Days of discipleship
Jesus declared his disciples, apostles, according to Luke 1:2, on “the day in which He was taken up, after that He through the Holy Spirit had given commandment to the apostles, whom He had chosen” for his followers, or, ‘disciples’ three and halve years ago. On “the fortieth day that He was seen” after his Resurrection, Jesus’ ‘called’, were made his messengers; his ‘followers’ or ‘students’, became Jesus’ ‘sent’—his commissioned ambassadors or ‘apostles’.
After his Resurrection, on the fortieth day that Jesus was “being seen of them” (his disciples) Acts 1:3b, “he had spoken these things … You will receive Power when the Holy Spirit comes and you will be witnesses unto Me”—that is, “you will be my apostles”. “And when He had spoken these things, He was taken up.” 1:9,8.
That Jesus had “been seen of them (his disciples) forty days”, meant,
First, That they had not seen Him on the day that He rose from the dead and grave, but for the first time on the day after;
Next, That they had all left Him on the morning that He was betrayed and was delivered over to the Jews to be crucified; and
Three, That they had not seen Him been buried on the following day after he had died.
So Jesus was not seen again by any until after, the day that He resurrected on, and “risen, appeared to Mary Magdalene first, on the First Day of the week”—the day on which He also was seen by the two disciples on their way to Emmaus.
And thirdly was Jesus seen by ten of his 12 disciples and others “where they with reference to that First Day of the week, were in the upper room thronged in together behind closed doors for fear of the Jews”. Luke 24:36 John 20:19 Mark 16:14 Matthew 28:17,18.
Acts 1:3 and the fact “He was seen of them forty days” before He ascended, therefore implies that neither Jesus’ mother nor his disciple John, had witnessed his death, but had left the scene of the cross before He died, “God having loosed the pains of death” with death. Acts 2:24b Psalm 102:20 Ecclesiastes 12:5-8 Romans 7:2.
First day Jesus was seen
#2 Now Jesus was first seen by Mary Magdalene “risen, on the First Day of the week.” Mark 16:9. In the sixth week after, on the Fifth Day of the week therefore, on the 26th day of the Second Month, it was the fortieth day that Jesus “had shown Himself alive after his suffering” (Acts 1:3a) and declared his disciples, “my witnesses”, because they were “witnesses of his Resurrection”, and were entitled to “take part of this ministry and apostleship.” Acts 1:22,25.
The “fortieth day Jesus was seen of them”, became known as ‘Ascension Thursday’.
So “6When therefore (on that “fortieth day”) they were come together, they (the disciples) asked Him, Lord, wilt Thou at this time (immediately) restore again the kingdom of 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 the Holy Spirit is come upon you”—ten days on, on Pentecost, the “Fiftieth Day” which was also “fifty days counted from (and including) the day that ye wave the first sheaf before the LORD”— Jesus’ Resurrection Day “after, the sabbath” of the passover, the 15th of the First Month.
“6When therefore (on the “fortieth day He was seen of them”) they were come together, Jesus said to them, Ye shall be my witnesses—apostles—both in Jerusalem and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Why on the fortieth day that Jesus was seen by his disciples?
Because of the correlation between the separation of the passover lamb “on the tenth day of the First Month” (‘Palm Sunday’), ten days before “First Sheaf Wave Offering Before the LORD”, “on the sixteenth day of the First Month”, when Jesus rose from the dead and “finished to cleanse the sanctuary”, and Jesus’ Ascension ten days before Pentecost (or ‘Shavuot’ or “The Fiftieth Day”, “counted”), in preparation for the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the 5th day of the Second Month.
#3 Apostolic Witness In Jerusalem
Apostolic witness in Jerusalem entailed a dual responsibility,
a) “Ministering the Word” Acts 2:14…41, synonymous with and indistinguishable from proclaiming “the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship in breaking of bread (the Lord’s Supper) and in prayers”, verse 42;
b) “All that believed together had all things common and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all as everyone had need—and they continued daily with one accord in the temple and in eating (“breaking”) bread from house to house, eating their meat … with all the people.” 2:42-47.
Example of a), Acts 3.
Example of b), Acts 4.
But in all the apostles were the leaders taking all responsibility in everything and for everything. The apostles actually were, the Church—The Church of Jesus Christ, “in the Temple”, worshipping. “They taught the People”, the Church, and preached through Jesus the Resurrection from the dead … in the temple” 4:2. These “were the times of refreshing from the Presence of the LORD; And He shall send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. … Yea, and all the prophets … as many as have spoken, have foretold of THESE days.” 3:18-21,24.
“If we this day be examined of the good deed … be it known to you that … Jesus Christ … is the Stone which is become the Head Stone of the corner”, of the Temple— the apostles and the People of God. 4:9-11.
Christ’s apostles have taken over from the high priests and rulers of the temple, “in the temple”! And they proved it with “miracle of healing” and “signs and wonders done by the Name of thy holy Child, now, Lord.” 4:22,30.
“And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul; neither said any that ought of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things common”—under Christ’s apostles. “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and great grace was upon them all.” 4:32,33.
“Then great awe came upon all the Church and on all hearers. … And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch; and to the apostles no man more durst join himself, but believers were added to the Lord—multitudes both men and women.” 5:11-14.
The number of apostles remained the same, while the number of believers increased disproportionately to both the apostles and the place of their worship, the temple: “insomuch that they brought the sick out into the streets…”, 15,16.
So much was the increase that “Then, the high priest rose up and all they that were with him… and they were filled with indignation. So they incarcerated the apostles …” 5:17,18 further.
The seriousness of their situation could only be held in check through the miracles which God gave the apostles to perform. Their apostleship relied and depended on the Power of the Holy Spirit completely, and with it the welfare of the entire Church as well as proclamation of the Word of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It clearly was not God’s will that things should go on for ever in the same way. God took no pleasure in the hardships of his elect the apostles and believers of The Name, “for there is not in any other than Jesus, salvation, nor is there another Name under the heaven given among men than Jesus whereby we must be saved.” 4:12.
But could the apostles keep up the Proclamation of the Word? Yes … provided … of course. So, first, foremost and indispensable, it dawned on the priests and rulers, “If this council (of these men, the apostles of Jesus whom they say God raised from the dead and call the Christ) BE OF GOD, it cannot be overthrown or brought to nought or as many as obeyed them, be dispersed— to which the council agreed.” 5:34-39.
“So when they had called the apostles and beat them, and commanded them not to speak IN THE NAME OF JESUS, they let them go.”
It was over with the show of power and authority of the high priests and men of Israel over the People of God and their place of worship. The apostles and multitudes of Jesus-followers obtained independence and began an own presbytery in the “house of prayer for all nations”— the Christian Assembly of True Believers.
“And they departed from the presence of the council.” The Christians no longer participated in the Jews’ council affairs or meetings, and founded an own, Christian presbytery, “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for Jesus’ Name” under (former) Jewish domination, persecution and suppression.
Still was it the end of their suffering not yet. Immediate internal matters demanded change! As it was, the apostles still had no choice, but, “Non-stop every day in the temple and from house to house, they were teaching and evangelising, preaching Jesus the Christ”, themselves!
