It Starts With One: Acts 1 Series

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

1In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

4And while stayinga with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized withb the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

The Ascension

6So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

ESV

Question: If you were to be stranded on an island and could only take one item with you, what would that item be?

According to Acts 1:1-3, what is the purpose of Luke’s Gospel? Compare this Scripture with Luke 1:1-4

Jesus told the disciples to wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit. Do you think the disciples knew what this meant? Do you know?

In Acts 1:6, the disciples showed that they still didn’t totally understand Jesus’ mission. They were still expecting him to reign in an earthly kingdom. In response, Jesus gave them a mission. According to verse 8, what is the mission?

Sum up the events in Acts 1:1-11 as if you were there. How would you have felt going through these experiences?