Jesus, Continued: The Acts Of Who? (Acts 1-2) Series

The Acts of Who? (Acts 1-2)

Good morning. Please open your Bibles to the book of Acts., chapter 2.

In the early 1900’s, the evangelist Harry Ironside was walking through the city where he lived when he came upon a group of Salvation Army workers holding a meeting on a street corner. There were probably 60 of them. When they recognized Ironside they immediately asked him if he would give his testimony. He did, giving a word about how God had saved him through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus.

As he was speaking, Ironside noticed a renowned college professor who had become famous for his attacks on Christianity. He called out, “Dr. Ironside, “I challenge you to debate with me “Agnosticism versus Christianity” in the Academy of Science Hall next Sunday afternoon at 4 o’clock.”

The evangelist replied, “You’re on, but on one condition: I’d like to bring with you two people, whose lives have been transformed and their character has changed because of atheism.”

The professor said, “What do you mean, changed because of atheism?”

Oh, I don’t know… maybe someone who was suffering from alcoholism or addiction, who listened to one of your lectures and can say that thanks to atheism, he’s now clean and sober?

Or how about a young couple whose marriage was in trouble and on the verge of ending. Can you have them come to the meeting and testify to how they stayed together because they stopped believing in God?”

“I can’t find anyone like that,” said the scholar.

Well, that is interesting, said Ironside. Then he turned to the crowd that was there on the street corner and said, “Would any of you like to join me next Sunday and testify to the difference the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus has made in your life? Who would be a witness to the miraculous saving power of the risen Christ and the truth of God’s Word?

Every single hand at that Salvation Army meeting shot up, and one person from the back of the crowd said, “Would you like us to bring the band?”

This morning as we transition from the gospels to the book of Acts, I want you to understand that while me may be done reading the gospels, we are not done with the gospel. I’d like us to read a portion of the sermon Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, which Christians look at as the birth of the church. Then, we will go back to Acts chapter 1 and get caught up to that point. Read with me, beginning with verse 22:

[Read Acts 2:22-39]

[pray]

Throughout the history of the church, this book has been called the book of Acts, or the Acts of the Apostles. And I’m not going to argue with two thousand years of church history and say we need to rename the book of Acts. But we should at least consider whose “acts” Acts is really about. Acts is about Jesus. The first verse, the last verse, and 99 verses in between mention Jesus.

And it is with the power of the Holy Spirit that the apostles tell people about Jesus. The Holy Spirit is referenced 107 times. So really, the more accurate title of the book would be The Acts of Jesus, working through the Apostles, empowered by the Spirit.

But, that’s a little awkward, so let’s just call it Acts!

Luke sets us up for the idea that this book is a…

1. CONTINUATION of the Work of Jesus in the first two verses. Look at that with me: (Acts 1:1-2)

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.

You could be thinking, but wait a minute—doesn’t the gospel of Luke end with the death and resurrection of Jesus? why didn’t Luke say DID and TAUGHT?

It’s because of what we’ve been saying all year long: The Bible isn’t a collection of different stories. The Bible tells one story. The Old Testament contains the New Testament, and the New Testament explains the Old Testament. So if you were playing a trivia game and the question was, “What books of the Bible tell the story of Jesus?” the answer isn’t Matthew Mark Luke and John. It’s Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers… all the way to Malachi.

Then it’s Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. But it doesn’t stop there! It’s Acts. It’s Romans. It’s the rest of Paul’s letters. It’s Hebrews, James, 1st – 3rd John, Jude, and Revelation. Where do we find a record of what Jesus did and taught? [Hold up Bible] Right here. Where do we find a record of what Jesus is doing and teaching? [to church] Right here.