I would like for you all to turn with me to Acts 29… Of course there is no Acts 29! Before we look at the beginning of Acts I want to look at the last two verses of Acts – chapter 28:30-31:
30 Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, 31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.
That seems like a pretty odd way to end this book doesn’t it? It almost seems like the author was interrupted in his writing or only told part of the story. There have been a lot of suggestions as for why Acts ends this way. I would suggest to you that the reason is because that’s the way that God wanted it to end – you see, the book of Acts is the story of how the Church was started and the story of the Church is not over yet! So really, we are going to be looking at “The Beginning of the Beginning” of the story of the Church this morning in Acts 1.
1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach
There are some questions that come to mind when you begin to study this book. Who wrote it? Who was Theophilus? What was the purpose of this writing? This book (letter) was written by Luke. Luke was a Gentile – the only non-Jew to be an author of Scripture. He was a native of the city of Antioch where the first Gentile church was established and where the followers of Jesus Christ were first called “Christians.” Luke was a doctor – Paul referred to him as “the beloved physician.”
Luke was writing this letter to a man named Theophilus. He makes reference in verse one to a “former treatise” or writing which Luke had written to this man Theophilus. This of course begs the question: what was this “former treatise” which he had written? It was what we know as the book of Luke. If you look back to Luke 1:1-4 we read:
1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.
So who was this Theophilus character and why was Luke so concerned with writing to him? There are a lot of opinions about Theophilus. His name means “God-Friendly,” so we can hope that he was in fact a “God-friendly” man. Most commentators believe that Theophilus was either a new Christian or someone who was at least interested in Christianity. He was obviously a man of some importance in public office because Luke gives him a title as well as a name: he refers to him as “Most Excellent.” This same title was used for Festus and Felix when they presided over Paul’s trials. One commentator makes a pretty convincing case that Theophilus was Paul’s defense lawyer or even his judge at his trial in Rome. Luke apparently spent four years studying and gathering his facts for his letters to Theophilus. Luke had not been an eyewitness to Jesus’ life and ministry but he visited those who were eyewitnesses and gathered their firsthand accounts of what had happened. He gathered his account about Jesus (which is recorded in the book of Luke) while he was waiting in Caesarea until Paul was shipped to Rome. When Paul arrived in Rome, there was another two years while Paul awaited trail during which Luke wrote his second letter to Theophilus (Acts).
Luke and Acts are histories: the first about Christ and the second about the beginning of the early Church. A lawyer would require first-hand testimony, eyewitness accounts, and carefully researched facts presented in an orderly fashion. Luke carefully researched and presented what we know as Luke and Acts to Theophilus “so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been informed about.” This also explains why the book of Acts ends so abruptly before Paul is beheaded for the faith (the second half of Acts is largely about Paul and his ministry; it would seem strange for a history to end the way it does prior to Paul’s death). History records that Luke himself died at the age of 84 in Greece having never been married.
Now, I told you all that background information not to bore you but to hopefully give you a little groundwork as we begin to dig into this book over the coming weeks and months. Now, let’s take a closer look at the first 8 verses this morning:
Read Scripture: Acts 1:1-8
1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. 4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
I told you earlier that I want to look at “The Beginning of the Beginning” this morning. What we see here in the first few verses of chapter one of Acts is really a review of what Luke had closed his previous letter to Theophilus with.
The book of Luke ends with Jesus eating with the disciples and giving them some final instructions and then ascending into heaven. We read in Luke 24:46-53:
46 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." 50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.
How many of you are interested in attending a New Testament-Acts type of church? I don’t know about you all, but I want to attend and Pastor a church on the move! I love our church, but we’ve got some room to grow! I want us to be a New Testament-Day of Pentecost type of church!
Vance Havner the great Baptist preacher of yesteryear said, “The average church today is so sub-normal that if one of them gets normal everybody thinks it's abnormal!”
I’m afraid he was and is right! I don’t want to be sub-normal, I want to be abnormal! I want our church to be a church on fire for God and reaching lost people!
I love the book of Acts. Truly it is a book of action! There is never a dull moment when you read through this book. There has never been a better book written on church growth than the book of Acts. If you want to see a church grow and become all that God intends for it to be, than a study of the book of Acts is essential. This book sets before us the principles of evangelism and reaching a lost and dying world. I believe one of the primary reasons the early church grew at such a phenomenal rate was due to the fact many early Christians took Jesus' commission seriously and as a result men, women, boys and girls constantly spread the news of the resurrected and soon returning Savior of the world. This morning I want to quickly notice three aspects of the Churches ministry from these first few verses of Acts.
1. The Mandate of the Church
Just what are the Church’s marching orders? What are we as the Church supposed to be doing in this world? Well, Luke was writing specifically about this in the first two verses of Luke, but I think that these verses give us a pretty good idea of what our mandate is.
1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen
What is our Mandate? We are to continue Christ’s work! Luke wrote here in verse 1 reminding Theophilus that the first letter he had written had been about what Jesus began to do and teach. Notice that Luke emphasizes what Jesus “began” to do and teach. Jesus was gone – He had ascended to Heaven. So, how was it that Luke had only wrote about what Jesus “began” to do and teach? Because Christ’s work on the cross was finished – the price for sin was paid. We talk a lot about “the finished work of Christ,” but we don’t talk nearly as much about “the unfinished work of Christ.” His work is not done! There is still a lost and dying world to be reached. There are still countless millions of people who need to know of what Christ did and taught. So, how is this work going to be done? Jesus is gone back to Heaven. How is His work to be continued? That is our job! This is our mandate as a Church. We don’t exist simply to sit in church pews on Sunday’s and hopefully throw some money in the offering plate. We as a Church exist so that we can continue Christ’s ministry here on earth! If all you are doing with your life is going to work every day and coming to church on Sunday I think you are missing it. While we work jobs – we do it as His ambassadors! While we come to church on Sunday’s we do it so that we can personally praise and worship God and receive strength so that we can go out and be His ambassadors! As Christian’s we are all part of the “Church” of Christ. We are all called to be labors in His Kingdom and continue the work that He began.
We are to follow Christ’s example. Notice that Jesus began to do His work “until the day in which He was taken up…” Jesus was faithful until the day He left this earth (and continues to be). We need to follow His example and remain faithful until the end – either the end of our lives or until the end when He returns.
We also need to follow His example to be led by the Spirit. Notice Luke says:
…of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments…
“Through the Holy Spirit” means that as Jesus gave instructions and commands to His disciples, the Holy Spirit accompanied His teaching, empowering the Disciples so that they would rightly understand it and obey it.
As we go out into a lost and dying world we need the Holy Spirit to go with us and make our witness effective! Without the Presence of Christ with us all of our efforts are in vain!
We have a mandate as a Church and as individuals: we are to continue Christ’s work and to follow Christ’s example. We are to follow Christ’s example and remain faithful until the end, and be led by the Spirit.
Our mandate is also to obey Christ’s commands. Notice verse 2 one more time,:
…of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments…
God has given us many commandments which we are to obey and keep. Specifically Luke was referring to Christ’s last command to His disciples which we will deal with further in a few minutes.
Here are some questions that we need to consider:
1. Are we as a church fulfilling Christ’s mandate for us?
2. Are we as individuals fulfilling Christ’s mandate for us?
3. Are we continuing His work, following His example, and obeying His commands?
If not, we need to ask for His forgiveness and then we need to get with His program and get busy!
A London Times reporter was interviewing people who were helping to build the St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. The architect was Sir Christopher Wren, a very famous architect. The London Times reporter was going along checking with various workmen just to keep up with the progress of the construction. He came to one man, and he said to him, "What are you doing?" And he says, "I'm putting this rock in the slot; isn't it obvious?" He came to a second man doing the very same thing, and he said, "What are you doing, sir?" He said, "I'm earning a day's living." He came to a third man doing identically the same thing, and he said, "What are you doing, sir?" He said, "Why I'm helping Sir Christopher Wren build St. Paul's Cathedral."
I guess it all depends on your perspective, doesn't it? I wonder sometimes if Christians really understand what they're doing. For some Christians, they just go through their life just sticking rocks in a slot – just filling time. For other Christians, I think it's just kind of, "Well, I'm trying to earn my reward so that when I get to Heaven I’ll get a halfway decent place." But I wonder if we really understand that the Christian life is all about helping the Lord Jesus Christ to finish the work that He began. This is our mandate!
We’ve examined the Mandate of the Church, notice also:
2. The Motivation of the Church
3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
What motivated the first Church? Luke tells us that they had a personal revelation of Jesus “To whom…” He had revealed Himself to His followers who would soon spread the message of the Gospel all over the world. Have you had a personal experience (revelation) with Jesus Christ? If so it ought to motivate you to spread the message of Full Salvation!
Not only did they have a personal revelation of Jesus but they also had an intimate relationship with Jesus “…He showed himself alive…” They had an intimate relationship with Christ. He had shown Himself to them.
Luke writes to Theophilus and he is trying to explain why the early Church and the Apostles were so passionate about serving Christ – even to the point of death and he tells Theophilus that they had undeniable proofs that Jesus was alive. There were “many infallible proofs, being seen by them.” They knew that Jesus was alive and because of this fact they were motivated to serve and live and die for Him. One of the greatest proofs of the resurrection is the fact that so many of the disciples died for their belief that Jesus was alive. They had a personal and intimate relationship with the living Savior who they served.
Are you a Christian this morning? Do you have an intimate relationship with the Risen Lord? If so I know that you can testify to all that He has done for you! God has been so good to all of us, but I can tell you that He’s had to be more merciful to me than I’m sure to any of you!! “You ask me how I know He lives, He live within my heart!” That’s the song we sing. We know He’s alive because He has been so wonderfully gracious to all of us!
If this is true (and it is), it ought to motive us to be faithful witnesses and fulfill His commands! This is what motivated the Church in the book of Acts. They had a personal relationship with the One who they knew had risen from the dead.
We’ve looked at the Church’s Mandate and the Church’s Motivation, notice finally…
3. The Means for the Church
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
In Luke 24:59 Luke had wrote to Theophilus and quoted Jesus who said:
Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus last command is further explained. Jesus told His Disciples:
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
This is the Church’s marching orders! As I’ve already mentioned, this is the Church’s mandate! We are to go into all the world and teach and baptize and disciple a lost and dying world! This is our reason for existence! If we fail in our part in Christ’s program for reaching the world than we have failed in our very reason for existence! We are to go. Period. There is to be no debate or question. If you claim to be a Christian but you are not going then there is a problem. Every day we need to be asking God to help us to be a witness at our place of work – not just by the way we work or behave, as good and as important as these are. But, we need to be asking God to give us opportunities to open our mouths and talk to someone. We need to be taking and making opportunities to speak to people we don’t know about Christ. We need to be going house to house like the Church in Acts did. We need to be doing our best as a church to be the Church and reach our world!
However, if we are going to be a witness for Christ we are going to have to have some help! What is the resource for fulfilling our ministry? With such a tremendous responsibility of eternal significance originating from God, how are we to fulfill this ministry? How in the world would this ragtag group of Christ’s followers ever fulfill His Great Commission? The only way they were able to fulfill His mandate and the only way we will be able to fulfill His mandate that we have as the Church is for us to utilize the means which He offers to us. Specifically speaking we are going to have to filled with the Spirit of God in order to fulfill the mission that we are called to do.
God never gives us a task to do and then leaves us on our own. God never expects us to rely on our strength and our talents and our ability alone. You know, I hear a lot of people say that they don’t feel like they can witness because they don’t know what to say or that they are just not naturally gifted when it comes to talking with people. I can assure you that if witnessing required being naturally talented in the area of talking with people – I would not qualify! If witnessing required special talents or ability – then I would certainly not qualify! However, our mandate to be a witness is not dependent upon what we have to offer but it is dependent upon what He has to offer and whether or not we tap into the Source of help which He has promised!
Jesus told His disciples to go and be witnesses, but first He gave them the command to tarry until they were endued with power from on High. They were to go, but first they needed to be filled! The Holy Spirit is the Means by which we are enabled to be effective witnesses for Him.
Let’s get filled and let’s go!
Conclusion:
A few weeks ago at our Marriage Enrichment night we watched a video in which a short story was told to illustrate a point about marriage. It was a story I have used before as an illustration and I want to use it again this morning:
Vince Lombardi was the coach of the Green Bay Packers football team from 1959-1967. In his time as there coach they won 5 championships in the 9 years he was there coach. He was famous for his coaching and for emphasizing the basics and the fundamentals of football: blocking and tackling, etc. He is famous for some of his speeches and some of the maxims which he used. He said things like, “Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing.” His motto was, “Do it right and you’ll win.”
One day his Packers lost a game they shouldn’t have. They had made some serious errors in the basics of football. He didn’t say much on the bus to hotel. He didn’t have much to say on the flight back to Green Bay either. Finally on Monday morning he called a team meeting. Coach Lombardi stood in front of his team on that Monday morning and reached into a canvas bag and said, “Team, I need to go over something with you: this is a football!”
Sometimes you just need to get back to the basics! This morning we have looked at “The Beginning of the Beginning” of the book of Acts and of the Church. I believe that it’s time that the Church gets back to being the Church! I believe that it’s time for the Church to once again get on fire for God, be filled with the Spirit, and go out and reach a lost and dying world! I don’t know about you, but I want to be part of that Church – it began in the book of Acts and it continues to this day! Let’s be part of it!
There may be some of you here this morning or aren’t part of the Church at all…you still remain in your sins and need to be saved! You can be today!
Sources:
1. Acts Commentary by Carter and Earle
2. Beacon Bible Commentary
3. “Do It Again, Lord” by Randal Earl Denny
4. “Unlocking the Bible” by David Pawson
5. “Be Series” commentary by Warren Wiersbe
6. “Exploring Christian Holiness, vol. 1” by Wm. Purkiser
7. ESV Study Bible notes
8. Adam Clarke’s Commentary
9. John Wesley Commentary
10. Wikipedia
11. Various other commentaries and websites
