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The Heralds of the Messiah The Kingdom Message. The book of the Acts is one of
the most interesting, in all the Bible, in fact it is one of the
most thrilling historical narratives ever written. It furnishes
"many infallible proofs" of the resurrection and a
vivid account of the consequences of that event. It is
frequently referred to as the Acts of the Holy Spirit, due to
the prominent place given to Him throughout the record of the
Apostles' work. In our study we should notice the frequent
references to the Old Testament promises and the inspired
interpretation of them as they were fulfilled. Christ spent
forty days with His disciples after the resurrection speaking to
them "of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God."
Acts 1:3.
Evidence that the idea of a restoration of the Jewish kingdom
still clung to the minds of some followers is seen in Acts 1:6
which says, "Lord wilt thou at this time restore the
kingdom to Israel?" In reply, Jesus tenderly admonished His
disciples, that some things were hidden in the counsels of God
and assured them that the Holy Spirit would descend on them
shortly, Ch. 1:709. From this point, the kingdom of Israel is
never mentioned in the Bible again. Significantly, you will
recall that Jesus said, "I have yet many things to say unto
you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit, when he the Spirit of
truth is come, he will guide you into all truth." John
16:12, 13. No doubt, some of the those "hard things"
concerned the kingdom of Israel as was currently held by
Talmudic teachers. We have already noted that many Jews did look
for an earthly kingdom. See Matt. 20: 20-29. When the disciples
were filled with the Holy Spirit and guided into the full truth
by His unerring inspiration, the idea of the kingdom of Israel
faded out forever and the kingdom of God became a glorious
reality. In Acts 20:25 we read, "And now, behold, I know
that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of
God, shall see my face no more." The book of the Acts
everywhere demonstrates the fulfillment of the Old Testament
prophecies and the promises to the fathers in its proclamation
of the kingdom of God.
The Coronation and Enthronement of the Messiah
There are two facts that we should observe in the sermon
preached by Peter on the day of Pentecost. In Acts 2:30 Peter
referred to the promise that Christ, the Son of David, was to
sit on His throne. We have already made it clear that the
pronoun "His" does not refer to David's earthly throne
in Jerusalem. Verse 33 lends additional proof to this fact in
these words, "Therefore being by the right hand of God
exalted." This exaltation of Christ to the throne on the
right hand of God Almighty is the throne referred to as
"His throne." This is the throne that will last
forever and from which Christ wields the scepter of
righteousness spoken of in Heb. 1:8. This is the throne Christ
ascended to when He said, "All Power is given unto me in
Heaven and Earth." Matt. 28:18. He is there now.
Secondly, notice verse 36 which says, "Therefore let all
the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same
Jesus whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ," that
is, King, Messiah. Remember that the only way He could be the
Messiah was by fulfilling the prophecies and promises written of
Him in the Old Testament. Going back a few months in the career
of Peter we find him at Caesarea Philippi making his memorable
confession. "Thou art the Messiah, the Son of the living
God." Matt. 16:16. Upon that occasion, Jesus told him that
he had received that revelation from God. Jesus then said that
He would give Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven, but
charged him not to make known the fact that Jesus was the
Messiah until after the resurrection.
In Acts 2, the resurrection was past and Peter preached under
the anointing of the Holy Ghost. He was the first preacher to
proclaim Jesus as the Messiah, and this declaration was the key
that unlocked the kingdom of heaven. No sooner had he uttered
those words than conviction smote the multitude and three
thousand souls were born again. Remember that one has to be born
again in order to enter the kingdom of God. John 3:5. When
Christ is embraced as Saviour and Lord He unlocks all of Gods
kingdom to us. When Peter perceived that Jesus was the Messiah
he had that key, and Christ commissioned him to be the first one
to use it, which he did in Acts 2:36.
In Ch. 3:18 we read, "But those things which God before
had showed by the mouth of all His prophets, that Christ should
suffer, he hath so fulfilled." Observe briefly that the
sufferings of Christ, "So fulfilled" that which was
written by all the prophets. In the verses, which follow Peter
says that "Moses and all the prophets from Samuel and those
that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise
foretold of these days. Ye are the children of the prophets and
of the covenant, which God made with our fathers, saying unto
Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be
blessed. Unto you first God having raised up his Son Jesus, sent
him to bless you in turning everyone of you from his
iniquities." Acts 3:22-26. Suffice it to point out that
Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, explained that
the salvation of the soul from sin is the blessing that God
promised to Abraham. The sufferings and death of Christ not only
fulfilled prophecy, but through them, Christ atoned for our sins
and became the Author of a universal redemption in which all the
families of the earth are blessed.
The Gospel Fulfills Prophecy. We now direct special
attention to the 13th chapter of Acts. The entire chapter should
be carefully studied, but we shall quote from the 23rd verse:
"Of this man's (i.e. David's) seed hath God according to
his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus." This
again verifies how the resurrection fulfilled the promise God
made to David. Verses 24-26 mention the harmony of the message
of John the Baptist with that of Christ in proclaiming
repentance and salvation. Then in verse 27, the apostle Paul
makes a sweeping indictment that the Jewish rulers
misinterpreted the Scriptures. It reads as follows: "For
they that dwell at Jerusalem and their rulers, because they knew
him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every
Sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him."
The Jews expected an earthly kingdom and a national Messiah.
They were mistaken as to the nature of His kingdom and they
misinterpreted the promises. We must be careful not to make the
same mistake they did, and repeat the same error.
Continuing in v. 29, "And when they had fulfilled all
that was written concerning him, they took him down from the
tree." Again we note that all that was written concerning
Him was fulfilled. We find the same thought in verses 32, 33.
Paul places the emphasis on the word fulfilled, so we enquire,
"What was fulfilled?" The answer is given in vv.38,
39, "Through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness
of sins, and by Him all that believe are justified from all
things…" In every instance we discover the promises
fulfilled when men believe on Christ to the saving of their
souls. As a nation, the Jews refused to believe and so the
apostles turned to the Gentiles. V.46. But we must observe that
the promises did no fail; it was the people who failed to
embrace them, and consequently thy lost the benefits thereby.
"As many as were ordained to eternal life believed."
V.48. In believing, the promises came to pass and took effect.
We pass now to Ch. 17:2, 3 where Paul again reasoned from the
Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah. In fact he was so zealous
and insistent, that some local opposition lodged a charge
against him that he was proclaiming Christ as King. V. 7. We
conclude, of course, that the Christ Who died and rose again
fulfilled the Scriptures from which Paul reasoned so earnestly.
While the Jews insisted on a Messiah who would save them
nationally from Rome, they rejected the Messiah who sought to
save their souls from the Devil and sin. Their hopes were based
on a wrong interpretation of the Bible: an interpretation, which
led to their ruin.
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