Christ's church had it's beginning on Pentecost with God adding obedient believers to it.

Jesus had chosen 12 men, called apostles, to begin preaching the "Gospel" (good news) that Jesus had died on the cross for the sins of mankind. Judas Iscariot had betrayed Christ and hanged himself (Matthew 27:6). The apostles returned to Jerusalem, as Jesus had commanded; to wait for the "power from on high" - a baptism of the Holy Ghost from God (Luke 24:47-49).While the Apostles waited they went into an upper room and prayed to God for guidance. By casting lots, Matthias was chosen to take Judas' place. An apostle had to be a person who had witnessed the resurrection; therefore, we have no apostles today (Acts 1:13-26).

Jesus had taught these men many things, but how would 12 men preach to the whole world? God thought of that. Preachers today go to all parts of the world and have to study the different languages and put in hours of study in learning the word of God. That would take a miracle, and it just so happens the God is in the miracle business. Yes, it would take another "Wondrous Work," and that's what God did.

The apostles were in Jerusalem, waiting for the power from God. It was the day of Pentecost and they were to be God's witness of Christ to the world (Acts 1:4-8). Pentecost was a Hebrew festival, celebrated on the 50th day after the Passover, another Hebrew memorial. There would be "devout" (religious) men there out of every nation under heaven. God picked the perfect time and place for the gospel to be preached. Let's see what happened.

"When the day of Pentecost was fully come, they (apostles) were all with one accord in one place."

"Suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a RUSHING MIGHTY WIND, and it filled all the house where they were sitting."

"And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them."

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:1-4).

 

"There were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout (religious) men, out of every nation under heaven." Everyone was surprised because each heard the apostles speak in "his own language" (Acts 2:6). They were amazed and said, these which speak are "Galileans," how can they speak our own tongue, wherein we were born. "Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the Wonderful Works of God" (Acts 2:5-11). Wouldn't you be amazed too if you had a friend who suddenly could speak another language you knew he had not known or studied? It was a miracle.

Peter, that cowardly little apostle, who denied the Lord 3 times in the past, was allowed by God to preach the first gospel sermon to the lost. The way God turned Peter around, giving him the "boldness" to stand up and preach the gospel, was indeed a "Wondrous Work" that only God could do. Peter told the crowd that what was happening today was prophesied a longtime ago by the prophet Joel in the Old Testament (Acts 2:16-18). This was the beginning of Christ's Church. The New Testament had not been written yet. A new covenant would now replace the Old Covenant God had made with the Jews (Israelites) (Deuteronomy 5:1-3). God would put "Christians" under a New Covenant and it would not only be for the Jews but all nations who accepted Christ as their Saviour. Peter told them:

"Ye men of Israel hear these words, Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know. "

"Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain" (Acts 2:22-23).

God has made that same Jesus, whom ye crucified both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). Peter's sermon stirred the people; they were sorrowful and "cut to the heart." They had killed the Son of God, they were sinners and wanted to know what they could do to be saved. These people were already "religious" and "devout". They believed in God but they wanted to be forgiven of their sins. The Bible says "all have sinned" and fall short of what God wants us to be (Romans 3:23), and there is "None righteous, no not one" (Romans 3:10). What could they do to be right with God? That was the question they asked Peter. Peter taught them the gospel how Jesus died for their sins to make things right with God.

"Now when they heard this, they were p7icked (cut) in their heard and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, WHAT - SHALL - WE - DO?

(There's the question)

"Then Peter said unto them REPENT, and BE BAPTIZED every one of you in the name of (authority) Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Indwelling Spirit).

"The promise is unto you, and to your childrer4 and to all that are afar off (everyone) even as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:37-39).

Peter encouraged them saying, "Save yourselves." Not everyone believes the gospel and obeys the gospel when it is preached, but thankfully, 3,000 people did obey that day and were added to the church by the Lord (Acts 2:47). The infant church continued in "fellowship" and in the "apostles doctrine" and in "breaking of bread" and "in prayers" (Acts 2:42), as Christians do today, "upon the first day of the week" (Acts 20:7).

The apostles went everywhere preaching the "Gospel" and baptizing people into Christ (Galatians 3:27). The book of Acts is often called the Book of Conversions. It reveals to us what we need to do to be saved, and have the Lord add us to his church (his body) of whom he is head (Ephesians 1:22 & 23 and 4:1-6). We have 9 different situations where people were taught what to do to be saved and then obeyed. This is God's plan and if we are to be pleasing to God and be saved today, we must obey the gospel as it is taught in God's word. Many obeyed (being baptized) in the middle of the night, for they believed God's promise. We must fear God enough to obey him. The apostles were imprisoned and told not to teach Jesus anymore and replied, "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29).

"In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that OBEY NOT the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (II Thessalonians 1:8).

Ananias and Sapphira were members of the early church who sold their land to give the money to the church to help some needy brethren. They both said they had given all but only gave part and were struck dead, for they lied to God (Acts 5:3). They did not have to give all to be pleasing to God; their sin was lying. God wants his children to give to the needs of Christians and "all men" (II Corinthians 8:1-5 and 9:13-15), and to proclaim the gospel. The early church gave regularly "upon the first day of the week" (I Corinthians 16:1-2). God tells us to give "not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver" (II Corinthians 9:6-9). This was also the day Christians partook of the "Lord's Supper" (I Corinthians 10:16-21 and 11:20-29). Part of the worship of the church was "singing praises" to God (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16, and I Corinthians 14:15) as well as studying God's word.

God gave the apostles the power to heal the sick, raise the dead and other works to prove their message came from God. Peter and John went into the temple one day and healed a man "lame from his mother's womb" (Acts 3:1-9). The man "immediately began walking and leaping" and even unbelievers could not deny it was indeed a "notable miracle" (Acts 4:16). What is a miracle? We are not talking about God's power or providence, for God works in our lives even today. A miracle is when God sets aside the natural order of things; such as the birth of Jesus, for Mary had never known a man. Lazarus was raised from the dead - that was a miracle. Jesus walking on the water, crooked limbs restored, eyes that were once blind could see - these are miracles.

Only the (1) apostles and the (2) people upon whom the apostles laid their hands to impart these powers could work miracles. (3) There was also a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the household of Cornelius (study the book of Acts). We have the Bible and its testimony which explains the age of prophecies and miracles by the hands of men and tongues would cease (study I Corinthians 13), when that which is "perfect is come", (The maturity of the church perfected in love would develop). Today we have the complete Bible, God's word (Jude 3) and the revealing of all of God's will (I Corinthians 13:8-10) through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1-2). God still works his "Wondrous Works" for us to behold.

1. The apostles returned to Jerusalem as Jesus commanded and there came an outpouring from God of the Holy Ghost which enabled them to speak in the _______________ (languages) of the many people that were present (Luke 24:47-49 and Acts 2:2-11).

2. The apostles waited in an upper room and God guided them through prayer to choose_________________ to take the place of Judas who betrayed Jesus (Acts 1:13-26).

3. The establishment of Christ's Church had its beginning on the day of Pentecost in the city of Jerusalem with the Apostle _______________ (Acts 2:14) preaching the first gospel sermon (Acts 2:1-47).

4. Christians are instructed not to give grudgingly or of necessity to the Lord's work for "God loveth a ___________ giver" (II Corinthians 9:6-9).

5. Name the two people in the early church who were struck dead for lying to God about their giving. (Acts 5) ________________ and __________________.

6. The Bible says Jesus proved he was God's son by the_________________ and wonders and signs which God did among them by him (Acts 2:22).

7. Peter's sermon convinced the crowd that they were all sinners in need of God's forgiveness and when they asked Peter what to do to be saved he answered, "________________ and be _______________ every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:37-39).

8. Upon the obedience of the people the ___________ added to the church those that were being saved (Acts 2:47).

9. How many people believed, repented and were baptized thus saved on that day?______________ (Acts 2:41-47).

10. The Bible says God will take ___________________ on those who obey ____________ the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Thessalonians 1:8).

NAME__________________________ LESSON RECEIVED____________________

ADDRESS_______________________ LESSON RETURNED____________________

________________________________ GRADED BY____________ GRADE________

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I will promptly grade them and mail you the other lessons.

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