Author Archives: Steve Hankins, Th.D.

“And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” (Acts 1:26, AV) Theologians have debated the selection of Matthias to replace Judas Iscariot as an Apostle. The debate revolves around two key points. First, since Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem untilContinue reading “The Replacement (Acts 1:20b-26)”

“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,) Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them thatContinue reading “Contrasts (1:15-20a)”

“These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.” (Acts 1:14, AV) Often in the Christian life, we find ourselves in a time of waiting. I wrote in an earlier devotion regarding how much we dislike waiting. I knew a personContinue reading “The Act of Waiting (Acts 1:12-14)”

“Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11, AV) In New Orleans, a group of seminary students decided to set up aContinue reading “The Future Looks Great (Acts 1:9-11)”

“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 that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, andContinue reading “On With the Mission (Acts 1:7-8)”

“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. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” (Acts 1:4–5, AV) It isContinue reading “Waiting on God (Acts 1:4-5)”

“To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:” (Acts 1:3, AV) In the introduction to the book of Acts, Luke writes that Jesus presented himself alive, after His death and resurrection, forContinue reading “Are we convinced yet? (Acts 1:3)”

“The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:” (Acts 1:1–2, AV) When I was in the United States Army,Continue reading “The Rest of the Story (Acts 1:1-3)”