Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-06-30
The Aseen.lon OF Chrlst.


The "Acts or the Apostlcsp might quite
as fifty be named the Acts OF the Holy
Ghost Indeed the title Is properly 1Acts.1
nothing more. AS the gospefof Luke the
writer's former treatise, described what
Jesus began to do and TO teach. so this
from the same hand tells us what the Holy
Spirit sent of Christ began TO do and TO
teach. the apostles being the agents for his
gracious manifestations DIR. ]. Ransom
Lumby In the Cambridge Bible very sa-
gaciously says. referring to the witnessing |
"both In Jerusalem and In all Judea, and
in samaria and unto the uttermost parts
OF the EARTH that stalking these words for
his theme the author directs his labor to
show in what manner the teaching OF the
apostles was begun In each OF those APP
pointed fields of labor, and he does no
more" There is something left for others.
for us.
WHAT TIE LEssor SAYS
The former treatise. Literally. the first
word g.. communication. account (logos).
Have made. he had been making a
statement; he purposes now to make an
additional one.--Theophilus- Meaning
lover OF God An unknown person. ALL
that Jesus began The important word is
began. for this Is the book OF beginningsi
but the emphatic word is Jesus. The be-
ginnings OF Jesus words and acts he has
already sketched; he will now outline the
beginnings of the work of the Holy Spirit.
Through the Holy Ghost Standing over
against the word Jesus In the first verse
Christ now speaks through the Holy Ghost;
IL is OF this new method OF teaching and
doing that Luke Will now narrate. Unto
the apostles whom he had chosen. Chosen
for the purpose OF laying the foundations
of which record IS here made.
Showed himself alive. Literally, pro-
sented himself living.-After his passion
Greek; After him to suffer BY many
infallible proofs The word tekmar, from
which the last word comes, means u fixed
mark The miracles and signs of Christ's
Temperatures form fixed and permanent
foundation. on which the whole super
structure OF the Christian religion securely
rests We thus see the present worth OF
the miracle; IL Is like the solid stone I'M
der the building, placed there once for all
being seen. jesus was an object of
vision, the Significance OF the word) off
aud on, for forty days. In order that the
"proofn might be infallible
Being assembled together with them An
awkward expression; better being In as
sembly with them; l. e.. in u company
ca led for the purpose PROMISES; e,
the thing promised, the Holy Spirit Not
TO depart word signifying formal with
drawal, as possibly for the establishment
of a separate institution ----Ye have heard
OF me. The sudden leap into direct dis
| course here is significant. 1t intlm ates the
| frequency and loving closeness with which
the very words of Christ were quoted by
the disciples.
John truly baptized with water. How
that baptism was administered the next
words give Indication: But We shall be
| baptized In the Holy Ghost (en( The
house in which they were sitting, IL is to be
| remem bered, was filed with the manifest
presence OF the spiriti 1t was very i'm
| mersion. DIR. Conants translation bible
! Union) is, immersed In the Holy Spirit
Wilt thou at this time restore? Present
tense: Art thou at this time restoring?-
4 Id. a.. A. LA -
a narrow view Evidently the Spirit has
not, when these words are uttered, de-
/ scended.
1t is not for you to know the times or the
seasons There is almost an implication
here that Israel is yet to have the king
/ dom restored. Shall we say IL is q spirit
ual restoration, or is Israel yet TO reign
upon her hill OF Zion?--His own power.
| Better, authority (exousial
4 But we shall receive power Not the
| same words as In the verse before: here IL
means strength (dunamisL After that
the HOY Ghost is come upon you. Par
| ticipial construction: the Holy Spirit
coming upon you 1t may mean by the
coming of the Holy Spirit upon you.
| Witnesses unto me. Literally, my wit
nesseS Greek: martyrs. - Both in
Jerusalem, etc We mark this as the key
/ text u the Acts.
While they beheld. As they were gazing.
doubtless In apprehension of something
about TO occur or now occurring. Re-
coived him. The lexicon suggests that this
verb means to take up by placing ones
self underneath what is taken up-Out
OF their sight Greek ewes Still within
reach of their hope and aspiration.
Looked steadfas.ly. One word In the
Greek, TO gaze intcntly; from the root in
tense, strained light t. owa ard heaven.
Literally into the heavens very vivid
account As he went up Greek: he GO
Ing up.-stood by them. The pluperfect
\ form. Behold two men were standing, l. e,
had been standing while they were looking
up.
Why stand yer or Why have We been
standingr perfect teuse), In like man
ner AZ ye have seen him GO AS clear and
| explicit as 1t could be made
| Olivet Meaning, AN olive garden A
| Sabbath days journey The exact spot
| BILE event
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES
All that Jesus began both TO do and
teach The gospels are sufficient unto sal
walton. and they present in themselves a
perfect plan of redemption But as re-
| spects the whole truth which is In Christ
| Jesus, they constitute still for us only what
| Jesus began both To do and teach. The
| Acts of the Apostles inspired in their con-
veyance. carry us farther on into this mar
velous doctrine and practice; the history
| OF the church In subsequent ages gives MS
1
| future is there not yet more TO follow?
| Christ Jesus as doctrine Is tho greatest
| thought ever born into the earth. Christ
| Jesus as person, an object transcendins all
| individual powers OF perception. He grows
with the ages. Daily the Holy Spirit
| Is guiding the Christian mind and heart
into all the truth.
| Walt for the promise OF the Father This
| does not refer merely TO the spoken promise
| or to the intellectual apprehension OF that
| promise. Too often NO content ourselves
| with just so much. We read and ponder till
we understand. and then our waiting ceases.
| We have discovered what the promise
| means Something mere is intended here.
vastly moro. IL Is the promised thing that
| is to be realized. We are to ait and keep
| on waiting In faith. until we not only des-
| cry as at distance the desired DO n. but
| hold IL I'm our hands present possession.
| The proper commentary OF this passage Is
verse 80 OF the second chapter: "Therefore,
being by the right hand OF God exalted,
and having received of the Father the
promise OF the Holy Ghost he hath shed
| forth this which ye now see and hear"
We shall receive power Here is the suf-
| fcient answer TO their question of "a mo-
ment before; aLoid. wilt thou at this time
restore again the kingdom OF Israel7n Tho
Lord rebukes their groveling aims and then
| interprets TO them the better aspirations
| of their Spirit touched hearts, aye shall
| receive power after that the Holy Ghost Is
| come upon you, and ye shall bo witnesses.
| This is the kingdom which they may ex-
| pect, kingdom of spiritual indwelling. n
kingdom and conquest of witnessing. Power