Acts 1:1 The first book I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, 2 until the day in which he was received up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking about God’s Kingdom. 4 Being assembled together with them, he commanded them, “Don’t depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me. 5 For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 Therefore when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them, “It isn’t for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”
9 When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 While they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing, 11 who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky, will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.”
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they had come in, they went up into the upper room where they were staying; that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
Luke begins his second book with a quick eight-point review of his first book, The Gospel According to Luke.
1. Just like in his first book, Luke addresses this book to Theophilus. Many don’t know this, but the combined length of both Luke and Acts make up over 25% of the New Testament. This means that Luke, a Gentile, wrote more of the New Testament than any other author, including Paul, Matthew, or John. In God’s design, His word was immediately going out into the whole Gentile world.
2. What did God want the nations and peoples of the world to know?
Acts 1:1 All that Jesus began both to do and to teach, until the day in which he was received up.
In fact, Luke traces Christ’s genealogy all the way back to Adam and Eve, Luke 3:23-38, because it is there that man first rebelled against God and it was there that God first Promised to send a Redeemer to rescue mankind from their sin and rebellion. Genesis 3:15 Christ is the fulfillment of the rescue plan that God had progressively revealed throughout the entire Old Testament: Then Christ said to them, These are my words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which were written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. Luke 24:44
The Old Testament believers only had an incomplete picture of the completed work of Christ. John wrote that, Abraham longed to see Christ’s day, John 8:56, but now that Christ has come to earth and the picture is complete, Luke sets out to tell the whole world the whole story about the redeemer God. The Old Covenant Promise in now fulfilled, the sins of the world may be forgiven, and life is available to all who will accept it.
I will establish my Covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting Covenant. I will be your God and you will be my people. Genesis 17:7, Jeremiah 30:22
3. Acts 1:2 He had given the command through the Holy Spirit to the Apostles whom he had chosen.
What is the command that Christ had given his Apostles?
You are to be witnesses of these things. Luke 24:48
While on earth Christ had chosen twelve men as his disciples, twelve men to teach and instruct in the ways, wonders, works, and salvation of God so that they could, in turn, recruit and instruct others. If you are a Christian you too are a recruit. And not only are you a recruit, you are also, in turn, responsible to recruit others and train them as you have been trained.
In the back of this book make a list of people that you want to recruit to be disciples of Christ.
4. What were Christ’s disciples to teach the world?
Acts 1:3 To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking about God’s Kingdom.
After having spent three years with His disciples, teaching them and preparing them for their life’s work of telling everyone about the Gospel, after His resurrection Christ spent another forty days with them. During this time beginning with Moses and the prophets Christ showed them all the things concerning Himself in the Scriptures. Luke 24:27
The most pressing, inescapable problem that everyone throughout history will face is death. Those who have not understood or accepted the good news of the free gift of the Gospel are held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews 2:15 In the words of Pulitzer Prize winning author, John Hersey:
Opening my senses, I cannot help but marvel. The astonishing intricacy of all forms of life on earth sometimes literally takes my breath away. But I will die, sooner or later. Death is my truly mortal enemy…the great unfairness of human life. (Clifton Fadiman, Living Philosophies. Doubleday, 1990)
But Christ overcame death. Because Christ literally and bodily rose from the dead He is able to offer life to all who follow Him. Death is defeated. The proof is not imaginary, or ethereal, or spiritual. The truth is not based in subjective feelings but in objective facts. Real bodily death is defeated with real bodily resurrection. His disciples are tasked with telling everyone that good news.
Just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4
5. Christ had just been publicly murdered by the combined powers of Rome and Jerusalem. How could Christ’s disciples be expected to successfully spread that message of the good news of death’s defeat in such a hostile world?
Acts 1:4 Don’t depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me. 5 For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.
From time to time, throughout the Old Testament, God gave His Holy Spirit to various prophets so that they could have both great insight and great power to perform mighty deeds and live in obedience to God. For example, in His exasperation over the unfaithful people of God, people who made a golden idol and people, who although they had been freed from the heavy hand of slavery, continued to grumble and complain, Moses wished that all of the people could have the Holy Spirit.
I wish that all of the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them. Numbers 11:29 And, in fact, Joel and prophesied of that very thing, God, says, In the last days I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Joel 2:28
Even though the Apostles had an amazing story to tell the world about Christ’s defeat of death through a real resurrection they were obedient to Christ and remained in Jerusalem, as instructed, awaiting the baptism of the Holy Spirit, so that they would have the power to tell that story; the power to overcome both the lies and persecution of the ancient dragon.
6. Just before Christ left the Apostles by ascending into heaven, they had a question for Him.
Acts 1:6 They asked him, “Lord, are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them, “It isn’t for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within his own authority.
Through His time on earth Christ had frequently spoken of the Kingdom of God. Luke 6:20 This was both exciting and treasonous talk because Israel was occupied by the foreign Roman military and the people resented the harsh hand of Rome and the taxes that stole their wealth. Misunderstanding many of the Old Testament prophesies, such as Daniel 2:44, God will set up a Kingdom that will never be destroyed. A Kingdom that will break to pieces all other kingdoms, the Apostles had bought into the secular idea of the overthrow of the military. Although this is understandable given the political and economic realities, God’s plan for the world was beyond their wildest dreams, but for that they had to patiently wait in Jerusalem.
7. But before going back to Jerusalem Christ gave them a hint about what was to come.
Acts 1:8 You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”
God’s plan was that his glorious riches of the power of the Spirit would strengthen them… so that they could do immeasurably more than they could imagine. Ephesians 3:16-20 They had only imagined the restoration of the Old Testament Kingdom of Israel, but God’s plan included defeating death and bringing life to all of mankind. What had been lost in Adam’s sin and rebellion was now to be restored to all of Adam’s race. Romans 5:14-15 With that power they would not only be transforming and liberating Jerusalem but they would also be empowered to take the good news of Christ’s defeat of death and forgiveness of sins into Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth.
And as we will see, this is actually the general outline that Luke follows in presenting the story of the early church in the Book of Acts.
I. Jerusalem
II. Judea and Samaria
III. Uttermost parts of the earth
8. What the Apostles saw next must have astounded them. They witnessed the fulfillment of the ancient prophesy that had been given to Daniel:
In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
Daniel 7:13-14
Christ was taken up into heaven on the cloud, where He was seated at the right hand of the Father and given all authority and dominion over a Kingdom that will grow to be worldwide.
Acts 1:9 When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 While they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing, 11 who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky, will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.”
After receiving Christ’s final instructions and watching Him ascend into heaven the Apostles went to Jerusalem, as instructed, to pray and to wait.
Acts 1:12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they had come in, they went up into the upper room where they were staying; that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
In addition to the Apostles and several women such as Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Jesus, with his brothers, James, Jude, Joseph, and Simon, Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3, were all gathered together. In establishing the truth of Christ’s resurrection it is important to note that prior to His resurrection, Christ’s brothers had refused to believe His claims to deity, thinking He was insane, John 7:5 and Mark 3:21. However, after His death and resurrection Christ’s brothers had a change of heart. After seeing their brother’s claims verified and after watching their brother ascend into heaven, they lost their skepticism and became disciples. In fact both James and Jude would go onto write letters, both of which were included in the canon of Scriptures.
While the Apostles waited they took care of some important business.
Acts 1:15 In these days, Peter stood up in the middle of the disciples (and the number of names was about one hundred twenty), and said, 16 “Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus. 17 For he was counted with us, and received his portion in this ministry. 18 Now this man obtained a field with the reward for his wickedness, and falling headlong, his body burst open, and all his intestines gushed out. 19 It became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem that in their language that field was called ‘Akeldama’, that is, ‘The field of blood.’
20 For it is written in the book of Psalms,
‘Let his habitation be made desolate.
Let no one dwell in it;’ Psalm 69:25
and,
‘Let another take his office.’ Psalm 109:8
21 “Of the men therefore who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John, to the day that he was received up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
23 They put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 They prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place.” 26 They drew lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles.
With Christ as the cornerstone, the Church was to be built on the foundation of the prophets and the Apostles… built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. Ephesians 2:20 Having been instructed that all of Scripture pointed to Christ, the Apostles looked to Scripture Psalm 69:25 to fill the vacancy left by Judas’ defection and death. Let another take his office. Psalm 109:8
Following the instructions of Proverbs 16:33, The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord, the Apostles cast lots and Matthias was chosen to take Judas’ place. This was both a great honor and great responsibility for which, many years later, Matthias paid for with his life. He was stoned and then beheaded for his faithful witness about Christ.
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