10:12 This language is the basis for the words of the prophet (Micah 6:8) in the context of the deliverance from Egypt. Yet another example of the details of the wilderness journey being used as a lesson for later generations.
10:16 This way of living can only achieved through a circumcised heart. Circumcision of the flesh is not sufficient. These words must affect the heart of the individual in covenant relationship with God.

11:17 'that there be no rain' is a threat that God make to Israel if they were unfaithful. This is why Elijah (1 Kings 17:1) prayed that it would not rain. He doubtless hoped that that the drought would bring Israel to their senses as they realised that they were suffering because they were astray from God.

10:17 The language from this verse is quoted (1 Timothy 6:15) to speak of the majesty of God - He hasn't changed from Old to New Testament.

11:14 When Yahweh told Israel that they would receive the first rain and the latter rain they would have had no idea what was being spoken of. In Egypt, where they had been for 215 years, does not have rain, let alone seasons of rain.

10:22 the mention of 'threescore and ten souls; quotes (Exo 1:5) which was to remind those at the end of the wilderness journey the way in which God had blessed the family of Jacob since his arrival in Egypt - and that is despite the oppression of Egypt.

11:18 The binding of the words repeats the command of Moses (Deut 6:8) but this was not to be simply a ritual. 'between your eyes' meant that Israel were always to have the word in their sight.  Readings the Word was not a mere ritual. It was their life. How do we view the daily readings?

Israel had to both obey the LORD and to love Him (10:12; 11:1).  Duty alone is not sufficient to serve the LORD.  Our service must also be an act of love as well as a duty (1Cor 13).   Duty without love is not acceptable to the LORD.

Israel is still jealously watched by the LORD today (11:12)

11:27,28  preview the larger treatise of blessings and curses found in Deut. 28.

Deut 10:17  God is impartial.... Acts 10:34 God doesn't show favoritism.... Rom 2:5-11 God will judge and reward each person according to what they have done be it on the day of God's wrath v5 or be it the bestowing of immortality v7.... James 2:1 we are not to show favoritism.... Rom 2:1-3; Matt 7:1-2 we are not to judge others 

Deut 11:26-28 - here we have 2 equations: obey = blessing, disobey = cursing

10:17 That God is not a respecter of persons is a repeated teaching in Scripture. Paul – 1Tim 6:15 – is one of the writers who picks up on this idea. On this occasions instructing Timothy who was responsible for the ecclesia in Ephesus. So this detail of the character of God has its application in the way in which we treat our brethren and sisters. Because God does not respect persons neither should we.

11:24   The promise that everywhere where the ‘soles of your feet’ will tread will be ‘yours’ is the basis for the promise – Josh 3:13 – that when the priests stand in the river Jordan that the waters will be ‘cut off’.  The Jordan typifies death. The entry into the land signified the resurrection. The promise in Deut 11:24, was typically fulfilled.

10:5-6 We should be aware that there is a gap of about 38 years between these two verses. The incident of the stone tablets is at Sinai near the beginning of the wilderness journey whereas the death of Aaron took place in the 40^{th year of their time in the wilderness.}

10:2 Yahweh’s Word can never be silenced.  Men have tried but have failed.  For example, Jehoiakim tried to destroy it, but it was re-written (Jer 36:23,32).  The Catholic Church did not want people to read the Bible for themselves.  They tried to stop William Tyndale (1494-1536) from publishing and distributing his new translation of the Bible. The Church murdered Tyndale but this did not stop what he started.  Others followed Tyndale until King James authorized the 1611 version.  Today, the KJV and other versions are freely read by anyone.  The Word of God cannot be stopped.  This, surely, is proof of the Living God who oversees all things.

10:14 the phrase the heaven and the heaven of heavens is used to show the vastness of Yahweh’s creation beyond the limitations of the earth.

11:14 the first (early) rain is in fall/winter; and the latter rain is in spring.

11:17 The withholding of rain will also occur in the Kingdom for negligent nations (Zech 14:17).

Either Moses was a very strong man, or the tablets of stone were a little smaller than we might imagine them (10:3)

Did you know that Moses pleaded with God for 40 days, fasting and lying on the ground? (10:10, 9:18,25)

Question: (11:2-7) How can Moses be speaking to the original generation who lived in Egypt, if God had destroyed them in the wilderness? (Num 32:13)

10:10 Having spoken about the journeying of Israel and the death of Aaron which took place in the 40^{th year of the wilderness journey Moses now returns to speak of what happened at Sinai when he was given the two tables of the law at the beginning of the wilderness journey.}

4:7 On a number of times Solomon ‘returned’. We might ask where he returned from and where he returned to. He returned from looking at men and women in the kingdom of Israel to go to the house of God. It was in the house of God that he saw the ‘vanity’ of this life.

4:8 That man is not satisfied with what he sees is a point that Solomon returns to – Ecc 5:10 – If only we could learn that we will never be satisfied with things that this life can offer.

4:2-3  This depressing comment upon life and death can only be true of those who do not see God at work n their lives. Those who recognise God s at work in their lives have hope. Those who do not do not have hope. So we must recognise this seemingly pointless existence only has meaning when viewed against the background of the Gospel message.

Vs.9-12 The preacher describes the advantage of two working together. Nevertheless, exceptionally single-minded persons have chosen to be alone for the sake of the Truth. Jesus is the prime example. Paul also chose that route and wished that all could be like him (for the Truth’s sake) (1Cor 7:7). However, Paul allowed for the fact that most people are not like him, thus he recommended marriage (1Cor 7:9). And so, for most people, the preacher is right that two are better than one.

KEEPING UP WITH THE JONES'

My brother in law just had a conversation with his son. His seven year old son wanted a cup of pepermint tea. Why did he want it? He wanted pepermint tea because his younger brother had a cup of pepermint tea. "So," my brother in law asked, "What would you have if Henry didn't have pepermint tea?" His son responded, "Juice."

Even as a seven year old, my nephew had a desire to keep up with the people around him. If someone else had something, then he should have it too. That desire does not dissappear. It may become more subtle as we get older, but if we look around at our peers, we will see that we all have similar standards of lifestyle and possessions. Few of us are left behind because, like it or not, we aim to keep up with those around us. The Teacher saw this trend when he said,  "And I saw that all labor and achievement spring from man's envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind." (Ecc 4:4)

Let's take note of the motivation we have when we next go out to gain bigger, better, or more possessions. Are we doing it because we need it? Or are we gaining more just because it is what everyone else is doing or we need to keep up with our living standards?

Do all to the glory of God.

Vs.9-12 No follower of Christ should ever be alone and unaided.  It is the duty each disciple of Christ to support fellow brothers and sisters (Gal 6:2; 1John 3:17).

Vs.13,14 Solomon might have been thinking about David.  He was virtually in prison under duress from Saul.  Eventually, David came out of poverty to wealth and power.  He took over from Saul, a king who would not be admonished.

Peter quotes a number of passages from the Old Testament linking Judas with both Balaam and Ahithophel.

1:23-26 It may be argued that the example of the apostles here shows us that we should cast lots to appoint our serving brethren. However I do not feel that this follows.

1 We are not replacing a person who has to be replaced to fulfill a pattern set by Jesus
2 The casting of lots in this case was between two who had clearly equal qualities

1:15  In speaking of the disciples as ‘names’ we see an application of Isa 56:6 where people will be given a name.

V.18 "reward of iniquity" A reward of death, and a return to the earth. There is here an undersigned coincidence here, and it shows Lukes's accuracy and attention to detail. Peter uses this expression during this address, which has been recorded for us. Years later we find Peter using it again; "reward of unrighteousness" (2Pet 2:13) and again in V.18 "wages of unrighteousness"

When Jesus left the disciples after 40 days, a great feeling of loneliness and isolation must have crept over them. The feeling I get from v12-13 is that they stole quietly back into the city, and went to a private upper room. There it says they "continued with one accord in prayer". That's a wonderful picture of them taking comfort in their unity. Here they kept the Lord among them in prayer and by constant reference to him. They would have discussed what he had told them over the last 40 days, and no doubt their hearts had burned within them (Luke 24:32).

But there was a sadness and unease among them. Jesus had gone, rather without warning, whilst they had hoped he would set up the Kingdom of Israel (v6). This was why Jesus had promised them a "comforter". His purpose with them had not yet fully sunk in, having only just got to grips with him rising from the dead. There may have been fear too of the enormity of what Jesus seemed to be asking them. He had asked them to speak of him throughout the world, and through persecution and trial and opposition. They knew only too well how fierce the Jewish leaders could become when provoked. Did they have to lay their lives on the line as Jesus had done?

And so we come to a vivid picture of our own life in the assembly of those waiting for Jesus. We have a job to do, but so often we feel so helpless, insecure, and afraid that we find ourselves just gathering together and speaking of Jesus, and waiting. But this is precisely what we should do. Jesus had commanded his followers to remain together in Jerusalem, and he had commanded them to Love one another. When the time came it was he who provided them with the wherewithal to preach. He who moved events to cause them to carry it throughout the world. He who comforted them through it. And he who provided them with the words to say.

Sometimes we can forget that it is Jesus who is responsible both for us, and for the tasks we will carry out in his name. We should take courage and believe that, in his good time, he will provide us each with the wherewithal to do what he asks of us. We don't always know how he will do this, or when, and likely it will be on a small scale. But this we do know, that in the meantime we should gather together and wait for him.

1:3 I find it difficult to imagine what it must have been like to spend time talking to a person who had been dead and was now alive forever. But this was the experience of the disciples. They were truly blessed by that experience However there is also a blessing for those who have not had that experience – John 20:29

Luke now commences his second letter to Theophilus. He has a wonderful story to tell of how the Word was preached “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). It’s interesting that Jesus had chosen 12 disciples. Why? Probably because there were 12 tribes of Israel, and this new Christian gospel was based on the promises to Abraham. Peter and the others now pray, and think it appropriate to elect a 12th man, to replace the evil Judas Iscariot, and God chooses Matthias. But we don’t hear anything further about him.

Matt 27:5 records simply that Judas hanged himself. Here in v.18 a more graphic description of Judas' demise is given. Judas, it appears, botched his own hanging. Probably the rope gave way sending him crashing down.

1:7     Just as it was not for the disciples to know ‘the times and the seasons’ we do not need to know them either. Our hope is not based upon the nearness of Jesus’ return even though this is an important element of our hope. It is based on the fact that God raised Jesus from the dead and forgiveness of sins is available through him. Notice, as you read through Acts, how often the resurrection is mentioned.

V.11  records that Jesus ascended into heaven and promises that He will return.  Moreover, it records that the manner of return will be the same as the ascension.  The Lord ascended from a place near Bethany, on the side of the Mount of Olives away from Jerusalem (Luke 24:50; John 11:18): not from the top of the Mount of Olives as some suppose.  His ascension was a private affair which could not be seen by those in Jerusalem. Likewise, His return will be surreptitious.  He will gather His people (spiritual Israel), and after judgement, He will manifest Himself on the Mount of Olives, with great fanfare, to save natural Israel (Zech 14:3,4).

If you would like a brief outline of Jesus' return and subsequent events, please e-mail me for Return of Jesus and End-time Prophecy.

1:1 We met ‘Theophilus’ in Luke 1:3 where he is called ‘most excellent ...’. This description is reserved for Roman dignitaries – Acts 23:26– so maybe by the time Paul sent Acts to him he had become a brother in Christ and so Luke did not feel the need to use the Roman title.

v 3-6 First Principles>Kingdom of God>Restored Israel to be God's Kingdom
When Israel is restored, it will be God's Kingdom Acts 1:3-6, Mic 4:7,8
First Principles>Kingdom of God
For more about the Kingdom of God, go to Gen 12:1

V.12 a sabbath’s day journey is seven-and-one-half furlongs.  Josephus reckons that the Mount of Olives is but five furlongs from Jerusalem.  And so, Jesus’ ascension was on the down slope of the mountain away from Jerusalem. Bethany was fifteen furlongs from Jerusalem. But the region of Bethany began seven-and-one half furlongs from Jerusalem. The region of Bethphage also began seven-and one-half furlongs from Jerusalem.  It is where these two regions met that Jesus ascended into heaven.

v6 First Principles>Sure Mercies of David>Government
The disciples looked for a restoration of Israel
For more information about the Government of God's Kingdom, go to Matt 19:28

1:6 A Jew would understand that the kingdom of God had existed on the earth before. A roman official probably would not appreciate the significance of that so Luke advises Theophilus of this element of the apostles’ expectations by recounting one of the many things they must have said to Jesus after the resurrection.