We gain a lot by studying the book of Acts. We learn about how the church grew in its infancy stage. Now over twenty percent of the world’s population claim to be true disciples of Jesus. But we are starting here with one hundred and twenty loyal believers huddled together in one room.
It helps us to look back at when the church was born. Not one of these among the handful of believers was a powerful ruler. Acts helps us to appreciate the church as we see the beginning in Jerusalem. We see the foundation that led to the present day standing as a worldwide movement. We see God’s plan of redemption unfolding.
The time to wait Acts 1:1-5
Luke the physician is writing to Theophilus. Dr. Luke is the only Gentile writer of the Bible. His two books, Luke and Acts carefully research the account of Jesus ministry and then of the Holy Spirit’s ministry. This passage of Acts chapter 1 is the in between of both of Luke’s books. This account overlaps Luke Chapter 24.
Luke’s Gospel gives the account from the birth of Christ to the ascension of Jesus. Acts records from the ascension of Jesus to the spread of the Gospel through the Roman Empire.
There were forty days between the resurrection and ascension. But at the end of these forty days the believers are commanded to wait. They are not ready yet. The Bible is about going and telling, but after Jesus ascended it is a time for waiting.
The believers were instructed to wait. They were not ready, but why not? What were they lacking? , They were absolutely convinced of the resurrection, they even saw Jesus resurrected. They were not ready to launch out and take the Gospel out to the lost and dying world. They needed power. Without it there would be no fruit. Wait for the power of the Holy Spirit.
You can’t understand the Christian movement without seeing that it is the power of the Holy Spirit that broke down the barriers of the Gospel. Teaching alone wasn’t enough. Being convinced of resection was not enough. They needed, we all need, the power of Holy Spirit for ministry. Without the Holy Spirit the ministry is impossible. They had to wait ten more days. The Holy Spirit comes and the church is born.
Question-Answer
Jesus is now to leave and from here on out it will be the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The disciples have just one last opportunity to ask Jesus a misguided question, totally out of step with his purposes. They met together and asked it. Acts 1:6 “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?
They still in nationalistic pride are expecting Jesus to rule politically, like King David. Jesus kingdom is a spiritual Kingdom in the hearts of men. Jesus response is that times and dates are God’s responsibility. Your responsibility is to be witnesses.
The time and date of Christ’s second coming should not be our focus. But to witness in the power of the Holy Spirit. This should be our focus.
When the Holy Spirit comes it is the time to go. There is ten days of waiting and then everything shifts to going. It’s a time not to wait.
Acts 1:8 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 1:8 is an outline for the entire book of Acts.
Acts Chapters 1-7 Jerusalem
Acts Chapters 8-12 Judea and Samaria
Acts Chapters 13-28 Ends of the Earth
The Ascension Acts 1:9-11
There were the disciples standing with the Lord on the Mt. of Olives. They got one last answer to their one last misguided question. Then right before their eyes the Lord was taken up. He ascended into heaven until a cloud hid him from their sight.
They were the disciples looking intently in the sky like a child with a lost balloon. Then two men dressed in white, angels stood beside them. They asked, Why do you stand their looking into the sky? Christ will come again from heaven in the same you have seen him go into heaven.
Witness Jerusalem, where they were at.
Go to Judea, surrounding region.
Reach Samaria, the socially unacceptable.
Go to the ends of the earth
The gospel must first be preached to all nations Mark 13:10. So Christ gave them the commission. When the Gospel has reached the ends of the earth to Christ’s satisfaction Jesus will come again.
But none of Christ’s commission can be ignored. We face unprecedented opportunities to go to the ends of the earth. Don’t miss the golden moment of gospel ministry.
