Acts 1-5: “Ye Shall Be Witnesses unto Me” (July 3-9)

The Ascension of Jesus (detail), by Harry Anderson

After His resurrection, Jesus ministered to His disciples for forty days (Acts 1:3). At the end of His last visit, He told them to remain in Jerusalem until they received the Holy Ghost. After that, they would be witnesses of Him “in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Then, He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-10).

What to do now? How should the apostles fulfill the mission Jesus had given them?

In their stead

The first order of business was to choose a new apostle to replace Judas Iscariot. It might have seemed presumptuous for them to choose an apostle, when they had all been chosen by Jesus personally. But Peter understood an important principle: When you hold a position of responsibility, it’s not about you. You may hold it for a time, but when you are no longer in that position, someone else can fulfill it in your place.

On the American continent, the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus followed that same pattern. As they grew old and died, “there were other disciples ordained in their stead” (4 Nephi 1:14).

Here’s a blog post on that topic: In Their Stead

“In our own tongue”

Fifty days after the first day of Passover, Jewish people celebrate Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks. This holy day commemorates the early grain harvest and the giving of Torah on Mount Sinai. (See “Shavuot 101” on myjewishlearning.com.)

Ten days after the Savior’s ascension, the apostles were gathered to celebrate this holy day. “Suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting…. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:2, 4). People came running to see what was happening. Even though they came from different countries and spoke different languages, everyone in the crowd heard and understood the apostles as if they were speaking their own language.

The Holy Ghost can not only help us to speak clearly, He can also help us to be understood.

Here is a blog post on that topic: What Is the Gift of Tongues?

A Prophet

Moses promised that God would raise up a Prophet like himself, who would serve as an intermediary between the people and God. Nephi identified this Prophet as the Savior ( 1 Nephi 22:20-21). When Jesus Christ visited the American continent, He testified that He was the fulfillment of Moses’s prophecy (3 Nephi 20:23). The apostle Peter also quoted this prophecy of Moses as a warning to those who had rejected the Savior. (See Acts 3:22-23.)

Jesus Christ is more than a prophet, but He did fulfill the role that the Israelites had asked Moses to fulfill on their behalf. He is our advocate with the Father (Doctrine and Covenants 45:3). He is also a messenger, delivering teachings to us which will bring us back into the presence of the Father if we heed them.

We can be grateful for the Savior’s role as our intermediary with the Father.

See this blog post: Who Is the “Prophet” that Moses Promised Would Come?

Restitution of all things

Peter prophesied that all things would one day be restored. He spoke of “the times of refreshing” and “the times of restitution of all things,” which had been foretold by all prophets since the beginning of the world. (See Acts 3:19-21.)

We often speak of the Restoration as a global process. This is one meaning of the term as described in the Restoration Proclamation.

But the term “restoration” can have a broader meaning as well. Alma taught his son Corianton, “All things must be restored to their proper order” (Alma 41:4). Through the grace of God, everything that is lost can be found, and everything that has been destroyed can be rebuilt. We can be grateful for a God who refreshes, replenishes, rebuilds, and renews all things that are needed for the happiness and progression of His children.

Here’s a blog post on that topic: Restoration of All Things

Our Cornerstone

One of the psalms marvels that “the stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.” The author calls this “the Lord’s doing” (Psalm 118:22-23).

Jesus applied this passage to Himself. (See Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10-11, Luke 20:17.) And Peter later referenced it when members of the Sanhedrin asked how he had healed a lame man. (See Acts 4:10-12; see also 1 Peter 2:7.)

In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Jacob explained how this is possible: Jesus Christ is our cornerstone, our sure foundation. If we build on Him, we will not be confounded. But if we reject Him, all is not lost. He can still become the head of our corner. He is merciful and patient and ready to be our foundation as soon as we are ready to accept Him. He may wait a very long time for us. He is willing to do so, because He loves us.

See this blog post: The Cornerstone.

“Worthy to suffer shame”

Jesus taught that we are “blessed” or happy when we are reviled. (See Matthew 5:11-12, 3 Nephi 12:11-12.) How can that be? Partly because it puts us in the company of the great prophets, many of whom suffered great persecution for their testimonies. When Peter and John were interrogated and then beaten because they bore testimony of Jesus, they not only endured the persecution, they found joy in it:

They departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

Acts 5:41

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we can find joy in serving Him, even when the immediate outcomes are unpleasant or even painful.

See this post: The Beatitudes – 3 Nephi 12:3-12

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