Acts 1-2

Acts 1-2 Pre-test

True or False1. Jesus gave the Apostles many infallible proofs of his

resurrection.

Multiple Choice

2. How long did the apostles see Jesus after his resurrection?

A. Seventy daysB. Only one dayC. Twenty-two daysD. On five occasionsE. Forty days

3. Jesus appointed his Apostles to be His special witnesses____

A. Only in Jerusalem

B. In all surrounding areas

C. In Rome before the emperor

D. In Palestine and unto the uttermost parts of the earth

E. To Pontius Pilate and King Herod

4. Jesus ascended into heaven for the final time ________

A. as His apostles looked toward heaven

B. in a chariot of fire

C. in the presence of amazed scribes and Pharisees

5. What did the two angels tell the Apostles who were staring into heaven?

A. God expected them to teach all men the gospel.

B. Jesus would return just as they had seen him go.

C. Satan would try to stop the work they were engaged in.

D. All the power of earth and hell could not prevent their baptizing thousands into the Church.

The Book of Acts• Written by Luke to his gentile friend Theophilus.

• Theophilus means beloved friend of God (NIV).

• He may have been a distinguished citizen of Rome, possibly Greek and an official.

• It is a history of the Church and the Apostles after the Resurrection.

Two ways to divide Acts

• Summarize portions of the ministries of Peter and Paul.

1. Peter (Acts 1-12)

2. Paul (Acts 13-28)

• Acts 1:4 “Promise of the Father”

1. Holy Ghost2. Endowment

• Acts 1:8 “The keynote verse of Acts”

The widening circle of Apostolic influence!

• Acts 1:10-11

“Why are you standing around? Get to work!”

• Acts 1:18 “A revolting suicide”

He brought his guilty life to a close by a revolting suicide and his spirit went to the awful fate reserved for the Sons of Perdition (Jesus the Christ, Talmage, 211).

• Acts 1:22

“A witness with us of His resurrection”

• Acts 1:23-26 “Casting lots”

Casting lots was probably done by writing two names on tablets and shaking them in a bottle until one dropped out (Proverbs 16:33 is helpful).

The following incident, occurring soon after President Heber J. Grant assumed office, illustrated the role of revelation in the selection of a new Apostle:

“Thus, upon commencing his prophetic duties President Grant, more than ever before, began to pray mightily that he would receive the spiritual direction through the veil to carry on the work as God would have it done were he present personally to oversee it. As President Grant began to live more completely in this way, seeking only to learn and execute the will of God, he found events evolving and combining in very unusual ways to produce surprising results…

“A dramatic example of this new dimension in his life occurred less than two months after he became president, as he prepared to fill the vacancy he had left in the Twelve. As he reviewed in his mind the men he considered to be worthy and able to fill that position, he returned again to his lifelong friend, Richard W. Young. A retired general of the army, lawyer, successful businessman, and stake president, that distinguished man seemed to possess every qualification to fit him for high ecclesiastical leadership….

“Moreover, President Grant had great personal love for him, and over the years had thought to himself that, if ever he had the opportunity to do so, he would call his friend to the apostleship. This recognition, he felt sure, would be richly deserved and would be pleasing to the Lord and to Richard’s grandfather, Brigham Young, to whom President Grant felt specially indebted. Following his ordination as president of the Church in November 1918, he began to reflect and to pray about filling the vacancy, discussing the matter with his counselors and others…

“He mulled it over all during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, and by January 7, 1919, he felt confident that Richard W. Young was the man. Receiving the support of his counselors, he wrote the name “Richard W. Young” on a slip of paper and, at the appointed hour, went to the temple for the weekly meeting of the First Presidency and the Twelve, where he intended to present Brother Young’s name. Reaching the business portion of the agenda, President Grant removed the paper with the name written on it, fully intending to present him to the council for approval…

“But for a reason he could never fully explain, he was unable to do so; instead, he presented the name of Melvin J. Ballard, president of the Northwestern States Mission, a man with whom he had very little personal contact” (Francis M. Gibbons, Heber J. Grant [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1979], 174-75).

My experience calling counselors!

Acts 2• “Day of Pentecost” v. 1-3

Fifty days or seven weeks following the Passover Feast, faithful Jews observed it. It is known as the day of the first fruits (feast of Shavout).

• In Greek it means fifty.

Acts 2

• v.6 “The gift of tongues”

The gift of tongues by the power of the Holy Ghost in the church is for the benefit of the servants of God to preach to unbelievers as on the day of Pentecost (Teachings, 247-48).

Similarities to the Kirtland area:

• In summarizing this period, Milton V. Backman has written:

During a fifteen week period, extending from January 21 to May 1, 1836, probably more Latter-day Saints beheld visions and witnessed other unusual spiritual manifestations than during any other era in the history of the Church.

There were reports of Saints’ beholding heavenly beings at ten different meetings held during that time. At eight of these meetings, many reported seeing angels; at five of the services, individuals testified that Jesus, the Savior, appeared. While the Saints were thus communicating with heavenly hosts, many prophesied, some spoke in tongues, and others received the gift of interpretation of tongues (The Heavens Resound, Milton V. Blackman, 285, see also 305-306 for other accounts).

• Acts 2:13-36 “Peter’s first discourse”

• Acts 2:17

Joel’s prophecy is only partially fulfilled on this occasion (JS History v. 41).

• Acts 2:33-34

David is not ascended into the heavens.“A murderer, for instance, one that sheds innocent blood, cannot have forgiveness. David sought repentance at the hand of God carefully with tears, for the murder of Uriah; but he could only get it through hell: he got a promise that his soul should not be left in hell.

• Although David was a king, he never did obtain the spirit and power of Elijah and the fullness of the Priesthood; and the Priesthood that he received, and throne and kingdom of David is to be taken from him and given to another by the name of David in the last days, raised up out of his lineage” (Smith, Teachings, 339).

D&C 132:39