Bible Studies
The Resurrection and the Preaching of the Kingdom in Acts (Lk. 24:44-49)
Series: ResurrectionIntroduction:
1. There is a direct link between the resurrection of Jesus and the preaching of the apostles. 2. Nowhere is this more clearly evidenced than in the book of Acts. 3. The passage in Luke that we have just read connects with Acts 1:1-8. It speaks of Jesus’s “presenting Himself alive over a period of forty days” in which time he spoke to them “things concerning the kingdom of God.” 4. It was from this context that they went out proclaiming Jesus raised from the dead and preaching entrance into the kingdom of God. 5. Their message affects us in at least three ways.a. First, our belief in the resurrection and our citizenship in the kingdom is founded upon their preaching.
b. Second, our hope that we will be raised is founded upon their preaching.
c. And third, our mission is the continued proclamation of Jesus raised from the dead and entrance into the kingdom. It is a mission based upon Him being the king and having proven such by His resurrection.
d. Without His resurrection both our hope and our mission collapse. In effect, everything that we are about is reduced to nothing.
Discussion:
I. The book of Acts opens with the connection of Lk. 24:44-49 and Acts 1:1-8 linking resurrection and evangelistic commission.A. Lk. 24 describes how Jesus opened the minds of the apostles to understand the Scriptures about the suffering, resurrection and proclamation of forgiveness of sins in His name (45-47).
1. “You are witnesses,” Jesus said.
2. “I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you,” this sent forth promise would catapult them into the world with the message of forgiveness founded upon the resurrection that confirmed that He was the promised King.
B. It is obvious that His time with them after the resurrection created an anticipation about the kingdom.
1. He was speaking to them concerning the kingdom of God (v. 3).
2. They questioned, “Is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” (v. 6).
3. He indicated that they would be witnesses (of the resurrection) in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the remotest part of the earth.
II. Peter’s sermon in Acts 2 welds resurrection and kingdom together with the fiery tongues of the Holy Spirit.A. “You put Him to death, but God raised Him up,” Peter said (vs. 23-24).
B. He welded resurrection and kingship together with a quotation from David (Psa. 16:8-11) (vs. 25-33).
C. He hammeredit withcitation from 2 Sam 7:12f (cf. Psa. 89:3-4; 132:11) (vs. 30-33).
D. He tempered it with Psa. 110:1 (vs. 34-35).
E. Then cooled it by telling them to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins (vs. 28).
1. In a previous lesson we have observed a connection between being baptized and being united together with Christ in His death and resurrection (Rom. 6:2-7).
2. 1 Pet. 3:21 states, “Baptism now saves you through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
3. Col. 2:12 says, “Having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him from the dead.”
4. One’s participation in the “new creation” is founded upon belief in the resurrected King and evidences itself in our participation with Him in the new life beginning with our being united together with Him in His death and resurrection in baptism (cf. Col. 3:1ff).
III. Paul’s sermon in Pisidian Antioch was forged from the same elements (Acts 13:26ff).A. Those of Jerusalem put Him to death, said Paul (13:26-29). “But God raised Him from the dead” (v. 30).
B. He continued to speak of the resurrection quoting from David (Psa. 2:7), then from Isa. 55:3 about the holy and sure blessings of David, then from David again (Psa. 16:10): “You will not allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.” All of these passages speak of the resurrection.
C. “What about kingship?”
1. Paul had already introduced this earlier in his sermon and identified Jesus as the Savior (note verses 21-23).
2. Now he welds the two together: “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses” (vs. 38-39). This freedom involves freedom from sin (cf. Rom. 6:7).
3. The resurrected Savior (cf. Acts 2:21; Joel 2:32) and King brings freedom.
IV. Not only are the two primary characters of Acts preaching resurrection and the Kingdom, but this theme permeates the entire record of Acts.A. You see it in the selection of an apostle to replace Judas (Acts 1:22).
B. Peter’s second sermon makes Jesus’ resurrection the critical event of his testimony (3:15, 26).
C. In their engagement with the Jewish rulers the issue was their teaching and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead (Acts 4:2, 10, 33; 5:30-32). Note identification of Jesus as Prince and Savior (5:31). In 3:14 he had referred to Him as the “Prince of life.” This identification in 5:31 identifies Him with His Kingship—exalted to the right hand of God. Cf. 2:33. Thus His resurrection and His Kingship are inseparable.
D. Festus summarized the issue between the Jews and Paul as involving “some points of disagreement about their religion and about a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive” (Acts 25:19). Even the Roman authorities understood resurrection to be a main point in their preaching. Confirmed when Paul preached this to Agrippa (26:23).
V. They not only proclaimed Jesus raised from the dead, but they proclaimed a coming resurrection for both the righteous and the wicked (Acts 24:14-16).A. They believed that what they preached was what was written in the Law and the Prophets.
B. They believed that it was important, in view of this coming resurrection, to maintain a blameless conscience before God and before men.
Conclusion:
1. They went everywhere testifying to the resurrection and preaching entrance into the Kingdom of God for salvation. 2. The Kingdom of God is the new creation. It is founded upon the resurrection of Christ. Those that accept the testimony enter the kingdom through a new birth of water and the Spirit. They are made alive through the resurrection of Jesus Christ when they are united with His death, burial and resurrection in baptism. 3. They are new creatures raised to walk in newness of life. 4. Would you join them in this new life?
