Written ~ 06-03-2024
Read Acts Chapter One
Acts 1
Just like the Gospel of Luke, the Book of Acts was written by Luke. Luke was a physician and a frequent traveling companion to the Apostle Paul. This Book is also commonly known as the Acts of the Apostles as it documents the actions of the Apostles after Jesus ascended back to Heaven. We will watch the boldness of the Gospel message increase as the disciples are filled with the Holy Spirit, we will be introduced to Saul who is later named Paul. We will go on quite a journey with the apostles as they spread the Gospel message to many people, to many nations, we will see the Good News of Salvation being spread like wildfire!
But first…
Jesus, the Messiah and Son of God must ascend to Heaven so the Holy Spirit can come and fill the hearts and minds of every believer.
Let’s look back at the Book of Luke, there we will find the disciples saying their final farewells as their beloved friend ascends into the clouds…
Luke 24:44-53…
44 Then He said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about Me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 And He said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. 47 It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of His Name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ 48 You are witnesses of all these things.
49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”
50 Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting His hands to heaven, He blessed them. 51 While He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up to heaven. 52 So they worshiped Him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. 53 And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God.”
It’s hard to imagine isn’t it? What would it be like to watch someone being lifted into the sky and disappearing behind the clouds? I’m sure it would be a difficult story to believe without those men seeing it for themselves and recording everything that happened… that’s exactly why we have the Scriptures! The eyewitness accounts from those who saw and heard everything Jesus did and said were recorded for our benefit so we would believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let’s look now to the Book of Acts…
Acts 1:6-11…
6 So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking Him, “Lord, has the time come for You to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”
7 He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9 After saying this, He was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see Him. 10 As they strained to see Him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday He will return from heaven in the same way you saw Him go!”
Again… one of the main the purposes for the disciples and other eyewitnesses was for the spreading of the Gospel message. Look at what Jesus said here in verse 1:8, “…you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere…” It’s because of those eyewitness accounts from the very first century that we have the New Testament today! It was written by those who walked with Jesus, talked to Him. It was written by those who heard about Jesus through others. It was written by those who believed and saw the change of all who put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ even without seeing Him.
Try to imagine the disciples, they are standing there with Jesus, He is giving them some final words of encouragement and instruction before they see Him rise into the heavens, their eyes straining to see a final glimpse. It took two white-robed men to jar them back to reality! “Why are you standing here staring into heaven?” It’s true, Jesus was gone, He had appeared to the disciples and other followers over the past 40 days and now He was gone. Back in Luke 24 or here in Acts 1, it doesn’t say they were full of sorrow and grief, instead it says in Luke 24:52-53…
52 “…they worshiped Him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. 53 And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God.”
Now what happens? It was time to wait. They were told by Jesus “…Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift He promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4-5) It’s difficult to wait isn’t it? Maybe something is going on in your life and you don’t know what to do next, but you’re told to wait… Let’s learn a lesson from these 11 disciples, they could have been mournful, they could have freaked out because their Master was gone! But that’s not what happened… they were filled with great joy and praised God in their waiting. They were waiting for a promise from God which left them hopeful and excited.
Let’s see what happens next…
Acts 1:12-17and 21-26…
12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile. 13 When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying.
Here are the names of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the zealot), and Judas (son of James). 14 They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.
15 During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them. 16 “Brothers,” he said, “the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David. 17 Judas was one of us and shared in the ministry with us.”
21 “So now we must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the entire time we were traveling with the Lord Jesus— 22 from the time He was baptized by John until the day He was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.”
23 So they nominated two men: Joseph and Matthias. 24 Then they all prayed, “O Lord, You know every heart. Show us which of these men You have chosen as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.”
These 12 men would be the “fathers” of the church, we will see them do many wonderful things in the Name of Jesus. From this small gathering of 120 believers the Gospel message will pour out.
As they met together in that upstairs room, they were in constant prayer, they were united. I’m sure they comforted each other if there was any type of concern for the future. At that moment, their lives may have felt a little uncertain, but they were armed with the wisdom and knowledge that Jesus had poured into them, soon it would be their time to pour out that same wisdom and knowledge to the rest of the world.
Even though we aren’t sitting in that upstairs room with the disciples and the other believers, we have the same calling on our lives. When we become believers and followers of Jesus Christ it’s time then for us to share our story.
Join me as we go on this spectacular journey with the apostles and the new believers and watch as the church grows by leaps and bounds. It will be exciting to see how God illuminates your heart and mind through the filling of the Holy Spirit.
~AMEN~