Bible Study

Today we read Acts 3. Here, Peter castigates the people of Jerusalem (especially the Pharisees), of whom most had rejected Jesus as the coming Messiah and had Him crucified. That many of the Jews would do this had been prophesied in the Old Testament (see verse 22). Sadly, they chose to ignore the fact that the risen Lord brings to light our hidden guilt and lifts the burden that crushes every sinner. That is why the apostles would later move beyond the Jews–and spread the Gospel among the Gentiles (to whom you, dear friends in Muslim countries, belong). *** Praise God, though Jesus’ Word points out your shame, His grace will wipe away your sin.

Today we read Acts 2 and learn about one of the most important days in Christianity, when the Holy Spirit came onto and into three thousand people in Jerusalem at the same time. We call that day Pentecost. Take a close look at verse 9: one of the languages that the people are suddenly able to speak is Parthian–the mother language of Farsi! Why did they suddenly receive this gift of languages? So they could travel to Persia (and other places) and tell the people living there about Jesus Christ and His Forgiveness. When people are baptized today–also tens of thousands of Iranians and Afghans–they receive the same Holy Spirit that the people received back then on Pentecost. Isn’t that wonderful?

We now move beyond the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and begin reading the Book of Acts. The author is Luke. We again read about the Ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven. Yet Jesus is not really gone. He comes to us in His true body and blood every time we take the Lord’s Supper in bread and wine. Sadly, this is something many of you in certain countries have not yet experienced. But we pray that the political situation would someday change, so you too can be baptized (at which point you will definitely receive the Holy Spirit) and can also receive the Lord’s Supper regularly in a faithful church in your area!

Today we read Matthew 28. Alleluia, Christ is risen from the dead! In order to grow His Kingdom, He gives to His disciples and to all pastors since then what we call the “Great Commission,” namely to baptize and teach all people around the world. You who read this website every day: we thank God that Holy Scripture is teaching you about the true faith, and we pray that circumstances would someday allow that you can be baptized as well.