August 7, 2014

From Mark Copeland... The Corinthians (Acts 18:1-11)

                   "CONVERSIONS IN THE BOOK OF ACTS"

                       The Corinthians (18:1-11)

INTRODUCTION

1. Following his limited success at Athens, Paul went to nearby 
   Corinth...
   a. An economic center of Greece, known for its immorality
   b. It became an important focus of Paul's ministry
      1) Where he stayed a year and a half on his second missionary 
         journey
      2) Where he visited once and possibly twice on his third journey
   c. A well-known church was established, the recipient of at least 
      two epistles by Paul

2. The establishment of the church is described in Ac 18:1-11 in which
   we read of...
   a. Paul's work in the local synagogue
   b. The conversion of many Corinthians, including the ruler of the 
      synagogue

3. We also read something about their conversion in 1Co 1:14-17...
   a. Where Paul expresses thanks for personally baptizing just a few 
      of the Corinthians
   b. In which some have concluded that Paul was declaring the 
      non-essentiality of baptism

4. In this study we shall examine the conversion of "The
   Corinthians"...
   a. Once again, to glean what we can about the gospel's message and
      response
   b. To determine whether Paul was actually demeaning the importance 
      of baptism in his epistle to the Corinthians

[Turning to Ac 18:1-11, let's review Luke's account of...]

I. THE CONVERSION OF THE CORINTHIANS

   A. PAUL'S ARRIVAL IN CORINTH...
      1. He meets up with Aquila and Priscilla - Ac 18:1-2
      2. Of the same trade (tentmakers), Paul stays with them - Ac 18:3

   B. PAUL'S MINISTRY AT CORINTH...
      1. He goes to the synagogue, as was his custom - Ac 18:4; cf.
         17:1-3
         a. He "reasons" with the people, as he did with...
            1) Those at Thessalonica - cf. Ac 17:2
            2) Those at Athens - Ac 17:17
            3) Those at Ephesus - Ac 18:19; 19:8-9
            4) Felix the governor - Ac 24:25
            5) Festus and Agrippa - Ac 26:25
            -- The gospel is designed to appeal to the mind as well as
               the heart! - cf. Mt 22:37
         b. He "persuades" both Jews and Greeks...
            1) As he did at Thessalonica - Ac 17:4
            2) As he did at Ephesus - Ac 19:8
            3) As he came close to doing with King Agrippa - Ac 26:28
            -- Again, the gospel appeals to the reasoning processes of
               the mind
      2. When Silas and Timothy arrive, Paul is constrained to preach
         even more - Ac 18:5
         a. He "testified" to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ 
            - cf. Ac 20:21,24; 23:11; 28:23
         b. Such testimony likely involved:
            1) Using the Messianic prophecies of the  Old Testament 
               - Ac 17:2-3
            2) His eyewitness testimony as an apostle - cf. Ac 26:16
      3. Rejection by some of the Jews sends him to the Gentiles 
         - Ac 18:6-7
         a. Just as it did at Antioch of Pisidia - Ac 13:45-46
         b. In Corinth, Paul has only to go next door, to the home of
            Justus
      4. The gospel bears fruit in Corinth - Ac 18:8
         a. Crispus, ruler of the synagogue, believes with all his 
            household - cf. 1Co 1:14
         b. Many of the Corinthians believe and are baptized
      5. Encouraged by the Lord in a vision, Paul stays for a year and
         a half  - Ac 18:9-11

[With Luke's description, we see a similarity with what we have read 
before.  Upon hearing the gospel, those persuaded both believe and are
baptized (cf. Ac 8:12; 18:8). This is certainly in keeping with the
commission of our Lord (cf. Mk 16:15-16).

But often people will use Paul's comments in 1Co 1:14-17 to say that
baptism has nothing to do with conversion (salvation).  Is that true?
Let's take a close look at...]

II. PAUL'S COMMENTS TO THE CORINTHIANS

   A. THE CONTEXT...
      1. The church at Corinth was badly divided - 1Co 1:10-11
      2. People were aligning themselves as followers of different men
         (perhaps based upon who baptized them) - 1Co 1:12-13
      3. Paul illustrates the absurdity of calling themselves after men
         with several rhetorical questions
         a. "Is Christ divided?"
         b. "Was Paul crucified for you?"
         c. "Were you baptized in the name of Paul?"
         -- The implied answer to each question was "NO!"
      5. But notice what else is implied by each question...
         a. Christ is not divided
         b. It was Christ (not some man) who was crucified for you
         c. You were baptized, not in the name of some man, but in the
            name of Christ!
      -- So the context itself implies what we read in Ac 18:8 
         ("...many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were 
         baptized.")

   B. PAUL'S COMMENTS...
      1. "I thank God that I baptized none of you except..."
         - 1Co 1:14
         a. Paul should be understood in light of the context
         b. Since some of the Corinthians were dividing over who may 
            have baptized them, Paul was grateful that he had not 
            PERSONALLY baptized many of them
         c. His reason?
            1) Not because he did not consider baptism important
            2) But as he states himself:  "...lest anyone should say
               that I had baptized in my own name." - 1Co 1:15
         d. The Corinthians had been baptized - cf. Ac 18:8; 1Co 1:13
            1) As a result of Paul's preaching, by the way
            2) But not many by Paul personally, for which he was later
               thankful!
      2. "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the 
         gospel..." - 1Co 1:17
         a. Are we to understand Paul to say that he did not preach 
            baptism?
            1) Clearly he did to Lydia and the Philippian jailor 
               - Ac 16:14-15; 32-33
            2) Clearly he did to the Corinthians - Ac 18:8
            3) He taught baptism as the means by which one puts on 
               Christ - Ga 3:27
            4) He taught baptism as the means by which one dies to sin 
               - Ro 6:1-7
         b. Rather, we are to understand that Paul was emphasizing his
            function as apostle
            1) He was sent to preach the gospel (which includes the 
               command to be baptized - Mk 16:15-16)
            2) It was not his primary function to perform the baptisms
               of those who responded to the gospel!
               a) Though he did in some cases - 1Co 1:14,16
               b) But he was often accompanied by others (e.g., Silas,
                  Timothy, Luke), and they were likely the ones to 
                  handle the physical act of immersing people
            3) In view of what later occurred at Corinth, he is simply
               thankful that his involvement in the act of baptizing
               others was rather limited
         -- Such was the point of Paul's comments, and they should not
            be understood as Paul demeaning the value or place of 
            baptism in the process of conversion!

CONCLUSION

1. The conversion of "The Corinthians" confirms what we have seen in
   previous examples of conversions in the book of Acts...
   a. The gospel concerning Jesus as the Christ was proclaimed
   b. Those "persuaded" by the gospel message believed and were 
      baptized immediately

2. The conversion of "The Corinthians" also stands out because of the
   impact the gospel had in their lives...
   a. As mentioned, the city of Corinth was known for its immorality
   b. Many of the members of the church had lived immoral lives - cf. 
      1Co 6:9-11a
   c. Yet through their faith and obedience to the gospel of Christ, 
      Paul could write:

   "But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were 
   justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of
   our God." (1Co 6:11)

Such is the power of the gospel of Christ to the obedient believer.  
Have you been "washed", "sanctified", and "justified"?  Let the
conversions in the book of Acts show you how!

From Mark Copeland... The Twelve Disciples Of John (Acts 19:1-10)

"CONVERSIONS IN THE BOOK OF ACTS"

The Twelve Disciples Of John (19:1-10)

INTRODUCTION

1. In our survey of "Conversions In The Book of Acts", we have
considered the following examples of conversion...
a. The 3000 on Pentecost - Ac 2:1-41
b. The 2000 at Solomon's Porch - Ac 3:1-4:4
c. The Samaritans - Ac 8:4-25
d. The Ethiopian Eunuch - Ac 8:26-40
e. Saul Of Tarsus - Ac 9:1-19; 22:6-16; 26:12-18
f. Cornelius And His Household - Ac 10:1-48; 11:1-18
g. Two Households At Philippi - Ac 16:6-34
h. The Athenians - Ac 17:16-34
i. The Corinthians - Ac 18:1-11

2. There were others that we might have considered, but did not...
a. Those at Antioch of Syria - Ac 11:19-21
b. Sergius Paulus on the island of Paphos - Ac 13:4-12
c. Those at Antioch of Pisidia - Ac 13:13-48
d. Those at Iconium, Lystra and Derbe - Ac 14:1-20
e. Those at Thessalonica and Berea - Ac 17:1-12
f. Apollos, who was taught by Aquilla and Priscilla - Ac 18:24-28

3. But in those we examined, I shared the following observations:
a. The gospel message was one that focused on Jesus...
1) Who died for our sins
2) Who was raised from the dead
3) Who is both Lord and Christ, returning again one day to judge
the world
b. The response expected of those who heard was one of...
1) Faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God (which included
confessing that faith)
2) Repentance of one's sins
3) Baptism for the remission of sins

4. Before we conclude this series, I wish to examine one more case of
conversion...
a. It is the last example of conversion in Acts (with the possible
of exception of some in the audience when Paul spoke at Rome
- Ac 28:23-24)
b. It is unique for several reasons, one of which is that it
describes a "re-baptism"

[I am referring to "The Twelve Disciples Of John", recorded in Ac 19: 1-10. As we begin this study, let's review the Biblical record...]

I. THE CONVERSION OF TWELVE "DISCIPLES"

A. PAUL'S ARRIVAL IN EPHESUS...
1. He had just started his third journey - Ac 18:22-23
2. At the end of his second journey, he had made a quick stop at
Ephesus - Ac 18:19-21
3. True to his word, he returned to Ephesus - Ac 19:1

B. PAUL MEETS TWELVE "DISCIPLES"...
1. He finds some "disciples", who were twelve in number - Ac 19:
1b,7
2. Upon questioning, he learns they were disciples of John the
Baptist - Ac 19:2-3
a. He asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit when
they believed
1) As explained in the conversion of "The Samaritans" (Ac 8:4-25), I believe the phrase "receive the Holy Spirit"
to be a metonymy for receiving a miraculous gift from
the Spirit
2) As an apostle, Paul had the ability to impart spiritual
gifts - Ro 1:11; 2Ti 1:6
3) Assuming the "disciples" to have been baptized into
Christ, he desired to give them gifts from the Spirit
(such as the gifts of tongues and prophesy, cf. 1Co 12:10)
b. Their immediate answer sparks another question from Paul
1) They had not heard about a Holy Spirit
a) They must not have known much of John's own teaching,
for he taught about the Holy Spirit - cf. Mt 3:11
b) They clearly could not have been properly baptized
into Christ, for it is a baptism into the name of the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit! - cf. Mt 28:19
2) So Paul inquires into their baptism
a) He learns that it was John's baptism
b) Some have suggested that these 12 may have been
converted by Apollos before Apollos himself learned
the truth - cf. Ac 18:24-25

C. THE TWELVE ARE "RE-BAPTIZED"...
1. Paul explains that while John did teach a baptism of
repentance, he directed people to believe on Jesus who would
come after him - Ac 19:4
2. The twelve are then baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus
- Ac 19:5
a. This would be the baptism commanded by Jesus - Mt 28:18-20
b. And the baptism expected of all would-be disciples of Jesus
- Ac 2:38; 22:16
3. Following their baptism, Paul laid hands on them and the
Spirit imparted gifts of tongues and prophesy - Ac 19:6-7

[Such was the beginning of a very successful period for the gospel (cf.
Ac 19:8-10). Again we see what was considered the normal response of
one who wished to become a disciple of Jesus (faith and baptism).

The example of "The Twelve Disciples Of John" does raise an interesting
question concerning "re-baptism": Under what circumstances should one
be baptized again? Here are some thoughts regarding this question...]

II. IS "RE-BAPTISM" EVER NECESSARY?

A. OBSERVATIONS CONCERNING THE TWELVE DISCIPLES...
1. They had been previously "baptized"
2. Their baptism, however, was lacking in some way
a. Even though it was immersion
b. Even though it was "for the remission of sins" - Mk 1:4
c. But baptism was not in the name of Jesus - Ac 2:38; 10:48;
19:5
1) That is, by His authority
2) Which would have been a baptism into the name of the
Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Son - Mt 28:19
3. Because their first baptism LACKED AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT,
"re-baptism" was necessary!
-- May we not conclude that if an earlier baptism lacks some
essential element, then "re-baptism" is necessary?

B. WHEN "RE-BAPTISM" IS APPROPRIATE...
1. There are four "essential elements" of Bible baptism
a. The proper MODE: a burial (immersion) - Ro 6:3; Col 2:12
b. The proper AUTHORITY: in the name of Christ - Ac 19:5
c. The proper PURPOSE: remission of sins - Ac 2:38; 22:16
d. The proper SUBJECT: penitent believer - Ac 2:38; 8:37;
Mk 16:16
2. When just one of these "essential elements" was lacking,
"re-baptism" was commanded
a. In Ac 19:1-5, the proper AUTHORITY was lacking
b. Even though their previous baptism had the right MODE,
PURPOSE, and SUBJECT
3. Some cases where "re-baptism" would seem appropriate
a. If we were baptized by SPRINKLING OR POURING, for the
proper mode is immersion
b. If we were baptized by THE AUTHORITY OF ANYONE OTHER THAN
JESUS, for the proper authority is Jesus Christ
c. If we were baptized AS A PUBLIC CONFESSION OF FAITH
(thinking that we were already saved), for the proper
purpose is the remission of sins
d. If we were baptized BUT WERE NOT PENITENT BELIEVERS, for a
proper subject is one who believes "with all their heart"
1) E.g., when one is baptized just because their friends
are doing it
2) E.g., Because their spouse, fiance‚ or parents are
pressuring them to do it (and they do it to please them,
not God)
4. But let me be sure to clarify:
a. When one is baptized because their "first" baptism lacked
an essential element...
1) It is not really "re-baptism!"
2) For in the strictest sense, that person is finally being
baptized scripturally for the FIRST time!
b. When one has been scripturally baptized ONCE...
1) There is never a need to be baptized again!
2) Once we have clothed ourselves with Christ in baptism:
a) The blood of Christ continually cleanses us of our
sins
b) As we REPENT and CONFESS our sins to God in prayer
- Ac 8:22; 1Jn 1:9

CONCLUSION

1. The example of "The Twelve Disciples Of John" certainly illustrates
that one can...
a. Be religious
b. Have undergone some baptismal experience
...and still not be a true disciple of Jesus Christ!

2. One can rest assured that they are a true disciple of Jesus when
their baptism had...
a. The right MODE - immersion
b. The right AUTHORITY- Jesus Christ
c. The right PURPOSE - remission of sins
d. The right SUBJECT - penitent believer
-- Lacking any of these "essential elements", one should consider
being baptized again in order to "make your calling and election
sure"

3. If we desire to truly be disciples of Jesus Christ, then let's make
sure...
a. We proclaim the pure gospel of Jesus Christ, as preached by His
apostles in the first century A.D.
b. We have responded to that gospel in the same manner as those who
heard the good news preached in its purity and simplicity

I pray that this study, "Conversions In The Book Of Acts", has been
beneficial toward that end.

Was Jonah Swallowed by a Fish or a Whale? by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=2830

Was Jonah Swallowed by a Fish or a Whale?

by	Eric Lyons, M.Min.

The book of Jonah reveals that “[t]he Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights” (1:17, emp. added). About 800 years later, Jesus alluded to this amazing event (Matthew 12:39-41). According to the King James translation of Matthew 12:40, Jesus referred to Jonah being “three days and three nights in the whale’s belly” (emp. added). Since fish and whales are different creatures, skeptics accuse Jesus and the Bible writers of making a mistake (cf. Wells, 2012). Longtime Bible critic Dennis McKinsey alleged that Matthew 12:40 is “[p]robably the most famous scientific error by Jesus” (1995, p. 142). “Apparently Jesus hadn’t read the Old Testament very closely… Anyone with even a minimum of biological knowledge knows that a whale is not a fish and a fish is not a whale” (pp. 142-143).
Such a criticism of Jesus and the Bible writers epitomizes the impotence of skeptics’ attacks on God and His Word. McKinsey bases his criticism solely on an English translation made nearly 1,600 years after Jesus spoke these words. The skeptic never bothered to compare translations. He never asked about the word that Jesus originally spoke or that Matthew recorded. He did nothing but make a cursory criticism that might sound sensible on the surface, yet with only a little investigation, is easily and rationally explained.
What was the underlying Greek word that is translated “whale” in the KJV (as well as a few other versions)? A brief look in various respected Greek dictionaries quickly reveals that the word is ketos and is defined broadly as a “large sea creature” (Newman, 1971, p. 100), “sea monster” (Danker, et al., 2000, p. 544), or “huge fish” (Vine, 1952, p. 209). Jesus indicated that Jonah was swallowed by a “large sea creature,” which was not necessarily a whale, but may have been.
Nearly 300 years before Jesus spoke of Jonah being swallowed by a ketos (Matthew 12:40), translators of the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) used this same Greek word (ketos) to translate the Hebrew word (dahg, fish) found in Jonah 1:17, 2:1, and 2:10. The fact is, as Hebrew and Greek scholar Jack Lewis concluded, both dahg and ketos “designate sea creatures of undefined species” (1976, 2:178). In no way did Jesus, the Creator of all things (John 1:3), make a mistake about what kind of animal God “had prepared” to swallow Jonah. The animal was a great sea creature, and not necessarily a great “fish” according to our modern, more limited, definition of the word. It may very well have been a type of fish (e.g., shark), water-living mammal (e.g., whale), or extinct, dinosaur-like, water-living reptile. We simply cannot be sure. As Dave Miller concluded: “Both the Hebrew and Greek languages lacked the precision to identify with specificity the identity of the creature that swallowed Jonah” (2003).
Finally, one crucial truth that many (especially the Bible critics) miss in a discussion about God and the Bible writers’ naming and classifying of animals is that God did not classify animals thousands of years ago according to our modern classification system. As far back as Creation, God divided animals into very basic, natural groups. He made aquatic and aerial creatures on day five and terrestrial animals on day six (Genesis 1:20-23,24-25). Just as God sensibly classified bats with “birds,” since they both fly (Leviticus 11:13-19; see Lyons, 2009), He could classify whales as “fish,” since they both maneuver by swimming. To accuse Jesus or the Bible writers of incorrectly categorizing an animal based upon Carolus Linnaeus’ 18^th-century classification of animals, or any other modern method of classifying animals, is both illogical and unjust.
[NOTE: For more information on the Hebrew and Greek words dahg and ketos, see Miller, 2003.]

REFERENCES

Danker, Frederick William, William Arndt, and F.W. Gingrich, (2000), Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press).
Lewis, Jack P. (1976), The Gospel According to Matthew (Austin, TX: Sweet).
Lyons, Eric (2009), “Did the Bible Writers Commit Biological Blunders?” Reason & Revelation, 29[7]:49-55, July.
McKinsey, Dennis (1995), The Encylopedia of Biblical Errancy (Amherst, NY: Prometheus).
Miller, Dave (2003), “Jonah and the ‘Whale’?” Apologetics Press, http://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=6&article=69.
Newman, Barclay M., Jr. (1971), A Concise Greek-English Dictionary of the New Testament (London: United Bible Societies).
Vine, W.E. (1952), An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words (Old Tappan, NJ: Revell).
Wells, Steve (2012), Skeptic’s Annotated Bible, http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/whale.html.

From Jim McGuiggan... Jesus Christ and Creation

Jesus Christ and Creation

John and others have taught us that God must be understood through Jesus Christ—if you've seen and known me you see and know the Father, Jesus taught us (John 14); and if we've come to know Jesus we've come to know the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of God's Son as well as the Spirit of God (Galatians 4:6).

When we think of knowing God by looking at Jesus I would suppose that we automatically think of God's character and the kind of heart he has; no bad thing that. But I think we need we should spare a thought for God's purposes. His purposes reflect his character too, don't you know, but Jesus came to accomplish things in his Father's name and as his Father's servant and when we see Jesus we see the one in whom the purposes of God are focused.

Colossians 1:15-17 makes us think of Genesis 1:26-28. The echo of the "image of God" and then the notion of dominion and power in which Jesus is said to be preeminent and the one in whom all things hold together. Colossians 1 echoes Genesis 1 but it takes us light years beyond it. Three distinct prepositions tell us how and why the creation came to be. It came to be "through" him as the agent of creation (1 Corinthians 8:6). As surely as election and redemption is "in" Jesus so also was the world created "in" him (see Ephesians 1:4). He is the conceptual sphere within which God worked to create; creation was created in light of Jesus, with Jesus as its driving thought and inspiration. And the creation was created for (or "unto") him—he was creation's goal. In the glorious and immortal Jesus, the Son of God and the last Adam the creation found its completion. What went before was real and wonderful but it was all moving toward him. This God purposed in creation before the human family rebelled and our rebellion did not change his mind. The redeeming life and person of Jesus Christ completes the two tasks—he sets the world right in redemption and brings it to its purposed climax with him as its glorified Lord.

The Incarnation, redeeming life, death, resurrection and exaltation confirm God's eternal creation purposes by bringing about redemption and reconciliation. The creation is not destined for destruction in "the great fire"—it was created for Jesus.

This has ramifications for how we look at, work with and relate to the creation.

August 6, 2014

From Gary... A new strength

I really liked this picture!!! Why; well, because of its "attitude" toward the obvious condition of the very aged. Today, I experienced a bit of this myself, as the arthritis in my hands bothered me some. And yet- so what? We all experience problems (of all types, not just physical), whether young or old. And those problems can be beneficial if we look at them from the right perspective. Consider the following passage for a moment.

Psalms 71:9-19 NASB
(9) Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when my strength fails.
(10) For my enemies have spoken against me; And those who watch for my life have consulted together,
(11) Saying, "God has forsaken him; Pursue and seize him, for there is no one to deliver."
(12) O God, do not be far from me; O my God, hasten to my help!
(13) Let those who are adversaries of my soul be ashamed and consumed; Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor, who seek to injure me.
(14) But as for me, I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more.
(15) My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness And of Your salvation all day long; For I do not know the sum of them.
(16) I will come with the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of Your righteousness, Yours alone.
(17) O God, You have taught me from my youth, And I still declare Your wondrous deeds.
(18) And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come.
(19) For Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You?

Sooner or later your health will cause problems in your life. When this happens, you have a choice- you can either become bitter or become better. How? Well, that depends upon your direction in relationship to God. Two years in a row in high school, I dislocated my patella and was on crutches for 6 months each time. Yet, those episodes resulted in my Linda carrying my books and it was during those days of disability and pain that we grew very close. Also, because of this I began to look at my life differently and started to think spiritually (something I had never really done before). Do you have problems- draw close to God and HE will draw close to you. Then perhaps the words of the 71st Psalm will become more meaningful and when the time of great maturity (old age) arrives, you will have a strength than can endure virtually anything!!!

From Gary... Bible Reading August 6

Bible Reading

August 6

The World English Bible

Aug. 6

Ezra 7-8

Ezr 7:1 Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,

Ezr 7:2 the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,

Ezr 7:3 the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,

Ezr 7:4 the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,

Ezr 7:5 the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest;

Ezr 7:6 this Ezra went up from Babylon: and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of Yahweh his God on him.

Ezr 7:7 There went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.

Ezr 7:8 He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.

Ezr 7:9 For on the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon; and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God on him.

Ezr 7:10 For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of Yahweh, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances.

Ezr 7:11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of the commandments of Yahweh, and of his statutes to Israel:

Ezr 7:12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect and so forth.

Ezr 7:13 I make a decree, that all those of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, who are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with you.

Ezr 7:14 Because you are sent of the king and his seven counselors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your hand,

Ezr 7:15 and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,

Ezr 7:16 and all the silver and gold that you shall find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem;

Ezr 7:17 therefore you shall with all diligence buy with this money bulls, rams, lambs, with their meal offerings and their drink offerings, and shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.

Ezr 7:18 Whatever shall seem good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do that after the will of your God.

Ezr 7:19 The vessels that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver before the God of Jerusalem.

Ezr 7:20 Whatever more shall be needful for the house of your God, which you shall have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house.

Ezr 7:21 I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done with all diligence,

Ezr 7:22 to one hundred talents of silver, and to one hundred measures of wheat, and to one hundred baths of wine, and to one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.

Ezr 7:23 Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?

Ezr 7:24 Also we inform you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, the singers, porters, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, on them.

Ezr 7:25 You, Ezra, after the wisdom of your God who is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people who are beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach him who doesn't know them.

Ezr 7:26 Whoever will not do the law of your God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him with all diligence, whether it be to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

Ezr 7:27 Blessed be Yahweh, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem;

Ezr 7:28 and has extended loving kindness to me before the king, and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty princes. I was strengthened according to the hand of Yahweh my God on me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

Ezr 8:1 Now these are the heads of their fathers' houses, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king:

Ezr 8:2 Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. Of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel. Of the sons of David, Hattush.

Ezr 8:3 Of the sons of Shecaniah, of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah; and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males one hundred fifty.

Ezr 8:4 Of the sons of Pahathmoab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah; and with him two hundred males.

Ezr 8:5 Of the sons of Shecaniah, the son of Jahaziel; and with him three hundred males.

Ezr 8:6 Of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan; and with him fifty males.

Ezr 8:7 Of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah; and with him seventy males.

Ezr 8:8 Of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael; and with him eighty males.

Ezr 8:9 Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel; and with him two hundred and eighteen males.

Ezr 8:10 Of the sons of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah; and with him one hundred sixty males.

Ezr 8:11 Of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai; and with him twenty-eight males.

Ezr 8:12 Of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan; and with him one hundred ten males.

Ezr 8:13 Of the sons of Adonikam, who were the last; and these are their names: Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah; and with them sixty males.

Ezr 8:14 Of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud; and with them seventy males.

Ezr 8:15 I gathered them together to the river that runs to Ahava; and there we encamped three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.

Ezr 8:16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, who were teachers.

Ezr 8:17 I sent them forth to Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia; and I told them what they should tell Iddo, and his brothers the Nethinim, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our God.

Ezr 8:18 According to the good hand of our God on us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers, eighteen;

Ezr 8:19 and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty;

Ezr 8:20 and of the Nethinim, whom David and the princes had given for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim: all of them were mentioned by name.

Ezr 8:21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of him a straight way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.

Ezr 8:22 For I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken to the king, saying, The hand of our God is on all those who seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath is against all those who forsake him.

Ezr 8:23 So we fasted and begged our God for this: and he was entreated of us.

Ezr 8:24 Then I set apart twelve of the chiefs of the priests, even Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers with them,

Ezr 8:25 and weighed to them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering for the house of our God, which the king, and his counselors, and his princes, and all Israel there present, had offered:

Ezr 8:26 I weighed into their hand six hundred fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels one hundred talents; of gold one hundred talents;

Ezr 8:27 and twenty bowls of gold, of one thousand darics; and two vessels of fine bright brass, precious as gold.

Ezr 8:28 I said to them, You are holy to Yahweh, and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to Yahweh, the God of your fathers.

Ezr 8:29 Watch, and keep them, until you weigh them before the chiefs of the priests and the Levites, and the princes of the fathers' houses of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of Yahweh.

Ezr 8:30 So the priests and the Levites received the weight of the silver and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.

Ezr 8:31 Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the bandit by the way.

Ezr 8:32 We came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.

Ezr 8:33 On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, the Levite;

Ezr 8:34 the whole by number and by weight: and all the weight was written at that time.

Ezr 8:35 The children of the captivity, who had come out of exile, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve male goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering to Yahweh.

Ezr 8:36 They delivered the king's commissions to the king's satraps, and to the governors beyond the River: and they furthered the people and the house of God.

From Mark Copeland... The 3000 On Pentecost (Acts 2:1-41)

                   "CONVERSIONS IN THE BOOK OF ACTS"

                     The 3000 On Pentecost (2:1-41)

INTRODUCTION

1. The Book of Acts serves a unique role in the New Testament and the
   history of the church...
   a. It picks up where the gospels leave off, and provides a backdrop
      for the epistles
   b. It details the spread of the gospel, and expansion of the Lord's
      church
   c. It is the only record, inspired or otherwise, of the first thirty
      years of the church

2. Included in the historical record of Acts are many examples of
   conversions...
   a. In which we find the apostles and other preachers leading people
      to Christ
   b. In some cases we can read the very sermons used to proclaim the
      gospel
   c. We also have descriptions of what people were told to receive
      God's saving grace

3. The value of such examples of conversion cannot be overstated...
   a. For today we can hear or see many different "gospels" being
      proclaimed
   b. Even when the gospel facts are faithfully proclaimed, sometimes
      people are told to respond in a manner not found in the New
      Testament
   -- With the help of The Book of Acts, we can make sure that the
      gospel facts and commands are faithfully proclaimed!

4. In this series, we shall examine several examples of conversions as
   described in Acts...
   a. Noting the background of each conversion
   b. Considering the sermons proclaimed and the responses to them
   c. Analyzing the sermons and responses, seeking to glean the
      elements of the gospel message and what response to expect of
      those coming to Christ

[In this study, we start with the first example of conversion, "The
3000 On Pentecost", as recorded in Acts 2.  As we begin, let's do so
with...]

I. THE BACKGROUND OF THE CONVERSION

   A. IT WAS THE DAY OF PENTECOST - Ac 2:1
      1. An annual Jewish feast, celebrated 50 days after the
         presentation of the firstfruits
      2. One in which Jews would travel great distances to attend - Ac 2:5

   B. THE SPIRIT FELL ON THE APOSTLES - Ac 2:2-13
      1. As promised by John and Jesus - Ac 1:4-5; cf. Lk 24:49
      2. Accompanied by audible and visual signs...
         a. A sound as of a mighty rushing wind - Ac 2:2
         b. Divided tongues as of fire sitting upon each of them - Ac 2:3
      3. Enabling the apostles to speak in foreign languages - Ac 2:
         4-11
         a. Every man heard them speak in his own language - Ac 2:6,11
         b. That those who spoke were "Galileans" (Ac 2:7), suggesting
            the apostles
            1) For the apostles were from Galilee
            2) Whereas the 120 disciples were from all over Palestine
      4. The reaction of the crowd was mixed - Ac 2:12-13
         a. Some were amazed and perplexed
         b. Others mocked, accusing the apostles of being drunk

   C. PETER EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED - Ac 2:14-21
      1. It was too early for them to be drunk - Ac 2:14-15
      2. Rather, it was a fulfillment of Joel's prophecy - Ac 2:16-21
         a. Found in Joel 2:28-32
         b. In which God promised to pour out of His Spirit on all
            flesh

[So we find a large gathering of religious people initially drawn by
the miraculous events which occurred this day in Jerusalem.  Having
explained the meaning of the events, Peter immediately proceeded with
the first recorded gospel sermon...]

II. THE SERMON AND ITS RESPONSE

   A. JESUS IS PROCLAIMED...
      1. Peter began with the life and miracles of Jesus, with which
         his audience was well acquainted - Ac 2:22
      2. He laid the blame of Jesus' death at their feet, but said it
         was in keeping with God's predetermined plan - Ac 2:23
      3. He declared that God raised Jesus from the dead, and provided
         three lines of evidence - Ac 2:24-35
         a. The testimony of David - Ac 2:25-31
            1) Who prophesied of the resurrection of God's Anointed
               - Ps 16:8-11
            2) Who could not have been speaking of himself, but of
               Jesus
            -- Thus, the testimony of Scripture
         b. The testimony of the twelve apostles - Ac 2:32
            1) Who had to be eyewitnesses to qualify as apostles - cf.
               Ac 1:21-26
            2) With twelve witnesses, the demands of Scripture were
               overwhelmingly met ("by the mouth of two or three
               witnesses every word may be established.")
            -- Thus, the testimony of eyewitnesses
         c. The testimony of the Spirit's outpouring - Ac 2:33-35
            1) The outpouring of the Spirit was evidence of:
               a) Christ's exaltation to the right hand of God
               b) Christ receiving from the Father the promise of the
                  Spirit
            2) And so another prophecy of David was fulfilled - cf. Psa 110:1
            -- Thus, the testimony of the day's events
      4. Finally, Peter reached the climax of his sermon - Ac 2:36
         a. The Jesus they crucified, God had made...
            1) "Lord" (Ruler of all - cf. Mt 28:18)
            2) "Christ" (The Anointed One prophesied in Scripture)
         b. This fact they were to "know assuredly"
            1) To understand, to accept as fact
            2) To believe firmly

   B. THE RESPONSE TO PETER'S SERMON...
      1. The listeners were convicted - Ac 2:37
         a. They were "cut to the heart"
         b. They asked "what shall we do?"
      2. Peter replied with commands and a promise - Ac 2:38-39
         a. The commands to repent and be baptized for the remission of
            sins
         b. The promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit, a promise for
            "as many as the Lord our God will call"
      3. Luke then summarized what followed...
         a. Peter continued to offer testimony and exhortation - Ac 2:
            40
         b. Those who "gladly received his word were baptized" - Ac 2:
            41
         c. 3000 souls were "added" (later, we learn it was the Lord
            who was adding them to His church - cf. Ac 2:47)

[With this response to Peter's sermon, the Lord's church began in
Jerusalem (cf. Ac 2:42). It was an amazing day, in which 3000 souls
responded to the gospel of Christ. What can be gleaned from this
example of conversion?]

III. AN ANALYSIS OF THE CONVERSION

   A. OBSERVATIONS REGARDING PETER'S SERMON...
      1. Peter's focus was on the Word, not the signs and wonders
         a. His explanation of the miraculous was no more than a
            quotation from Joel
         b. Having explained the miraculous, he directed their
            attention to Jesus
      2. Peter's theme was the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus
         a. His life and death they knew
         b. It was His resurrection and exaltation to God's right hand
            that he sought to prove
      3. His main objective:  for them to accept Jesus as their Lord
         and Messiah (Christ)

   B. OBSERVATIONS REGARDING THE RESPONSE...
      1. The reaction of the people is noteworthy: "cut to the heart"
         a. This shows the power of God's word to convict - cf. Ro 1:16
         b. While convicted, not all people will respond in the same
            way - cf. Ac 7:54
      2. The reply to their question ("what shall we do?") is also
         noteworthy
         a. Peter commanded them to "repent", which was what Jesus
            expected Him to say - cf. Lk 24:46-47
         b. Peter commanded them to "be baptized", which was also in
            keeping with what Jesus commanded the apostles - Mt 28:19;
            Mk 16:15-16
      3. The purpose of their baptism was explained: "for the remission
         of sins"
         a. The identical phrase was used by Jesus in Mt 26:28
         b. His blood was shed for many "for the remission of sins"
         c. In both cases, the preposition "for" means "with a view
            toward, in order to"
            1) Jesus shed His blood in order to provide remission of
               sins
            2) One is baptized in order to receive remission of sins
               (for in baptism we are baptized into Christ's death
               - cf. Ro 6:3-6)
      4. Those who are baptized were promised "the gift of the Spirit"
         a. I take the gift to be the Spirit Himself - cf. Ac 5:32
            1) Not something the Spirit gives (such as salvation or
               spiritual gifts)
            2) All who become Christians receive the Spirit - Ga 4:6;
               1Co 12:13
         b. The Spirit is therefore "the promise" referred to in verse
            39
            1) Who was promised by the Father and received by Christ
               - Ac 2:33
            2) Who was poured out by Christ on the day of Pentecost
               - Ac 2:33
            3) Thus poured out, one can now receive the "washing of
               regeneration and renewal of the Spirit" in baptism,
               resulting in justification - cf. Tit 3:5-7
      5. Those who were baptized were "added" to the church - Ac 2:41,
         47
         a. When one is baptized (i.e., saved), the Lord adds him or
            her to His church, which is His body - cf. 1Co 12:13
         b. Baptism is therefore the "door" to the church (in the
            universal, not local) sense

   C. LESSONS FOR TODAY...
      1. When preaching the gospel...
         a. Our focus should be on death, burial, resurrection and
            exaltation of Jesus Christ - e.g., 1Co 2:1-2; 15:1-4
         b. The evidence we offer as support should be:
            1) The testimony of Scripture (e.g., the Old Testament
               prophecies)
            2) The testimony of the eyewitnesses (i.e., the apostles)
         c. Our goal is for people to accept the Lordship of Jesus
            Christ, acknowledging Him to be the Messiah, God's Anointed
      2. When people are convicted of sin, and ask "what shall we do?",
         we should reply:
         a. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (though not specifically
            mentioned, it is assumed in the call to "know assuredly")
            - cf. Ac 16:30-31
         b. Repent of your sins - cf. Ac 17:30
         c. Be baptized for the remission of sins - cf. Ac 10:48; 22:16
      3. Along with remission of sins, we should tell of the promise of
         the Spirit
         a. The Spirit's role in the life of the Christian is important
            - 1Co 6:11; Ro 8:13
         b. While the role of the Spirit is often misunderstood, we
            should not hesitate to make mention of Him as a promise and
            gift to those who obey God! - Ac 5:32

CONCLUSION

1. With the first example of conversion, we find Peter faithfully
   carrying out the commission of his Lord...
   a. To preach the gospel - Mk 16:15
   b. To preach repentance and remission of sins in His name - Lk 24:47
   c. To include baptism along with faith as a proper response to the
      gospel - Mk 16:16
   d. To make disciples by baptizing them - Mt 28:19

2. Is this the gospel and response being proclaimed today?
   a. Some preach the gospel of health and wealth, with a focus on
      "signs" and "wonders", rather than on the death, resurrection and
      exaltation of Christ!
   b. Some would tell the lost to simply "say the sinner's prayer", is
      that what Peter said?

Those who presume to preach in the name of Christ, should be careful to
preach as did His apostles; those who wish to respond to the grace of
God in Christ, should be careful to respond as did those who heard the
apostles preach!

Have you responded to the preaching of the gospel in the same manner as
did "The 3000 On Pentecost"? Remember...

   "...those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that
   day about three thousand souls were added to them." (Acts 2:41)