| Cast
Please read from left to right to see the cast. Then read down to understand their role in prophecy and action. |
God, the Father of Jesus, 1:4.
The Father set the times and dates by His own authority, 1:7. Jesus’ death on the cross was by God’s set purpose, 2:23; 4:28. |
Jesus Christ,
Lord and Christ, 2:36. Prince and Savior, 5:31. |
Holy Spirit
Spoke to people. Assisted Jesus In His kingdom. |
Apostles: Baptized with the Holy Spirit, 1:5, 2:4.
They received power to receive and understand Jesus’ instructions and to speak in other languages. God-fearing Jews from several nations had come to Jerusalem to keep the Pentecost. They heard the apostles speak to them in their own languages, 2:5-11. The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders, 5:12. |
| Prophecy | The prophets from Samuel on foretold of these last days. 3:24
God promised the Holy Spirit by the prophet Joel. See Acts 2:17-21. |
David had prophesied
about the resurrection and coronation of God’s Holy One, 2:30. Moses said Jesus would be a prophet like him, 3:22. God had made covenants with Abraham. They are being fulfilled through Jesus. 3:25, 26. |
He Spoke
through the mouth of David, 1:16 David spoke concerning Judas, 1:20; |
Apostolic power: See Luke 12:12; 24:45.
John 16:12-15; 20:22. David spoke concerning the Gentiles’ rage, and the peoples’ plot, 3:25. This rage was manifested when Jesus preached the kingdom and later when the apostles preached to the Jews in Jerusalem, 4:23-31. |
| Action | The Holy Spirit assisted Jesus after He started His ministry. He assisted the apostles later (Luke 4:1; 24:45). He also worked with other disciples, who were chosen by God, 4:31; 6:3.
Finally, the Holy Spirit came to fellowship and assist all repentant baptized obedient believers, 2:38, 39; 5:32. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob glorified Jesus by healing a lame man to assist Peter and John to preach Jesus in Jerusalem, 3:13. |
Jesus of Nazareth was resurrected from the
dead and taken up. He was exalted to the right hand of God, 1:9; 2:24, 33 Jesus must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, 3:21. God fulfilled what He had promised, 3:18. |
Judas Iscariot replaced by
Matthias for the apostolic ministry, 1:23-26. |
The Lord added three thousand to “those who were being saved.” 2:47. The number grew to about 5,000, then continued to grow rapidly, 4:4; 5:14; 6:1. A large number of priests became obedient to the faith, 6:7.
The high priest, teachers of the law, Sadducees, Pharisees and the Sanhedrin (4:5,6; 5:17, 27, 34) refuted and beat the apostles for teaching Jesus is the Christ and the resurrection of the dead, 4:2, 8-12, 33; 5:40. They killed Stephen. Most members of the church stayed in Jerusalem in a common fellowship, worship and learning program until they were scattered by persecution, 2:42-47; 8:1. Their lifestyle was supported, financially, by the disciples’ own funds. Some sold their lands and houses and laid the money at the apostles’ feet, 4:34-37. Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit and they died, 5:1-11. Fear seized the church. |
