Dear Friends,
Greetings in Christ!
In this post, Dr Luke begins the Book of Acts by bridging the four gospel accounts with the history of the early church. Dr McGee said that in the beginning verses of Acts, it is like all four Gospels were poured through a funnel into a jug:
The last recorded fact about Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew is the Resurrection, which is recorded in Acts 1. In the Gospel of Mark, the last recorded act of Jesus is the Ascension, which is also recorded in Acts 1. At the end of Dr Luke’s Gospel, we have the promise of the Holy Spirit. That is also in Acts 1. In John’s Gospel, the last recorded fact is the second coming of Christ. You guessed it — that is also in Acts 1. (1)
The rest of Acts continues as a bridge between the Gospels and the rest of the New Testament. As Warren Wiersbe points out, it would be confusing to turn in our Bibles from John to Romans. We would be left wondering, How did the church in Rome get there? Who is Paul? Thankfully, we have Dr Luke to explain it to us in Acts.
Give us understanding, Father, as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Acts 1:1-14
1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
In his Gospel, Dr Luke recorded what Jesus began both to do and teach. In Acts, Dr Luke records what Jesus continued both to do and teach through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
2 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:
3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
The resurrection is a major theme that continues throughout the Book of Acts. The resurrection separates our faith from all others. There were over 500 eyewitnesses to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (I Cor 15:6) Unlike the tombs of Muhammad and Buddha, Jesus’ tomb is empty.
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
The apostles received the Holy Ghost (ie Spirit; Gk Pneumati) when Jesus appeared to them after the resurrection (John 20:22), but they had not yet received the ‘baptism’ of the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a subject of debate among Christians. Some feel it is a one-time experience that happens when a believer is first saved. (1 Cor 12:13) Ie, ever since the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost in Acts 2, Christians who believe are baptized with and sealed with (Eph 1:13) the Holy Spirit. Period. Others believe that there is a second filling of the Holy Spirit that empowers believers, separate from the experience they had when they first believed. Sometimes called the ‘second blessing’ or simply the ‘baptism of the Holy Spirit’, this is an additional filling (eg Acts 8:14-17). The way I see it, we are leaky vessels; therefore, I pray each day to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Under the New Covenant, we enjoy the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Col 1:27; 1 John 4:15), but throughout Scripture the Holy Spirit comes upon God’s people to empower them for service. I want as much of the Spirit as I can get. Jesus said all we have to do is ask (Luke 11:13).
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Much like the Book of Revelation (Rev 1:19), Acts has its own built-in outline here in verse 8:
In Chapters 1-7, the focus is on the gospel witness to Jerusalem.
In Chapters 8-12, the focus is on the gospel witness to Judea and Samaria.
In Chapters 13-28, the focus is on the gospel witness to the uttermost part of the earth.
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
There is a ‘Church of the Ascension’ on the Mount of Olives, but Luke 24:50 indicates Jesus ascended from somewhere in Bethany. Although there is a very nice ‘Church of the Triumphal Entry’ in nearby Bethphage, where Jesus began his triumphal entry (Luke 19:29), the only landmark in Bethany today is the supposed tomb of Lazarus. I believe we can reconcile this by examining Mark 11:1. Mark includes both Bethphage and Bethany together with the Mount of Olives. Therefore, the Mount of Olives was considered to be part of Bethany. Zechariah 14:4 tells us that Jesus will return to the Mount of Olives. That Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives is implied in verse 12:
12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.
13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John [the sons of Zebedee], and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
Acts 1:1-14
The section ends with the Christians continuing with one accord in prayer and supplication. Does that sound like the church today? Not to me either, which is a sign of the times (Matt 24:12; Luke 18:8). The phrase in one accord will recur again and again in the Book of Acts.
In verse 13, we see Jude, the half-brother of Jesus, was already with the disciples. Identified as the brother of James (Matt 13:55; cf Matt 27:56; cf Jude 1), Judas went on to write the Book of Jude. Although James the Lord’s brother, author of the General Epistle of James, is not mentioned by name, mention is made of Jesus’ brethren in verse 14, which I believe includes James. I believe Jesus’ brethren became believers when He appeared to them after his resurrection. Dr Luke records that Jesus’ half-brother James held a prominent leadership position in the early church. (Acts 15)
In verse 14, we also see Mary among the disciples. She is not mentioned again in the Book of Acts or any of the Epistles. Although Mary played no leadership role in the early church, and although there is certainly no indication she was any sort of ‘mediator’, one can only imagine the great respect the other Christians must have given her. I suspect that Mary had to remind many of them that she was a sinner saved by grace just like them. I’m sure Mary would have always given the glory to God.
In conclusion, let us always remember that Acts is still being written. When we are empowered by the Holy Spirit, we can still see miracles just as they did in the early church. The promise of the Spirit was not just to the Christians in the first century, but to all that are afar off (Acts 2:39). That means us. In our text above, the apostles saw the Lord ascend into heaven. They then waited for the Holy Spirit to empower them so they could start evangelizing and bring in the church age. In our day, the church age is coming to a close. We are waiting for the Lord to return as He promised. We need to be empowered by the Spirit the same way they did.
In Luke 12, Dr Luke recorded a parable that Jesus told that speaks directly to our situation. Jesus said we should not worry about our daily necessities or storing up treasures for our future. Jesus said, But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Jesus said we should rather invest in his kingdom. He said For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. He told us to roll up our sleeves and get to work — his work. He said Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. Have you ever thought about being a missionary? If I can do it, anyone can. If you have it in your heart to do it, tell the Lord so and let Him empower you with his Holy Spirit for the work. Start evangelizing. Put a map of the country you feel led to go to on the wall. Let it be a daily reminder of your goal. Listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit. When you hear his voice, do not procrastinate. Do as He says.
Finally, the key verses in our passage are 8 and 11. Verse 8 promised power that would accompany the coming of the Holy Spirit and outlined the rest of Acts. In verse 11, we have the promise of the second coming. That is the promise that keeps me going. Jesus is coming back again. The way I see it, without that, we have nothing. With that, we have everything. Father, thank You that miracles still happen today just as they did in the early church. Thank You for giving us the promise of the Holy Spirit, the same as You gave it to them. Please give us discernment to know who to trust and to always follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. We love You, Father, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
1 McGee, ACTS Chapters 1-14, p vii.
PS: Jesus also said, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time? The time is at hand. Ethereum has been chosen as the blockchain vehicle on which the new worldwide economy will be built. (Rev 13:16-18) The stablecoins that will augment this system are already being phased in. The rest is a foregone conclusion. Just because it was not for the Christians in the first century to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power (v 7), that does not mean it is not for us to know. Jesus wants us to discern the time. If the time is indeed at hand, what will you be found doing when Jesus returns?
