Page 27 - Acts Student Textbook

blessings. Lenski emphasizes the “seasons” concept, as though there are times in our lives when we
have refreshment and other times not so refreshing. He says it is the times of peace within and
perhaps prayer and closeness to God when we reflect on God’s blessings and appreciate them, in
contrast to times of temptation and hardship in God’s service.
McGarvey says, making a direct parallel to Acts 2:38, it is the gift of the Holy Spirit. But this idea is not
19
much different from Barnes’.”

Conclusion:
None of these views does violence to Scripture in that all these things are true and all do come as a
result of conversion. Lenski’s view seems too limited: we do have “down times” in serving God, but it
does not seem that God is here promising something that comes and goes. Barnes’ view is the most
comprehensive, including all the other ideas, and seems the most reasonable. “Refreshing” can refer
to the same idea as “all things are made new” for those who are born again –2 Corinthians 5:17;
Romans 6:3,4; John 3:3,5; 1 Peter 1:22; Galatians 3:26,27.

Understanding Pentecost and the Feast of Weeks

4.4 Let’s Practice…

1. Why did the first Christians continue to congregate with those in Judaism and attend
Jewish special programs for some time?

2. How do we know that the miracle of the lame man was not faked?

3. What do the details of the lame man’s miracle say about Luke’s record?

4. What was the importance of the miracle as far as Peter and John were concerned?

5. Both in Chapter 2 and 3, Peter mentions repentance as a requirement for salvation, how should
we explain faith in these two instances?

19 Pratte, (P. 64).
26