All Means Everyone - Acts 1&2

Acts 1:14 

All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together 

The author of Acts seems to want to make clear a significant shift in the story, but one that is consistent with the original intent of a diverse people of God filling the earth.  It is not a story about just the jewish nation or even more narrowly about the men in the jewish nation, but there is a special emphasis in these first two chapters on all being included.  

Notice:

Acts 1:14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. (Seems to be referring to the same folks as 1:14)

Acts 2:4 …they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:12 And all were amazed and perplexed. (See vs 8-11 to see that it is referring to folks from every nation.)

Acts 2:17 I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams;

even on my male servants and female servants.

All seems to mean everyone. It includes Jew and Gentile, male and female, slave/servant and free, old and young, rich and poor from every nation.  We will see that the mission of the Church is to the “all” directly referenced in these first couple of chapters.  This mission cuts across every cultural barrier and norm as it opens the kingdom to the people of God.

**3/3/20 This is one of what I hope will be a regular entry in my blog.  This is a shift from what I have done in the past which has mostly been episodic accounts of things I experience in life.  I may continue to post more of the same from time to time, but the drift of the blog, at least for now, will be my observations, prayers, questions, and grappling with the Bible as I read through it over the next two years with some friends.  We are together following a 2 year reading schedule and meeting monthly to compare notes.  Your comments are welcome and if you are interested in what the reading schedule looks like reply in comments and I will be glad to send it to you.