FROM PENTECOST TO PRISON

The Acts of the Apostles

CHAPTER 1

The very focal point of our witness is Acts 28, for we believe that in that chapter the dispensation of the mystery

began. From time to time there have appeared in The Berean Expositor studies of this great dispensational

boundary, and from time to time the place and purpose of Pentecost and allied themes have been touched upon. We

have, however, never found opportunity to give the Acts itself systematic examination before, and as we desire to

remember the needs of new readers, and knowing that the book of the Acts is the battleground of the whole position

that we take up, the time seems ripe for such an exposition.

In many minds one of the uppermost questions relative to the purpose of the book is: Does the Acts introduce

something new, or does it confirm something old? This of course embraces the questions that arise out of Acts 1:6

(where the apostles asked the Lord if He would at that time restore the kingdom to Israel) and the place and purpose

of Pentecost. The baptism with the Holy Ghost that took place at Pentecost must certainly be tabulated as a new

experience, but the question that needs careful answer is: Did that new experience usher in a new dispensation, or

did it confirm something old? There is but one true way to deal with this and all other subjects that come into our

study, and that is to see their place in relation to the book as a whole. This can only be done after a patient perusal

of the whole book, and the comparison of each part with its corresponding member. To express opinions before this

has been done is but to express opinions and nothing more. Patiently to plough through the complete book to lay

bear its structure is not the work of a few hours merely. This, however, has been done, and although the results may

be glanced at in a few minutes, the bearing of the outline thus discovered abides, and rightly influences the

interpretation of every section.

Let us, then, go over the book of the Acts together, and make its outline our own. Commencing our reading, we

are at once apprised of the fact that another treatise had been written by the same author, which must have some

bearing upon the Acts itself. While we cannot make a digression here to study the connection that may exist

between the first and second treatises, we are conscious that the opening verses of the first chapter sound very much

like a résumé of something already written. Upon examination we discover that Acts 1:1-14 overlaps Luke 24:36-

53, details of which we reserve for later. The recognition of this overlap, however, influences the structure, for, with

this fact before us and the truth as our goal, we are compelled to tabulate our findings as follows:

A 1:1-14.

The former treatise. All that Jesus began both to do

and teach.

The new record commences with Acts 1:15: `And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples', and

the first act of the apostles is to make their number complete again. This was accomplished by the appointment of

Matthias, a much debated subject and one which demands our earnest attention, as there are those who teach that

Paul was the true twelfth apostle and that Matthias was mistakenly appointed. This we do not deal with at the

moment, except to say that the Scriptures abundantly prove that the appointment of Matthias was entirely in

agreement with the will of God.

As we read on through succeeding chapters we cannot help but notice how Peter dominates every section. But

chapter 12 finds Peter in prison, and after his release, he appears only once more, in Acts 15. Meanwhile a new

figure has arisen, introduced first as a fanatical persecutor, but who afterwards becomes a zealous, though humble,

follower of the Lord. Presently, together with Barnabas, he receives a special commission from the Holy Ghost, and

finally he becomes the second dominating character of the book. Our structure therefore must exhibit these

divisions, and we put them down thus:

A1

The former treatise. All that JESUS began both to do and teach.