By Rev. Ron Purkey
InkFreeNews

Read: Acts 1:1-26

By Rev. Ron Purkey

Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

Luke, the beloved physician, is the author of Acts. The “former treatise” (Acts 1:1) is the Gospel of Luke (see Luke 1:1-4). Luke was a doctor who joined the apostle Paul’s party at Troas (Acts 16:8-10) and traveled with the missionary. It is generally believed Luke was a Gentile. The “former treatise” referred to is the Gospel of Luke (see Luke. 1:1-4) in which Luke told the story of what Jesus began to do and teach while he was here on earth. Acts picks up the account by telling what he continued to do and teach through the church on earth. The Gospel of Luke tells of Christ’s ministry on earth in a physical body, while Acts tells of his ministry from heaven through his spiritual body, the church.

Every Christian needs to move out of Luke’s Gospel into Acts. Knowing about the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ is enough for salvation but not for Holy Spirit-empowered service. The church is not simply an organization engaged in religious work; it is a divine organism, the body of Christ on earth, through which his life and power must operate. Christ died for the lost world; we must live to bring that world to Christ.

After his resurrection Christ ministered to the apostles for 40 days. Luke 24:36-53 should be read in connection with these verses. In both places, Jesus Christ instructed the apostles to remain in Jerusalem and wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit. They were to begin their ministry in Jerusalem.

Were the apostles correct in asking Christ about the kingdom (Acts 1:6-8)? Yes. In Matthew 22:1-10, Christ had promised to give the nation of Israel another opportunity to receive him and the kingdom. In Matthew 19:28 Christ promised the apostles would sit on 12 thrones (see Luke 22:28-30). In Matthew 12:31-45, Christ stated Israel would have another opportunity to be saved even after sinning against the Son, and he promised to give them a sign to encourage them. It was the sign of Jonah: death, burial and resurrection. Jesus was a Jew, and his people will accept Christ.

The apostles knew that their ministry would begin with Israel. Now they wanted to know what Israel would do. Would the nation accept or reject their message? Christ had not told them whether it would or would not. If he had told the apostles Israel would reject this good news, they could not have given their people an honest offer; their ministry would have been false. What Jesus did tell them was they would be witnesses, starting in Jerusalem, and eventually reaching across the world. Question, are you a witness for Jesus Christ?

Read Ron Purkey’s free Bible study outlines at rcpbibleoutlines.com. Purkey has been an ordained Baptist minister for 50 years.