Introduction: Continuing a series on the Holy Spirit in Scripture.
- From the outset we see the Holy Spirit poured out and working in a context of increasing Jewish opposition. Tragically, the Jews became “the world” cosmos that inevitably opposes Christ’s kingdom.
- After the healing of a lame man the Apostles were forbidden to preach in Jesus’ name, which they refused to obey. “We cannot stop speaking of the things which we have seen and heard…. We must obey God rather than man.” (Acts 4:19-20; 5:5:29-32).
- The early Church responded to threats by turning to God in prayer, resulting in a divine shaking and in-filling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:24-31).
- Rapid growth of the body of Messiah in Jerusalem and Judea, when it was simply known as the Way.
- Many from other countries than Judea. These were “Hellenistic”, Greek-speaking Jews, since Greek was the common language of the Eastern Roman Empire. Native Hebrews spoke Aramaic, inherited from their time of captivity in Babylon and the influence of the Assyrian and Babylonian Empires from 9th to 6th centuries BC.
- All believers at this time were Jews.
Biblical Context: The rapid growth of Jesus’ Body meant that many people, especially widows and their children, were financially deprived.
- Conflict between Hebrew and Hellinistic Jewsy.
- CONFLICT BETWEEN HEBREW AND HELLENISTIC JEWS.