Acts (3) Events that Affected the Church

by Rev. Jeremiah Cheung

We have already discussed Acts chapter one. In Acts 1:1-11, we heard three kinds of voices:
1. the voice of the risen Lord
2. the voice of the disciples and
3. the voice of the angels.

In Acts 1:12-26, we saw three things:
1. the unity of the Church
2. the prayer of the Church
3. the faith of the Church.

Today, let us reflect on Acts chapter two. These 47 verses record three important events from the Early Church. These three events not only affected the Early Church, it also affected the history of the Church over the ages, even the Church today.

What were these three events?
1. The coming of the Holy Spirit (v.1-13);
2. The first message on the resurrection of the Lord (v.14-41) and
3. The model of Early Church life (v.42-47):

I. The Coming of the Holy Spirit v. 1-13

Jesus told the disciples before he ascended to heaven: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised’. The disciples waited for ten days, on the day of Pentecost, while they were praying, the Holy Spirit came upon them. Let us note three matters regarding the Holy Spirit’s arrival:

1. The Disciples Prayed While Waiting for the Holy Spirit’s Coming

The Early Church was a praying church. Jesus showed himself to the disciples during a period of forty days. The tenth day after Jesus returned to heaven was Pentecost day. For ten days, the disciples awaited the Holy Spirit’s coming. What were they doing in those ten days? Acts 1:13 records that after they returned to Jerusalem, the disciples went to an upstairs room and prayed. Soon, the number of people praying increased from 20 to 120. Praise the Lord, for usually, church prayer meetings have the least attendance because people do not like to pray; only when difficulties are encountered do people seek the Lord in prayer. But the Early Church was a prayerful church. Prayer is a mark of the Early Church. The Early Church was a praying church, just like a church in the United States called Tabernacle Church. People line up to join the prayer meetings in this church. The prayer meeting begins at 8 o’clock but by 7 o’clock, people are already lining up because they are afraid of not being able to get in. This is truly a praying church. How about you, have you prayed?

2. Three Manifestations of the Holy Spirit’s Arrival

2A. Sound. A sound came from heaven. This must definitely have been very loud for it attracted much attention. The Holy Spirit sometimes speaks in a still small voice. God spoke to Elijah in a still small voice, asking him, “What are you doing here?” But sometimes the Holy Spirit speaks forcefully. Some churches pray aloud, but some pray quietly. May churches not judge or criticize each other, it matters not whether prayers are loud or gentle as long as they are sincere.

2B. Violent Wind. After the sound, a violent wind came and filled the whole house. This signifies that the Holy Spirit was like the wind, it filled everyone in the room, every disciple was filled with the Holy Spirit.

2C. Tongues of Fire. Tongues of fire separated and came to rest on each of them. Tongues of fire is a metaphor, it wasn’t real fire which came to rest on them. This simply conveys that the Holy Spirit’s work is related to the tongue, for the Holy Spirit’s work cannot be separated from the Word of God.

2 Timothy says: `All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.’ All these require the use of the tongue. We must use our tongue to do God’s work. The tongue is most difficult to control, but a person filled with the Holy Spirit will have his tongue under control, for the Holy Spirit is like a tongue of fire resting upon his head.

3. The Manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s Filling

They all spoke in other languages. When the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, they began to speak in foreign languages. We all know that it is not easy to learn a foreign language. I can speak Cantonese (my native tongue), I can also speak a bit of Mandarin, a bit of Fookienese, and a little of English. All these, I learned slowly, and it wasn’t easy.

But when the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, they spoke foreign languages instantaneously. If you would count them (v.8-11), there were at least 10 different languages. The charismatics like to use this passage to prove that if a person is filled with the Holy Spirit he will be speaking in tongues, that speaking in tongue is a sign of being filled by the Holy Spirit. But they are wrong.

Firstly, not everyone who is filled by the Holy Spirit speaks in tongues. John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit in his mother’s womb, he didn’t perform any miracle then, neither did he speak a foreign tongue. The Bible doesn’t record Jesus ever having spoken in tongues, but he was clearly a Spirit-filled man.

Second, foreign tongue here refers to dialects (such as Cantonese, Fookienese, etc.) and not unintelligible words. Many charismatic churches say that no one can understand a person speaking in tongue. The Holy Spirit caused the disciples to speak in foreign languages for one purpose, and that was so that they may proclaim the gospel to the people who were there at that time. They declared God’s work. Speaking in tongues is a means to accomplish God’s kingdom-work. In the end, three thousand were baptized and added to the church. Not only were they three thousand new disciples, they also became three thousand missionaries. These people had come from different places to observe the Passover. Their friends and families remained in foreign lands. Once they return home, these three thousand would have shared the gospel to their people. They would have brought the gospel to the all the earth. God’s work is indeed marvellous. The disciples waited for ten days and in the end, three thousand missionaries were birthed. Let us do God’s work according to His time and we will surely see God’s glory.

II. The First Message on the Lord’s Resurrection V.14-41

Peter and the 11 disciples stood up together, this signifies their unity. The disciples used to argue who among them was the greatest. But, after they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they became truly united. When Peter stood up to preach, the others stood up with him. I believe they were even saying amen continually. When the leaders are united, the church will prosper, the gospel will expand. Peter’s message brought 3000 to the Lord. What was his message about?

1. V.15-21 Peter Explained What Happened – Because the Holy Spirit had Already Come: After the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, they spoke foreign tongues, but some people said, “They have had too much wine.” Peter denied this, reasoning that Jews do not have wine at nine in the morning on Sabbath days. Peter quoted from the prophet Joel to explain these occurrences. We must take note that Peter did not say that the prophecy in the Book of Joel has already been fulfilled completely. Actually, there are many aspects of it that had not yet been fulfilled, such as v. 19-20 `I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood’ – all these have not yet been fulfilled. Peter was telling them that the Holy Spirit the prophet Joel was speaking of had already come into their midst. The Holy Spirit had come, the Holy Spirit’s era had begun. All who call on His name will be saved.

2. V.22-35 Peter Explained Why Such Things had Happened – Because Jesus had Already Resurrected: Jesus’ resurrection is the most important message of the Early Church. Peter’s first message was on the resurrection of the Lord. Paul’s first message on his missionary journey was also on the resurrection of the Lord (Acts 13);

Peter cited four proofs to establish that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead:

2A. Jesus Christ’s Own Testimony. Peter said: `It was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.’ Jesus had performed many miracles, wonders and signs among the Jews. The people had witnessed all those things, including the teachers of the law and the Pharisees; they couldn’t deny them. Peter said no one could crucify Jesus but that it was God who handed his own son into the hands of wicked men, who put him to death by nailing him to the cross; he was handed to them for the set purpose of taking the sins of the world. On the cross, Jesus demonstrated God’s love as well as fulfilled God’s requirement for justice. But dead could not keep its hold on him. God resolved the pain of death. Pain in the original text meant labor pains such as that of a woman in labor. Jesus in the tomb was like a woman in the throes of labor pains. After the pain, new life is birthed. Jesus came out in the glory of the resurrection.

2B. David’s Prophecy. Peter cited Psalm 16:8-11 and proved that this passage could not be applied to David because David had died and was buried. Peter said this passage was fulfilled in the Messiah, because his spirit will not be abandoned in the grave nor his body see decay. The Messiah would surely rise back from the dead. Jesus is the Messiah.

2C. The Disciples’ Testimony. Jesus appeared to the disciples; the disciples saw the resurrected Lord with their own eyes, and their lives were totally changed. When Jesus was arrested, the disciples were scattered; the most courageous Peter denied the Lord three times, only John was left at the foot of the cross. However, when the resurrected Lord appeared to them, they were transformed into a group of courageous men. Even the rulers, teachers of the law, Pharisees were astonished, they asked each other: `Where did these men get their courage?’ They got their courage from the resurrected Lord.

2D. The Holy Spirit’s Arrival. Jesus had once told the disciples, `It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Holy Spirit will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.’ In v.36 Peter concluded, “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” They had committed the greatest sin in the world, was there still hope for them?

3. V.37-41 Peter Presented a Way Out for Them – Repent and Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. V.37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Their hearts were pierced by the Word of God. They asked Peter, “What shall we do? We killed the Messiah, do we still have hope?”

Peter offered them a way out. Praise the Lord, God’s Word always gives man hope. Peter told them there are three things they must do:

3A. Repent. To repent means to make a U-turn, to turn from one’s old ways, this is true repentance.

3B. Be Baptized in the Name of the Lord. Baptism is an external expression of repentance. We do not undergo baptism to be saved, but we undergo baptism after becoming saved. Baptism is a sign, just like the wedding ring is a sign. A wedding ring signifies that a person is already married. A wedding ring will not add to your love for your wife. Do not assume that a wedding ring is like the Lord of the Ring with mysterious power that can increase your love. Baptism is but a sign, signifying your commitment.

3C. Receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our guarantee of salvation, he is the guarantee of our future inheritance. A person without the Holy Spirit will not inherit the kingdom of God. Peter told his listeners they must repent, be baptized in the name of the Lord, and receive the Holy Spirit. It does not matter which one happens first, what’s most important is: `Did we truly repent? Do we have the Holy Spirit in us?’ As long as you sincerely repent, the Holy Spirit will enter your life, in this manner, a person becomes truly saved.

III. Model of the Early Church Life 42-47

V.42 `They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.’ This shows us there are four important examples from the Early Church’ life which we must observe:

1. The Church must Abide by the Apostles’ Teaching – The apostles’ teaching is simply the Word of God. The Early Church abided by the Word of God. We all know that we must obey the Word of God; yet, once God’s word is set in a system led by men, the church’s obedience to it falters. This is because many times, we feel that we are wiser, we feel that we know better when it comes to interpreting the bible. We understand that we ought to submit to the authority of the bible, but we obey it only in so far as it is line with our interpretation of it. We find it difficult to obey God’s word as interpreted by others. Of course we cannot demand absolute obedience from believers, especially when pastors, elders or deacons raise up some things that are in contradiction to the truth. However, we must learn submission. If it is only a matter of opinion and not contrary to the truth, we must learn to submit to our leaders’ teachings. There is no authority that is not from above. Submit to authority, because in doing so, we are submitting to God. The Early Church was a church that submitted to the authorities, the apostles represented God’s authority.

2. The Church must Observe a Life of Fellowship – It is difficult to define fellowship. Nonetheless, we can use eight Chinese characters to explain it. These eight characters simply mean – people share blessings as well as adversities with each other. This is the true meaning of fellowship. Fellowship means more than just people being together, it means rejoicing with those who rejoice and mourning with those who mourn. When we see a brother in need and we have the ability to share, we must not hold back from helping them. However, let me warn the church: do not take advantage of others’ kindness. I often remind my co-workers, the church is not a charitable institution. Although we do charity, we must say no to those who are lazy and those who are out to take advantage of others. Paul said, “He who does not work must not eat.” The Early Church was a church which demonstrated true love, a church willing to share God’s blessings with others, yet it didn’t condone laziness. These teachings must continue to be observed.

3. The Church must Break Bread Together – Nowadays, the breaking of bread is called `holy communion’. Breaking of bread may refer to two things: 1. Our communion with the Lord. Through the holy communion, we pursue an intimate relationship with the Lord, we remember the Lord’s death, his resurrection, and his return. 2. Our communion with fellow believers. We share the Lord’s cup and bread together with fellow believers. The cup represents the blood of the Lord while the bread represents the body of the Lord. The cup and bread are before us, thus, through the holy communion we discover true unity. The Early Church was a truly united church.

4. The Church must Pray Together – The Early Church was a praying church. The word prayer appeared 27 times. I believe we have all heard countless messages on the topic of prayer, but, what is most important is that we be able to pray more for ourselves, for others and for our church; that we may become truly prayerful men and women, and the church, a truly prayerful church.

Lastly, let me just add, note v.42 `They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.’ Not only did the believers obey the apostles’ teachings, not only did they fellowship, break bread and pray, they devoted themselves to the pursuit of these things. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teachings, they devoted themselves to fellowship, to breaking bread and to prayer.

This is very important. Many often fail in this aspect. Many fail because they show only `three minutes of fervour’ or `start with intense energy but peter out towards the end.’ We begin well but finish poorly. Isn’t this the experience of many churches? However, this wasn’t so with the Early Church, they did all these with great devotion. And the result was v.47, `praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.’ They became a church that God as well as men favoured, they became a truly growing church.