Acts of the Apostles Notes

Ellen G. White Estate: Provides the eBook of "The Acts of the Apostles."

• Copyright Information

  • The book "The Acts of the Apostles" was written by Ellen G. White in 1911.

  • Copyright © 2017 Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.

• Ellen G. White: Considered the most widely translated American author.

  • She wrote more than 100,000 pages on spiritual and practical topics.

  • Guided by the Holy Spirit, she exalted Jesus and pointed to the Scriptures as the basis of one’s faith.

• End User License Agreement: Grants a limited, nonexclusive and nontransferable license for personal use only, prohibiting republication, distribution, or derivative works.

• Contact Information: For information about the author or to support the service, contact mail@whiteestate.org.

Preface

• Title of the Book: Known from ancient times as "The Acts of the Apostles," but this title is not in the book itself.

  • Codex Sinaiticus gives the title as simply "Acts."

• Purpose of Acts: More than a history of the twelve disciples or leading characters; written by Luke for the whole church (Jews and Gentiles).

• Relevance for Today: God indicates Christians today can experience the same Spirit as at Pentecost.

• Acts of the Holy Spirit: Actions of the Holy Spirit through Christian leaders can be repeated in modern disciples.

• Narrative Suggestion: The abrupt ending of Acts suggests an unfinished narrative, with each generation adding to it.

• Role of the Holy Ghost: In apostolic times, the Holy Ghost was the counselor and helper of Christian leaders.

  • Filled disciples at Pentecost to preach with power.

  • Guided the selection of deacons (Acts 6:3).

  • Led in ordination of Saul (Acts 9:17).

  • Guided acceptance of Gentiles into the church (Acts 10:44-47).

  • Guided separation of Barnabas and Saul for missionary work (Acts 13:2-4).

  • Guided the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:28).

  • Guided Paul’s missionary journeys (Acts 16:6, 7).

• Ellen G. White's Perspective: "The Acts of the Apostles" provides light for Christian witnessing.

  • Message is up-to-date; the 20th century will witness a bestowal of spiritual power exceeding Pentecost.
    -The work of the gospel is not to close with a lesser display of the Holy Spirit’s power than marked its beginning.

Chapter 1—God’s Purpose for His Church

• Church as God’s Agency: The church is appointed for men’s salvation and organized for service, carrying the gospel worldwide.

• Reflection of God’s Fullness: Through the church, God’s fullness and sufficiency are reflected to the world.

• Members as Witnesses: Church members are called to show forth God’s glory, being called out of darkness into His light.

• Repository of Grace: The church is the repository of Christ’s grace, revealing God’s love to heavenly powers (Ephesians 3:10).

• Promises to the Church: Promises in Scripture include being a house of prayer (Isaiah 56:7) and receiving showers of blessing (Ezekiel 34:26, 29-31).

• God’s Witnesses: Chosen to know, believe, and understand God with no other savior beside Him (Isaiah 43:10-12; 42:6, 7).

• Church as Fortress: God’s refuge that He holds in a revolted world.

  • Betrayal of the church is treachery to Christ.

• Faithful Souls: The church is constituted by faithful souls in every age, bearing witness and giving warning.

• Covenant Relation: God unites the church on earth with the church in heaven, sending angels to minister.

  • Hell cannot prevail against His people.

• God’s Foreknowledge: God sustains His church through persecution, conflict, and darkness, foreseeing all and fulfilling His purposes.

• Truth’s Triumph: God safeguards truth, which will triumph over all opposition; His law is linked with His throne.

• City on a Hill: The church is like a city on a hill, unfolding pure doctrines through generations.

• God’s Supreme Regard: The church is the object of God’s special regard and the theater of His transforming grace.

• Kingdom Similitude: Earthly kingdoms are incomparable to God’s; His kingdom uplifts and ennobles humanity.

• Court of Holy Life: God’s church is a court of holy life, filled with gifts and the Holy Spirit, finding happiness in blessing others.

• Ezekiel’s Vision: The work of the church is portrayed by Ezekiel’s vision of a healing river, bringing life and medicine (Ezekiel 47:8-12).

• Blessing to the World: God has always worked through His people, like Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon, to offer spiritual blessings.

• Israel as Representative: God chose Israel to reveal His character and be wells of salvation.

  • However, they lost knowledge of God through corrupt practices and became vain (Romans 1:21).

• Opportunity for Acquaintance: Despite Israel’s failure, God purposed to provide another opportunity for nations to know Him through His people.

• Christ as Foundation: Christ was the foundation of Jewish economy, symbolized in prophecies, but Israel lost sight of this.

• Israel’s Failure: They appropriated blessings for their own glory, separated themselves from other nations, and robbed God of required service.

• Ceremonial Rut: Priests and rulers became fixed in legal religion, unable to give living truths; instead, they rejected God's will.

• Degenerate Vine: Israel became a degenerate plant bringing forth fruit to themselves, not strengthening the diseased or seeking the lost (Jeremiah 2:21; Hosea 10:1; Ezekiel 34:4).

• Saviour’s Turning: The Saviour entrusted privileges to others, as Jewish leaders were too righteous to need salvation and failed to fulfill their mission.

Chapter 2—The Training of the Twelve

• Choice of Humble Men: Christ chose humble, unlearned men over the Jewish Sanhedrin or Roman power to proclaim gospel truths.

  • These men were to be trained as church leaders and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

• Training Period: The disciples were instructed by Christ for three and a half years through personal contact, association, and witnessing His compassion and power.

• Methods of Training: Christ revealed mysteries of God’s kingdom by mountainsides, seasides, and roadsides, always inviting hearts to receive the message.

• Ordination of the Twelve: The ordination of the Twelve was the first step in organizing the church for carrying on Christ’s earthly work.

• Touching Scene: The Majesty of heaven, surrounded by the chosen Twelve, set apart by Christ, demonstrated to God and the angels light shining forth via the Spirit (Mark 3:13, 14).

• Representatives: The disciples were to be Christ’s witnesses and were called to the most important office to which human beings could be called.

• Diversity: They represented the widely varied types of character that make up the fabric of humanity.

• Diversity: Though of marked diversity, Christ sought to bring unity of feeling, thought, and action.

• Constant Prayer: That the disciples might be sanctified by the truth and preach the gospel of the kingdom to all, with assurance that truth armed with the Spirit would conquer evil.

• Future Preparation: With the close of His earthly ministry near, Christ prepared the disciples for the future.

  • He foretold their separation, persecution, imprisonment, etc.

• Words of Hope: He spoke of hope and courage:

  • "Let not your heart be troubled” (John 14:1-4).

  • Promised constant work for them and with them.

  • Would come to them to reveal Himself and grant belief.

  • Would cooperate with the Father in helping the disciples.

• Greater Works: Promised that those who believed in Him would do greater works, not exertions but magnitude, through the Holy Spirit (John 14:12).

  • The Comforter, the Spirit of truth, will testify of Christ; His testimony to the world will give assurance.

• Humble Representatives: Their words of courage and trust would declare it was not in their own power that they worked but in Christ.

• Parting Conversation: Christ made no reference to His coming suffering but focused on strengthening their faith and the joys ahead.

• Worldly Tribulation: They would have peace in Him in the world, amid tribulation, because He had overcome the world (John 16:33).

• Christ’s Glory: Christ had finished His work, gathered His followers, and said He was glorified in them.

Chapter 3—The Great Commission

• Disciples Overcome by Discouragement: The disciples were heartbroken after Christ’s death. They did not realize His statement had come to them as a surprise.

• Christ's Resurrection: After his resurrection, Christ remained on the earth for forty days, preparing the disciples for the work, explaining the things that they had been unable to comprehend, explaining all that had been fulfilled.

• New Experience: The disciples gained a new experience. Their faith in him was now fully established. The began to realize in all its fullness that God hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth. (Acts 17:26, 27)

• Great Commission: Christ gave his disciples their commission telling them that they were to be witnesses of His life, death, and resurrection, the events that had fulfilled prophecy.

• The Great Missionary Charter: The gospel commission is the great missionary charter of Christ's kingdom. They were to give all the invitation of mercy. They were not to wait on the people, but go to the people.

• Christ's Name: The disciples were to carry their work forward in Christ's name, their every word and act was to fasten attention on his name.

• Vast Evil: Christ did not tell his disciples their tasks would be easy.

• Assurance: Fully provision was made for the prosecution of the work and responsibilities of the success would be on Christ himself, not them.

• Full Sacrifice: Christ's sacrifice in behalf of man was full and complete.

• Great Authority: Giving his disciples their commission: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commissioned you and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end" (Matthew 28:19,20).

• New Endowment: Chirst's visible presence was about to be withdrawn the a new endowment of power was to be theirs saying, "Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high" Luke 24:49.

• Living Knwoledge: It was known that the disciples must receive the heavenly endowment: that the gospel would be effective only as it was proclaimed by heart made warm and lips made eloquent by a living knowledge

Chapter 4—Pentecost

• Expressions of Gladness: As the disciples returned from Olivet, they expressed gladness and triumph, a new dawn for discirples.

• Continual Praise: Obeying Christs Command, they wated in Jerusalem by continually praising and blessing God.

• Asking for Joy: They extended the hand of faith, repeating the assurance, "Whatsoever shall ask the father in may name, He will give it to you… that your joy may be full" (John 16:23, 24).

• Arguments: As the disciples waited for the fulfillment, they humbles their hearts in true repantance. They would atone for them by bravely confessing Him before the world.

• Meeting Men: The disciples prayed intensely for a fitness to meet men and speak words that would lead sinners to Christ.

• Heavenly Unction: Days of preparation were for deep heart searching and crying to the Lord for Holy Unction.

• Holy Spirit: During the patriarchal age, the influence of the Holy Trinity of God had been revealed in a marked manner, but never in its fullness.

• Christ's Intercession: As the waiting and praying disciples offered their supplications for this gift, in heaven Christ added his intercession.

• Pentecost: "And when the day of pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting."

• Hearts Reached: The spirit came upon the waiting, praying disciples with a fullness that reached every heart, also, the Infinite One revealed Himself in pwoer to his church.

Sword of the Spirit: The sword of the spirit, newly edged with power and bathed in the lightnings of heaven, cut its way through unblief as God had now finished Christ's ascension and glorification.

• Gifting of the Holy Ghost: "And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

• Languages Fulfilled: During the dispersion the Jews had been scattered to almost every part of the inhabited world, and in their exile, they had learned to speak various languages. God in a miraculous manner supplied the deficiency of the apostles to be able to talk in these languages

• Truth Verified: From the time forth the language of the disciples was pure, simple, and accurate, whether they spoke in their native tongue or in a foreign language. This diversity would have been a hindrance to the proclamation of the gospel as God through them had given them the miracle of speeach.

• The Accusation: The priest and rulers declaring that the group where drunk, Peter showed that this demonstation the direct fullfillment of the prophecy of Joel, wherein he fortold that such power would come man to fit them for a special work

• Witness: With clearness and pwoer, Peter bore witness of the death and resurrection of Peter of Christ. With the evidence he spoke that all heard truth being full of interest.

• Remission: Peter urged that the fact that the people had rejected Christ because they had been deceived by the priests and rulers; and that they would continue never to accept, look to these men and never find him through this. That these men were after richness and not pure council.

• Heavenly Illumination: That under the ifluence of illumination the scriptures of the disciples stood out before them with the full light of truth of the object of Christ mission and nature of His Kingdom.

Chapter 5—The Gift of the Spirit

• Closing Ministry: When Christ gave His disciples the promise of the Spirit, He was nearing the close of His earthly ministry.

• Essential Gift: He was standing in the shadow of the cross; He instructed His disciples regarding a most essential and complete gift bestowed upon by His followers, bringing within the reach of His power.

• Glad Tidings: The glad tidings of a risen Saviour were carried to the uttermost parts of the inhabited world.

• Power of the Message: The church then beheld converts flocking to her from all directions, backslider were reconverted and sinners united with believers in seeking the pearl of great price.

• Prophecy Fulfilled: Every Christian saw in himself a revelation of a servant benevolence. Being absorbed in the enlargement of God's Kingdom.

• No Limitation: The promise of the Holy Spirit is not limited to any age or race. Christ declared His divine influence to the end.

• A Counselor: The Holy Spirit has come as a counselor, sanctifier, guide and witness to all who have accepted Christ as a personal Saviour.

• Exercising Faith: The Holy Spirit working ennobles the men whom in humility submit to the molding giving them God's likeness.

• Willingness Requirement: The gifts of God do flow from heaven for our lack is our appreaciating his will, for if we where willing all would be filled with thy power.

• Pray and Petition: To be in communion to the Holy Spirit companies, christan workers should gather ask for wisdom and that God baptize a special measure of His spirit.

• Holy Spirit's Abiding: The works spoken to the desciples are also for us, and thus the sorrowfull and weak shall be sustained by the truth of God as His spirit abides.

• Not Rapture: Holiness is not rapture, but an entire surrender to God trust him and wait without question in light or faith.

• Understanding: What we need is not to be able to define the Holy ghost but to understand, the Comforter, and that he does not of Himself, plainly regarding the Holy Ghost.

Chapter 6—At the Temple Gate

• Strength in Weakness: The disciples joined their weakness to Christ’s strength through prayer and dependence, pressing forward in His service

• Healing the Cripple: Peter and John encounter a 40-year-old cripple at the temple gate and heal him in Jesus’ name, giving him strength and causing amazement among the people (Acts 3).

• Explaining the Miracle: Peter clarifies that the healing came through the name and merits of Jesus Christ, whom God raised from the dead, not by their own power.

• Addressing the Sin: The apostles spoke plainly of the Jews' sin of rejecting and putting to death the Prince of life but cautioned others not to drive their hearers in despair over the opportunity from their deed.

• Conflicting Viewpoints: Opposing Viewpoints of the Priests: Priests and Sadducees arrested the disciples, displeased by their teachings about resurrection through Jesus (Acts 4:1-3).

• Hardened Hearts: Jewish leaders could be convinced that Christ had risen abundant evidence given by the disciples,

• Additional Incentive: Giving all this, after they had committed themselves to Christ every act of resistance became an additional motivation to pursue his same calling.

• Trial before the Sanhedrin: The people who know about peter, are in trial with him and know the Lord has asked him with much mercy. That his faith in Christ had redeemed one man.

• Shamefully Denied: The Sanhedrin has always acted in this way for Peter after is fall he now stood before the council with the power and spirit of the holy spirit.

• Humble Man: Hitherto, the priests had avoided the the crucifixion of Jesus, to feel secure in knowing as speaking of his lord before the people.

Chapter 7—A Warning Against Hypocrisy

• Word of God: God testified to His word as the diaciples broadcast truth around Jerusalem, many believed.

• Daily Needs: Many of these belieber where cut of and it was needed to start provinding them food and shelter.

• Sacrifice: Those with money and possessions gave cheerfully, selling lands and laying money at the apostles’ feet as their love for the Lord out weighted their desire for materialism and riches.

• World Possesion: By this testily men found it more good to follow God than seek their own.

Chapter 8—Before the Sanhedrin

• Word of God: Christ's instrument of shame and torture which now provided the world with hope and salvation.

• Divine Elocution: They continued to speak with divine elocation in the places where the deepest prejudice and confusion existed.

• Signs and Miracles: The clear bold of the apostles brought to their disciples the power of the risin savior, so they could then continue sharing the truth as signs and miracles continued being performed giving more people salvation.

• Doctrine in Danger:The Sadducees felt that their doctrine was in danger and they knew they needed to put a stop to the apostles' teaching because it was proving them guilty for the death of Jesus.

• The Failures of the Chosen: The leader had been charged with trust and proved to be unfaithful as they rejected the light.

• Imprisonment in Man's Hand: God has the power to take the imprisonment of disciples into His Own hands to show war against His work in another token He would send them through.

• Divine Command: The Angels bidded them resume thier work, as such. When their imprisonment were brought to notice, the brethren were filled with amazement and joy.

• Their Response: After the high priest said in reference to Jesus, Peter answers “We ought to obey God rather than men.”

• Their Accusation: With this response the Spirit of inspiration came upon them ad used their actions as their only accusation.

• Gamaliel's Intellect: Reflected the voice of god as he reminded the council through intellect.

Chapter 9—The Seven Deacons

• Hellenistic Problem: An inequitable distribution between two groups in the Church (Hellenistic women not receiving the assistance which they required).

• Solution: As growth multiplied, a burden grew to the point of overwhelming. Twelve decided to create a role which distributes the responsibility of the daily workload amongst seven deacons.

• Results: Through such a system, they (the deacons) were given a chance not only to work but to preach, thus allowing the church to grow on all fronts.

• Model: Organization for future churches to come.