A Long-Awaited Arrival

"God’s People in Captivity” which is included in this website’s Bible Stories as Lesson 23, tells of the faithfulness of Daniel, the young captive who interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of a huge image made of various metals. The dream was a revelation of God’s plan for the coming of His kingdom, the church. Those of us who are subjects of King Jesus are in his kingdom, and we are in His church. At least two New Testament scriptures use these terms interchangeably (Matthew 16:18-19; Hebrews 12:22-23, 28). The paragraph, which follows, vividly describes the excitement of the day when Jesus’ kingdom came.

Jesus’ kingdom came with great power on the day of Pentecost, ten days after He had ascended back to Heaven. The apostles were in Jerusalem, not far from the crucifixion site. A great wind came down from Heaven and filled the room where the apostles and many believers had gathered that day. The sound from the mighty wind drew a crowd which the apostle Peter began addressing. He and the other apostles, who were miraculously accommodating everyone by speaking in their many and varied languages, told the throngs of people that with the help of wicked men, they had put Jesus to death by nailing Him to the cross. The audience could only be amazed at the powerful wonders which they were witnessing. Peter’s words broke their hearts. They asked, “What must we do?” Peter’s brief prescription for their terrible circumstances rings down through the centuries to men and women who are suddenly struck with the awareness of their sinful and lost state: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. The scripture reveals about 3,000 were baptized and added to the church that day. Acts 2:38-47.

The church became a huge community of believers with challenges. One concern was that some widows were being overlooked and needed food. The apostles turned the responsibility of providing the widows’ needs over to seven good and wise men. One of those men was Philip.

While the young church continued to grow, there was still a large segment of the population that hated Jesus and His teachings. That strong resentment and impenitent opposition was directed toward Jesus’ followers. The disdain led to a great persecution and the scattering of Christians throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. It was then that Philip went down to Samaria to tell those citizens about Jesus and how they could be forgiven of their transgressions. For many years, the Samaritan people had been influenced by pagan worship and had not worshipped as God had commanded. However, Philip's teaching was confirmed by miracles which God enabled him to perform, and the people were convinced and were baptized. Acts 8:6-13.

While Jesus’ kingdom was being firmly established, the apostles could lay their hands on those who had been baptized and that act allowed the new Christians to also perform miracles by the Holy Spirit. While the apostles lived, this gift could be conveyed. The gift of the Holy Spirit allowed early Christians to be a part of spreading the gospel of the good news of salvation and Jesus’ kingdom. When their neighbors saw them performing miracles, they believed their words about Jesus and redemption. The scriptures explain that once the giving of the scriptures was complete, signs and miracles would have achieved the desired effect. I Corinthians 13:8-10. The special gift of the Holy Spirit, which had been bestowed by the laying on of the apostles’ hands, would no longer be given after the death of the last apostle. Scriptures in the Old Testament revealed this special time would come, Joel 2:28.

Here’s a memory help: Daniel 2 foretells the coming of the Kingdom (the church); Joel 2 foretells the Holy Spirit’s role in the growth of the Kingdom by giving miracles to confirm the word that was being taught; and Acts 2 records the day the Kingdom came, so let’s remember chapter 2 in each book (Daniel, Joel and Acts).

Watch for more about Philip in coming pages.