In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 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. (Acts 1:1–3)
I absolutely love the Book of Acts! I have read it many dozens of times over the course of my Christian life and have preached more than a dozen sermons from its pages, and my appreciation for it has only grown. I owe part of that love to my grandfather-in-law, Carl Rea. I have no doubt this was one of his favorite books of the Bible, if not his very favorite. To this day, I remain fascinated by how relevant and necessary this book is for the church today, just as it was in the last half of the first century.
We need to understand something: we are living in a post-Christian culture. America’s “moral majority” has shrunk to the size of a pea in recent decades, and the modern church in this country now finds herself engulfed in the flames of theological confusion and syncretism. Syncretism is the kind of false spirituality that takes a little bit of this religion and a little bit of that spirituality, then imagines itself in good standing before some god somewhere.
According to the most recent Barna poll, released February 2024, “The overwhelming majority of American adults — 92% of them — embrace the worldview known as syncretism — a fusion of disparate ideologies, beliefs, behaviors, and principles culled from a variety of COMPETING worldviews into a customized blend.” Biblical theism comes in at a not-so-strong second place, with just 4% of American adults holding that worldview. The same research found that among those who call themselves Protestants in America, only 9% affirm a biblical worldview. Welcome to post-Christian America.
In this series through the Book of Acts, I will endeavor to closely consider the early church as it is presented to us in this God-breathed book. I want to unpack what made the church strong and show how she forged a blazing gospel trail through the radically pagan culture of her time.
I trust this will be a thrilling ride, because this book is full of surprises. Think about it. Humanly speaking, it was entirely impossible for a ragtag group of unlearned men and women huddled together in an upper room to turn the world upside down with the gospel of Jesus Christ in a single lifetime. The early church had no real estate holdings, no marketing plans, no corporate sponsors, and no technology. It had very little going for it. It was brand new, literally unheard of, and when people heard its message, most despised it and often persecuted its messengers.
And yet, in spite of such meager beginnings, the church grew and the gospel spread like wildfire: out from Jerusalem, an obscure city in a small corner of the world, all the way to Rome, the capital of the first-century world.
We very much need to rediscover, and freshly hunger for, the great power behind this rapid growth. If we are ever to play our continuing part in taking the gospel to the ends of the earth, we need to thrive as the early church did: in sound doctrine, unwavering conviction, and the leadership and power of the Holy Spirit.
Below, I’ll first walk through a few fundamentals of the book’s background, and then turn to the entirely new era that opens in Acts 1.
A Few Fundamentals
Before we dig into the text, it helps to know the story behind the book. A grasp of its background will serve us well as we navigate its 28 chapters and 1,007 verses.
Who wrote Acts?
The author is widely acknowledged to be Luke, “the beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14). There are several theories about Luke’s background, but the general consensus, and one that should make every one of us smile, is that he was a God-fearing Gentile who came to Christ in the days of the early church. That makes Luke most likely the only Gentile author of any of the Bible’s 66 books. It also means that Luke, a fellow laborer with the Apostle Paul, wrote roughly 27% of the entire New Testament between his Gospel and Acts.
How do we know Luke wrote Acts? There are a number of reasons, and I’ll summarize them here:
- The earliest manuscript of Luke’s Gospel, dating to the late second century, ends with the words “Gospel according to Luke.”
- The earliest recorded canon, or list of New Testament books, is the Muratorian Canon (around AD 170–180), and it names Luke as the author.
- The early church father Irenaeus identifies Luke as the author of both the Gospel and Acts.
Alongside these historical documents stands the internal evidence: Luke’s eyewitness testimony, his consistent and clean Greek, his use of the personal pronouns “I” and “we,” and the correlation with Paul’s epistles, which name Luke three different times. Taken together, these have led historians to conclude that Luke is the book’s most likely author.
Geographical and archaeological evidence has also shown Luke to be a very capable historian. His love of history and accurate reporting bleeds through his New Testament writings. In Acts alone, he names more than 100 people, including governing officials and notable figures, and identifies more than 100 locations: cities, travel routes, and memorable landmarks. Because historians and archaeologists can often verify such names and places, this has only bolstered the integrity of the book.
When was it written?
Historians have long debated an early date for Acts against a later one. I am inclined toward an early date of AD 60–64, which would coincide with Paul’s first house arrest in Rome (AD 62–64). Luke mentions neither the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in AD 70 nor the persecution of the church under Nero, which began in AD 64.
Interestingly, the Gospel of Luke covers a span of about 33 years, and Acts covers roughly another 33, from around AD 30 to AD 63, give or take a year. Luke has given us a treasured record of the life of Christ before His ascension in his Gospel, and the history that followed His ascension in Acts.
What should we call it?
Our English Bibles title the book “The Acts of the Apostles.” In early church history it was often paired with Luke’s Gospel under the name Luke–Acts. Respected theologians through the centuries have proposed titles of their own. A very common one is “The Acts of the Holy Spirit,” and while that is an improvement, it still misses the book’s central theme: the Lord Jesus Christ.
More recently, Derek Thomas suggested “The Continuing Ministry of Jesus Christ.” My favorite, though a bit long and too Puritan-like for twenty-first-century tastes, is John Stott’s: “The Continuing Words and Deeds of Jesus by His Spirit through His Apostles.” For efficiency’s sake, I’ll stick with “Acts” throughout this series.
What kind of book is it?
The genre of Acts is worth noting, and it is not the easiest to pinpoint. You might expect it to be a historical narrative, since it serves up such excellent early church history. But more than 30% of the book is discourse: speeches and sermons. And it isn’t merely a historical sketch; it is history with theological interpretation woven throughout. So perhaps we can call it a theological-historical narrative, with the glorious addition of 19 sermons and speeches.
By including so many sermons and speeches, in full or in summary, Luke places a strong emphasis on proclamation, which is entirely fitting. The inclusion of so many sermons is a sermon to us in itself!
How is it organized?
Without getting overly technical, it’s worth noting that Luke gives us an outline of the book in its very first chapter:
“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)
Luke takes this promise of Jesus as his outline and chronicles the powerful activity of God’s Spirit, carrying salvation, righteousness, and grace out from the Holy City to the nations of the world. All of this happens under the rule and direction of the King of kings, the ascended Lord Jesus Christ. As we move through these 28 chapters, we will watch the gospel blaze its trail along exactly that course: from Jerusalem, through Judea and Samaria, and on to the ends of the earth.
Along the way, Luke gives us certain “mile markers” that magnify the growth of the church and the powerful efficacy of the Word of God. The first we will encounter is Acts 6:7: “And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.”
Why did Luke write it?
Finally, taking this precious book as a whole, I believe Luke’s primary purpose in writing Acts was the same as his purpose in writing his Gospel:
Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. (Luke 1:1–4)
Acts picks up right where that left off: “In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach” (Acts 1:1). In his Gospel, Luke presents the life and teaching of Jesus during His earthly ministry. In Acts, he presents the continuing ministry of Jesus, now ascended and seated at the right hand of His Father in glory. The transition from Luke to Acts turns on the hinge of Christ’s ascension.
Many who study Acts end up focusing on the labors of the apostles or majoring on the work of the Holy Spirit. Though that is a popular approach, I think it is mistaken. Luke begins and ends somewhere else; his focus is centrally and forever fixed on the person of Jesus. The book opens with “all that Jesus began to do and teach” (1:1), and its very last verse closes with Paul “proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance” (28:31). Jesus Christ is the Alpha and the Omega, even in Acts!
This emphasis is entirely fitting. The ascension didn’t diminish Jesus; it exalted Him. He is Lord of the church. And you will never rightly understand the church, its origin or its purpose, if you do not rightly understand the person of Jesus Christ.
An Entirely New Era
Try to put yourself in that upper room, among the 120 believers doing exactly what Jesus told them to do. Remember, these disciples had encountered the resurrected Jesus on a number of occasions. The last one Luke records in his Gospel involved a meal of broiled fish with Jesus, followed by conversation:
Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God. (Luke 24:44–53)
So gathered in that upper room are obedient, expectant saints, waiting to be clothed with the power Jesus Himself promised, a promise confirmed again in the opening chapter of Acts. Their minds have been opened to the Scriptures, yet they don’t quite know what is coming, just ten days after Jesus ascends into glory. That is something of the tension, and even the excitement, of Acts 1. A new era is about to dawn, and we get a brief glimpse into the days leading up to it. Amazing!
I want to make several observations from these opening three verses.
Luke is still focused on Jesus
As already noted, verse 1 makes clear that Luke remains focused on the Lord Jesus Christ. His objective in writing this “part two” is the same as before. Theophilus needed to see the ministry of the Lord Jesus both on earth, in Luke’s Gospel, and now from heaven, in Acts.
Jesus chose to use people
Verse 2 contains something quite noteworthy: “…until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.”
Jesus Christ determined to use men, men He would commission and empower for the task at hand. Before His ascension, He took precious time to be with them: mere mortals, foolish and sinful human beings. And He commissioned them to a glorious task. We could summarize it like this: foolish men will take a foolish message to a wicked, lost, and foolish world. Men and women, the church, will be the means this ascended Lord employs.
To the informed Bible reader, this isn’t a huge surprise. We have seen this pattern before; really, we’ve seen it from the beginning. And yet it should still boggle the mind that God would allow us, foolish sinners, to carry His glorious gospel to the world. What a mighty privilege! Truly, serving Jesus Christ is the privilege of all privileges.
If you have lost touch with that, and if that statement doesn’t sit well with you, examine yourself, and then repent. Your heart isn’t right before God. You have made a wrong turn somewhere, and your priorities are no longer the Lord’s priorities. That will never do. Consider this and return to the Lord, for He graciously and abundantly pardons.
Think of it! What a wonder that Jesus “chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise… chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong… chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are” (1 Corinthians 1:27–28).
Because He chose people like us, flawed and foolish as we are, this book gives us a raw and real glimpse into the life of the early church: wonders, warts, and all. I like how Dennis Johnson puts it: “Acts is full of people who don’t get along, who don’t catch on, and who don’t always rise eagerly to the challenge of discipleship. On the other hand, this history is also real in demonstrating the powerful impact of Jesus, risen and enthroned, at work among these flawed people by His Spirit’s quiet but invincible strength.”
Things are just getting started
This next observation makes me joyful to journey through this book with you: things are really just getting started. A new era is about to get underway. Things hard to describe are about to happen, and the world will never be the same.
You read the Gospels and think Jesus Christ is powerful. He casts out demons, heals the sick, and even raises the dead. But now, ascended and enthroned in glory, it’s as if He says, “You haven’t seen anything yet!”
It bears repeating: the great transition from Luke to Acts turns on the hinge of Christ’s ascension. Luke gives the ascension more attention than any other Gospel writer, and he does so to connect critical dots. Just because Jesus is now at the right hand of His Father doesn’t mean He has stopped leading, governing, and working His purposes on the earth. The story doesn’t end with the ascension; a whole new and glorious chapter begins!
Jesus continues to dominate His foes, save a people for Himself, and accomplish His holy purposes. Nothing is impossible for this risen and exalted Lord. He will redeem fallen men and women, add them to His church, and keep expanding His kingdom on the earth. I love how simply and frankly Calvin expresses this: “Spatial distance does not prevent Christ from being always present with His own, just as He promised.”
This is a book that will help you understand more about Christ’s continued presence among His people and how He empowers His church to accomplish His purposes. When we come to Acts and observe the 120 in that upper room, fervently and expectantly praying together, we know things are about to be shaken. Things are about to start happening on a whole new level!
And so the book of Acts both asks and answers the question: How did a small, uneducated band of believers, the church in its infancy, become so bold and confident in taking the gospel to the ends of the earth?
In Acts we will see the beginning of the fulfillment of Psalm 2:8: “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.” We will see Jesus fulfilling His own promise to build His church, so that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Indeed, He will empower His church to withstand sustained and aggressive opposition, opposition driven by the forces of darkness, just as Jesus promised.
There Is Only One Gospel
My last observation is this: taken together, these opening three verses stand as a solid reminder that there is only one gospel for the world. Look at the building blocks they lay down:
- Jesus Christ is the unending and central figure of redemptive history and of Scripture (v. 1).
- We serve the ascended and enthroned Lord of the universe: “until the day when he was taken up” (v. 2).
- The apostles were His chosen force to lead the charge of carrying the gospel to the ends of the earth (v. 2), and so they form a significant part of the foundation of the church (Ephesians 2:20).
- We serve the risen Lord: “He presented himself alive to them” (v. 3). His sacrificial death, His atonement for sins, was accepted, and His perfect life and substitutionary death were vindicated by an empty tomb!
- His resurrection is well attested, with at least ten documented occasions on which groups of people saw and interacted with Him (v. 3).
These are the building blocks of the gospel, a gospel grounded in fact and history. To be clear, Christianity isn’t a good piece of fiction. Christianity is a fact, rooted in actual history that is documented and defensible. The Christian church has been one of the most vital parts of human history for the past two thousand years. You cannot begin to understand history rightly without understanding the impact and influence of Christ’s church on the earth.
Do you believe this? Is it your firm conviction? Is the gospel of Jesus Christ something you are willing and ready to lay down your life for? This should be the firm conviction of every believer. We may one day stand before our accusers in weakness and much trembling, much like Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms, but upheld by Christ, we will stand.
That is why the book of Acts is so needed and so helpful today. In it we will see this kind of Christian conviction lived out, even unto death in some cases, and glorious cases they are. We will see steadfast faith, enduring hope, and true resolve lived out in the flawed lives of sinful men and women. All of it is the power of Christ flowing through weak and needy vessels, and all of it is marvelous in our eyes.
Contrary to what the world may think, our gospel isn’t a message of societal reform. It isn’t merely an ethical system, and it isn’t one of many roads to heaven. It is the life-giving story of the glorious person and saving work of Jesus Christ.
I so appreciate these pointed questions from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones:
“Is [the Gospel] the most amazing and astounding thing that ever happened or ever will happen? Is it the thing by which you live, the thing you long to know and to experience more and more? Do you realize now that the essence of Christianity is not that it calls you to do something, but rather that it tells you what Jesus came into the world to do for you?”
These are heart-searching questions. Consider them, and answer them.
This is all my Christianity: the living Jesus, who came in power, has all power, and powerfully works for the sake of His name. Christianity is not some program, political machine, or morality manual. It is the living Christ doing awesome deeds on the earth, in and through His church.
Welcome to the book of Acts!