Latest / A Chapter a Day Bible Reading / May 19 - Acts 1

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May 19 - Acts 1 · A Chapter a Day Bible Reading

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  Hello friends, it's Sean here. It's Tuesday, it is the 19th of
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  May, and it is a whole new world opening up to us as we have
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  finished reading through the book of Joshua.
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  And now, yes, friends, we are opening back up into the New
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  Testament, into the crackerjack, exciting roller coaster ride of
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  the book of Acts. Yes, this is the story of God
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  growing his church from this handful of ragtag men and women
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  terrified for their lives, and then as Jesus instructs them to
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  share and grow this church in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in
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  Samaria and to the ends of the earth, which at that time was a
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  little place called Rome. And from there it would go to
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  all the corners of the Roman Empire, which was pretty much
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  the whole known world. So buckle yourselves in.
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  We're going to see our favourite characters, our dramatic
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  stories, incredible teaching and miraculous moments as the main
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  character of this story, that is Jesus, through his Spirit grows
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  his church. So let's dive in French, shall
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  we? Let us read together Acts
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  chapter 1. In my first book, I Told you
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  Theophilus about everything Jesus began to do and teach
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  until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen
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  apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit.
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  During the 40 days after he suffered and died, he appeared
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  to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in
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  many ways that he was actually alive, and he talked to them
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  about the Kingdom of God. Once when he was eating with
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  them, he commanded them, do not leave Jerusalem until the Father
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  sends you the gift he promised. As I told you before, John
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  baptised with water, but in just a few days you will be baptised
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  with the Holy Spirit. So when the apostles were with
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  Jesus, they kept asking him, Lord, has the time come for you
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  to free Israel and restore our Kingdom?
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  He replied, The Father alone has the authority to set those dates
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  and times, and they are not for you to know.
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  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,
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  and you will be my witnesses, telling people about me
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  everywhere in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria and
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  to the ends of the earth. After saying this, he was taken
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  up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no
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  longer see him. As they strained to see him
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  rising into heaven, 2 white robed men suddenly stood among
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  them. Men of Galilee, they said, Why
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  are you standing here staring into heaven?
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  Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will
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  return from heaven in the same way you saw him go.
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  Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of
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  Olives, a distance of half a mile.
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  When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house
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  where they were staying. Here are the names of those who
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  were present Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas,
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  Bartholomew, Matthew, James son of Alpheus, Simon the Zealot,
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  and Judas son of James. They all met together and were
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  constantly united in prayer along with Mary, the mother of
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  Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.
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  During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one
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  place, Peter stood up and addressed them.
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  Brothers. He said the Scriptures had to be
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  fulfilled. Concerning Judas, who guided
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  those who arrested Jesus. This was predicted long ago by
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  the Holy Spirit speaking through King David.
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  Judas was one of us and shared in the ministry with us.
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  Judas had bought a field with the money he received for his
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  treachery, falling head first. There his body split open,
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  spilling out all his intestines. The news of his death spread to
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  all the people of Jerusalem, and they gave the place the Aramaic
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  name Akeldama, which means field of blood.
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  Peter continued. This was written in the book of
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  Psalms where it says let his home become desolate with no one
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  living in it. It also says let someone else
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  take his position. So now we must choose a
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  replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the
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  entire time we were travelling with the Lord Jesus.
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  From the time he was baptised by John until the day he was taken
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  from us. Whoever is chosen will join us
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  as a witness of Jesus resurrection.
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  So they nominated 2 men Joseph called Barsabbas, also known as
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  Justice, and Matthias. Then they all prayed, O Lord,
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  you know every heart. Show us which of these men you
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  have chosen as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry,
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  for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.
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  Then they cast lots and Matthias was selected to become an
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  apostle with the other 11. Our Lord, you are God alone and
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  you sit on a throne above every other, and even you know that
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  working in teams is best. And you call us into community,
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  into your church, so that we can together share your love and
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  work at bringing your Kingdom to be a reality here on earth, just
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  as it is in heaven. Lord, as we read today about
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  your community of apostles being restored to 12, we reflect on
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  our lives and the fact that you have placed us in teams, You
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  have placed us in community where together we can do good
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  work. Lord, each one of us, you have
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  given gifts and thank you that you call us to be part of your
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  work. But Lord, you don't call us
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  alone, but you call us together, so help us look for other like
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  minded souls so that we can join as your church, as your
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  community to bring your reality to earth.
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  Thank You that this reality that you give us is a beautiful
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  glimpse into your eternal reality that we just cannot wait
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  to stand side by side with you in that beautiful place in your
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  presence. But until then, here we are.
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  Lord, use us together, and we pray all of this in the saving
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  name of Jesus. Amen.