1. Pray for wisdom
2. Read passage 2x
3. Write out the passage
4. Observe passage

Acts 1:1-8

The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, [2] until the day when He was taken up, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. [3] To these He also presented Himself alive, after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. [4] And gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," He said, "you heard of from Me; [5] for John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

[6] And so when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" [7] He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; [8] but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

So, what can you learn? Ano yung "but"? You’re now looking at the surrounding verses. What do you see? What is the contrast? So ang context nito, this is part of the answer to the apostles question. What was the question? "Are you restoring the kingdom now?" That’s the context. Tinatanong nung apostles kay Jesus, tapos anung sabi ni Jesus? In other words the contrast is what? but you shall receive power… and you shall be My witnesses. Anong sinasabi ni Jesus? What is the contrast? Okay they were interested in finding out when the kingdom will be restored. That’s what they want. Do we want that? Yes. Now what’s the answer of Jesus? Instead of worrying about when the kingdom will come, what should they focus on? Being a witness.

But you shall receive power. Anong observation?

1. Who shall receive power? The apostles will receive power.
2. What power? Did it say spiritual power? No, then you don’t see that. It’s not there. Don’t say that, if it did not say that. What can you say about the power. What does it say?
3. Who is the Holy Spirit?
4. How will the Holy Spirit give them the power?
5. When will it come?

Those are question, those are not yet observations they are just lots of tickler question that you write in your margins.

What does the word "and" mean? Its a connective.

Who is the My? Jesus. When you translate that the apostles will be witnesses of Jesus Christ.

What does witnesses mean?

What are the conditions? It is simultaneous with the receiving of the power that comes when you receive the Holy Spirit. How do you know it is simultaneous? It says and.

When shall you be witnesses?

In other words what shall be your observation? At that point the apostles had no power. They had not yet receive the Holy Spirit because it was a future tense. You shall receive.

What shall be your observation? Jesus was telling the apostles that they will be his witnesses in Jerusalem.

What does the word and mean? In other words hinde puedeng sa Jerusalem lang. Jerusalem and all of Judea and Samaria.

Who lives in Jerusalem? Mainly the Jews, who lives in Judea? Judeans, Who are the Samarians?

We have done a little bit of interpretation because you are now checking the context.

Did you ever think why Jerusalem? Why to the remotest part of the earth? Why Judea? Why Samaria?

How will they go, how will they do it? You have so many questions.

Interpretation means I now begin to answer all of those questions.

So how will we begin to answer? What should we do? context means you read the verse before and then after. Let’s read after and see what we can learn? Acts 1:9-11

And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. [10] And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was departing, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them; [11] and they also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven."

You will now put the statement in the proper context.

When did this statement happen? Before Jesus ascended into heaven. Therefore you now make an observation.

Now, what is the application question? How does it apply to me?

1. Interpret Bible as a normal piece of literature. Communicating as normal person does. (You should take it normally meaning if its a poem you will take it as a poem, if it’s a story you will take it as a story.)
2. Does normal literature include figure of speech? Yes. Handle normally. Example. And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water. Scriptural usage : John 6:35, I am the bread of life he who comes to Me shall not hunger.

3. When the literal sense makes sense, seek no other sense. Example: You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit come. Does that make sense? Then that’s it, don’t worry about it.

4. Do not spiritualize i.e. Do not read meaning into text.

5. Always check the CONTEXT and CROSS-REFERENCES.

6. Be Critical of your interpretation.

I want to end in a new way. I want you to understand the power of God’s word. If you apply God’s word in your life what will happen?

John 13:16-17

"Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master; neither is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. [17] "If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. One of the greatest blessing of the bible, this is the only book in the entire world that can change lives, that can give you the power to be a witness for Jesus. Do you know that in Acts 1:8 your role and mine was just defined by Christ. Did you know that you job description was already done? Amen. How many of you are witnesses?

Let’s pray.