"Disciples" after Pentecost: After the Day of Pentecost, there became a legitimate and substantial decrease in the use of the term “disciple.” The term begins to fade away in its generic use to the point that the term “disciple” was used almost exclusively of those who were true converted followers of Jesus’ way. There were still a few generic usages of the term (Acts 9:25; possibly 19:1), but gone were the days where “belly-fillers” were called disciples. Real disciples were hand-made by the spirit of God. A few times, growth in the early church was described by characterizing the influx of disciples (Acts 6:1; 6:7; 14:21). Perhaps the most beneficial passage is Luke’s note of how Paul preached the Gospel in the city of Derbe and had “made many disciples (Acts 14:21).” This is evidence of the complete fulfillment of the Great Commission of Mt. 28:18-20, for Paul also went back there to strengthen the souls of the disciples (v. 22). A few individuals, mentioned by name, were labeled as disciples: Ananias (Acts 9:10), Tabitha (9:36), Timothy (16:1), and Mnason of Cyprus, who was an early disciple (21:16). Also, the disciples in Damascus were skeptical of Saul of Tarsus being a disciple (9:26). It is conclusive about these individuals that they were not machine-made. They were “hand-sewn.” Certain indicators also relate how the “disciples” throughout the book of Acts were not mere generic followers. They were converted. Acts 9:1,2 connects “disciples” with those who were of “the way.” Acts 11:26 connects “disciples” with “the church.” Acts 11:29 and 18:27 also connects them with “brothers.” Acts 13:52 describes the disciples as being full of the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 21:16). Again, it is certain that these converts were true hand-made disciples The above-mentioned references along with many other notable passages clearly indicate that “disciple” had become more than a general description of those who had some form of interest in Jesus as it was so often used to describe followers throughout the Gospels. God was able to accomplish much through the lives of these converted disciples. And He could. They were hand-made, hand-crafted, and hand-sewn. They weren’t machine-made. These would have been the type of disciples Jesus wanted His own disciples to make—the same type of disciples He defined, refined, and commissioned. One of the characteristics one would notice about these converted disciples exemplified in the book of Acts is that they were far from being “one-and-done.” Perhaps you have seen the movie, “That Thing You Do” starring Tom Hanks. I won’t reveal the movie, its plot or anything like that. I can’t stand it when someone does that to me over a movie I haven’t seen. It becomes clear through the course of the movie, that although the band, “The Wonders” had experienced some great success, they were, in the words of Tom Hank’s character, “One hit Wonders.” They had one fantastic hit. But that was it. They were one-and-done. Tabitha and Mnason were not one-and-done. Timothy and Saul were not One hit Wonders. None of the disciples celebrated in the book of Acts finalized their discipleship at the time of their conversion. Their immersion into Christ did not stop at the moment they came up out of the water. They were daily immersed in Christ. They were disciples as Paul described himself in 1 Cor. 15:31, “I die every day.” Are you a one-and-done? Are you a one-hit-wonder? Or are you truly immersed into Christ on a daily basis?
Posted on: Wed, 04 Sep 2013 16:32:07 +0000
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