Acts 1:6-8
Acts 1:6-8 – In this passage the disciples were only thinking of their own country, not the rest of the world. But in verse 8, after telling them that it wasn’t for “them to know the times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority,” He then tells them that when they received the promised Holy Spirit, they would be His witnesses, past their local area, even to the ends of the earth. It seems that we are going in reverse; from the remotest parts of the earth, all the way back to Jerusalem (see the Bible study Back To Jerusalem). The dunamis power of the Holy Spirit, His “strength, ability, and power” is for us to be a “witness” (see def. below) of the Light, who is Christ (see John 1:6-13; John, the forerunner of Christ, came as a witness of the Light). (See the Bible study Good Report Bad Report which defines what a good witness and a bad witness of Christ is. Also, see the Bible study The Testimony Of Jesus. The testimony of Jesus is the promise of the Father of being baptized with the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:46-49). His witness within us is the promised Holy Spirit, the Spirit of prophesy in Rev. 19:10.)
6 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 will receive power [1411] when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses [3144] both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
NASU
NT:1411 dunamis (doo'-nam-is)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from NT:1410; force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself):
KJV - ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
strength, ability, power
a. universally, inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth (Luke 1:17)
b. specifically, the power of performing miracles (Acts 6:8)
c. moral power and excellence of soul (1 Cor. 4:19)
d. the power and influence which belong to riches
e. power and resources arising from numbers (Rev. 3:8)
f. power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts,
g. meaning of a word or expression (1 Cor. 14:11)
NT:3144 martus (mar'-toos)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
of uncertain affinity; a witness (literally [judicially] or figuratively [genitive case]); by analogy, a "martyr":
KJV - martyr, record, witness.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
a witness
a. in a legal sense (Matthew 18:16)
b. in an historical sense (Acts 10:41)
c. in an ethical sense (Acts 22:20)
Acts 1:9-11
Acts 1:9-11 – See the note below.
9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up [1869- “to lift up, raise up, to hoist up”] while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. [More on clouds in 1 Thess. 4:16-17, Lev. 16:2, Matt. 24:30, and Rev. 11:12.)
10 And as they were gazing intently [816- “to fix the eyes upon, to gaze upon intently”] into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them.
11 They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up [353- “to take up, raise”] from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven."
NASU
The descent of Christ will be in like manner as His ascension. He will return in the same manner that He was “lifted up.” After giving instructions to His disciples, Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives (i.e. Olivet; more on this in the discussion of Acts 1:12-14). While they were looking intently into the sky, two angels said, “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.” The principle for Jesus returning in the same manner that He left is found in Isaiah 46:10, “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.” In other words, the way He left is the way He will return. A cloud received Him, and He will return for His watchful bride in the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
The Heart-Posture Of God’s Chosen
Notice the heart-posture of the disciples as well. They were “gazing intently into the sky.” To gaze intently is, by definition, “to fix the eyes upon.” The author of Hebrews spoke of this fixed gaze;
“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us [see the previous verses in chapter 11], let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
(Hebrews 12:1-3/NASU)
So, to “gaze intently,” upward, is to fix our eyes on Jesus with a watchful heart. It’s to “lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” The Greek for “easily entangles” is defined as “well standing around, i.e. (a competitor) thwarting (a racer) in every direction.” Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words states, “It describes sin as having advantage in favor of its prevailing.” Any Christian who desires to serve Christ whole heartedly, finishing the race of salvation, understands this battle.
It will only be the faithful disciples of Christ that will be looking with eager anticipation for His return. The perseverance they gained by submitting to the lordship of Jesus Christ during the refining process in their Christian walks is what will qualify them to meet Him in the clouds. The rest of the Christians, referred by Jesus as “foolish virgins” (Matthew 25:1-13), those who heard the midnight shout to get ready but did not prepare themselves accordingly, will be shut out from the wedding feast, and plunged into the horrors of the tribulation.
Luke 9:51-53 – If we believe that the appointed time for our ascension, our time to be “taken up” to be with the Lord draws near, then we must also, like Jesus, “resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” This means we are looking upward, with eyes not fixed on the world, preparing our hearts for the “Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” (Revelation 21:2/NIV) It is a determination in our hearts to look toward, and prepare for that which is soon coming for all who “fix their eyes on Jesus” and His return (i.e. the rapture of the bride and her attendants, the faithful portion of the Lord’s children). (See the Bible study Back To Jerusalem where the Lord’s final return to Jerusalem reveals, in type, our journey with Him at His return.)
51 As the time approached for him to be taken up [354- “ascension”] to heaven, Jesus resolutely [4741- “to make stable, place firmly, set fast, fix, to strengthen”] set out for Jerusalem.
52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him;
53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.
NIV
Luke 9:51
51 When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem;
NASU
(The following note on the same passage from Luke 9 was taken from the Bible study Back To Jerusalem.)
In the closing moments of this age, we must keep our focus on Christ and doing His will, which means we must have it revealed to us by Him, individually, that we are nearing the end goal of going back to Jerusalem where the throne of God will be established on earth. This means that it’s time to bring this age, and therefore our salvation in Christ, to completion, to its “fullness” in Him (see the Bible study The Fullness Of Him). The time is approaching for our ascension, for our being taken up with Jesus (see the Bible study Elul; The Season Of Preparation And 40 Days Of Favor). Therefore, we too must be “determined” to go [back] to Jerusalem, so to speak, following His pattern. We, His people, are nearing the finish line of our race.
When the time had come for Jesus to be taken up, He sent His messengers ahead of Him “to make arrangements for Him” (see Matthew 11:10, 14:22, 26:32, 28:7; Luke 10:1, 19:30; John 3:28, 10:4). There is, in this day, a forerunner ministry of those who, like John the Baptist, are being sent ahead to prepare His way. Along the way they will encounter those who will receive Him and join together with them. When rejected by others, they too must continue on their journey forward, not daunted or sidetracked by those who reject Christ, but remain “determined” to get to the designated destination with Christ.
Those who do not take up (i.e., receive) Christ will not be taken up with Him when He comes for His Bride, first. Because they did not take hold of His hand when He reached out to them, they will not be protected from His righteous judgment in His day (i.e. the day of the Lord’s wrath). (See Chapter Forty Seven, Extending His Hand, in my book The Resurrected Bride for more insights.)
Acts 1:12-14
Acts 1:12-14 – After watching Jesus ascend into heaven, His “chosen” ones (Acts 1:12) returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. The Scriptures record that it was “a Sabbath day’s journey away.” This is the only place in Scripture where this phrase is mentioned. Is there a hidden reference to something within this regarding our journey? Is this a picture of the church’s journey to enter the Sabbath rest in Christ in the millennium when Christ’ throne is once and for all established in Jerusalem? Once back in Jerusalem, the disciples went back to the upper room where they were staying.
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet [see more below], which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. [See the section below explaining what the “Sabbath’s Day Journey” is.]
13 When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room [see more below] where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.
14 These all with one mind [3661- “unanimously, with one mind, of one accord (see definition right below)”] were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
NASU
Accord – “Agreement; harmony of minds (see the Bible study Harmony In The Body Of Christ); consent or concurrence (“agreement of minds, union”) of opinions or wills.” To be “in one accord” is to be “in complete agreement with someone or something.” (This is impossible under the will of man. It can only be accomplished as each of us comes under complete submission to the will of God.)
Olivet; The Mount Of Olives (Acts 1:12)
The “Olivet Discourse,” as it’s known, contains Jesus' teachings about the end times. It is found in the Gospels of Matthew (24:1-25:46), Mark (13:1-37), and Luke (21:5-36). While on this mount (i.e. the Mount of Olives), Jesus taught about the end times and His return (Matthew 24:3). Interestingly, this is also the place where He will return to at His second coming (Zechariah 14:1-4). Again, “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.” (Acts 1:11)
It’s interesting to see the two verses preceding the disciples’ questions in Matthew 24:3;
“Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. And He said to them, ‘Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.’”
(Matthew 24:1-2/NASU)
Jesus was declaring judgment over the flesh-driven, religious structure of the hypocrites who held His people captive in their system, under their power, in His day. As we now see within our nation, it will be the same situation at His second coming. The religious structure led by the will of man rather than the will of God that now controls the majority of Christians will soon come crashing down. In fact, it has already begun which is why we are seeing so many “high-profile” ministries led by religious hypocrites in our nation being exposed by Him. The Lord is saying through His deliverers to the pulpit-pharaohs that control His people today, “Let My people go that they may worship Me!”
Matthew 24:3
3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"
NASU
Zechariah 14:1-4
1 A day of the Lord is coming when your plunder will be divided among you.
2 I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city.
3 Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle.
4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. [This sounds similar to the splitting of the Red Sea and the Jordan River.]
NIV
The Sabbath Day’s Journey (Acts 1:12)
(This is also in the Bible study Back To Jerusalem, p.30-31.)
The literal route from the Mount of Olives through the East Gate on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is an interesting one. Currently there are many road-blocks along the way. To enter the East Gate from the Mount of Olives you have to head west, descending the mount through the Jewish graves in the Mount Of Olives Jewish Cemetery on the western edge of the mount in order to cross over through the Kidron Valley (see Psalm 110 below). You would then ascend upward, passing through the Muslim graves in front of the East Gate in order to then enter into Jerusalem. Within this “Sabbath day’s journey/walk” (about ¾ mile/1,100 meters) is a lot of spiritual symbolism (which I have written about in the Bible study Back To Jerusalem.).
“What Is A Sabbath’s Day Journey?” (BibleVerseStudy.com)
“A ‘Sabbath day’s journey’ wasn’t the distance a person could cover by journeying for a day; A ‘Sabbath day’s journey’ was a unit of distance, equal to about 2/3 of a mile (1 kilometer), that the Jewish leaders limited people to journey on the Sabbath, deeming journeying any further to be ‘work.’ Acts 1:12 isn’t saying the apostles respected this manmade law, but simply indicating the distance between Jerusalem and the mount called Olivet.”
“Sabbath Day’s Journey” (Biblestudytools.com)
“Used only in Acts 1:12, where it designates the distance from Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives, to which Jesus led His disciples on the day of His ascension. The expression comes from rabbinical usage to indicate the distance a Jew might travel on the Sabbath without transgressing the Law, the command against working on that day being interpreted as including travel (see Exodus 16:27-30). The limit set by the rabbis to the Sabbath day’s journey was 2,000 cubits from one’s house or domicile, which was derived from the statement found in Joshua 3:4 that this was the distance between the ark and the people on their march, this being assumed to be the distance between the tents of the people and the tabernacle during the sojourn in the wilderness. Hence, it must have been allowable to travel thus far to attend the worship of the tabernacle. We do not know when this assumption in regard to the Sabbath day’s journey was made, but it seems to have been in force in the time of Christ.
The distance of the Mount of Olives from Jerusalem is stated in Josephus (Ant., XX, viii, 6) to have been five stadia or furlongs and in BJ, V, ii, 3, six stadia, the discrepancy being explained by supposing a different point of departure. This would make the distance of the Sabbath day’s journey from 1,000 to 1,200 yards, the first agreeing very closely with the 2,000 cubits. The rabbi’s, however, invented a way of increasing this distance without technically infringing the Law, by depositing some food at the 2,000 cubit limit, before the Sabbath, and declaring that spot a temporary domicile. They might then proceed 2,000 cubits from this point without transgressing the Law.”
God had not limited the Jewish people, but through their man-made law of the Sabbath day’s journey they had limited themselves as to how far they could go. This is typical of religion led by the flesh of man that exceeds, or limits what God has said. When adhered to, it halts the progress of the Holy Spirit within His people.
A mindset that is controlled by the will of man is not capable of bringing to completion/perfection their journey of faith. Only those who have entered the Sabbath rest in Christ now (i.e., resting from their dead works led by the flesh) will complete with Him the journey back to “Jerusalem,” thereby ushering in the kingdom of God on earth. This is the Sabbath “rest,” the millennial, seventh day reign of Christ from Jerusalem where His throne will be fully established. Through the establishing of Christ’ throne internally, within the hearts of His faithful servants, His throne will be established externally, on the face of this earth.
The Upper Room (Acts 1:13)
Mark 14:12-16 – See the note below. (Also, see Luke 22:7-23, a parallel passage.)
12 And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was being sacrificed, His disciples said to Him, "Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?" 13 And He sent two of His disciples, and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him;
14 and wherever he enters, say to the owner [3617- “the head of a family, master of a house, householder”] of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is My guest room [2646] in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"'
15 "And he himself will show you a large upper room furnished [4766- “to spread”] and ready [2092- “prepared, opportune, seasonable”]; and prepare [2090- “to make ready”] for us there."
16 And the disciples went out, and came to the city, and found it just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.
(NAS)
Guest Room
A room for the lodging of guests (Mark 14:14; Philemon 22). The Greek word translated as “guest room” means “a lodging or resting place.” A few houses of Palestine had rooms set aside for use by guests.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Guest-Chamber
kataluma [2646], akin to kataluo (see Note above), signifies (a) "an inn, lodging-place," (Luke 2:7); (b) "a guest-room," (Mark 14:14; Luke 22:11). The word literally signifies "a loosening down" (kata, "down," luo, "to loose"), used of the place where travelers and their beasts untied their packages, girdles and sandals. "In the East, no figure is more invested with chivalry than the guest. In his own right he cannot cross the threshold, but when once he is invited in, all do him honor and unite in rendering service; cf. (Gen. 18:19; Judges 19:9, 15)." These two passages in the NT “concern a room in a private house, which the owner readily placed at the disposal of Jesus and His disciples for the celebration of the Passover... At the festivals of Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles the people were commanded to repair to Jerusalem; and it was a boast of the Rabbis that, notwithstanding the enormous crowds, no man could truthfully say to his fellow, `I have not found a fire where to roast my paschal lamb in Jerusalem,' or `I have not found a bed in Jerusalem to lie in,' or `My lodging is too strait in Jerusalem'" (Hastings, Bib. Dic., GUESTCHAMBER and INN). See INN.
(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright (C) 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Within this event is a picture of what is happening this very day among the disciples of Christ. They are being called, by faith, out of the corrupt religious system that is similar to the way it was at the first coming of the Lord. He is guiding His disciples to a place where they will be made ready through the washing of the word of truth (i.e. the Gospel) for the final outpouring of the Holy Spirit (see Ephesians 5:26-27). Will we answer the call and allow the Holy Spirit to gather us together as “one” in Him?
Notice that this gathering didn’t take place in the synagogues, but a private home instead. Due to the same type of corruption among the church’s today, it will be the same at the end of this age. You and I must prepare for the final Passover of the Lord, in the place of His choosing (for His “chosen”), for His final passing over of those who have partaken of His final meal in His presence. Willing participation in this will result in our being marked out by the Holy Spirit in order to be delivered from His wrath (see Ezekiel 9, Revelation 7:3, 9:1-6, 14:1, 9), and allowed entrance into His wedding feast.
Does the man carrying “a pitcher of water” mean anything? I believe it does. I see it representing the word of God for the washing/cleansing of His people, at the place of His choosing. Through obedience to the word of truth being revealed in our day, repenting where necessary, we will be made ready to receive the Messiah in His “fullness” (Romans 11:25). In these last days before His return, Christ is gathering His disciples, preparing them to partake of His final Passover, the final consuming of the Lamb, void of religious rituals not of Him, so that we are ready and able to enter our Promised Land, our promised place in Him (see the Bible study The Third Day Gathering).
This cleansing was seen within the foot washing by Jesus of His gathered disciples. It took place during the last Passover meal He would partake of with them. It’s a picture of the “washing of water with the word” for the sanctification of His bride (Ephesians 5:26-27).
Through two major events within the “upper room,” the chosen disciples were prepared to be His witnesses on earth. Furst, their feet were symbolically washed of the earth’s filth at what we often refer to as “the last supper” (John 13:5-20), before Jesus was crucified. Later, after His resurrection, the Holy Spirit was poured out into their prepared hearts in this same upper room as they faithfully remained in the place where they were commanded to wait at. This is another picture of water and Spirit, the two elements necessary for salvation/deliverance (John 3:5). This is why the devil gives a false encounter with the Holy Spirit, a false baptism of the Spirit (i.e. his “gift” of tongues) encouraged per the will of man, rather than the real gift distributed per the will of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:11). He wants you to believe you have received the true baptism of the Holy Spirit, minus the necessary fire of course that is used to remove the dross in our lives (Matthew 3:11). The devil’s plan is to abort the process of the Holy Spirit, thereby keeping us from that which is necessary to bring our faith to completion through the real baptism. His alternate path of least resistance in regards to the removal of the fleshly nature is designed to shipwreck our salvation in Christ (1 Timothy 1:18-20).
While washing His disciple’s feet, Jesus gave a very strong warning to Peter, and us, that many in the church no longer have ears to hear because of agreement with the lies of the devil;
“He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus replied, ‘You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ ‘No,’ said Peter, ‘you shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash [3538- “to cleanse, washing part of the body”] you, you have no part [3313- “a part due or assigned to one; a division or share, a lot or destiny”] with me.’”
(John 13:6-8/NIV)
Per the words of Jesus, to be washed by Him is mandatory for our destiny with Him.
Jesus is leading His disciples this very day to the same place of heart-preparation. He is about to eat the final Passover meal with His faithful followers, washing them on the inside so as to have a “part/lot/destiny” with Him in what is coming next. As pictured through Israel’s journey out of Egypt and into the Promised Land, we will finish the way we started; with a complete consumption of the Lamb (see the Bible study Beginning And Ending With Passover). Once again, we will know the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10).
He is our inheritance. I believe this is what Jesus was speaking of in Revelation 3:20 when He said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.” This is the guest room that has been made ready through a repentant heart (Rev. 3:19), whether that be an unbeliever, or a straying Christian.
This Passover meal is what many refer to as “the last supper.” It was called the Passover Sedar, which means “order.” It is the order of God that is missing from modern Christianity (see the Bible study Order In The House). This “order” for the Lord’s salvation, His deliverance of mankind is seen within John 3. To be born again, spiritually, is to be given eyes to see the truth (see John 9:7). It represents a cleansed heart through repentance. Like the man carrying a pitcher of water, a guest room has been made ready for Jesus to eat the Passover sedar with His disciple. This leads to the next step of the “water and Spirit” process (John 3:5) in order to enter in. This is when the true baptism of the Spirit occurs (see the Bible study Tongues). Titus declared that “He saved us through the washing of rebirth [i.e. water] and renewal by the Holy Spirit [i.e. Spirit], whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.” (Titus 3:5-6/NIV) The one prepares us for the next, bringing to completion our faith/salvation in Him (James 2:22, 1 Thessalonians 5:23).
By partaking of the Lord’s last Passover sedar/order before His return, He will pass over you when He pours out His wrath on earth (see the Bible study Elul; The Season Of Preparation And 40 Days Of Favor). All Christians who do not listen, who do not put their lives in order in preparation for the Bridegroom’s return, will go through the “great tribulation” (Rev. 2:22) on earth. Like the foolish virgins, they did not take seriously the present midnight call to prepare themselves through repentance where necessary in eager anticipation of the Lord’s return. They were not “made ready” for the Savior and will not be allowed entrance into the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9).
1 Kings 17:17-24 – Elijah brings back to life (i.e. revives) a woman’s dead son in an upper room.
17 Now it came about after these things that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became sick; and his sickness was so severe that there was no breath left in him.
18 So she said to Elijah, "What do I have to do with you, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my iniquity to remembrance and to put my son to death!"
19 He said to her, "Give me your son." Then he took him from her bosom and carried him up to the upper room where he was living, and laid him on his own bed.
20 He called to the Lord and said, "O Lord my God, have You also brought calamity to the widow with whom I am staying, by causing her son to die?"
21 Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and called to the Lord and said, "O Lord my God, I pray You, let this child's life return to him."
22 The Lord heard the voice of Elijah, and the life of the child returned to him and he revived [2421- “to live, to have life, to remain alive, to sustain life, to live prosperously, to live forever, to be quickened, to be alive, to be restored to life or health.”].
23 Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house and gave him to his mother; and Elijah said, "See, your son is alive."
24 Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth."
NASU
“These all with one mind…” (Acts 1:14)
To be of “one mind” is, by definition, to be “unanimously, with one mind, of one accord.” This is the only way for God’s people to be gathered together and receive of the final outpouring of the “best wine” of the Holy Spirit, as shown in type in Acts 1:4. See the section Our Being Gathered Together (Acts 1:4) earlier in this study. It refers to our being gathered together in “one place,” of heart and mind, in Christ;
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place [3674- “at the same place or time”].”
(Acts 2:1/NIV)
“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.”
(Acts 4:32/NIV)
