Series: Holy Boldness a study in Acts
PRELUDE TO POWER
Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1,2
U.S. News & World Report, April 20, 1992 ‘The First Christians’ ‘The death of Jesus of Nazareth should have put a quick and quiet end to what had been a minor
religious disturbance in the smoldering tinderbox of Roman-occupied Palestine. There was no public outcry when the enigmatic Jewish preacher was executed. His
demoralized disciples had simply given up and gone home.
As the N.T. tells it, suddenly and dramatically, they began preaching boldly in the streets of Jerusalem that the resurrected Jesus was both Lord and Christ.
After a few decades, the movement would begin to take hold in the commercial and cultural centers of the Greco-Roman world. And within a few centuries, what
began as a grassroots movement of Jewish peasants would become a powerful institution and a dominant force in Western culture.
It was no coincidence that Christianity spread mainly to the North and West from Palestine. The network of roads built and protected by the Roman armies provided
relatively easy access from Jerusalem to the cities of Asia Minor, Macedonia...and on to Rome. Paul is estimated to have traveled nearly 10,000 miles by land and sea during 4 missionary journeys.’
In the New Testament we are given four accounts of the earthly ministry of Jesus, but only one of the development of the early church.
Martin Lloyd Jones said, ‘Live in that book, I exhort you; it is a tonic, the greatest tonic I know of in the realm of the Spirit.’
Reality is – we all have visions of a church with the power - presence of Holy Spirit - evangelistic results of that 1st church.
As we move through this book, we will find it was NOT a perfect church - had it’s problems - problem people - persecution - opposition and heresies to deal with.
I have approached this study with great excitement & at the same time, w/ fear and trembling – I have 68 different commentaries/ studies in my library on Acts.
I find myself in agreement with Sir William Ramsey, ‘It is impossible to find anything to say about Acts that has not been said before by somebody.’
My goal is not to be original – but to speak the truth - to examine the text & apply it to our church.
Take this study in 2 parts:
Acts 1-15
Acts 16-28
In Acts:
We discover the Holy Spirit - his descent & work in the church.
We see miracles.
We learn about church discipline & the role of deacons.
We discover a diversity of ministries.
We see the church dealing with racial prejudice.
We understand the cost of unity.
We grow in our understanding of the Sovereignty of God - Acts 4 - the church viewed their suffering as a part of God’s plan.
We will see various methods of evangelism.
We will be reminded that those who follow Christ are often called to suffer for the gospel. Most of the suffering in Acts was from those who opposed the Gospel – our times are becoming more like Acts every day.
We will see that some events in Acts are unique and unrepeatable events – like Pentecost.
WE ARE NOT AT LIBERTY TO COPY EVERYTHING IN ACTS - the ministry of the Apostles was uniquely theirs.
TRUE EXEGESIS OF THE DIDACTIC AND NARRATIVE SECTIONS OF THE BOOK DEMAND THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT NOT
EVERYTHING THAT PEOPLE EXPERIENCED OR LUKE RECORDED IN ACTS IS TO BE PRACTICED OR EXPERIENCED BY US TODAY.
Why exegesis is so important – we have to study the immediate context – then compare Scripture with Scripture.
Acts was the 2nd of 2 books written by Luke. Luke was a doctor and a historian. It was the custom of writers of that time, if they were writing a 2 vol. work, to put the preface of both volumes in the 1st.
Luke 1:1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from
the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, 3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; 4 so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.
A. LUKE WANTED TO RECORD HISTORY.
Acts is called by some the Pentateuch of the New Testament.
1st – the historical events - ‘things accomplished among us’
2nd – the eyewitnesses - ‘handed down to us by those who were eyewitnesses....’ - Luke did his homework by interviewing those who followed Jesus in those 3 years of earthly ministry.
3rd - personal research – vs. 3 ‘having investigated everything carefully...’
4th - writing it all down - ‘for Theophilus...’
Notice he uses the phrase ‘exact truth’ - no speculation/ didn’t use his imagination - wrote the facts down.
B. LUKE WANTED TO PRESENT A TRUE PICTURE OF CHRISTIANITY.
Luke is writing an incredibly important book.
1. He wants to share the truth with Theophilus - (Lk) - ‘most excellent’ - your excellency. Possibly a Roman official.
2. He wants to communicate that the gospel is not a threat to the Roman empire. He shares the conversion of the Centurion @ the cross/ Cornelius and others. He pointed out that Pilate could find no fault in Jesus.
3. He writes to bridge the gaps between cultures. He emphasizes unity - sharing - and addresses how the church dealt with potential problems between Jews/ Samaritans and Gentiles. There were not 2 versions of Christianity - one Jewish, led by Peter & one for Gentiles led by Paul.
When you read through the book - you find that Luke often points out the similarities between Peter & Paul. Both were filled with the Spirit – preached the Word – bore witness to Jews & Gentiles - received visions – imprisoned for their testimonies - healed a cripple – cast out evil spirits – raised the dead. Don’t think these incidents are accidental - Luke intentionally wanted to show that there was one gospel.
C. LUKE WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THE EVANGELISTIC THRUST OF THE CHURCH.
Luke is a theologian who was also passionate about evangelism. Both books emphasize following Christ - evangelism and the discipleship that follows.
1. Salvation is a gift from God. Luke 2:30,31
2. Salvation is through Christ. Lk. 2:11; 19:10; Acts 2:38,39; 4:12; 13:38,39
3. Salvation is for all people. Lk. 2:31,32 & Acts 2:17 ‘all flesh’ – or all humankind - Jesus is the Savior of the world. Luke uses the term ‘inhabited earth’ 8 times – more than all other New Testament writers combined.
4. Salvation is to be preached to all. Both Luke & Acts are full of sermons pointing people to their need for salvation.
Luke shows how the gospel spread from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria and the ends of the earth.
Acts 1:8 "but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
Chp.1-7 – Jerusalem. – primarily Jews
Chp.8-12 - Judea/Samaria – Jews & Samaritans
Chp. 13-28 - Uttermost part of the earth. Gentiles
GATHERING – SCATTERING – EVANGELISM & MISSIONS.
In Acts – Luke covers more ground than any other N.T. writer - his book takes place in the eastern part of the Roman Empire. From Pentecost until Chp. 28 - the
gospel had literally spread to the remotest part of the earth.
Acts is considered so accurate historically, that historians have long taken the facts, details for granted.
Sir William Ramsey (1851-1939), Oxford University ‘The more I have studied Acts and the more I have learned about Graeco-Roman society, the more I
understand. You may press the words of Luke in degree beyond any other historian’s, and they stand the keenest scrutiny and the hardest treatment....’
Acts 1:1 The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. 3 To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.
Luke did not consider the Gospel as the story of Christ and Acts as the story of the Church – both are written as accounts of the ministry of Christ.
Acts 1:1 ‘all that Jesus began to do and teach’ – refers to the Gospel. Not what he completed – but what he started...We gather to worship the Living Lord who is still working - still teaching us out of His Word - Luke - what He began — Acts - what He is still doing.
THE WORK IS NOT OVER – Acts ends with Paul in prison - Christians persecuted - but 2000 yrs later - the church is still alive! The gospel is still changing lives – we are still doing missions. The work of the Spirit, in the church, will continue until Jesus comes again.
Acts is a continuation of Luke – the watershed event between the two books is the ascension.
Luke 24:50-53 - records the Ascension – end of earthly ministry
Acts 1:2;9 - records the Ascension - beginning of his heavenly ministry through the Holy Spirit.
Most commonly known as ‘The Acts of the Apostles’ - this has been the most common title to the book since the 2nd century – but only James, John, Peter & Paul
are mentioned in any detail.
I believe it is more accurate to say it is ‘THE ACTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH THE APOSTLES’
Acts is a book that records the ministry of Christ, BY His Spirit, THROUGH His Apostles.
What Luke tells us sets Christianity apart from every other religion. All other religions say their founders completed their work in their lifetime – Luke tells us that Jesus began His work (gospel) and His work continues because He is alive in us.
There is no God like our God - He is THE ONE TRUE GOD.
There is no book like the Bible - It is the ONE TRUE BOOK.
Acts records for us the spread of the gospel. Without it we would know very little about those early days after the ascension.
Acts fills in the gaps between the gospels and Romans.
Ray Stedman - “At the end of the gospels we find a handful of Jews gathered in Jerusalem talking about a kingdom to come in Israel. In Romans we find an apostle who is not even mentioned in the gospels and who as not one of the 12, writing to a band of Christians in Rome, talking about going to the ends of the earth. The book of Acts tells us how this happened and why this change occurred.”
LUKE
Son of Man gave His life
Seeds of Christianity
Christ crucified & risen
fearful disciples
ACTS
Son of God gives His Spirit
Growth of the Church
Christ ascended and exalted
fearless disciples
THIS STUDY SHOULD HAVE A TENFOLD EFFECT ON US:
1. WE SHOULD BE MORE COMMITTED TO PRAYER & EVANGELISM. The explosive growth in the early chapters is directly tied to prayer. There was no
dialogue - the early church proclaimed Christ as Lord and called for a decision.
2. WE SHOULD HAVE A GREATER DESIRE TO WALK IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT.
There’s a lot of confusion - misinterpretation - poor exegesis - bad theology about the Holy Spirit floating today. We need to learn about the true role of the Spirit and how He wants to operate in our lives. These are the ‘Acts of Christ, by the Spirit, through the Apostles...’
The Holy Spirit came to indwell, empower and enlighten us.
Way too many believers who aren’t living in the power of the Spirit.
3. WE SHOULD WORK DILIGENTLY TO KEEP UNITY IN THE CHURCH. In every generation/ culture there is the temptation to segregate into our own groups, cliques, cultures. The early church is an example of what a church should look like.
4. WE MUST REJECT THE NOTION THAT CHRISTIANITY IS AN EASY BELIEVISM. Their faith cost them. If we are living like Christ demands, he says, “I came not to bring peace, but a sword” – “In this world you will have persecution”
5. WE SHOULD HAVE A GREATER COMMITMENT TO THE LOCAL CHURCH. We live in a world that applauds individualism and is obsessed with privacy - the early church was a vibrant community of sharing, caring, giving & loving.
6. WE MUST ADMIT THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH IS NOT ABOUT ME, BUT ABOUT OTHERS. Afraid we are so concerned with ourselves, we’ve forgotten that the church exists for those who are not yet members.
7. WE MUST LEARN TO DEPEND ON THE HOLY SPIRIT. Churches today are so absorbed with systems, techniques, programs, events. The church in Acts
depened on the Holy Spirit.
8. WE MUST NOT COMPROMISE. The church wasn’t afraid of discipline and they demanded purity. Today’s church is often no different than the world. We
must uphold Biblical values, morality and integrity.
9. WE MUST BE PEOPLE WHO DESIRE THAT THE TRUTH BE PREACHED. Acts is full of sermons. Preaching was central to their worship and evangelism.
Today churches are swinging out of balance — lots of singing with a devotional thought at the end – emphasis on drama, healing, signs – but the clear emphasis of
Acts is not on the secondary, but the primary - the proclamation of the Word of God.
The early church searched the Scriptures - preached sermons with authority & power. We live in a post modern world – a pluralistic society where everything is subjective. Christianity is built on objective facts and inerrant truth.
10. WE NEED TO ASK GOD TO USE US SO THAT OUR LIVES COUNT FOR ETERNITY.
We need to give ourselves to that which will live beyond us. We should want our lives to count for God. I don’t want to live my life and at the end find out I did nothing with it that had true meaning.
We have no time for business as usual – we have no business being a typical church – we have no time for ruts or rituals - we need revived lives and restored power
in the church.
