Chasing The Wind - The Great Adventure

Chasing the Wind

-Living the Great Adventure-

Acts 1:4-8, Acts 2:1-2

The book of Acts is about “Chasing the Wind” and living the great adventure. The author of the book of Acts was Luke the physician. He wrote to Theophilus, a Gentile official who became a Christian through the influence of Luke or Paul. According to several sources the Book of Acts was written around 62 AD. Luke a research historian interviewed the key leaders in the early church and the book Acts is a summary account of the coming of the Holy Spirit and the expansion of the church in the Roman world.

Following his resurrection Jesus met with the disciples on and off for forty days. Their non-chalet attention prior to Christ’s death and resurrection became focused and when they met with Jesus their minds were riveted on every word spoken by Jesus. They kept wondering what was coming next? What were the plans of the risen Christ? What was his new mission?

Jesus told them He was going away and they would never see Him again on eath. In fact He told them he needed to ascend into heaven so He could send the Holy Spirit to enable them to continue the mission He started of seeking to save the lost and making disciples of all ethnic groups both Jews and Gentiles.

He told them he would ascend into heaven, but they were not to go back to Galilee but stay in Jerusalem until they experienced the filling of the Holy Spirit.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

Jesus gave the disciples his final command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:4

The disciples were telling Jesus, “Now is the Time for You to restore Israel as the leader of the Roman Empire.” In response Jesus looked the disciples in the eye and said with conviction: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:7-8

In obedience to Jesus the disciples waited in Jerusalem for the promise. As they waited they weren’t sure what to expect. They waited faithfully coming and going from the house of prayer. The prayer group was made up of faithful believers including women: Mary the mother of Jesus and the brothers of Jesus. It took the resurrection of Jesus to convince his brothers to join the fellowship of believers.

As they waited they decided to replace the empty place of leadership left by the betrayal and death of Judas of Iscariot. The person to replace Judas had to be someone who was a follower of Jesus since the baptism of Jesus by John in the Jordan River. The person also had to have actually seen the risen Jesus in person. Lots were cast and Matthias was chosen. Jesus chose His replacement for Judas in Acts 9 when Saul was confronted by the risen Christ and given the mission of taking the good news of the Gospel to Jews and Gentiles.

The Promise Fulfilled

In Acts 2 we have the fulfillment of the promise given my Jesus. Verse 1, “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.” 120 had gathered in the house church for prayer, but this prayer meeting was not an ordinary prayer meeting.

“Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire, that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the spirit enabled them.” Acts 2:2-4

The sound of blowing violent wind came from heaven reminded the Jews of the Holy Spirit. Ruah in Hebrew is translated wind or Spirit. Pneuma in Greek is translated wind or Spirit.

Tongues that looked like red flames of fire rested on the head of everyone present. Fire represented God purifying presence.

All were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in other languages as the Spirit directed them and as the believers spilled out into the streets all who heard them understood what they were saying in their respective dialects. The people included people living East of the Tigris River, people living in parts of Asia Minor, people from Roman Provinces, Egypt, Cyrene in Libya in North Africa and visitors from Rome. In all 15 nations are named.