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Pilgrims and the Book of Acts

I meet with a few other men, usually on a weekly basis. A group of 2/3 disciples of the same sex, we meet to share what Jesus is saying to us and what we are going to do about it. We also confess our sins to one another and agree on a Book of the Bible to read through together…

We call this process ‘Pilgrims’

Recently, a few of us have been re-reading through the Book of Acts, chapter a day in a personal time. When we meet we discuss what we’ve learnt, reflecting on a few chapters at a time. This article is our reflection on Acts 1-2 and also on an event we hosted last weekend

Together in One Place

‘When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying […] They all met together and were constantly united in prayer […] During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them…’ -Acts 1:13-15

The phrase ‘together in one place’ occurs several times across the first few chapters of Acts;

‘On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place’ -Acts 2:1

‘And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had’ -Acts 2:44

‘All together’ in this context comes from the Greek word ‘Homou,’ which can mean ‘together in a group’. Spiritually it can refer to many people working harmoniously.

Shining Lights Event

Our Shining Lights team recently hosted a ‘Spirit of Christmas’ gospel event on a deprived council estate in England. We had ‘live animals’ (donkeys) as part of our outdoor nativity play and stalls offering free toys and clothing in exchange for bottle tops we gave out as people registered.

Once the outdoor production had come to an end, we opened the doors of the building and crowds of people filed in for hot food. As we had limited space inside the building – we gave out tickets on a first come, first served basis. Because we gave out a limited numbered raffle tickets- we knew we had approx 120 people gathered in the building.

We were 120 people – all together in one place – like on the day of Pentecost! We encouraged the families to bring their food into a large hall where we sat around tables to eat whilst a few members of the team shared their testimony.It was probably one of the most chaotic church gatherings I’ve ever been a part of as food flowed, family games ensued with kids running about and adults queuing up one-at-a-time to receive ‘spiritual readings’ from our ‘Encounters Team.’

The whole atmosphere was like a church for the unchurched!

The 120

‘During this time, when 120 believers were together in one place…’ -Acts 1:15

What’s the significance of 120?

1. 120 forms a council. This was the number which the Jews required to form a council in any city; so the disciples formed a complete council for the important business of electing a person to replace Judas. 120 was needed to establish a Sanhedrin in every city in Israel.
2. Ezra and the 120 who formed ‘The Great Assembly’. A total of 120 names are recorded amongst those returning to Judea with Zerubbabel in Ezra 1-2, another 120 in Ezra 10 and another 120 in Nehemiah 11-12 suggesting that throughout this period some kind of forum with 120 members was used to represent the people. Tradition says that Ezra was responsible for setting up a council of 120 men who formed the Old Testament canon. Ezra also happened to live to the age of 120.
3. The 120 Time Period. God determined a 120 year period would be given for repentance and then the flood (Genesis 6:1-3). 120 can symbolise a divinely appointed time of waiting and can also signify a passing away of the age of the flesh and the beginning of the age of the Spirit. 120 were gathered in the upper room when the Holy Spirit came upon them
4. 120 Priests. There were 120 priests leading the people in the temple in Solomon’s time, waiting for God to indwell the Holy of Holies

So, piecing this progressive revelation together – 120 forms a council for a divinely appointed time of waiting for the infilling of the Holy Spirit

And that’s exactly what happened at Pentecost…

And I wonder if the 120 gathered on the council estate last weekend also represented the official birthing of the church in that area?

The Law & Pentecost

The Book of Exodus is full of events that foreshadow the word of Christ, both in his early life and in the life of the Church.

The 10 Commandments were given to Israel on the same day the New Testament calls Pentecost. The Jewish Festival of Pentecost, also known as Shavuot, commemorates the giving of the Torah to Moses at Mount Sinai, an event that foreshadows the giving of the Holy Spirit. The Law given at Sinai was written on stone, the Spirit writes the law on human hearts (see Jeremiah 31:33).

Pentecost was also referred to as the Feast of First Fruits or Feast of Weeks – a seven-week harvest period, the early harvest. It symbolizes God’s first harvest of those called as a kind of firstfruits.

‘Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire, it’s smoke ascending like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly!’ This imagery is quite similar to Acts 2; a gathering of people, wind, fire, sounds and voices.

As a result 3000 believed and baptized on the day of Pentecost in contrast to the 3000 who died as punishment for their sins at Mount Sinai…

So as a result of 120 gathering on the council estate last weekend, we now look forward in hope to the first baptisms taking place in that area in the months to come!