Bible Pathways - November 9, 2005
November 9
Read Acts 1
In Today's
Ascension of Christ; promise of the Lord's return; Matthias chosen to replace Judas; coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost; Peter's sermon
The Feast (Festival) of Unleavened Bread prophetically presented the sinless Savior, as the Bread of Life (John 6:35,48) that provides life spiritually. It was celebrated in conjunction with the Passover. The lamb without blemish offered as a sacrifice at Passover also typified Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world (1:29).
The eighth day of Passover week was called Firstfruits. It was celebrated on the Sunday following the Passover observance. It was on the day of Firstfruits that Jesus arose: Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the Firstfruits of them that slept (died) (I Corinthians 15:20).
The second major Feast (Festival) for which every male was to appear annually before God was 50 days later, the morrow (Sunday) after the seventh Sabbath (rest day) following Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:15-16). It was the Feast of the Harvest and celebrated the first ingathering of the annual crops.
This Feast (Festival) became known to Christians as Pentecost (Greek: pent kostos) from the Greek word for 50 (pent konta). On that day, being filled with the Holy Spirit and quoting the prophetic Scriptures (Joel 2:28-29), Peter boldly proclaimed that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). Then the crowd said to Peter and the apostles: Brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call (to be saved). . . . Then they that gladly received His Word were baptized. . . . And they (the new converts) continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine (teaching) and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers (2:37-42).
The required offering on Pentecost consisted of two loaves of leavened bread (Leviticus 23:17). These loaves, which represented both Jewish and Gentile Christians, included leaven, symbolizing sin, since everyone except Jesus has sinned (Romans 3:23). Paul later wrote: There is neither Greek nor Jew . . . but Christ is all, and in all (Colossians 3:11).
Word Studies:
1:3 after His passion = after He had suffered death; 1:12 a Sabbath day's journey = a little over one-half mile which was the extent a Jew was to travel from home on the Sabbath; 2:27 leave My soul in hell = forsake Me in the grave (Sheol).
Cross References:
For Acts 1:20: See Psalm 69:25; 109:8. Acts 2:17-21: See Joel 2:28-32. Acts 2:25-28: See Psalm 16:8-11. Acts 2:34-35: See Psalm 110:1. Acts 3:22-23: See Deuteronomy 18:15,18-19. Acts 3:25: See Genesis 12:3; 22:18.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for The English International Shortwave Radio Broadcast sponsored by Mary B. Sloan, Viola Felbush, and Mrs. Hazel Cooper · Staff: Mary Kay Wagner · Government Official: Rep. Sherrod Brown (OH) · Country: Turkey (66 million) in Asia Minor and southeastern Europe · Major languages: Turkish, Kurdish, and Arabic · Official resistance to Christian witnessing · 99+% Muslim; .5% Christian · Prayer Suggestion: Lift up your prayer of thanksgiving for the marvelous blessings of God (Psalm 18:1-3).
Memory Verse for the Week: James 1:22
