To Be Continued (Acts 1:1-5)
Today, we will begin a study on the book of Acts. It's hard for us to move past the study of the gospel account, but I'm excited to move into the next phase of our studies. What is the book of Acts? Have you studied it before? The proper title is "Acts of the Apostles." Is that what it's about?
The Teaching Continues
Acts 1:1--3 (ESV) --- 1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
Notice that this book does not start with a focus on the apostles. Luke is the author of this book, and he starts out referring to his "first book." The gospel of Luke was also written to Theophilus, and it is the first book. Notice that he summarizes the first book as dealing with "all that Jesus began to do and teach." We studied Matthew, but we would see a similar story if we had studied Luke. Jesus taught in parables and did many miracles to fulfill the scriptures. But Luke says that the teachings and works of Jesus in the first volume were only the beginning. There is more to come.
What more is there to tell?
Proofs
In verses 2 and 3, Luke tells us that Jesus stayed with them for forty days, showing them many proofs that he is Jesus resurrected. We read in Luke that he let his disciples touch his side and his hands. He also ate with them. In 1 Corinthians, we learn that Jesus appeared to over 500 people at one time. This wasn't a trick. They had many eyewitnesses who could vouch for Jesus' resurrection.
When we think about it, every person from history is believed to have existed and done something great or evil because of eyewitness accounts. We believe that George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Henry VIII, Napolean Boneparte, Nero Caesar existed and ruled because of eyewitness accounts. Jesus was risen from the dead, according to many eyewitnesses. To doubt that is equivalent to doubting that Nero existed. We have the same kind of proof of one as the other.
The Kingdom
Luke also tells us that Jesus spent forty days teaching them about the kingdom of God. We read about some of this in Luke's gospel. He tells disciples on the road to Emmaus about how he fulfilled scripture. Then, he appears to disciples again later to open their minds to understand the scriptures (Luke 24:44-48). All of this would help them understand the kingdom of God. Before, he spoke in parables, but now he would tell them plainly what he meant.
Wrapping Up The Teaching
From all of that information that Jesus shared with his disciples, Luke shares a couple of things that set them up for the next step. These two pieces of information about the kingdom set up this book and explain what it's all about. We will look at one today and another next week.
Acts 1:4--5 (ESV) --- 4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
The first bit about the kingdom is preparing them for the next stage. He tells them to wait in Jerusalem for the "promise of the Father." What is that promise of the Father? He explains the promise of the Father excitingly. First, he says, "Which you heard from me." This indicates that this has already been explained previously. Then, he says, "For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." The promise of the Father is about a new baptism, not like John's baptism.
Does that help? The promise of the Father and the baptism with the Holy Spirit doesn't help us at all. We could make up meanings for these things (like most people do), but that wouldn't help us. "Which you heard from me," tells us we need to know the things Jesus began to do and teach and how they fulfill scriptures. So from the first five verses of Acts, we are faced with a critical idea about the kingdom, and we cannot understand it without knowing other texts in the Old Testament.
The Promise of the Father
When we look in the Old Testament, one promise stands out above all others. The promise God made to Abraham in Genesis 12:3, "Through your seed/offspring all the nations of the earth will be blessed." This is the promise that stands out for multiple reasons. This promise is at the beginning of redemptive history, so every promise that follows is connected to this one promise. God wants to reverse the curse and bless mankind. All of the hope-filled promises we read in the prophets are connected to God's promise to bless the whole earth through the seed of Abraham.
Jesus comes on the scene saying, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for their's is the kingdom of heaven." He is the seed of Abraham. He told everyone that he was coming to bring the promised blessing from the Father. He tells his disciples that they need to wait in Jerusalem for it to come. God is finally going to reverse the curse for those who are humble. Did you also notice how Jesus connects this promise with the kingdom? He says, "Their's is the kingdom." When the promise comes, the kingdom comes, and all the blessings.
Baptism With The Holy Spirit
Instead of explaining the promise of the Father as the promise made to Abraham, he points to a new baptism. How does this new baptism fit into the promise of the Father? Did you know that the Spirit is also connected to the promise of a kingdom and blessings?
Isaiah 32:14--18 (ESV) --- 14 For the palace is forsaken, the populous city deserted; the hill and the watchtower will become dens forever, a joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks; 15 until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is deemed a forest. 16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. 17 And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. 18 My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.
Many texts are similar to this one, but this is a good example. First, notice that the kingdom is in a destroyed state. Imagine a city like Mobile that is deserted and overgrown. Wild animals are living there instead of people. But everything changes when "the Spirit is poured upon us from on high." There is a reversal from the cursed image to the blessed image. Instead of emptiness and danger, there is righteousness, peace, security, and joy.
Isaiah 44:1--5 (ESV) --- 1 “But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen! 2 Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Fear not, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen. 3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. 4 They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams. 5 This one will say, ‘I am the Lord’s,’ another will call on the name of Jacob, and another will write on his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’ and name himself by the name of Israel.”
Again, notice the reversal. God says, "Don't be afraid because I will pour water on the thirsty land." Where there is death in Israel, God promises to bring life. What is God going to do? He again says, "I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring and my blessing on your descendants." These two are parallel. The pouring of God's Spirit is the same as the pouring of his blessing. The results of this pouring out of the Spirit are multiplication and transformation. Now they want to belong to God, saying, "I am the Lord's."
Ezekiel 39:25--29 (ESV) --- 25 “Therefore thus says the Lord God: Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for my holy name. 26 They shall forget their shame and all the treachery they have practiced against me, when they dwell securely in their land with none to make them afraid, 27 when I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them from their enemies’ lands, and through them have vindicated my holiness in the sight of many nations. 28 Then they shall know that I am the Lord their God, because I sent them into exile among the nations and then assembled them into their own land. I will leave none of them remaining among the nations anymore. 29 And I will not hide my face anymore from them, when I pour out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, declares the Lord God.”
The third text tells us that God wants to restore their fortunes so that all the nations will know that he is the Lord. He will reveal his face when he pours out his Spirit. The restoration of the kingdom and eternal blessings are coming.
When we get to the New Testament, John's baptism was only done with water. The Spirit wasn't being poured out through John.
Luke 3:15--16 (ESV) --- 15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
John said Jesus is better than him, and he will baptize the people with the Holy Spirit and fire. In other words, Jesus will bring the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, the restoration of the kingdom, and the reversal of the curse. But John also points out that there will be a baptism with fire. What does that mean? Keep reading.
Luke 3:17 (ESV) --- 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
The pouring out of the Spirit/baptism with the Holy Spirit will bring blessings on those who accept it and greater curses on those who reject it. Notice the imagery of the wheat and chaff. He says Jesus' winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will "gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
What Do We Learn?
Turning back to Acts 1, Jesus is promising that the pouring out of the Spirit is about to happen. Jesus will allow all the nations to reverse the curse and receive spiritual blessings. We will learn more about this when we get to Chapter 2 and look at Joel's prophesy, but consider how this helps us understand the importance of this book. This book will finally give us the answer we have been looking for since the fall of mankind.
Both John the Baptizer and Jesus came on the earth saying, "The kingdom of heaven is near." Now that Jesus has been resurrected, he tells his disciples to wait in Jerusalem because they will be among the first to receive this blessing, the kingdom, restored fortunes, and new life from the Spirit. That's what the book of Acts is about. It's about receiving the promise of the Father and sharing that promise with the world. All of the Old Testament and the gospels were working up to the beginning of this book. The world will never be the same because of what is written here.
What Should We Do?
Do you believe in the resurrection of Jesus? There are many detailed eyewitness accounts that check out. If Jesus was raised from the dead, that means that he is who he said he was. It also means he will do what he said he would do. He will bring the promised blessing, and all the nations will have to decide whether to accept it or reject it. If you accept it, you do so on his terms and not your own. If you reject it, you have punishment to look forward to when he separates the faithful from those who are stubborn and rebellious.
Let us help you obey and receive every spiritual blessing.