PM - Daniel #13

Daniel Sees the Future

Daniel 11:1 - 45 (NKJV) ¹“Also in the first year of Darius the Mede, I, even I, stood up to confirm and strengthen him.) ²And now I will tell you the truth: Behold, three more kings will arise in Persia, and the fourth shall be far richer than them all; by his strength, through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece. ³Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. ⁴And when he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken up and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not among his posterity nor according to his dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be uprooted, even for others besides these. ⁵“Also the king of the South shall become strong, as well as one of his princes; and he shall gain power over him and have dominion. His dominion shall be a great dominion. ⁶And at the end of some years they shall join forces, for the daughter of the king of the South shall go to the king of the North to make an agreement; but she shall not retain the power of her ^authority, and neither he nor his ^authority shall stand; but she shall be given up, with those who brought her, and with him who begot her, and with him who strengthened her in those times. ⁷But from a branch of her roots one shall arise in his place, who shall come with an army, enter the fortress of the king of the North, and deal with them and prevail. ⁸And he shall also carry their gods captive to Egypt, with their ^princes and their precious articles of silver and gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the North. ⁹“Also the king of the North shall come to the kingdom of the king of the South, but shall return to his own land. ¹⁰However his sons shall stir up strife, and assemble a multitude of great forces; and one shall certainly come and overwhelm and pass through; then he shall return to his fortress and stir up strife. ¹¹“And the king of the South shall be moved with rage, and go out and fight with him, with the king of the North, who shall muster a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into the hand of his enemy. ¹²When he has taken away the multitude, his heart will be lifted up; and he will cast down tens of thousands, but he will not prevail. ¹³For the king of the North will return and muster a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come at the end of some years with a great army and much equipment. ¹⁴“Now in those times many shall rise up against the king of the South. Also, ^violent men of your people shall exalt themselves in fulfillment of the vision, but they shall fall. ¹⁵So the king of the North shall come and build a siege mound, and take a fortified city; and the ^forces of the South shall not withstand him. Even his choice troops shall have no strength to resist. ¹⁶But he who comes against him shall do according to his own will, and no one shall stand against him. He shall stand in the Glorious Land with destruction in his ^power. ¹⁷“He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and ^upright ones with him; thus shall he do. And he shall give him the daughter of women to destroy it; but she shall not stand with him, or be for him. ¹⁸After this he shall turn his face to the coastlands, and shall take many. But a ruler shall bring the reproach against them to an end; and with the reproach removed, he shall turn back on him. ¹⁹Then he shall turn his face toward the fortress of his own land; but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found. ²⁰“There shall arise in his place one who imposes taxes on the glorious kingdom; but within a few days he shall be destroyed, but not in anger or in battle. ²¹And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue. ²²With the ^force of a flood they shall be swept away from before him and be broken, and also the prince of the covenant. ²³And after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people. ²⁴He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time. ²⁵“He shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South with a great army. And the king of the South shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand, for they shall devise plans against him. ²⁶Yes, those who eat of the portion of his delicacies shall destroy him; his army shall be swept away, and many shall fall down slain. ²⁷Both these kings’ hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time. ²⁸While returning to his land with great riches, his heart shall be moved against the holy covenant; so he shall do damage and return to his own land. ²⁹“At the appointed time he shall return and go toward the south; but it shall not be like the former or the latter. ³⁰For ships from ^Cyprus shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return in rage against the holy covenant, and do damage. “So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant. ³¹And ^forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. ³²Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. ³³And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. ³⁴Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. ³⁵And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time. ³⁶“Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done. ³⁷He shall regard neither the ^God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. ³⁸But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. ³⁹Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain. ⁴⁰“At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. ⁴¹He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. ⁴²He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. ⁴³He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels. ⁴⁴But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. ⁴⁵And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.

Daniel 11:1 (NKJV) ¹“Also in the first year of Darius the Mede, I, even I, stood up to confirm and strengthen him.)

This is a continuation of chapter 10 where Michael the Archangel was sent to protect from demonic attack – Michael takes action to support Darius the Mede

Daniel 11:2 (NKJV) ²And now I will tell you the truth: Behold, three more kings will arise in Persia, and the fourth shall be far richer than them all; by his strength, through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece.

• The three kings are: Cambyses (elder son of Cyrus 529-512 BC.) , Gaumata (also called Bardiya 523-522 BC) he had the real son murdered) , Darius I 522-485 BC) Darius I was the son of Hystaspes who murdered the imposter, cousin of Cyrus.

• The fourth king: Xerxes (Ahasuerus) 485-464 BC ) from book of Esther. He tried for years to subdue Greece

Daniel 11:3 - 4 (NKJV) ³Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. ⁴And when he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken up and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not among his posterity nor according to his dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be uprooted, even for others besides these.

• Alexander the Great

• Alexander’s sons: 1 was mentally defective the other two were murdered within 13 years after Alexander’s death.

• His empire was given over to 4 generals.

• Seleucus Nicator took control over Syria and Ptolemy I Soter took Egypt – they fought each other for 150 years. Seleucus located north of Israel is the King of the North and Ptolemy is the King of the South.

Daniel 11:5 (NKJV) ⁵“Also the king of the South shall become strong, as well as one of his princes; and he shall gain power over him and have dominion. His dominion shall be a great dominion.

• Ptolemy II Philadelphus 285-245 BC became an even stronger king – commissioned the LXX.

• Ptolemy I captured Jerusalem in 321 but lost Jerusalem in 316 to Antigonus, In 312 BC Potolemy regained the territory with Selecucus Nicaator 312-281 and rulled from Babylon.

Daniel 11:6 - 8 (NKJV) ⁶And at the end of some years they shall join forces, for the daughter of the king of the South shall go to the king of the North to make an agreement; but she shall not retain the power of her ^authority, and neither he nor his ^authority shall stand; but she shall be given up, with those who brought her, and with him who begot her, and with him who strengthened her in those times. ⁷But from a branch of her roots one shall arise in his place, who shall come with an army, enter the fortress of the king of the North, and deal with them and prevail. ⁸And he shall also carry their gods captive to Egypt, with their ^princes and their precious articles of silver and gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the North.

• Potolemy II’s daughter, Bernice married Antiochus II who divorced his wife Laodiceia. She poisoned Antiochus II and Bernice and set her son Seleucus II Callinicus on the throne (246-226 BC) * This was in the LXX before it happened!

• The brother of Bernice, Ptolemy II Euergetes sought revenge and invaded Syria overrunning the Seleucus empire all the way to Babylon.

• Ptolemy II took huge spoils back to Egypt, 440 tones of gold, 40,000 talents of silver, 2,500 idols.

Daniel 11:9 (NKJV) ⁹“Also the king of the North shall come to the kingdom of the king of the South, but shall return to his own land.

• Two years later Seleucus reorganized and marched sough against Egypt but was soundly defeated and retuned to Antioch with a small force

Daniel 11:10 (NKJV) ¹⁰However his sons shall stir up strife, and assemble a multitude of great forces; and one shall certainly come and overwhelm and pass through; then he shall return to his fortress and stir up strife.

• Seleucus’s sons were Seleucus II Ceraunus and Antiochus II – Antiochus II recovered the forttess of Seleucia and resumed the war with Egypt.

Daniel 11:11 - 13 (NKJV) ¹¹“And the king of the South shall be moved with rage, and go out and fight with him, with the king of the North, who shall muster a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into the hand of his enemy. ¹²When he has taken away the multitude, his heart will be lifted up; and he will cast down tens of thousands, but he will not prevail. ¹³For the king of the North will return and muster a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come at the end of some years with a great army and much equipment.

• The army of Ptolemy IV Philopator marched against Antiochus II at the battle of Raphia. Ptolemy won and went on a tour of the Holy land. While attempting to enter the Holy of Holies, he was struck with a paralysis and was unable to enter.

• Angry about what happened in Jerusalem he killed thousands of Egyptian Jews

• 12 years after the defeat at Raphia Antiochus II set out with a great army to conquer Egypt.

Daniel 11:14 (NKJV) ¹⁴“Now in those times many shall rise up against the king of the South. Also, ^violent men of your people shall exalt themselves in fulfillment of the vision, but they shall fall.

• In 200BC an Egyptian Jew names Scopas raise an army in an attempt to win Judea from Antiochus but was defeated by Antiochus II, 100,000 strong army at Sidon.

Daniel 11:15 (NKJV) ¹⁵So the king of the North shall come and build a siege mound, and take a fortified city; and the ^forces of the South shall not withstand him. Even his choice troops shall have no strength to resist.

• The city was Caesarea Phillippi north of Galilee. Antiochus took control of Palestine from the Egyptians defeating them in the battle of Panion – The Romans were getting a foothold in Greece.

Daniel 11:16 - 19 (NKJV) ¹⁶But he who comes against him shall do according to his own will, and no one shall stand against him. He shall stand in the Glorious Land with destruction in his ^power. ¹⁷“He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and ^upright ones with him; thus shall he do. And he shall give him the daughter of women to destroy it; but she shall not stand with him, or be for him. ¹⁸After this he shall turn his face to the coastlands, and shall take many. But a ruler shall bring the reproach against them to an end; and with the reproach removed, he shall turn back on him. ¹⁹Then he shall turn his face toward the fortress of his own land; but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.

• Antiochus II entered a marriage alliance sending his daughter, Cleopatra to be the bride of Ptolemy V. Antiochus expected her to be a useful spy instead she became loyal to her young husband.

• In 192BC Antioch made his move toward Greece but was defeated at the battle of Thermopylae.

• He called for 70,000 reinforcements but the well trained Romans again defeated him.

• He had to pay a tribute of the equivalent of 30 million dollars as was ruined.

• Seleucus IV Philopaatro sent his treasure to Jerusalem to seize funds He was murdered by Heliodorus, his treasurer, who hoped to take over.

History and future?

Daniel 11:21 - 22 (NKJV) ²¹And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue. ²²With the ^force of a flood they shall be swept away from before him and be broken, and also the prince of the covenant.

• Antiochus IV through various flatteries and bribes took hold of the throne

• The passages that relate to Antiochus IV also relate to a coming world leader

Daniel 11:23 - 24 (NKJV) ²³And after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people. ²⁴He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time.

• He set up his own priesthood

• He attacked his enemies when they least expected it after making peace agreements

Daniel 11:25 - 28 (NKJV) ²⁵“He shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South with a great army. And the king of the South shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand, for they shall devise plans against him. ²⁶Yes, those who eat of the portion of his delicacies shall destroy him; his army shall be swept away, and many shall fall down slain. ²⁷Both these kings’ hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time. ²⁸While returning to his land with great riches, his heart shall be moved against the holy covenant; so he shall do damage and return to his own land.

• After the death of Cleopatra, Ptolemy IV (a nephew of Antiochus IV) was unable to withstand an attack from Antiochus in 169BC. Antiochus took Memphis and Ptolemy surrendered.

• The citizens of Alexandria make Ptolemy’s young brother, Ptolemy Physcon king. Antioclus tried to break the revolt but was unsuccessful.

• Antiochus IV was unhappy with the events in Egypt and raided the temple

Daniel 11:29 - 30 (NKJV) ²⁹“At the appointed time he shall return and go toward the south; but it shall not be like the former or the latter. ³⁰For ships from ^Cyprus shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return in rage against the holy covenant, and do damage. “So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant.

• In 168 Antiochus again headed for Egypt with a siege of Memphis. The city appealed to a new power with a navel base at Cyprus – ROME

• The Roman ships arrived just as Antiochus approached Alexandria. He was ordered by Gaius Popillius Laenas to leave Egypt. The Romans drew a circle around him and he was told to make his decision before he steeped out of the circle. Humiliated he turned his fury on the Jews.

Daniel 11:31 (NKJV) ³¹And ^forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.

• On the Sabbath Antiochus IV began a merciless slaughter of the Jews

• He Abolished the daily sacrifice

• On December 25, 167BC is set up an idol of Zeus in the Holy of Holies

Daniel 11:32 (NKJV) ³²Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.

• 5 brothers, sons of Mattahieas Maccabeaus rose up and led a 3 year revolt that succeeded and on December 25, they rededicated the temple “Hanukkah”

Daniel 11:33 - 35 (NKJV) ³³And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. ³⁴Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. ³⁵And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.

• These events can refer equally well to the Maccabean revolt or the final opposition to the Antichirst

Daniel 11:36 (NKJV) ³⁶“Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done.

• Antiochus IV regarded Zeus so this appears to go beyond him.

Daniel 11:37 - 38 (NKJV) ³⁷He shall regard neither the ^God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. ³⁸But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things.

• Desire of women is a title for the Messiah!

Daniel 11:39 - 43 (NKJV) ³⁹Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain. ⁴⁰“At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. ⁴¹He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. ⁴²He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. ⁴³He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels.

• None of this can relate to Antiochus! He never had a fleet – He never went deep into Egypt – nor Libya or any place on Africa.

Daniel 11:44 - 45 (NKJV) ⁴⁴But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. ⁴⁵And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.

• Reports from the east and north may represent China and Russia or a combined Russian-Iranian alliance. In 1990 Russia signed an agreement to protect Iran in a future invasion of Israel.

Daniel 11:45 (NKJV) ⁴⁵And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.

• Between the Mediterranean and the Sea of Galilee? The mountain of Moriah? The mountain of Megiddo – Armageddon!

Daniel 12:1 - 3 (NKJV) ¹ “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. ² And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. ³ Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.

• Daniel is told about the great tribulation identical to Christ’s Olivet sermon

• Michael is the prince who protects the Jews

• Imagine the setting aqs the bowls of wrath described in the book of Revelation are poured out

• Everyone whose name is written in the Lambs Book of Life will be delivered.

• Many who are dead will be resurrected – why not all? Has the rapture already accrued?

Now that I am Saved #2

Introduction: The question arises – when were the Apostles and first Christians saved?

John 20:19 - 31 (NKJV) ¹⁹Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were ^assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” ²⁰When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. ²¹So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” ²²And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” ²⁴Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” ²⁶And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” ²⁷Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” ²⁸And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹Jesus said to him, ^“Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” ³⁰And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; ³¹but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

• They recognized that Jesus had been raised from the dead

• They called Him Lord

• He commanded them to receive the Holy Spirit

• He breathed on them

Genesis 2:7 (NKJV) ⁷And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Acts 2:1 - 4 (NKJV) ¹When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all ^with one accord in one place. ²And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. ⁴And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

ILL: When God breathed on Adam he became “living” - When the resurrected Lord “breathed” on the disciples they became “living” – they had been “dead in trespasses and sin” now they were “born again” into spiritual life!

1. Jesus commanded them to be “baptized in the Holy Spirit”

Acts 1:1 - 8 (NKJV) ¹The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, ²until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, ³to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. ⁴And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; ⁵for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” ⁶Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. ⁸But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be ^witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

1. They were Baptized on the day of Pentecost

Acts 2:1 - 4 (NKJV) ¹When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all ^with one accord in one place. ²And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. ⁴And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

• The sound of a rushing wind

• Tongues of fire on each

• Filled with the Holy Spirit

• Spoke in tongues

1. Were any of these events repeated?

1. Acts 10:24 - 46 (NKJV) ²⁴And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. ²⁶But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.” ²⁷And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. ²⁸Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. ²⁹Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?” ³⁰So Cornelius said, ^“Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, ³¹and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. ³²Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. ^When he comes, he will speak to you.’ ³³So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.” ³⁴Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. ³⁵But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. ³⁶The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— ³⁷that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: ³⁸how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. ³⁹And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom ^they killed by hanging on a tree. ⁴⁰Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, ⁴¹not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. ⁴²And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” ⁴⁴While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. ⁴⁵And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. ⁴⁶For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,

• Peter receives supernatural call to preach to Gentiles

• Peter tells them of Jesus and the resuretion

• The Holy Spirit fell upon

• They heard them speak with tongues and magnify God

• (no wind & fire but tongues)

2. Acts 19:1 - 7 (NKJV) ¹And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples ²he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” ³And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” ⁴Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” ⁵When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. ⁷Now the men were about twelve in all.

• Paul found some disciples but recognized something was missing

• The had been baptized in water

• Paul preached Christ to them

• They believed and were rebaptized in Jesus name

• Paul laid hands on them

• The Holy Spirit came upon them

• They spoke in tongues and prophesied

3. Acts 4:23 - 31 (NKJV) ²³And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. ²⁴So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, ²⁵who ^by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? ²⁶ The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’^{ 27}“For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together ²⁸to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. ²⁹Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, ³⁰by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” ³¹And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

• The disciples were threatened

• They prayed for gifts

• The place was shaken

• They were filled with Holy Spirit (most had already been baptized in Holy Spirit)

• They had additional boldness

4.Acts 8:9 - 25 (NKJV) ⁹But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, ¹⁰to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” ¹¹And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. ¹²But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. ¹³Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done. ¹⁴Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, ¹⁵who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. ¹⁶For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, ¹⁹saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” ²⁰But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! ²¹You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. ²²Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. ²³For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” ²⁴Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.” ²⁵So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

• Simon believed because of the signs

• They were baptized

• The disciples were sent to lay hands on them

• They received the Holy Spirit

• Simon saw something (we cannot say it was speaking in tonges – but it was separated from their being saved)

• He offered money for the Holy Spirit

5. Acts 13:42 - 52 (NKJV) ^42So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. ⁴³Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. ⁴⁴On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. ⁴⁵But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. ⁴⁶Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’”^{ 48}Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. ⁴⁹And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. ⁵⁰But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. ⁵¹But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. ⁵²And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

• Filled with Joy (someway they knew it! – don’t tell me the joy in this church comes from the devil!)

• Filled with the Holy Spirit

Sometimes there was a wind or a fire, or a tongue, or boldness, or joy – but there was always some evidence of the Holy Spirit!

2. How do you receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?

Luke 11:5 - 13 (NKJV) ⁵And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; ⁶for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; ⁷and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? ⁸I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. ⁹“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ¹⁰For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. ¹¹If a son asks for ^bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? ¹²Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? ¹³If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

• Be a child of God!

• Ask Him for the Holy Spirit!

• Receive the Gift!

• In most cases have someone who has been baptized in the Holy Spirit lay hands upon you! (with the exceptions of the day of Pentecost and the house of Cornelius everyone else had someone else lay hands upon them)

Conclusion: 1^st comes salvation to become a new creation and be prepared to go to heaven, 2^nd comes becoming one of a local church family, 3^rd becoming endured with power through the baptism in the Holy Spirit so that you can become a witness for Him!