Overview

Getting Acquainted

Acts is the story of God's grace flooding out to the world. Nothing is more prominent in Acts than the spread of the gospel. Jesus promises a geographic expansion at the outset, and Acts follows the news of his death and resurrection as it spreads from a small group of disciples in Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the faraway capital of Rome.

Through the repeated preaching of the gospel to different people groups, the gospel of grace draws them in, constitutes them as the church centered on the grace of Jesus, and then sends them out in mission to the world. Acts is a historical account of how the resurrection of Jesus changes everything through the birth of the early church.

God is clearly central to the gospel's expansion. He is at the heart of the gospel message and, through the Holy Spirit, he is responsible for its remarkable growth. The gospel expands not through human strength but through the power of God over significant barriers of geography, ethnicity, culture, language, gender, wealth, persecutions, weaknesses, suffering, sickness, and imprisonments. Many of these barriers appear so inviolable that, when the gospel is preached to a new segment of society, riots ensue. But Acts makes clear that no one is beyond the scope of God's saving power, nor is anyone exempt from the need for God's redeeming grace. (For further background, see the ESV Study Bible, pages 2073–2079, or visit www.esvbible.org.)

Placing It in the Larger Story

Acts shows that the new Christian movement is not a fringe sect, but the culmination of God's plan of redemption. What was seen only as shadows in the Old Testament, God reveals finally and fully through Jesus Christ. The book of Acts does not primarily provide human patterns to emulate or avoid. Instead, it repeatedly calls us to reflect upon the work of God, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, establishing the church by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The gospel's expansion is the culmination of what God has been doing since the beginning. Acts consistently grounds salvation in the ancient purpose of God, which comes to fruition at God's own initiative. This reveals God to be the great benefactor who pours out blessings on all people. Even the opportunity to repent is God's gift.

Key Verse

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

Date and Historical Background

Acts is the second part of a two-volume work, with the Gospel of Luke being the first volume. Neither book names its author, however the Lukan authorship of Luke–Acts is affirmed by both external evidence (church tradition) and internal evidence. Church tradition supporting Luke as the author is both early (from the mid-2nd century AD) and for over a century and a half unanimous (it was never doubted until the 19th century). The "we" sections of Acts (16:10–17; 20:5–21:18; 27:1–28:16) reveal that the author was a companion of Paul and participated in the events described in those sections. So the author of Acts was one of Paul's companions listed in his letters written during those periods (Luke is listed in Col. 4:14; 2 Tim. 4:11; Philem. 24) and not one of the men referred to in the third person in the "we" sections (see Acts 20:4–5). It seems clear that the author was from the second generation of the early church, since he was not an "eyewitness" of Jesus' ministry (Luke 1:2), and was a Gentile (Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 3.4.6, says Luke was "by race an Antiochian and a physician by profession"; see Col. 4:14).

A number of scholars date Acts as early as AD 62, a guess based primarily on the abrupt conclusion of the book. Since Acts ends with Paul in Rome under house arrest, awaiting his trial before Caesar (28:30–31), it would seem strange if Luke knew about Paul's release (a proof of his innocence), about his defense before Caesar (fulfilling 27:24), and about his preaching the gospel as far as Spain (see note on 28:30–31), but then did not mention these events at the end of Acts. It seems most likely, then, that the abrupt ending is an indication that Luke completed Acts c. AD 62, before these later events occurred.

Outline

I. Preparation for Witness (1:1–2:13)

II. The Witness in Jerusalem (2:14–5:42)

III. The Witness beyond Jerusalem (6:1–12:25)

IV. The Witness in Cyprus and Southern Galatia (13:1–14:28)

V. The Jerusalem Council (15:1–35)

VI. The Witness in Greece (15:36–18:22)

VII. The Witness in Ephesus (18:23–21:16)

VIII. The Arrest in Jerusalem (21:17–23:35)

IX. The Witness in Caesarea (24:1–26:32)

X. The Witness in Rome (27:1–28:31)

As You Get Started ...

What is your understanding of how Acts relates to the storyline of the New Testament and of the whole Bible? How does it help you to better understand the cultures and people of other New Testament books?

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What is your overall understanding of how Acts relates to Luke, knowing that this is part 2 of a two-part narrative? Do you have any sense of what Acts uniquely contributes to that narrative? Do you have any sense of similarities and continuities between Luke and Acts?

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How do you understand the contribution of Acts to Christian theology? From your current knowledge of Acts, what do you think this book teaches us about God, the church, the gospel, and other doctrines?

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What aspects of Acts have confused you? Are there any specific questions that you hope to resolve through this study of Acts?

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As You Finish This Unit ...

Take a few moments now to ask the Lord to bless you, change you, and help you understand and apply the unique light Acts throws on the gospel to your life.

Definitions

1 Gospel – A common translation for a Greek word meaning "good news," that is, the good news of Jesus Christ and the salvation he made possible by his crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. Gospel with an initial capital letter refers to each of the biblical accounts of Jesus' life on earth (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).

2 Preach the gospel – The preaching of Jesus' death and resurrection is central in Acts. The Greek verb, "preach the gospel" (euangelizo), occurs more often in this book than in any other in the New Testament. About a third of the book of Acts consists of speeches, and most of these are speeches of Peter or Paul proclaiming the gospel. The good news of the salvation accomplished in Christ and applied by the Holy Spirit extends to the "ends of the earth" through preaching.

3 Mission of God – God's plan of redemption for all of creation, initiated at the beginning and culminating in the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ and the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost. The mission of God is his work to reconcile the world to himself through Jesus Christ by lavishly offering grace to sinners and sufferers.

You Will Be My Witnesses

Acts 1:1–26

The Place of the Passage

In this opening chapter of Acts, Luke introduces several important gospel perspectives that recur throughout the rest of the book. Chief among them is that the book of Acts is first and foremost a book about Jesus. He is the primary character of the book and the focus of all its events. Acts depicts the continuing actions and teachings of Jesus, following his ascension, in a way that no other book of the Bible does. Acts demonstrates that as the budding Christian movement spreads, Jesus himself is at work. The church is Jesus' vehicle to continue his work in the world. In the opening chapter, Jesus promises his disciples the Holy Spirit in power (1:5), commissions them to take the gospel to the "end of the earth" (1:8), ascends into heaven (1:9), and is promised to return again (1:11).

The Big Picture

Acts 1 shows us that the ministry of Jesus did not stop with the Gospels; it is an ongoing work, initiated by Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension, and thereafter mediated by the Holy Spirit.

Reflection and Discussion

Read through the complete passage for this study, Acts 1:1–26. Then review the questions below concerning this first chapter of Acts and write your notes on them. (For further background, see the ESV Study Bible, pages 2080–2082, or visitwww.esvbible.org.)

1. The Promise of the Holy Spirit and Jesus' Return (1:1–11)

Acts 1:1 addresses "Theophilus" and references a previous book, the Gospel of Luke. Here in the first verse of Acts the work and teachings of Jesus are center stage. Why do you think that is? Why do you think that might be important to what Luke is going to say?

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In Acts 1:1 Luke also makes the point that in the Gospel of Luke he wrote about "all that Jesus began to do and teach." What does that phrase imply about the content of Acts?

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In Acts 1:6 the disciples ask Jesus, "will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" Jesus responds by telling them that it is not for them to know the times or seasons, but rather "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (1:8). How does Jesus' response challenge and expand the disciples' thinking and understanding of the gospel?

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How might Acts 1:8 provide a structural and thematic template for the rest of the book? Where do you see this?

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2. Matthias Chosen to Be among the Apostles (1:12–26)

One way to summarize the message of Acts is that it is the story of the continuing work of Jesus through his witnesses, despite significant internal and external oppositions and barriers. Throughout Acts we will see that God oftentimes directly uses these oppositions to advance the gospel. This latter half of the first chapter of Acts describes how this was true even for the first disciples of Jesus. Judas, one of their very own, betrayed Jesus. But we see that Jesus uses significant barriers, oppositions, and even sins like this to advance his kingdom. How do we see this in Acts 1:12–26 and the choosing of Matthias? Can you think of any other Old Testament or New Testament passages that also illustrate this?

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Read through the following three sections on Gospel Glimpses, Whole-Bible Connections, and Theological Soundings. Then take time to consider the Personal Implications these sections may have for you.

WITNESSES. The primary task of the people of God is to bear witness to his great deeds. For the first disciples, they quite literally were charged to bear witness to the risen Christ, whom they had seen with their eyes (see 1 John 1:1–3). This witness would begin in Jerusalem, but would spiral outward in concentric circles to "the end of the earth" (1:8; compare Isa. 49:6). Jesus does not command his disciples to perform certain rituals, to act according to certain rules, or to refrain from certain activities. He promises them that they would testify to his power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. This is not a new concept: God has always desired that his people would be witnesses to his greatness. "I have redeemed you," God says in Isaiah. "'You are my witnesses,' declares the LORD, 'and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he" (Isa. 43:1, 10; compare Isa. 43:12; 44:8).

KINGDOM OF GOD. The disciples ask Jesus about the restoration of "the kingdom to Israel" (1:6), expecting and hoping that Jesus' reign will apply to their current national identity. Jesus corrects them by patiently pointing them to the kingdom of God,2 the sovereign rule of God over all of creation, not just Israel. He points to the spread of the gospel and their witness: from Jerusalem, to Judea and Samaria, to the ends of the earth (1:8).

Whole-Bible Connections

ALREADY AND NOT YET. Jesus' disciples were hoping that, after all of the wonderful things they had seen in the life, death, and resurrection of the Messiah, God would now bring about the end, the new heavens and new earth promised in Isaiah (65:17–25). But they learn that this is not yet the time to look for Jesus to return. He will return, but in the meantime they will be clothed with power and assurance from his Holy Spirit to go forth and bear fruit in the confidence that God will be with them to the end of the age.

REDEMPTIVE HISTORY. Luke and Acts are narratives about God's plan of salvation. They were written to provide "certainty concerning the things" that had been revealed to Luke and others about what Jesus did and taught (Luke 1:1–4; Acts 1:1–5).

Theological Soundings

TRINITY. Before his ascension, Jesus promises his apostles that they will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to be his witnesses (Acts 1:6–8). According to Jesus, the Father has "fixed" the time for restoring the kingdom "by his own authority" (1:7); the apostles "will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come" upon them (1:8); and they will be Jesus' "witnesses" (1:8). We see here all three persons of the Trinity — Father, Son, and Spirit — who are equal in nature but distinct in role and relationship. Broadly speaking, Christian theology teaches that the Father orchestrates salvation, the Son accomplishes salvation, and the Spirit applies salvation.

THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. The Spirit is clearly at work in the key events throughout the history of salvation, including creation, Christ's incarnation, Christ's resurrection, human regeneration, the inspiration and illumination of Scripture, and the believer's sanctification. Throughout Acts, baptism and the gift of the Spirit are closely related. Repentance, forgiveness, water baptism, and reception of the Spirit comprise the basic pattern of conversion. John the Baptist had contrasted his "repentance baptism" with Jesus' "Holy Spirit baptism" (Luke 3:16; Mark 1:8). Jesus points his disciples back to the promise of God to give the Spirit and forward to the fulfillment of this promise in Acts 2.

CHRIST'S ASCENSION. The ascension is Christ's return to heaven from earth (Luke 24:50–51; John 14:2, 12; 16:5, 10, 28; Acts 1:6–11; Eph. 4:8–10; 1 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 4:14; 7:26; 9:24). The incarnation does not cease with Christ's ascension. Jesus lives, now and forever, as true man and true God to mediate between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5). He will come again as he left, fully God and fully man (Acts 1:11). Jesus' ascension is a crucial event in his ministry because it explicitly shows his continual humanity and the permanence of his resurrection. The ascension guarantees that Jesus will always represent humanity before the throne of God as the mediator, intercessor, and advocate for needy humans. Because of the ascension, we can be sure that Jesus' unique resurrection leads the way for the everlasting resurrection of the redeemed. Jesus also ascended to prepare a place for his people (John 14:2–3) and to send the Holy Spirit to fulfill his ministry of witness and empowering (John 16:7), a development which, he said, would be more advantageous for the church than if he had stayed on earth (John 14:12, 17).