Acts of the Apostles

By Raymond G Cross

This book is an adjunct to the book of Luke. It readily portrays the continuing work of the Apostles and all Christians who are ambassadors of/for the Lord Jesus.

It is extraordinarily noteworthy how well Jesus’ name is known in our world today. He is the very Son of God and yet, He is almost totally neglected by humankind. Mankind i

• Language: English
• Publisher: TOPLINK PUBLISHING, LLC
• Release date: Jul 31, 2018
• ISBN: 9781949502343

Raymond G Cross

REV. RAYMOND G. CROSS was a design engineer for IBM during the sixties and seventies. He was involved with advanced technology pointing to new products, printers, copiers, imaging, and ways of placing information on paper. In 1965, he was transferred to the new Boulder plant, located in Niwot, Colorado. Niwot was named for an Indian chief and translates to 'left handed.' It was here that his life changed forever. One cold January morning, a minister of the Gospel visited. Pastor James Maxwell introduced him, his wife, and son into receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior. They were born again. He was thirtyeight years old and his so called intellectual, engineering background made him very skeptical. Diligent study soon convinced him the Bible was the inerrant truth. Continued workstudy lead him to understand God's wonderful word more, and he took early retirement from IBM to attend Reformed Seminary in Clinton, MS. In 1987 he graduated with a Master of Divinity from the Reformed Seminary. He went on to minister in the Presbyterian Church in America for over twenty-seven years in Sardis, Mississippi.

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Acts of the Apostles

Raymond G. Cross

Copyright © 2018 by Raymond G. Cross.

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raycrosstalk.com

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EBOOK: 978-1-949502-34-3

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Unless otherwise noted,

Scripture is taken from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, Published in 1769, Public Domain.

All Scripture is shown in upper case with Jesus’ spoken words shown in bold print

Note that the KJV occasionally uses a light blue italic for certain added words. The author uses Italic type for Illustration with: (Emphasis added)

and The English Standard Version (ESV) copyright 2001, 2007, 2011, by Crossway Bibles, all rights reserved. Used by permission.

The author copied Bible verses from E-Sword — the Sword of the Lord with an Electronic Edge, copyright 2014 - Rick Meyers, all rights reserved worldwide.

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Dedicated

ISAIAH 42:9

BEHOLD, THE FORMER THINGS HAVE COME TO PASS,

AND NEW THINGS I NOW DECLARE;

BEFORE THEY SPRING FORTH I TELL YOU OF THEM."

(ESV)

To

The LORD Jesus Christ, who is the creator of all things, visible and invisible.

And to:

All Jews and Christians who suffer injustice by the world

Contents

ROMANS 3:10

AS IT IS WRITTEN: "NO ONE IS RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE;

(ESV)

Dedicated

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

References

About The Author

JEREMIAH 29:11-13

FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU, DECLARES THE LORD,

PLANS FOR WELFARE AND NOT FOR EVIL,

TO GIVE YOU A FUTURE AND A HOPE.

THEN YOU WILL CALL UPON ME AND COME AND PRAY TO ME,

AND I WILL HEAR YOU.

YOU WILL SEEK ME AND FIND ME,

WHEN YOU SEEK ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART.

(ESV)

Prologue

PSALM 16:11

YOU MAKE KNOWN TO ME THE PATH OF LIFE;

IN YOUR PRESENCE THERE IS FULLNESS OF JOY;

AT YOUR RIGHT HAND ARE PLEASURES FOREVERMORE.

(ESV)

To better comprehend the Bible, it is necessary to appreciate and recognize the history and customs of the period lived in - the occurrence talked about – and the verse read. With that in mind, we have sought out several old ministers and theologian’s writings and comments on various interpretations of the scripture verses. This has opened our eyes to appreciate the lives lived then and to better understand the whole Bible. The interpretative ideas and thoughts chosen and given here are believed to be the consensus of most of the men who understood and presented the Bible many years ago. May we enjoy the benefit of their wisdom and knowledge.

⁰⁷The most ancient title of the book, as given in the Codex Vaticanus and the Codex Bezae - Πραìξεις ἀποστοìλων- properly rendered, both in the Authorized and the Revised Versions, The Acts of the Apostles - though probably not given to it by the author, sufficiently exposes its general object: to give a faithful and authentic record of the doings of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, after he had ascended into heaven, leaving them as his responsible agents to carry on the building of his Church on earth.

⁰¹All agree in this sacred truth, and the incontestable proofs of it, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Upon this rock the Christian church is built. How it began to be built upon this rock is related in this book. In this work, we have the testimony of one witness for the matters of fact concerning the Christ. This book was necessary, to be fully related to those books concerning the apostles. Had infinite wisdom seen fit, we might have had as many books of the Acts of the Apostles as we have gospels. However, it is pointed out by:` JOHN 21:25 – NOW THERE ARE ALSO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT JESUS DID. WERE EVERY ONE OF THEM TO BE WRITTEN, I SUPPOSE THAT THE WORLD ITSELF COULD NOT CONTAIN THE BOOKS THAT WOULD BE WRITTEN. (ESV).

⁰¹Acts – the fifth New Testament book was the last of the historical Gospel accounts written. Although ‘Acts of the Apostles’ became the title very early, sometimes the epithet ‘Holy’ was prefixed in front of Apostles. There also was a time when this book was included with the Gospels, being called "The Gospel of the Holy Ghost" or The Gospel of the Resurrection.

In writing the third Gospel epistle, Luke, said: ‘Most excellent Theophilus,’ (the name means ‘a lover of God) but in this work, Acts, he leaves out ‘Most excellent.’ This does not infer that Theophilus lost his excellency, but that this book was probably written very shortly after Luke’s first book. Perhaps Theophilus was his baptismal name. He is believed to be a Gentile Christian, as Dr. Luke was. He is one who was highly regarded. He may have been a member of the Roman Church. It could also mean Luke drew closer to his friend. In ancient days, it was common to address individuals in their writings. In this book, Dr. Luke simply desires to give more information to affirm his first book, that Christ is the Lord and confirm in this work, the Lord’s teaching.

John expresses this ideology: JOHN 20:30 - NOW JESUS DID MANY OTHER SIGNS IN THE PRESENCE OF THE DISCIPLES, WHICH ARE NOT WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK; BUT THESE ARE WRITTEN SO THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, AND THAT BY BELIEVING YOU MAY HAVE LIFE IN HIS NAME. (ESV).

The time of this evangelical narrative begins when the Lord was taken up to heaven. With Christ gone to heaven, this writing by Luke would show Christ’s effect on those who heard His words and believed. The natural sequel to his first book would be, (as the first verse indicates), ‘to do and teach,’ after Jesus goes back to heaven. This was also a validation of many reports written and experienced, of men doing the work of Christ.

Perhaps this book should have been named: ‘The Acts of the ascended Christ.’ The Gospel book of Luke tells us what Jesus did in His mortal body and this book explains all He will do through his church, which is His body on earth. It also explains how the early church came to be. We learn in this first chapter, the time between the Resurrection and the Ascension, was forty days. During this time, Jesus spoke to His disciples concerning the church and the Kingdom of God. After the Lord’s ascension, Christ entered heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father, to make intercession for those who have received Jesus as Lord, and intercede for our prayers, until the rapture, when His enemies would be made His footstool.

Jesus had chosen the apostles as His prime ministers proclaiming his kingdom to the world. His disciples are part of His family and, also to be instruments of extending His witness to Jesus’ creation. Jesus simply wants you to obey His will. He does not demand much – only that you live a decent, clean, righteous and loving life for Him. Jesus, as God has created every living thing, including angels, but He gives you and His angels the freedom of choice. Some of His angels chose to go with Satan. Choose to go with Jesus by receiving Him as your Lord and savior. Receive Jesus as Lord and become born-again to have eternal life in heaven, with Him.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

1ST CORINTHIANS

SO NOW FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE ABIDE, THESE THREE;

BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE.

(ESV)

Chapter One

ROMANS 8:1-2

THERE IS THEREFORE NOW NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE

WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS.

FOR THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE HAS SET YOU FREE

IN CHRIST JESUS FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH.

(ESV)

ACTS 1:1-5

THE FORMER TREATISE HAVE I MADE, O THEOPHILUS, OF ALL THAT JESUS BEGAN BOTH TO DO AND TEACH, UNTIL THE DAY IN WHICH HE WAS TAKEN UP, AFTER THAT HE, THROUGH THE HOLY GHOST HAD GIVEN COMMANDMENTS UNTO THE APOSTLES WHOM HE HAD CHOSEN: TO WHOM ALSO HE SHEWED HIMSELF ALIVE AFTER HIS PASSION BY MANY INFALLIBLE PROOFS, BEING SEEN OF THEM FORTY DAYS, AND SPEAKING OF THE THINGS PERTAINING TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD: AND, BEING ASSEMBLED TOGETHER WITH THEM, COMMANDED THEM THAT THEY SHOULD NOT DEPART FROM JERUSALEM, BUT WAIT FOR THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER, WHICH, SAITH HE, YE HAVE HEARD OF ME. FOR JOHN TRULY BAPTIZED WITH WATER; BUT YE SHALL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY GHOST NOT MANY DAYS HENCE. (KJV).

‘… to do and teach’ - These words comprise some of the many miracles and sermons of the apostles, disciples and believers, with the power taught and given to them by the Lord Jesus Christ. They could not do any of them, except Christ be with them. Since Luke had already written one Gospel, which gave an account of the life and actions of Jesus, this second treatise gives an account of the lives and actions of the apostles, under Christ’s command. Although dealing mostly with Peter, Barnabas, Paul and Stephen, this treatise reflects all of Jesus followers who carried His work to a lost and dying world.

After Jesus resurrection, He showed Himself alive with several infallible proofs. He ate with them, talked to them, continued to teach them for forty days before rising to heaven as they watched. Just before He ascended, Jesus told the apostles to wait in Jerusalem, to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. JOHN 14:25- 26 - "THESE THINGS I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU WHILE I AM STILL WITH YOU. BUT THE HELPER, THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHOM THE FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, HE WILL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS AND BRING TO YOUR REMEMBRANCE ALL THAT I HAVE SAID TO YOU. (ESV). The apostles said and did many things regarding the Kingdom of God. They did not receive all information from Jesus, but we may conclude the Holy Spirit helped them in many ways. Once you are born-again, the Holy Spirit, who is a part of God, is given to you. An actual Spiritual being of the triune God is imparted to true believers. The Holy Spirit, once resident in you, becomes your helpful conscience and guide in life’s matters. The Holy Spirit is with and in all believers as they go forth proclaiming Jesus to the world. It could happen to you if you choose Jesus as your Lord. Note too, baptism does not always mean a water involvement. John the Baptist’s baptism was a spiritual experience, but Christ’s baptism is a ‘Kingdom of God’ experience. The disciple’s baptism would occur at the Pentecost festival with the receiving of the Holy Spirit.

Hastings Dictionary of the Bible gives us this information concerning the Pentecost Festival. The offering of a barley-sheaf during the Feast of Unleavened Bread opened the reaping season, which lasted officially for 49 days, a week of weeks. On the 50th day took place the Feast of Pentecost, also called the Feast of Weeks: EXODUS 34:22 - YOU SHALL OBSERVE THE FEAST OF WEEKS, THE FIRSTFRUITS OF WHEAT HARVEST, AND CALLED THE FEAST OF INGATHERING AT THE YEAR’S END. (ESV). This festival was also called The Feast of Harvest: EXODUS 23:16 - YOU SHALL KEEP THE FEAST OF HARVEST, OF THE FIRSTFRUITS OF YOUR LABOR, OF WHAT YOU SOW IN THE FIELD. YOU SHALL KEEP THE FEAST OF INGATHERING AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WHEN YOU GATHER IN FROM THE FIELD THE FRUIT OF YOUR LABOR. (ESV). And - The Day of Firstfruits: NUMBERS 28:26 - "ON THE DAY OF THE FIRSTFRUITS, WHEN YOU OFFER A GRAIN OFFERING OF NEW GRAIN TO THE LORD AT YOUR FEAST OF WEEKS, YOU SHALL HAVE A HOLY CONVOCATION. YOU SHALL NOT DO ANY ORDINARY WORK, (ESV).

The festival of the Pentecost took place at the end of the reaping season, when all the wheat and barley had been cut and gathered. This especially marked the termination of the wheat harvest (wheat being the last of the grains to ripen in Palestine). DEUTERONOMY 16:9-11 -"YOU SHALL COUNT SEVEN WEEKS. BEGIN TO COUNT THE SEVEN WEEKS FROM THE TIME THE SICKLE IS FIRST PUT TO THE STANDING GRAIN. THEN YOU SHALL KEEP THE FEAST OF WEEKS TO THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH THE TRIBUTE OF A FREEWILL OFFERING FROM YOUR HAND, WHICH YOU SHALL GIVE AS THE LORD YOUR GOD BLESSES YOU. AND YOU SHALL REJOICE BEFORE THE LORD YOUR GOD, YOU AND YOUR SON AND YOUR DAUGHTER, YOUR MALE SERVANT AND YOUR FEMALE SERVANT, THE LEVITE WHO IS WITHIN YOUR TOWNS, THE SOJOURNER, THE FATHERLESS, AND THE WIDOW WHO ARE AMONG YOU, AT THE PLACE THAT THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL CHOOSE, TO MAKE HIS NAME DWELL THERE. (ESV). The festival was held at the central sanctuary or synagogue in each town.

ACTS 1:6-11

WHEN THEY THEREFORE WERE COME TOGETHER, THEY ASKED OF HIM, SAYING, LORD, WILT THOU AT THIS TIME RESTORE AGAIN THE KINGDOM TO ISRAEL? AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, IT IS NOT FOR YOU TO KNOW THE TIMES OR THE SEASONS, WHICH THE FATHER HATH PUT IN HIS OWN POWER. BUT YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER, AFTER THAT THE HOLY GHOST IS COME UPON YOU: AND YE SHALL BE WITNESSES UNTO ME BOTH IN JERUSALEM, AND IN ALL JUDAEA, AND IN SAMARIA, AND UNTO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH. AND WHEN HE HAD SPOKEN THESE THINGS, WHILE THEY BEHELD, HE WAS TAKEN UP; AND A CLOUD RECEIVED HIM OUT OF THEIR SIGHT. AND WHILE THEY LOOKED STEDFASTLY TOWARD HEAVEN AS HE WENT UP, BEHOLD, TWO MEN STOOD BY THEM IN WHITE APPAREL; WHICH ALSO SAID, YE MEN OF GALILEE, WHY STAND YE GAZING UP INTO HEAVEN? THIS SAME JESUS, WHICH IS TAKEN UP FROM YOU INTO HEAVEN, SHALL SO COME IN LIKE MANNER AS YE HAVE SEEN HIM GO INTO HEAVEN. (KJV).

After the resurrection, but before His ascension, Jesus met with His disciples in different places. Their first question to Him is: Will He restore Israel and its Kingdom at this time? Many Jews thought that Jesus had come to restore Israel from the Romans. LUKE 24:21 – BUT WE HAD HOPED THAT HE WAS THE ONE TO REDEEM ISRAEL. YES, AND BESIDES ALL THIS, IT IS NOW THE THIRD DAY SINCE THESE THINGS HAPPENED. (ESV). This was a very common assumption among the people. They did not stop to think ‘why’ they were under command and control of the Romans, or of all the disobedience they had done to deserve captivity.

Adam Clarke’s commentary on the Bible tells us: The Greek word used for ‘restore’ in verse six ‘is a verb ‘αποκαθιστανειν’ which signifies ‘to reinstate, to renew or restore to a former estate.’ Yet, it has another meaning: ‘of ending, abolishing or blotting out, making an end of something.’ Hippocrates, the father of medicine used this word to signify the termination of a disease. Jesus tells them they do not need to know the time or season concerning Israel. His death checked their expectation for a short while, but then when He arose from the dead, some were aroused, excited that perhaps He had changed His mind. He then tells them, they will be instruments to help establish the Kingdom with the Holy Spirit giving them power and they will witness to the ends of the earth.

‘Jerusalem’ – The Pulpit Commentary tells us: The capital of the kingdom of Judah. It was on the dividing line between the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. It is supposed to have been founded by Melchizedek, who is called king of Salem: GENESIS 14:18 - AND MELCHIZEDEK, KING OF SALEM BROUGHT OUT BREAD AND WINE. (ESV). (He was a priest of God Most High), and the one who is supposed to have given this name Salem (meaning Peace) to it. (Melchizedek is a figure, a symbol indication of the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom all honor will be given.

⁰³ The opinions concerning him [Melchisedec] that are best worthy of our consideration are these three: - (1.) The rabbi, and most of the Jewish writers, think he was Shem, the son of Noah who was king and priest to their ancestors, after the manner of the other patriarchs; but it is not probable that he should thus change his name. Besides, we have no account of his settling in the land of Canaan. (2.) Many Christian writers have thought him to be Jesus Christ himself, appearing by a special dispensation and privilege to Abraham in the flesh, and who was known to Abraham by the name Melchisedec, which agrees very well to Christ, and to what is said, JOHN 8:54-56 - JESUS ANSWERED, IF I GLORIFY MYSELF, MY GLORY IS NOTHING. IT IS MY FATHER WHO GLORIFIES ME, OF WHOM YOU SAY, ‘HE IS OUR GOD.’ BUT YOU HAVE NOT KNOWN HIM. I KNOW HIM. IF I WERE TO SAY THAT I DO NOT KNOW HIM, I WOULD BE A LIAR LIKE YOU, BUT I DO KNOW HIM AND I KEEP HIS WORD. YOUR FATHER ABRAHAM REJOICED THAT HE WOULD SEE MY DAY. HE SAW IT AND WAS GLAD. (ESV).] Abraham saw his day and rejoiced. Much may be said for this opinion, and what is said in HEBREWS 7:1-3 - FOR THIS MELCHIZEDEK, KING OF SALEM, PRIEST OF THE MOST HIGH GOD, MET ABRAHAM RETURNING FROM THE SLAUGHTER OF THE KINGS AND BLESSED HIM, AND TO HIM ABRAHAM APPORTIONED A TENTH PART OF EVERYTHING. HE IS FIRST, BY TRANSLATION OF HIS NAME, KING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND THEN HE IS ALSO KING OF SALEM, THAT IS, KING OF PEACE. HE IS WITHOUT FATHER OR MOTHER OR GENEALOGY, HAVING NEITHER BEGINNING OF DAYS NOR END OF LIFE, BUT RESEMBLING THE SON OF GOD HE CONTINUES A PRIEST FOREVER. (ESV). This does not seem to agree with any mere man; but then it seems strange to make Christ a type of himself. (3.) The most general opinion is that he was a Canaanite King, who reigned in Salem, and kept the religion and the worship of the true God; that he was raised to be a type of Christ, and was honored by Abraham as such.

This was about 2000 years before Christ was born. About a century after its foundation [Jerusalem] as a city, was captured by the Jebusites, who extended its walls and built a citadel on Mount Zion. By them it was called Jebus. In the conquest of Canaan, Joshua put to death its king, JOSHUA 10:23 - AND THEY DID SO, AND BROUGHT THOSE FIVE KINGS OUT TO HIM FROM THE CAVE, THE KING OF JERUSALEM, THE KING OF HEBRON, THE KING OF JARMUTH, THE KING OF LACHISH, AND THE KING OF EGLON. (ESV). and obtained possession of the town, which was jointly occupied by the Hebrews and Jebusites until the latter were expelled by David in 1005/4 b.c. He made it the capital of his kingdom under the name of ‘Jebus-Salem.’ This city became known under David with different names including Zion and The City of David. Eventually the Hebrew letter ב (b) changed into the Hebrew letter ר (r), making it ‘Jeru-Salem, which was shortened to Jerusalem.

After the revolt of the ten tribes, Jerusalem became the capital of the kingdom of Judah. It was built on hills, or rocks, and was capable of being strongly fortified, and was well adapted to be the capital of the nation.

Jesus came to redeem mankind and to change things. There had been no inkling of a spiritual life before Christ, but now man was beginning to see a spiritual awakening. Christ came, that changes would be made, concerning Spiritual life, after mortal death. Jesus then rose to heaven in their sight, where He intercedes for us sinners.

ACTS 1:12-14

THEN RETURNED THEY UNTO JERUSALEM FROM THE MOUNT CALLED OLIVET, WHICH IS FROM JERUSALEM A SABBATH DAY’S JOURNEY. AND WHEN THEY WERE COME IN, THEY WENT UP INTO AN UPPER ROOM, WHERE ABODE BOTH PETER, AND JAMES, AND JOHN, AND ANDREW, PHILIP, AND THOMAS, BARTHOLOMEW, AND MATTHEW, JAMES THE SON OF ALPHAEUS, AND SIMON ZELOTES, AND JUDAS THE BROTHER OF JAMES. THESE ALL CONTINUED WITH ONE ACCORD IN PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION, WITH THE WOMEN, AND MARY THE MOTHER OF JESUS, AND WITH HIS BRETHREN. (KJV)

Albert Barnes tells us: A sabbath-day’s journey was as far as a Jew might lawfully travel on the Sabbath. This was 2,000 paces or cubits, or 7 ½ furlongs - not quite one mile. This measure was determined as such, because it was a tradition in the camp of the Israelites, when coming from Egypt, no part of the camp was more than 2000 paces from the tabernacle. Over this distance, therefore, they were permitted to travel for worship. The distance of a lawful journey on the Sabbath was not fixed by the laws of Moses. The rabbi, the Jewish teachers, decided it would be 2,000 paces (Approximately 3000 feet). The rule stated: one could not go more than 2000 paces from some object belonging to the Jew. It is recorded that many Jews, and especially the Sanhedrin, Pharisees and Sadducees were known to stretch this distance by placing an object they owned much farther away so that on the Sabbath they could travel the further distance, 7 ½ furlongs, from the placed object.

This ‘upper room’ might have been in the temple, LUKE 25:53 - AND WERE CONTINUALLY IN THE TEMPLE BLESSING GOD. (ESV). Or it could also be a room in one of the private homes. Upper rooms were normally used for reading the Law and where they normally would meet to discuss and deliberate religious subjects. This was a respectable number of people with twelve men and several women present, plus Mary. All praying, waiting for the promise of the Father, according to the direction of our Lord: LUKE 24:49 - AND BEHOLD, I AM SENDING THE PROMISE OF MY FATHER UPON YOU. BUT STAY IN THE CITY UNTIL YOU ARE CLOTHED WITH POWER FROM ON HIGH." (ESV). ‘Clothed with the power on high.’ The holy Spirit. Note too, the men were with the women praying together. This would be unusual for a patriarchal society. Jesus had already begun to change the customs, making women equal.

ACTS 1:15-17

AND IN THOSE DAYS PETER STOOD UP IN THE MIDST OF THE DISCIPLES, AND SAID, (THE NUMBER OF NAMES TOGETHER WERE ABOUT AN HUNDRED AND TWENTY,) MEN AND BRETHREN, THIS SCRIPTURE MUST NEEDS HAVE BEEN FULFILLED, WHICH THE HOLY GHOST BY THE MOUTH OF DAVID SPAKE BEFORE CONCERNING JUDAS, WHICH WAS GUIDE TO THEM THAT TOOK JESUS. FOR HE WAS NUMBERED WITH US, AND HAD OBTAINED PART OF THIS MINISTRY. (KJV).

‘… in those days’ – in one of the days after Jesus ascension, but before the coming of the holy Spirit. It could have been the same day they had returned to Jerusalem. Peter stands up to propose choosing someone to replace Judas Iscariot. To do this, Jews required one-hundred and twenty men form a council in the city lived in. This one hundred and twenty, were chosen out of many who were converted, received Christ as savior and desired to work in His ministry of witness. Once the council was formed, they could legally perform functions which would upgrade their local religious system.

Originally, there were the twelve disciples plus the seventy-two sent out to witness: LUKE 10:1 - AFTER THIS THE LORD APPOINTED SEVENTY-TWO OTHERS AND SENT THEM ON AHEAD OF HIM, TWO BY TWO, INTO EVERY TOWN AND PLACE WHERE HE HIMSELF WAS ABOUT TO GO. (ESV). As Peter indicated, this council was complete and capable of selecting someone to replace Judas Iscariot.

The mention of the ‘Holy Ghost by the mouth of