The book of Acts of the Apostles is the one that contains the experiences of the early church, the church that was beginning its journey with the revealed Jesus, who had been killed but was resurrected on the third day and fulfilled his promise of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:15). To say that it is the early church means to say that it was the first church, that is, the first moment of the church's existence in the world. Today, we are the church of the Brief, the same church that began at Pentecost. Still, in its final moment in this world before its rapture (Rev 22:6). The Holy Spirit was sent so that Jesus would be revealed to the hearts of man amid his church (John 14:26). Thus, without the Holy Spirit acting man cannot reach the mysteries of this Jesus who wants to save us. This book describes the experiences of the church since its beginning and what the Holy Spirit wants to do so that the church is ready for the return of Jesus. In this book we find the establishment of the apostolic college (Acts 1:26), the Baptism with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2), the first conversions (Acts 2 and 3), the institution of deacons (Acts 6), the reaching of the Gentiles (Acts 10) and the wondrous signs that follow those to whom the Holy Spirit is revealing Himself (Mark 16:17). The Lord establishes a church with signs and experiences, which would need to live the doctrine and be ready for the rapture. A doctrine that the apostles learned/received from the Lord to be transmitted to those as many as He called to Salvation (I Cor 11:23; Acts 2:39).
The issue regarding time in the Bible must, like everything else, be understood by the Holy Spirit, and as we have seen, God's time is Kairós, a time that cannot be counted. The text of Acts 2:15 is prophetically related to Matthew 20:1-16 and John 11:9, where the Lord Jesus says that the (prophetic) day has twelve hours. The parable of the ten virgins, in Matthew 25:1-13, is prophetically linked to the book of Song of Solomon, where the (prophetic) day has twenty-four hours. It is necessary to understand the dispensations in God's Plan. The text of Acts tells the moment when the church was born, and in his speech, Peter explains very well what was happening: This is the third hour of the day!
The first hour of the day is the Father's hour and comprises the entire Old Testament. It is the dawn described in Matthew 25:1, where He hired workers for His vineyard: These workers were the patriarchs, the judges, the prophets, the kings, the servants.
The second hour of the day is the hour of the Son, the hour of his ministry. Jesus said: “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” (John 5:17). Jesus was the only one “hired” in the second hour of the day: “I have trodden the winepress alone;” (Isaiah 63:3).
The third hour of the day is the hour of the Holy Spirit when He goes out to meet new workers again. He finds those idle in the first two hours of the day, the gentiles. The agreed wages are impressive: “and whatsoever is right I will give you.”. Whoever comes to work in the Father’s vineyard (work) will receive the Fair One and Jesus—his salvation.
The parable of the workers in the vineyard also brings the sixth, ninth, eleventh, and twelfth hours, which is the hour of payment. We will talk about these hours when reading the book of Matthew, emphasizing that they are all part of the hour of the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, but with emphasis on the phases that the church would go through until reaching our days and, finally, the rapture.
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the church
i) Genesis 15:17 – Abraham’s offering;
ii) Leviticus 9:24 – The offering of Moses and Aaron;
iii) 1 Chronicles 21:26 – David’s offering;
iv) 2 Chronicles 7:1 – Solomon’s offering;
v) 2 Kings 1:12 – Elijah’s offering.
These burnt offerings and sacrifices were acceptable to God but not perfect. The perfect sacrifice was offered by the High Priest, who did what no other sacrifice had done by tearing the veil of separation and giving every man access to the Holy of Holies; he could enter at all times and not just once a year, and without needing an earthly priest to join in his place (Hebrews 9).
John testifies that Jesus fulfilled all the requirements of the law when he saw Him pierced and water and blood flow from His side (John 19:34-35). The veil of the sanctuary was torn (Mark 15:38). Jesus was resurrected and appeared to more than five hundred brothers (1 Corinthians 15:6) for forty days (Acts 1:3). But there was no visible proof that the sacrifice offered had pleased the Lord God. In response to Jesus' sacrifice and in fulfillment of the prophecies described in the sacrifices of Abraham, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, and Elijah, the Father sent fire from heaven, not on the burnt offering, but on the church, because the Holy Spirit descended upon it in the form of fire. To this day, fire from heaven (the Holy Spirit) falls upon those who accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as perfect and sufficient to save them. In the past, fire was sent upon the sacrifice that the Lord received to perfect the sacrifice. Today, the Lord sends fire upon the one who accepts the sacrifice of Christ so that the man who accepted it may be perfected.
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our lives and the church is a great sign for those who desire a life of communion and sanctification with God (I Peter 1:2). Those who are filled with the Holy Spirit are living the Lord's guidance through the manifestation of Spiritual Gifts (Acts 2:4), for without prophecy, there is no blessing in the lives of the people (Prov 29:18). Those who do not yet have this experience are often confused and doubtful because they do not know the mystery (Acts 2:6),. Still, they are amazed when they see what God is doing amid his professing church (Hab 1:5). The Work of Salvation that Jesus came to accomplish was to give us, the Gentiles, an opportunity for Salvation, as Habakkuk said. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is to bring clarity to man about the plan of Salvation and not to confuse him (I Corinthians 14:33). It is a mystery that everyone needs to reach and hear in their language, that is, to have their own experience (Acts 2:8). This mystery can only be achieved when the Holy Spirit is working in our lives. We are faithful to what God has set apart for us. The Holy Spirit descends upon us so that we may have a love for the house of the Lord, for the care of the church that God has set apart to manifest His Glory in us, so that we may be faithful to the services, the Lord's guidance, His Work (Ex 40:34).
God's work of salvation for humanity
Verse 24 - The (religious) man accepted the task but slept. Many are doing this because they have been responsible for keeping God's plan for their lives, but they are sleeping spiritually. They have forgotten their commitment. They are oblivious to our prophetic moment that precedes Jesus' return.
Verse 25 - Near midnight is the moment we live in, which we call “brief.”
Verse 26 - A great earthquake occurred, so the prison's foundations were shaken. These are signs that point to the rapture of the church. The prophecies are being fulfilled so clearly that it is shaking the whole world. These are events in nature, sky, and international politics, especially Israel-related ones.
Verse 27 – He wanted to kill himself. The despair will fall upon those who know the prophecy, have had an experience, and have not kept it, missing the rapture.
Verse 28 – For we are all here. This is the word of the faithful church to man at this time. Do yourself no harm. There is still time.
Verses 29-30 – He asked for light. Revelation is missing for man to achieve Salvation and understand the Work of the Holy Spirit. Having received the light, he understood that he needed salvation because he did not yet have it.
Verse 31 – The only thing man needs is Jesus. It is the Lord's promise if he believes that his entire household (family) will be saved. In this sense, God will provide means for our family members to have the opportunity for Salvation at some point in their lives.