Act 1:1-11 chiastic structure
1a) Act 1:1-2a, Luke’s former account of all Jesus did + taught until the day He was taken up;
1b) Act 1:2b, After He had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen;
1c) Act 1:3, To whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs;
1d) Act 1:4-5, Jesus:Wait for the Promise of the Father – the baptism of the Holy Spirit;
central axis) Act 1:6-7, Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority;”
2d) Act 1:8a, Jesus: But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;
2c) Act 1:8b, Jesus: And you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem + Judea + Samaria + end of the earth;
2b) Act 1:9a, Now when He had spoken these things;
2a) Act 1:9b-11, While they watched, He was taken up/ the promise of His return.
Act 1:12-26 chiastic structure
1a) Act 1:12-15, The eleven apostles, and the number of the disciples (about 120);
1b) Act 1:16-17, Peter: This Scripture had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who betrayed Jesus;
central axis) Act 1:18-19, The fate of Judas;
2b) Act 1:20, Peter: For it is written in the Book of Psalms, Let another take his office;
2a) Act 1:21-26, Matthias was chosen, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles;
1a) Act 1:21-22, Peter: One of these men must become a witness with us of His resurrection;
1b) Act 1:23, They proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas + Matthias;
central axis) Act 1:24-25, And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place;”
2b) Act 1:26a, And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias;
2a) Act 1:26b, And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Act 1:1-26 chiastic structure
1a) Act 1:1-8, Power when the Holy Spirit has come/ You shall be witnesses to Me to the ends of the earth;
1b) Act 1:9, While they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight;
1c) Act 1:10a, And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up;
central axis) Act 1:10b, Behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
2c) Act 1:11a, Angels: Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven?
2b) Act 1:11b, Angels: This same Jesus, will come again in like manner;
2a) Act 1:12-26, One of these men must become a witness with us of His resurrection/ Matthias chosen.
Yes, as disciples we testify of Jesus by the words of our witness. But what is it that testifies of Jesus, that He came from the Father, and went back to the Father, His body not being in the grave because He was raised up in the power of the Spirit, in resurrection life, being the firstfruits of the resurrection to come? I think there is a two fold answer. First, it is when we ask the Father for something in the name of Jesus – and He does it! Like healing the sick, raising the dead, feeding thousands, calming storms – any of the works that Jesus did. This is one reason why receiving the power inherent in the baptism of the Holy Spirit is integral to the witness of the disciples. Second, there is another power the Holy Spirit imparts, besides the miraculous gifts of the Spirit – and that is the power of a transformed life. It is through the agency of the Spirit, the prophets tell us, that we will receive a new heart, and become carefully diligent to obey all the Father’s commandments and statutes (Eze 36:25-27).
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