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Christian Challenge International
"Synopsis on Acts001 thru 023 - 1st Seven Years"
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To: Hebraic-Foundations@yahoogroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date sent: Sun, 15 Sep 2002 06:17:40 -0500
Subject: [HF] Synopsis on Acts001 thru 023 - 1st Seven Years
Hebraics,
We are about to enter a major shift in our study of the Acts. The door
for the Gentiles will put the early Jewish believers in uncharted waters.
So before we get to that door, it will be good to highlight where we've
been. We dealt with the first seven years of early Church history. But
now a season is about to change.
When the disciples ask the Lord if He was about to restore the
kingdom to Israel, Jesus said, "It is not for you to know times or
epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority." That
statement let's us see that the Father works in 'times, and, 'epochs'.
The word 'time' or kronos in Greek refers to an exact time or
age.
Epochs is different. The Greek word 'kairos', speaks of a season
that
fits a particular purpose. The Lord designed his redemption program to
work through times and epochs. (People always looking and longing
for a return to the early church period don't understand this issue of
seasons.)
In the Bible, the number seven speaks of completeness, or fulfillment.
The first seven years of Acts has seen the new covenant offered to
Eretz Israel. (Land of Israel.) Everything has been taken place has
been within a Jewish-Samaritan framework. (The Samaritans were
half Jews.) And everything has been within 150 miles of Jerusalem.
(Damascus is within the land promise made to Abraham.)
Here is a brief synopsis on what we have covered thus far:
(1) Jesus said that the kingdom one day would be restored to Israel.
This shows us that God's redemption program as we know it will
conclude with Israel coming to the kingdom. (Acts
1:6,7)
(2) The day of Pentecost was the coronation day for Jesus Christ and
the beginning of the new covenant. (Acts
2:32-36)
(3) The proclamation of the wonderful acts of God was spoken to the
Jewish peoples in all the languages of their sojournings. This is the
only recording we have of speaking in other languages in the first
seven years of the Church. (Acts
2:1-16)
(3) About three thousand Jews were added to the Church at
Pentecost. (Acts
2:41) Many of these will return to the land of their
dispersion carrying the news of Messiah's kingdom with them.
(4) Special signs and wonders are taking place through the hands of
the apostles. This will continue throughout Acts. (Acts
2:43)
(5) A lame man receives a miracle healing through the apostles, and
this bring about their first confrontation with the Jerusalem
authorities.
(Acts
3,4)
(6) The number of Jewish men in Jerusalem who accept Jesus as
Messiah reaches about 5000. (Acts
4:4)
(7) A judgment is brought upon a Jewish couple, Ananias and
Sapphira, for lying to the Holy Spirit. (Acts
5:3-11) This brings a
soberness upon the believers.
(8) The number of converts steadily increases, as special miracles
continue to take place through the apostolic band. Peter's shadow
passing over people brings healings. (Acts
5:12-16)
(9) A second confrontation with the authorities and the apostles are
placed in prison. An angel delivers them and they continue to preach
right in the temple complex. (Acts
5:17-32)
(10) The apostles are again brought before the Sanhedrin Council, but
this time Gamaliel intervenes. They are released after a flogging. But
the apostles continue right on teaching and preaching Jesus as
Messiah. (Acts
5:27-42)
(11) Seven men are chosen to help care for the Hellenistic widows.
(Acts
6:1-6)
(12) One of the seven, Stephen becomes the first martyr of the
Church. The stoners of Stephen lay their cloaks at the feet of a
young man named Saul. (Acts6,7)
(13) A great persecution begins and this man Saul becomes it prime
mover. (Acts
8)
(14) Another of the seven, Philip, goes to Samaria and a great ministry
takes place there. Peter and John come on the scene and the door is
opened for the Samaritan believers to enter the new covenant. (Acts
8)
(15) Philip goes to the desert and meets the eunuch. This man will
carry the gospel back to Ethiopia. (Acts
8)
(16) The man Saul heads for Damascus to imprison Jewish believers,
but he is accosted on the road by Jesus. He is blinded for three days,
until a disciple names Ananias arrives, and Saul is brought into the
new covenant. (Acts
9)
(17) Saul begins preaching Jesus and many more Jews turn to the
Lord in Damascus. He has to be let down a wall to escape
imprisonment by the authorities. (Acts
9)
(18) Saul goes to Jerusalem, but the believers are afraid of him.
Barnabas introduces him to the apostles, and Saul begins ministering
in the Jewish synagogues. He is sent to Tarsus to keep him safe.
(19) Peter travels through the region of Galilee, Samaria and Judea,
ministering to believers and producing new disciples. He has two
miracles that greatly increases the ranks of the Church. He raises up
the lame man, Aeneas, and also brings back to life the disciple
Tabitha. (Acts
9)
(20) The numbers of Jewish believers is in the multiplied thousands.
The harvest has been rich and includes a number of priests. (Acts
9)
There it is in brief. Keep in view that we've covered seven years of
harvest among the Jews of the land. The door for the Gentiles has yet
to be opened. But it is quite near.
Shalom in Christ,
Buddy
Lawrence E. (Buddy) Martin, HF Host
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org
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