Special Witnesses of the Resurrected Christ

Acts Chapter 1

Acts 1:1-11 “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (New Testament | Acts 1:1–11)

Additional Account Number One: Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9-11)

“Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.”

Additional Account Number Two: Stephen (Acts 7:55-56)

“But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up [steadfastly] into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.”

Additional Account Number Three: Those Who Were in the Americas (3 Nephi 11:8-11)

“And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them.And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying:Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.”

Acts 1:1 Compared to Luke 1:1-3

The author of the Acts of the Apostles is Luke. You can determine this because both Luke 1:1-3 and Acts 1:1 both address Theophilus and the author of the Acts of the Apostles speaks of a “former treatise” that they made to him concerning the life of Jesus, which treatise was the Gospel of Luke.

Why is the doctrine of the Resurrection so central to the preaching of these witnesses of

Christ? (1 Corinthians 15:13-14)

The doctrine of the Resurrection is central to the preaching of the witnesses of Christ because if Christ wasn’t resurrected then how can the dead be resurrected? Also if there was no resurrection than our faith is in vain and also the those who testify of the resurrection are liars. Our faith in Christ is based on the doctrine of the Resurrection because we testify that he lives.

3 Nephi 27:13-14

“Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—”

The Relationship Between Christ’s Atonement, His Death and Resurrection,

and His GospelThe gospel of Jesus Christ is that Christ came unto the world to do the will of the Father. The will of the Father is that Christ should perform the atonement and be resurrected so that we may be resurrected and judged according to our works. The atonement of Christ and His death and resurrection are the core of His gospel. With out those actions His gospel cannot exist.

The Savior’s Promise Before His Ascension into Heaven

Acts 1:4-8 says that after his ascension they will receive the Holy Ghost which will give them power so that they can be witnesses of Him unto all the world.

What ways can we be a modern-day witnesses of Christ

• We can be modern-day witnesses of Christ by our example and following after His ways. We can also be a witness of Christ by teaching others about Him and inviting them to come and learn of Him.

Apostleship (Acts 1:21-26)

After the apostles chose two they prayed to see who the Lord wants to be the new apostle. After praying they voted on who they thought should be the new apostle. They were chosen by what the desires of their hearts were and were called to serve a special witnesses of Christ.

Bible Dictionary “Apostle” (pg. 612)

The Bible dictionary says that an apostle is the personal and select representative of the Father.