INTRODUCTION TO ACTSMany have understood 'Acts'' as referring to the acts of the apostles. However, it is the Holy Spirit who is seen to guide, empower and control every event, so perhaps it is more appropriate to understand this book primarily as the acts of the Holy Spirit. In the first part, Chapters 1-12, Apostle Peter takes a prominent role among the apostles and later, from Chapters 13-28, Apostle Paul's ministry is mainly recorded. The key verse of Acts is 1:8. 'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.' This was the very last command of Jesus and provides a kind of index of contents for the whole book because it records the gospel spreading out from Jerusalem in chapters 1-7, through all Judea and Samaria in chapters 8:1-11:18 and finally to the whole world as symbolised by Rome (11:19-28:31). Through Acts we can learn God's heart and vision for world salvation and the role of the Holy Spirit in accomplishing Jesus' great world mission command. Luke wrote Acts. The book reveals his scholarship as a historian and eyewitness attention to detail. It is thought that as Paul's dear friend, travelling companion and doctor (Col 4:14) he would have been able to interview Peter, John and other apostles in Jerusalem. It is likely he wrote his account during Paul's two-year imprisonment in Caesarea (circa AD 60-62), before sailing to Rome. The book ends rather abruptly, in fact it does not finish. The Holy Spirt is continuing his work through believers in each generation as we preach the good news of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth, until he returns.
YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES
1. Wait for the Holy Spirit (1-7)
Luke had written his gospel and now the book of Acts to Theophilus, a name that means "lover of God." After Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared to his disciples over a period of forty days. He wanted to convince them of the fact of his resurrection and victory over sin and death. He also spoke about the kingdom of God. The disciples still had a worldly dream to restore the kingdom to Israel. However, Jesus wanted them to lead all people into his eternal kingdom, through faith in his death and resurrection.
2. You will receive power (8-11)
The disciples were very limited in their wisdom, experience, and character. They had hardly travelled outside of Galilee, how could they be Jesus' witnesses to the ends of the earth? They could when they received the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would equip them to witness to Jesus in every situation. The Greek word for witness implies "martyr." They would burn with God's love for lost souls and give their lives to see Jesus' gospel reach the ends of the earth.
Application: Help me to witness to Jesus in the power of your Holy Spirit.
One Word: Jesus' witness to the ends of the earth