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 showed himself alive
After his passion by many infallible proofs being seen of them 40 days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God
Now there's a couple things I want you to notice in this verse right here in verse number three
First of all, I want you to notice that it says that he showed himself alive
After his passion now this isn't referring to passion as in zeal, you know
We often use passion today as a term to indicate zeal and excitement will say man that person is passionate about
Painting passionate about music they're passionate about their line of work, you know, in other words
They're zealous over those things, but that's not necessarily what the word passion originally meant nor is it being used here in this context?
Okay, really when when the word passion is used and it's only used twice in the entire Bible. It's referring to suffering
Okay, and you know, I hate to reference this but you if you I'm sure you've seen the movie the passion of the Christ
Okay, how many you've actually seen that movie be honest. Okay be honest. You guys are like, yeah, I saw it. Okay
Obviously, you know, it's it's a Catholic movie, but I'm referring to the actual title itself. It's referring to the sufferings of Christ
It's not referring to his zeal or his you know excitement
His enthusiasm it's referring to his suffering. Okay now
Let me give you another example of this go to James chapter 5 if you would James chapter number 5
Passion today is used in a different manner. I think of passion as zeal, but it's actually referring to his suffering
That's why it says that he showed himself alive
After his passion after his suffering his persecution after the fact that he died it was crucified on the cross
You know, we the Bible tells us that he was in hell for three days and three nights
His soul was not left in hell neither did his flesh see corruption and at his resurrection after that
He showed himself alive unto his disciples and apostles
Look at James chapter 5 just to further validate this in regards to the word passion
It says Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are now
Does that mean that he was just he loved, you know playing instruments like you do or you know, he liked painting the way you know
He's referring to his sufferings because James chapter 5 really hones in and focuses on our sufferings
You know the fact that we're gonna go through trials and tribulations. We're gonna go through difficulties just as job did
That's why job is referenced in James chapter number 5 and he's saying there that Elias
Is a man who is subject to like passions such as we are so he's saying look there's no
Temptation taking you but such as is common to man
So the same sufferings that you've experienced are the same sufferings that the prophets the Apostles
the men of God of the Bible have
Experienced also it says they prayed earnestly that it might not rain and it rained on on the earth by the space of three years
And six months. So I just want you to notice I go back to Acts chapter 1
I just want you to see that I remember reading that as a brand new Christian
I never really understood what that meant until I recognized that
Passion really and obviously, you know, you think of zeal means like you're burning with with fire. You're fired up, right?
Someone who's fired up
They're zealous
You can kind of see how they kind of go hand in hand and how that word has evolved over time to mean something else
Such as zealousness and enthusiasm, okay