The Book of Acts

The book of Acts is the second volume in Luke’s inspired history of the life and teaching of Christ and the successive ministries of His apostles. The book is addressed to an unknown “Theophilus”, as is his Gospel, who is probably a financier of Luke’s thoroughly researched journalistic enterprise. The purpose of the book is to set forth the historical foundation of the acts and teaching of the apostles, to demonstrate the faithfulness of the Church in pursuing the Great Commission, and to reveal God’s plan for the inclusion of both Jews and Gentiles in the New Covenant, with a view towards the immanent Millennium kingdom of Christ. The book opens with an affirmation of the definitive physical resurrection of Jesus and His preparation of the apostles for preaching and teaching ministries (verses 2-3).

Verses 4 – 8 of the first chapter recount the dialog of Christ and the apostles on the Mount of Olives just prior to Christ’s bodily ascension. He commands them to remain together in Jerusalem and to wait for the “Promise of the Father,” which he equates with the Holy Spirit in verse five. It is at this point that the disciples ask an interesting question: “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (1:6)

Clearly, the disciples were still expecting the political and military deliverance which characterized the advent of Messiah in the Old Testament prophecies concerning His coming. Additionally, there are several OT prophetic passages which equate the outpouring of God’s Spirit with the restoration of the kingdom. The disciples are not foolish to suggest that this is Christ’s inference in the promise of the Holy Spirit, rather revealing themselves to be perceptive students of the Scriptures. However...

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...pected to see Christ in all of His unveiled glory at His first advent. The Holy Spirit is given and the Twelve are commissioned to oversee the message of Christ and His gospel forward from the seat of Old Testament promise (Jerusalem) to the hub of Church Age influence (Rome). In the process, the theology of the Church is solidified, the Gentiles are invited to participate in the mercies of God and the doctrine of Christ goes forth to “turn the world upside down.” Today, the Church looks back at this Commission and sees the legacy of the apostles’ success and the importance of holding firmly to fundamental doctrines of Scripture. Perhaps now more than ever, the need of the Church is to cling to the absolute authority and power of the Holy Spirit, the priority of being witnesses for Christ, and the promise of kingdom fulfillment at the pleasure of the Father.