Luke 24:36-49
Jesus Explains the Scripture to His Disciples
36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.
44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them,“This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations,beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Matthew 28:16-20
The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Luke 12:11-12
The Holy Spirit Would Give the Disciples the Proper Words to Speak
11 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”
Acts 2:1-47
The Holy Spirit Comes to the Disciples at Pentecost
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren't all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 “‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him:
“‘I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest in hope,
27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
you will not let your holy one see decay.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
29 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
35 until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.”’
36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
One thing (of many) that I missed the first time I read the Bible, was I wondered if the Disciples understood the Bible and all that was in it...It seemed that many times through Jesus' three years of teaching them they miss understood or did not understand all that He was saying and doing...Even at the time of His death, I think the Disciples were still wondering who He was...They just did not quite get it yet...But we are told in the gospel of Luke, that Jesus finally sat down and explained to them the Bible...I had wondered this as they were to be called out to do the Great Commission, and they would need this background of the Bible in their teaching and meeting other people and converting them to the Truth and the Way and the teachings of Jesus...So St. Luke in his gospel, does tell us that while He was eating broiled fish with them, He opened up their minds and gave them the understanding of Scripture...
While the Disciples were still talking one day after Jesus' death, He Himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”...The disciples were startled and frightened...They thought they had seen a ghost...But it was Jesus...He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?...Look at My hands and My feet...It is I Myself!..Touch Me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”...When He had said this, He showed them His hands and feet...And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, He asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”...Now imagine, a Dead Man wanting something to eat...So they gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He took it and ate it in their presence...Jesus who had recently died, was asking for and eating broiled fish...Ghosts do not eat...He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”...Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures....Jesus made it so they could now understand the Scriptures...They now could grasp and comprehend the Old Testament...He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem...You are witnesses of these things...I AM going to send you what My Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”...They would be clothed with the power of the Holy Spirit...
And when the time was right, the Holy Spirit came and gave words to the Disciples on the day of Pentecost after Jesus' ascension into heaven...The Disciples would better understood many things on that day...And the previous three years with Him, would also be much clear on this day...On that day of Pentecost, when the Disciples were clothed with the Holy Spirit, Peter said this, “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a Man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know...This Man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross...But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him...David said about Him: “‘I saw the Lord always before me...Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken...Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, because You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your Holy One see decay...You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in Your Presence.’... “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day...But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place One of his descendants on his throne...Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that He was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did His body see decay...God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it....
Peter and the other Disciples were eyewitnesses to His Majesty...They had seen or heard that Jesus had died on the cross, then was resurrected by God...They saw Him alive and living again after His death, and even eating broiled fish...Then Jesus ascended into heaven...The Disciples were well equipped now with the Holy Spirit...And they were ready to go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that Jesus had commanded them... And surely Jesus would be with them always, to the very end of the age...