and especially for Acts, are the John MacArthur commentaries. I highly recommend the reading there to really open up the passages fully.

I will focus on the Pentecost as it is my favorite part of this segment due to the amazing providence of God's timing.

We know that timing and festivals are important to God, numbers and patterns as well. I love when parts of God's personality come out in these events so we can learn who He is more intimately. What is important to Him? How organized he is:)

Pentecost took place 50 days from the Passover. The Passover Lamb was ultimately sacrificed for us in our sins and 50 days later, just as in Old Testament tradition, the Feast of Weeks (Ex 34:22-23) took place and this time it brought forth the first fruits of the church. The day after Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread took place which was to celebrate an offering of the first fruits of the grain harvest. Notice the Unleavened bread, the sinless sacrifice as yeast represented the sin that effected the bread. This was celebrated on the first Sunday after Passover. Jesus was raised from the dead on Resurrection Sunday after the Passover. He was the very first fruit of the sacrifice.

Now, at Pentecost we have the disciples and believers in the upper room and they become the first fruits of the harvest through the Holy Spirit's dissension.

I consider the above fascinating fact set number one. :)

Second is that the Jews from all over were gathered there to hear the spirit move and be drawn to what was going on at this location. Only this huge Jewish tradition would bring these men to Jerusalem and those that came would indeed be the devout. They were astonished to hear men speaking to them in their own languages (for indeed the tongues were real languages and not muttered gibberish but that is for another post and another person to do:). What they were hearing were the praises of God Almighty in traditional scripture they were accustomed to. The Spirit uses this preface to let the Jews gathered know that these men are worshipers of the same one true God, that God is there in their midst making Himself known by sounding wind and miraculous occurrences, and that something important is starting. They would return like messanger birds to their lands with news of this new gospel.

The Spirit sets the stage for the first sermon ever from Peter to the Jews first as the gospel was to come "to the Jews first and also to the Greeks." Peter's sermon is fascinating too but I had to choose what to comment on or I'd write a novel here:) There is so much great stuff in these passages because they are one of the most momentous moments in the history of the Church.

Tomorrow's passage: Acts 3-5:42