Acts 4

Acts 4 (New International Version)


Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin
1The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
5The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. 7They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"

8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! 9If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11He is
" 'the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the capstone.' 12Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

13When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16"What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name."

18Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

21After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

The Believers' Prayer
23On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:
" 'Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
26The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together
against the Lord
and against his Anointed One.' 27Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

The Believers Share Their Possessions
32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
36Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.




Interesting points of Discussion:

• [See v.2] 'greatly disturbed'- the Sadducees didn't believe in the resurrection or an afterlife
  
• [See v.3] 'seized'- as Peter and John teach at the temple about the resurrection of the dead through Jesus Christ, the "police force" of the temple precincts, priests and Sadducees come together to arrest them
  
• [See v.5] 'many who heard the message believed'- despite the opposition against the spreading of the Gospel, the church continues to grow in large numbers, jumping from 3,000 in Acts 2 to 5,000 in Acts 4- all started by a group of just 12 apostles transformed by the Holy Spirit to be bold and confident in speaking the words of truth
  
• [See v.5-7] 'the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met...had Peter and John brought before them'- this was no small mob of an opposition that Peter and John faced; they were brought to stand before the highest Jewish civil and religious court of the land
  
• These were the same people who had rejected Jesus and put him on trial, convincing the crowd that Jesus was a fraud so that they would cry out for his crucifixion; we wonder if Peter and John also might expect to be crucified
  
• In today's Western world, why is it that Christians face very little or no persecution at all?
  
• If our faith was exhibited in clear and powerful ways, persecution should be the natural result; the world takes notice and the works of God's kingdom are offensive to the world, which was true for every prophet, including the greatest prophet Jesus Christ
  
• We are not called to be accepted, to have social status and to build empires as many Western Christians seem to cling to as their Christian identity; we are called to glorify God just as Peter and John have deomonstrated- they didn't sit around caught up in the daily matters of life conforming to the fashions of the day because they were afraid the world would be hostile if they proclaimed the basic, essential Christian moral or religious teaching
  
• Today's world regards the only sin as being intolerant of any kind of religion or lifestyle practice; you will be ridiculed and frowned upon if you say that there is one way or one truth in such a pluralistic world
  
• But this is exactly what each Christian is called to believe, proclaim and defend even when you know that you will be socially ostracized, denied promotions and lose your job
  
• In a survey where the question asked to non-Christians in America was: why don't you want to become a Christian? The most common answer was "Look at Christians and the way they live."
  
• Why did the Jewish leaders persecute Peter and John? Shouldn't they have been happy and excited about this amazing healing?
  
• And yet they seemed afraid and worried, so much so that they opposed Peter and John with their most powerful civil and political body
  
• They knew that if the people knew about the resurrection of Jesus Christ, they would be proved dead wrong besides the fact that they already had failed to explain the empty tomb of Jesus and the healing of the lame man
  
• To them, it was about power, more specifically, their right to teach the people on their own turf (temple) with their own teachings and their approval; they clearly saw Peter and John as a threat to their ability to control the masses
  
• Maybe they wanted to find out how they could do it themselves or they simply couldn't rationalize how such a miracle might occur and thus did so to protect their own ideals?
  
• On a bigger scale they may have been afraid of political upheaval or the start of a social revolution that would greatly disturb the religious climate of the time; after all they were under the authority of the Roman government who they feared
  
• The resurrection of Jesus Christ made everything possible but these people want to keep everything the same and the way it has been, fearing change and caring more about their security
  
• [See v.7] 'By what power or what name'- to them, power comes from the name, which gives you that special privilege or status that they recognize; it explains why they wouldn't recognize Jesus or his authority for fear of losing their own position and authority
  
• [See v.9] 'If we are being called to account'- as Peter boldly preaches in the Spirit cutting directly to the heart of the matter, he challenges the court's absurd charges 'for an act of kindness' and shows absolutely no fear of the court's possible ruling against him
  
• [See v.12] 'Salvation is found in no one else'- Peter can't make it clear enough, repeating twice that there is only one way to salvation and that is through Jesus Christ
  
• In today's world of freedom to choose between many different options, this would be offensive to many; there are some out there who believe they can get to heaven without knowing or accepting Jesus but by worshipping God alone or some combination of other faiths and works
  
• [See v.13] 'unschooled, ordinary men'- Peter and John were fishermen from Galilee but they didn't need a formal education to have the 'courage' to do ministry; their only requirement was to have been with Jesus
  
• It seems as if being with Jesus makes us shine as if Jesus was in us and those who see this will be able to see plainly Jesus in us; many people won't go to Jesus directly and it becomes the duty of Christians to show who Jesus is through our example
  
• We shine because this is how Jesus glorifies the weak, humble and the lowly
  
• 'took note'- all the sudden, it dawns upon them that Peter and John remind them of Jesus and they remember "those two" who had been with Jesus before; the problem that they thought they resolved has come back to haunt them as the Holy Spirit has transformed the apostles to continue Jesus' teachings and miracles
  
• [See v.17] 'we must warn these men'- out of fear and self-interests, the leaders try to cover up this "Jesus mess" by trying to stop Peter and John from preaching the Gospel
  
• [See v.19] 'Judge for yourselves'- Peter appeals to them telling them that they should know better than to listen to man over God; the apostles are obeying Jesus' teachings to testify as witnesses about what they 'have seen and heard'
  
• [See v.21] 'could not decide how to punish them...because all the people were praising God'- despite seeing and hearing about the miracle, the leaders still choose to listen to the people's opinion and not God's opinion
  
• It is clear overall that God has worked through this seemingly troubling situation for the apostles to: spread the gospel to the non-believers in growing the church and to have Peter and John preach to the Jewish leaders continuing to enlarge their confidence and boldness all the more while confusing His enemies making them powerless to even lock up Peter and John, all to His glory
  
• [See v.23] 'reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them'- upon their release by the perplexed and handcuffed Jewish leaders, Peter and John almost can't believe what had just happened as if they had just been under the supernatural hand of God, preaching the Gospel to some of the most powerful people of the time and actually having them listen to them seriously instead of being taken for fools or kicked off the doorstep before they could even get in
  
• [See v.24] 'raised their voices'- the apostles acknowledge God not in silent prayer but out loud and 'together' in unity; praying out loud can be more effective because it is easier to focus your thoughts and praying together allows everyone to have the same mind about what they're praying about, being in agreement with each other about everything that is lifted up to the heavens
  
• They begin their prayer with 'Sovereign Lord', reminding themselves of who God is- the Lord of all creation, the God of all power, the one who is in control and not us; our prayers have power when we know who we are praying to and not just some imaginary God we pretend to know or make up names for
  
• Furthermore, their prayers are in light of the Scriptures as they identify their own current circumstances being persecuted by the Jewish leaders with God's spoken word through David in the Old Testament; God's word speaks into our situations all the time
  
• When we recognize that even the most wicked acts of man don't fall outside of God's control- His enemies could only do what His 'power and will had decided beforehand should happen' [v.28], it gives us great peace to know that God will not allow our enemies to do whatever they want
  
• [See v.29] 'enable your servants to speak your word'- instead of thanking the Lord for what they have done so far and being satisfied with their accomplishments, the apostles take hold of God's cause and glory, asking for something that might lead to more confrontation; aren't they supposed to be asking for less?!
  
• They don't pray "I stretch out my hand to receive the power to heal" but rather 'Stretch out your hand' [v.30]; they are not asking to do the miracles themselves and to take pride in themselves being chosen to do such things, they are delighting in the power of God because it is through Jesus and his hand that healing is done
  
• [See v.31] 'place where they were meeting was shaken'- God answers their prayers loudly and clearly in the form of an earthquake
  
• 'they were all filled with the Holy Spirit'- this sounds like the first time during Pentecost when they were baptized with the Holy Spirit and yet it seems to be happening for a second time; there seems to be a special emphasis on continually being filled with the Holy Spirit all the time and not just when you are baptized for the first time
  
• [See v.32] 'one in heart and mind...shared everything'- because the believers were unified in heart and mind, being in agreement with each other, they came to regard each other as more important than things or possessions which belonged to God
  
• Some people may think this is Communism but there is a clear difference: in Communism, they take what is yours, not share what is yours
  
• [See v.33] 'With great power...much grace was upon them all'- as a result of the apostles putting God and each other above things and material possessions, they were given greater power to preach and spread the Gospel, not to mention that everywhere they went, God's favor was evident as if the heavens were smiling down on them
  
• [See v.34-36] We see this picture of early Christians and the overwhelming generosity and eagerness to give to those who had need; no one waited around for someone else to give as 'those who owned lands or houses sold them'
  
• This was necessary in order for the church to grow as rapidly as it did since many of these Christians came from abroad as refugees with little money and no housing
  
• Once again the importance of money here is not just giving it to the needy but so that they may be able to join the church and community; they are literally being offered a new life and not just to improve or to sustain their old life, like saying "Hey come here and join us" and not "Here's a couple bucks, have a nice life"
  
  
  
  
  

Acts 3

Acts 3 (New International Version)


Peter Heals the Crippled Beggar
1One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. 8He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter Speaks to the Onlookers
11While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade. 12When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.
17"Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. 19Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. 22For Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. 23Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.'

24"Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days. 25And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, 'Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.' 26When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."



Interesting points of Discussion:

• [See v.1] 'at the time of prayer'- Peter and John seem to be going to the temple to pray at the customary hour- 'three in the afternoon'
  
• Instead of walking by the beggar in front of the temple and going about their business, they recognize this as an opportunity to spread the Gospel and go out of their way to help this man as Peter shouts, 'Look at us!'
  
• [See v.3] 'he asked them for money'- the man just wanted enough money to "get by" for the day
  
• [See v.5] 'expecting to get something'- the man expected to receive something which was faith on his part but much less than what he would actually receive and not the right thing
  
• In the same way, how many of us lower our expectations and settle for less when God wants to give us so much more?
  
• Also, do we always ask for and expect the right things from God?
  
• The man asks for money but he is given the Holy Spirit; God's abundance is far greater than any kind of worldly abundance
  
• [See v.6] 'silver or gold I do not have'- rather than giving this man what he is asking for which is to support his mess of a condition without changing anything significant in his life, Peter transforms him from lame to walking by the power of the risen Jesus Christ
  
• As people of the church, are we called to simply make better or make bearable the present condition of those in need or are we to completely change their condition by releasing the redeeming work of God in Christ?
  
• And in doing the work, is what we really need more money and funding for the church to meet the natural needs of the poor or the spiritual power to say "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk"?
  
• [See v.6] 'what I have I give you'- Peter gives him the power to walk in the name of Jesus; he couldn't have done this if he himself hadn't received the power of Jesus in his own life
  
• [See v.7] 'he helped him up'- it was one thing for Peter to say to the man to get up and walk, it took a supernatural prompting of the Holy Spirit for Peter to trust God completely for something way out of the ordinary and believe that the man would actually get up and walk; he was receiving the gift of faith as described in 1 Corinthians 12:9,
  "9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,"
  
• Faith is a gift! It is not our self-inspired belief alone that is called faith, it is a supernatural gift from God to trust God beyond natural human abilities
  
• Being open to receiving this gift of faith is what leads to the healing; listening to the Holy Spirit and its commands seems to be critical in performing these miracles
  
• Often doubts and fears can consume our minds and cause the Holy Spirit to grow weak even though it is willing
  
• [See v.10] 'they recognized him'- this man was a familiar sight at the temple which means Jesus must have seen him before, but why did he never heal him?
  
• This shows how important God's timing is; it was for the greater glory of God that Jesus healed this man from heaven through his apostles
  
• [See v.12] 'why does this surprise you?'- Peter knew it wasn't enough to save these people to merely see and hear a miracle and to be amazed and interested
  
• Peter knew well that seeing and hearing about miracles wasn't going to save these people or bring them to Jesus for it says in Romans 10:17,
  "17Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ."
  
• [See v.12] 'as if by our own power or godliness'- Peter gives the credit all to Jesus and none to himself; healing doesn't happen because the people who are performing them are super spiritual, so close to God, Godly, holy, etc.
  
• [See v.13] 'God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob'- as Peter preaches about Jesus, he makes sure that the God he is talking about is not any of the other gods people have invented or imagined
  
• [See v.14] 'asked that a murderer be released to you'- Peter boldly confronts the crowd convicting them of their sin in choosing to reject Jesus Christ all the while embracing a criminal and a murderer
  
• [See v.15] 'You killed the author of life'- Peter himself having witnessed the resurrection of Jesus lets the people know that they betrayed and killed the very one that created them and gave them life
  
• [See v.16] 'By faith in the name of Jesus'- once again Peter stresses that what healed the man wasn't his own faith but because of God's gift of faith; just iterating "in Jesus name" has no power on its own if you are not consciously doing it in the authority and power of Jesus
  
• It is clear that there is a third person, the Holy Spirit, that allows Peter to consciously perform the healing in the authority and power of Jesus
  
• [See v.17] 'I know that you acted in ignorance'- Peter seems to be offering a second chance to these people who killed Jesus- he doesn't say that they're innocent but he realizes that they didn't know about God's eternal plan which they ignored
  
• [See v.18] 'God had fulfilled what he had foretold'- Peter reveals how God took the most evil act (crucifixion of Jesus) and used it for the good of mankind; this is the God that is at work in our own lives as described in Romans 8:28,
  "28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
  
• [See v.19] 'times of refreshing'- Peter refers to the time when Jesus Christ will return for the second time to restore all things and to establish the kindgom of righteousness on Earth; he points out that this will only happen if the Jews (Israel) repent as a nation
  
• [See v.23] 'will be completely cut off'- if the Jews do not listen to Jesus they will no longer be God's people
  
• [See v.26] 'turning each of you from your wicked ways'- not only does God want to bless us and do good for us, he also wants to turn us all away from our sins
  
  
  
  

Acts 2

Acts 2 (New International Version)


The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost
1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" 12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"

13Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."

Peter Addresses the Crowd
14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! 16No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17" 'In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19I will show wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.'
22"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25David said about him:
" 'I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
26Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will live in hope,
27because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
28You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.'

29"Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. 32God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
" 'The Lord said to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
35until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet." '

36"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

38Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."

40With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

The Fellowship of the Believers
42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.



Interesting points of Discussion:




•[See v.1] 'day of Pentecost'- fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus Christ and ten days after his ascension into Heaven, Jesus' promise to the apostles of 'the gift my Father promised' [see v.4, Acts 1] is fulfilled as God suddenly reveals his glory to mankind and pours out the Holy Spirit upon everyone in the community (takes place in Jerusalem)

•[See v.1] 'they were all together in one place'- as we see the disciples preparing for the Pentecost, it is clear that God has spoken to them to gather and wait in this certain 'place'; they are obeying God's command along with prayer and organizing themselves as a group

•[See v.2] 'a violent wind came from heaven'- just as God's appearances earlier in the Old Testament was accompanied by powerful, magical acts of nature- recall the burning bush and cloud of fire before which Moses and the Israelites appeared, the Holy Spirit's arrival is signified by this hurricane-like wind and 'tongues of fire' [see v.3]; the similarity with which the Holy Spirit is revealed goes back to the idea of the Trinity being God, the Son and the Holy Spirit who are all revelations of God in three persons and share the same essential and unique attributes of God

•It is interesting that the Holy Spirit is the last of the Trinity to be revealed; it came to carry on Jesus' work and is a pivotal presence in the establishment of the church

•These signs of God that Israel was used to was now being presented to people from all nations who had come to Jerusalem to observe the Pentecost; it was God now making a covenant with those outside of Israel for those who would believe in his son Jesus Christ

•[See v.4] 'began to speak in other tongues'- people began to speak in languages other than their own native language

•[See v.6] 'each one heard them speaking in his own language'- all these people from different nations and cultures with distinct languages are not only speaking in languages other than their own; it seems that every single person who is listening to another person speaking is hearing his own native language!

•In this moment we can see the amazing supernatural power of the Holy Spirit allowing people from radically different backgrounds to engage with each other in conversation; God not only finally extends his branch (formerly Israel) to the whole world but he goes even farther to break all the barriers between these nations and unify them as one body of believers

•The Penetecost in the Old Testament was the feast of Weeks as set forth by God- a celebration after 7 weeks of the joyous harvest season on the "fiftieth" day, which means "Pentecost" in Greek

•Concerning the Penetecost, the Lord said 'When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.' [Leviticus 23:22]

•God was referring to 'the poor and the alien' as the Gentiles (non-Jews) to whom he would reach out to by baptizing them with the Holy Spirit, extending his grace through Jesus Christ to those outside the assembly of Israel and revealing his divine plan to spread the Gospel beyond the limits of Israel in what was the birth of the church

•Tongues is a spiritual gift of the Holy Spirit and its wonders have been known to be uttered in both a unique heavenly language and other people's native languages as in the context of Acts 2

•[See v.16] 'spoken by the prophet Joel'- Peter speaks out the truth in response to some of the Jews who doubted this wonder of God and called it a result of having 'too much wine' [see v.13]; the Holy Spirit's powers were revealed in many forms including prophesying, having visions and dreams

•Prophet Joel's prophecy here as stated by Peter was not just concerning the Penetecost and the first coming of the Holy Spirit but what was yet to be fulfilled- the restoration of Israel and the second coming of Christ in the last days in which once again the Holy Spirit would be poured out

•[See v.34-35] David said that "The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet"; this was God telling Jesus upon his return to sit next to Him and expect Him to bring his defeated enemies under his feet

•[See v.38-41] Peter establishes the foundation of the church in introducing repentance and forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ and the receiving of the Holy Spirit; we see the power of the Holy Spirit in ministry making believers out of non-believers en route to the beginning of the church

•[See v.42-47] This early church is described as full of joy and excitement being unified in their hearts to the point that they 'sold their possessions and goods' for each other; God grows this church not only in size but transforms them on the inside through the power of the Holy Spirit to live joyfully among each other, to learn from each other, to teach other and to help one another

•In modern times, this picture of a Utopian society where everyone shares equally is hard to fathom and too ideal for a survival-frenzied, profit-driven, luxury-striving world

•But it's clear that from the beginning God has called us to be generous in sacrificing for the sake of others and also to live with each other for each other, not forgetting that he has called us to be one and the same having 'everything in common'

Acts 1

Acts 1 (New International Version)


Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven
1In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
6So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"

7He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

10They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas
12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city. 13When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
15In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16and said, "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus— 17he was one of our number and shared in this ministry."

18(With the reward he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

20"For," said Peter, "it is written in the book of Psalms,
" 'May his place be deserted;
let there be no one to dwell in it,' and,
" 'May another take his place of leadership.' 21Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection."

23So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." 26Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.



Interesting points of Discussion:

• Background of the Book of Acts: The book of Acts follows the four books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John that composed the eyewitness accounts of the "Gospel" (good message or good news) as delivered by Jesus' own words; Luke, author of one of the four "Gospel" books, has long assumed to have been the author of Acts
  
• The book of Acts is a bridge to the New Testament writings as it joins what 'Jesus began to do and to teach' [See v.1] as told in the "Gospel" books with what he continued to do and teach through the apostles' preaching and the establishment of the church
  
• Q: What kind of 'Acts' is this book in the Bible referring to ?
  
• A: Acts of the Holy Spirit performed through the apostles of Jesus Christ
  
• Q: What was your experience of the Holy Spirit when it came upon you ?
  
• A: Felt a sense of overwhelming peace, boldness to share the love of God, the world around me seemed different as if I was judging through a new set of eyes, felt a desire to be holy and to know the goodness of God, absence of fear when sharing as a witness
  
• The disciples faced a transition from watching Jesus' work on Earth and having Jesus do everything for them to having to do these same works without Jesus present (physically) and instead replaced by the Holy Spirit
  
• How did the apostles deal with his departure ?
  
• [See v.10] 'two men dressed in white'- angels come to tell the apostles to start living (i.e. 'Why do you stand here looking into the sky?' [see v.11]) instead of keeping on wondering why Jesus left and thinking, "He's really gone?"; Jesus died for us so that we might live!
  
• [See v.11] 'will come back in the same way'- the angels tell the apostles of the second coming of Christ which is just as certain and glorious as his ascension into heaven at that hour
  
• [See v.8] 'you will receive power'- before Jesus ascends into Heaven he tells them that they will be given power from the Holy Spirit to do the same amazing signs, wonders and miracles that Jesus himself performed in his time on Earth
  
• 'you will be my witnesses'- Jesus foreshawdows the works that the apostles will do through the Holy Spirit in founding churches, spreading the gospel, establishing congregations and evangelizing
  
• [See v.5] The baptism with the Holy Spirit that Jesus promises to them is quite different from the baptism with water that John had performed earlier
  
• Baptism with water is physical whereas the Holy Spirit cannot be seen and is spiritual; going into the water represents death to self and coming back out of the water represents the resurrection of Christ in you
  
• Other than the physical/spiritual contrast, baptism with water is very much symbolic of the baptism with the Holy Spirit
  
• [See v.13] All the names of the apostles are listed, stressing their roles as a body of divinely appointed witnesses to Jesus' life, teachings and his resurrection
  
• There seems to be a symbolic element to why the disciples chose to replace Judas and maintain the 12-apostle arrangement- recall the twelve tribes of Israel in the old Testament; this number twelve could represent the Christian church (founded by the 12 apostles) which in turn represents a reconstituted Israel
  
• [See v.18] Judas' death is portrayed differently here than in Matthew 27:5 where he was said to have hung himself; here he purchases a property with the betrayal money and kills himself in a fall
  
• Judas' suicidal fate reminds us how serious God's punishment can be
  
• As we learn about how the Holy Spirit works it's important to look at how the apostles prepared for the coming of the Holy Spirit
  
• Besides constant prayer [see v.14], they organized themselves as a group
  
  
  
  

John 19

John 19 (New International Version)


Jesus Sentenced to be Crucified
1Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face.
4Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him." 5When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!"

6As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, "Crucify! Crucify!"
But Pilate answered, "You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him."

7The Jews insisted, "We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God."

8When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10"Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"

11Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."

12From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar."

13When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). 14It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour.
"Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews.

15But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!"
"Shall I crucify your king?" Pilate asked.
"We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered.

16Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

The Crucifixion
So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18Here they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.
19Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read:|sc JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews."

22Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."

23When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

24"Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's decide by lot who will get it."
This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said,
"They divided my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing." So this is what the soldiers did.

25Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," 27and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

The Death of Jesus
28Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." 29A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. 30When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
31Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. 32The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 35The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken," 37and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced."

The Burial of Jesus
38Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. 39He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 40Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.


Interesting points of Discussion:

• [See v.2] 'clothed him in a purple robe'- the Roman soldiers mock Jesus, dressing him up to be a king with a crown and a robe yet treating him as if he was the lowest of lowest criminals by physically beating and striking him
  
• [See v.8] 'he was even more afraid'- Pilate hears from the Jews that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God and suddenly the fear of God comes upon him
  
• [See v.11] 'You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above'- at the same time that Jesus sternly rebukes Pilate about how his power comes from God and not from man, Jesus also conveys how perfectly he is submitted to God's will
  
• [See v.19] 'Pilate had a notice prepared'- Pilate made the sign "JESUS OF NAZARETH KING OF THE JEWS" even though the chief priests insisted that the Jews had 'no king but Caesar' [see v.15]; did Pilate do this to mock Jesus or did he actually do it out of respect and fear of the Lord?
  
• [See v.22] 'What I have written, I have written'- Pilate stands behind his decision to make the sign for Jesus, much to the chagrin of the Jews who were protesting; perhaps Pilate felt an obligation to carry out the fulfillment of God's work after all
  
• The sign was written in 3 different languages [see v.20] and symbolizes how Jesus is "Lord over all"
  
• [See v.24] 'divided my garments...cast lots for my clothing'- the prophecy from the Old Testament scriptures is fulfilled that the soldiers would gamble for the clothes of Jesus as he was naked on the cross
  
• Being stripped of your clothes is a severe form of humiliation as was done to Jesus; instead of being honored as a king he suffered the treatment worthy of a slave
  
• [See v.25-27] Jesus takes care of his family and loved ones even as he is dying on the cross; we see how important it is to take care of those around us just as he did
  
• Jesus displays remarkable control even during his crucifixion as he tells people about their positions (gives a disciple to be his mother's son in place of him) and unites people (mother and son); can we have the same composure and determination to stick to what is right when we run into difficult circumstances?
  
• [See v.28] 'I am thirsty'- this is another fulfillment of the scriptures as Jesus has lost a lot of blood and water from his body
  
• The blood and water that flows from Jesus is quite ironic because he is the one who is thirsty yet he is also the one who truly satisfies our thirst and hunger; to best put it, even as Jesus was dying, life was flowing out of him that would be the source of new life for us
  
• Taken figuratively, Jesus' thirst on the cross is an example of how we should live like him to thirst for God
  
• [See v.29] The soldiers giving vinegar to Jesus was equal to mockery since vinegar only makes you thirstier
  
• [See v.33] 'they did not break his legs'- the other two men had their leg bones broken but Jesus was pierced instead; this was God's way of lifting him up in front of the world, to 'look on the one they have pierced' [see v.37]- "standing above all"
  
• [See v.36] 'Not one of his bones will be broken'- just as God commanded Moses and the Israelites during the Passover Feast not to break any of the bones in the sacrificial lambs, God wanted Jesus, the lamb of God, to be preserved in the same manner
  
• [See Psalm 34:19-20] 'A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken'- this suggests that God was also protecting Jesus and spared him from having his bones broken
  
• God keeps those who are righteous out of harm's way even though we may encounter situations where we may feel harmed
  
  
  

John 18

John 18 (New International Version)


Jesus Arrested
1When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it.
2Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

4Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Who is it you want?"

5"Jesus of Nazareth," they replied.

"I am he," Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.

7Again he asked them, "Who is it you want?"
And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."

8"I told you that I am he," Jesus answered. "If you are looking for me, then let these men go." 9This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: "I have not lost one of those you gave me."

10Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)

11Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"

Jesus Taken to Annas
12Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people.
Peter's First Denial
15Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard, 16but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in.
17"You are not one of his disciples, are you?" the girl at the door asked Peter.
He replied, "I am not."

18It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.

The High Priest Questions Jesus
19Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.
20"I have spoken openly to the world," Jesus replied. "I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said."

22When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. "Is this the way you answer the high priest?" he demanded.

23"If I said something wrong," Jesus replied, "testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?" 24Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter's Second and Third Denials
25As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, "You are not one of his disciples, are you?"
He denied it, saying, "I am not."
26One of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, "Didn't I see you with him in the olive grove?" 27Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

Jesus Before Pilate
28Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 29So Pilate came out to them and asked, "What charges are you bringing against this man?"
30"If he were not a criminal," they replied, "we would not have handed him over to you."

31Pilate said, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law."

"But we have no right to execute anyone," the Jews objected. 32This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled.

33Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"

34"Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"

35"Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"

36Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."

37"You are a king, then!" said Pilate.
Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

38"What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him. 39But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release 'the king of the Jews'?"

40They shouted back, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!" Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.


Interesting points of Discussion:

• [See v.6] 'they drew back and fell to the ground'- when Jesus replied "I am he", the officials and soldiers instantly fell to the ground; this goes to demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit that was moving upon them by which they were so overwhelmed that they involuntarily lost control of their balance (staying upright)
  
• Maybe they were so filled with shame at that moment in the presence of his holiness and majesty that they couldn't possibly bear to stand dignified in their sinful nature as human beings
  
• [See v.11] 'Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me'- whereas Peter sees protecting Jesus' life as an act of saving, Jesus sees his own death as saving
  
• [See v.17,25,27] Peter denies being one of Jesus' disciples on three separate occasions
  
• Peter seems to have had mixed feelings- on one hand he wanted to stay close to Jesus and see the outcome but on the other hand he didn't want to get into trouble so he denied knowing Jesus 3 times in order to avoid being arrested himself
  
• Peter really feared man more than he feared God at this point in his life although that would change later on; the spirit of fear can grip us and take control of us if we are not careful- it can keep us from following God to the fullest, instead short-changing our goals for something less and incomplete
  
• Making a white lie is far easier than standing up for Jesus and facing the consequences; but at the same time, one little lie can lead to bigger lies that will cause you to turn your back on the truth
  
• It's encouraging to know that Peter, who eventually was willing to trust God and die for Christ later in his life, struggled in the beginning of his faith journey between his love for Jesus (Spirit) and himself (flesh); many of us, even as Christians, find it hard to fight this battle in a world where the flesh always seems to be winning but we can be encouraged to know that there are those who overcame it by continuing to fight and never giving up
  
• [See v.31] 'we have no right to execute anyone'- the Jews were under the authority of the Roman government which had the power to execute anyone
  
• [See v.35] 'Am I a Jew'- Pilate, the Roman emperor seems reluctant to be the one to cast judgement on Jesus; his response is "I'm not Jewish so don't look at me- I have nothing to do with this matter which should be in the hands of the Jewish people"
  
• Pilate is trying to shift the blame to the Jews because he feels somewhat guilty or fearful of the consequences of casting judgement on someone who may actually have more authority than he does
  
• When we relate to God one-one-one we should not point fingers to others as Pilate did because we are called to be "pure and blameless" for the day of Christ which means no complaining or arguing which will only work to steal away our praise
  
• Jesus stood firm in front of the high priest and Pilate; likewise we can take a page from his book and stand resolute in speaking God's truth and word when we are presented with circumstances that put our God-given purpose to the test
  
• [See v.36] 'my servants would fight'- the illusion is that it looks as if the world has won by having Jesus sentenced to an execution but what they don't know is that the real victory lies in God's kingdom; Jesus seems to be saying that the real battle is not here and now in the finite world but in the future when the kingdom of God he belongs to will have the true victory
  
  

John 16

John 16 (New International Version)


1"All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. 2They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. 3They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.

5"Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' 6Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
12"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

16"In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me."

17Some of his disciples said to one another, "What does he mean by saying, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,' and 'Because I am going to the Father'?" 18They kept asking, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We don't understand what he is saying."
19Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, "Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me'? 20I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

25"Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."

29Then Jesus' disciples said, "Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God."

31"You believe at last!" Jesus answered. 32"But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

33"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."


Interesting points of Discussion:

• [See v.2] 'put you out of the synagogue...think he is offering a service to God'- Jesus forewarns his disciples of a time that is coming when they will be persecuted and thrown out of their own spiritual communities and families and even possibly killed- by the very religious leaders of the synagogues who claim to be followers of God
  
• [See v.3] 'They will do such things'- this persecution and killing of fellow Christians will be done for political reasons which have nothing to do with the purposes of God or Jesus Christ
  
• Serving God is not about following our own interests and condemning others
  
• Many people today are "culturally Christian" and seem to think they know God or Jesus Christ just because they celebrate Easter or Christmas
  
• [See v.7] 'It is for your good that I am going away'- as a result of Jesus' departure from the world we are not going to be left alone, but rather we will be sent a messenger- the 'Counselor', the Holy Spirit
  
• The Holy Spirit will play an important role in our faith by correcting our hearts, which begins with being convicted of our sins, righteousness and judgement [see v.8]
  
• [See v.9] 'because men do not believe in me'- the world desperately wants to forget that Jesus came and lived among us because he was too perfect for our standards; many want to just accept the lie that they are naturally good human beings trying their best to make things work out in a complicated world
  
• [See v.10] 'where you can see me no longer'- although the world can no longer see Jesus, the Holy Spirit will teach us that there is a clear-cut right and wrong (good and evil) even when the world tries to convince people that there is no absolute truth or right and wrong way to live life
  
• [See v.11] 'prince of this world now stands condemned'- the world will see judgement one day, namely upon those who do not believe in Jesus; yet for those who do believe, signs of this judgement are already apparent in their lives where the power of Satan is broken and furthermore they are empowered by work of the Holy Spirit
  
• [See v.12] 'more than you can now bear'- Hints at the crucifixion and how Jesus knows that they won't be able to bear the act of salvation he will perform, maybe because they are not ready to comprehend or accept his sacrifice
  
• [See v.16] Jesus tells the disciples that he will be gone for a bit but then that he will be back again soon
  
• Even though Jesus came back to see the disciples after his resurrection, the truth in today's world is that most of us will never see Jesus in this world; but seeing Jesus is less important than establishing a spiritual relationship and walking by faith, not sight
  
• [See v.23] 'will give you whatever you ask in my name'- we need to ask before we are to receive from God; prayer causes things to happen and has the power to directly influence things in this world
  
• [See v.26] 'In that day you will ask in my name'- the disciples will pray in Jesus' name after his death and resurrection
  
• [See v.32] 'you will be scattered...will leave me all alone'- Jesus refers to when he will take up the cross to make the ultimate sacrifice for all of humankind and specifically how the disciples will not follow him but instead go home and "chicken out"; it's almost like they will act like they don't know Jesus
  
• In the same way to follow Jesus we must be courageous and bold when it comes to standing up for what we believe in and to remember all that he has taught us and to never abandon Jesus no matter what the cost