By The Rev. Ron Purkey
Guest Columnist

Read Acts 1:1-8

“But 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).

First, a new ministry (Acts 1:1-3). Christ ministered to the apostles during the 40 days he was on earth after his resurrection. Luke 24:36 and following should be read in connection with these verses.

The Rev. Ron Purkey

In both places, 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.

Second, a new experience (Acts 1:4-8). This baptism of the Holy Spirit had been announced by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33). Notice that Christ said nothing about a baptism with fire, for the fire baptism refers to judgment. The coming of the spirit would unite all the believers into one body, to be known as the church (see 1 Corinthians 12:13).

The spirit would also give the believers power to witness to the lost. Also, the spirit would enable the believers to speak in tongues and perform other miraculous deeds to awaken the Jews. (See 1 Corinthians 1:22—the Jews require a sign.)

There are actually two occurrences of this spirit baptism in Acts; in chapter 2, when he baptized the Jews; and in chapter 10 (see Acts 11:16) when he came upon the Gentile believers.

According to Ephesians 2:11 and following, the church is composed of Jews and Gentiles, all baptized into this spiritual body (of Christ). It is wrong to pray for a baptism of the Holy Spirit; we may ask God to fill us (Ephesians 5:18) or empower us for special service (Acts 10:38), but we should not pray for his baptism.

Question: 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 that the apostles would sit on 12 thrones (see Luke 22:28-30). In Matthew 12:31-45, Christ stated that Israel would have another opportunity to be saved even after sinning against God’s son, and he promised to give them a sign to encourage them.

It was the sign of Jonah: death, burial, and resurrection. 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 that Israel would reject this good news, they could not have given their people an honest offer; their ministry would have been false. What he did tell them was that they would be witnesses, starting in Jerusalem, and eventually reaching across the world. One day Israel will accept Christ as their Messiah.

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