“Who are ‘They’?”
Text: Act chapter 2
Acts 2:1-4 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Much of the conduct of your Christian life will depend upon how you answer this question. How you answer this question will have a very great impact on the conduct of your Christian life. Many believe that these were not the church of Jesus Christ, for in their theology and Bible beliefs the church has not yet begun. In their teachings (many good men believe this by the way) the church is about to begin.
They have meany reasons for thinking this but the man one is that they believe that up until this moment these did not have the Holy Spirit and it is here the Holy Spirit indwells his people (see also John 20:22). Many further believe when the Holy Sprint does this he creates the church which in their view is universal and invisible consisting of every saved individual. But who are “they”? We must answer this Scripturally! If “they” are the church in prospect and that church will be universal and invisible this will have a great impact upon our thinking. We will be diminished in our view of the local church. We will be increasing our susceptibility to the winds of false doctrine that are blowing so fiercely in the world today that is blowing folks from their families, blowing members from their churches and blowing winds as destructive as a spiritual hurricane wreaking crippling havoc upon the ministry of God in this world!
As the doctrine of the church is faded into the “mystical and invisible” so does the ministry, message, and influence of the church!
I. A Look Back: Looking back to the ministry of Christ in the Gospel accounts
Let us take a look back, and in so doing we will have to admit, what “they” are NOT.
A. They are NOT all the saved of the day!
The Bible plainly tells us the number of these in Act 1:14:
Acts 1:12-15 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey. 13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. 15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
Biblically we see distinctions between the “multitudes” those that would believe on Christ and even the disciples of Christ…
John 3:1, 19:39 ~ Nicodemus
John 3:22-24 ~ Many baptized of the disciples
John 4:28-29 ~ Woman at the well and the inhabitants of Sychar (John 4:39-42)
John 4: 46-53 ~ Nobleman and his whole house
Mark 5:20/Mark 6:53-56 ~ The multitudes in Ganesserett
These 5 Scriptural accounts alone show that there were multitudes of people that were saved and many baptized in the 3 year ministry of Christ. Obviously, not all of these were present here in this one place and in one accord in Act 1 and 2. So “they” were not all the saved of the day!
B. They were NOT all that would follow Christ and be called his disciples!
1. 12 specially called disciple sent out:
Luke 9:1-2 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. 2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
2. 70 were later sent two by two:
Luke 10:1-2 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
3. “Many” would be offended and walk no more with him:
John 6:60-69 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
4. A “multitude” would rejoice at his triumphal entry to Jerusalem:
Luke 19:35-38 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
II. A Look Before Us: Looking to the description here in Acts ch. 1 and 2
“Who are ‘they’”
Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
A. They are those that had been called together ~ Christ assembled together with them
Matthew 18:15-20 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
B. They are those who had been commanded together ~ Christ commanded them
Acts 1:13-14 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
C. They are those who had continued together ~ Committed one to another
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Hebrews 10:21-25 And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
D. They are those who had compacted together ~ Consensus in one accord
Ephesians 4:1-3 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Unity in the Congregation is to be KEPT not CREATED!
Ephesians 4:7-16 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
E. They are “them” to which 3000 souls would be added by baptism
Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
D. They are the CHURCH that the Lord added to daily!
Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
III. A Look Ahead:
Acts 11:19-26 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Jerusalem → Antioch → the known world (Acts 13)
They are the church that Jesus founded! ~ Matt. 16:18 They are the church that would provide the Foundation and Framework that every church would be built upon! ~ Ephesians 2:14-22 They are the church that THIS church, (C.I.B.C.) should be framed after!
