The Church is born — from Pentecost to Paul, the Gospel goes to the ends of the earth
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 1:8Acts is the sequel to the Gospel of Luke, written by the same author (Luke the physician, traveling companion of Paul). Luke opens his Gospel with the statement 'I have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us' — Acts is that narrative continued. The Gospel told what Jesus began to do and teach; Acts tells what he continued to do through his apostles after the resurrection and ascension.
The book divides cleanly around Acts 1:8 — Jesus's final command before ascending: 'ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.' Chapters 1-7 cover the witness in Jerusalem: Pentecost, the birth of the Church, explosive growth, persecution begins. Chapters 8-12 cover the expansion into Judea and Samaria: Philip the evangelist, Saul's conversion on the Damascus road, Peter's vision at Joppa. Chapters 13-28 cover the witness to the ends of the earth: Paul's three missionary journeys, the Jerusalem Council, shipwreck, Rome.
What drives the entire narrative forward is the Holy Spirit. Acts has been called 'the Acts of the Apostles' since the 2nd century, but it might more accurately be titled 'the Acts of the Holy Spirit.' The Spirit falls at Pentecost (ch. 2). The Spirit fills the believers (4:31). The Spirit guides Philip to the Ethiopian eunuch (8:29). The Spirit speaks to Peter (10:19), sends out Paul and Barnabas (13:2), forbids Paul to go to Asia (16:6-7), compels Paul toward Jerusalem (20:22). Every key decision, every expansion, every breakthrough is driven by the third person of the Trinity. The book is the proof that Jesus meant what he said: 'I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you' (John 14:18). He came back in the Spirit.
2 chapters per day · the story of the early Church
Saul of Tarsus — Pharisee, trained under Gamaliel, zealous for the Law — was the great persecutor of the early Church. He held the coats of those who stoned Stephen. He ravaged the Church, dragging men and women to prison. On the road to Damascus, armed with letters authorizing more arrests, a light from heaven struck him down. 'Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?' 'Who art thou, Lord?' 'I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.' Three days blind. Ananias sent by God to restore his sight. 'He is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.' Saul became Paul, the greatest missionary in Christian history. His conversion is recounted three times in Acts (9, 22, 26) — a pattern Luke uses to emphasize critical events. The lesson: no one is beyond the reach of Christ. If Saul can be saved, anyone can.
The first great theological crisis in the Church: must Gentile converts be circumcised and keep the Mosaic Law to be saved? Some believers from Judea insisted yes. Paul and Barnabas said no. The issue was brought to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. Peter testified that God gave the Holy Spirit to Gentiles just as to Jews, making no distinction. James, the Lord's brother and leader of the Jerusalem church, sided with Peter and Paul: 'we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God.' The decision was epochal. Christianity would not be a sect of Judaism requiring circumcision. The Gospel was free to spread to every nation without the barrier of the Law. Paul's entire theology of justification by faith — developed in Romans and Galatians — rests on the foundation laid at this council.
Arrested in Jerusalem, appealing to Caesar, Paul stands before King Agrippa II and delivers one of the great defenses in Scripture. He recounts his former life as a Pharisee, his persecution of Christians, his encounter with the risen Christ on the Damascus road. Then the commission: 'I send thee to the Gentiles, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God.' Festus interrupts: 'Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.' Paul replies: 'I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.' Then to Agrippa: 'King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.' Agrippa's famous reply: 'Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.' Almost. The tragedy of that word has echoed for two thousand years.
Fifty days after Passover — ten days after the ascension — the 120 believers were gathered in one place. Suddenly a sound like rushing wind filled the house. Tongues of fire appeared above each head. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages. Jews from every nation under heaven, gathered for the feast, heard the apostles declaring the wonders of God in their own native tongues. Peter stood and preached: this is the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy; Jesus, whom you crucified, God has made both Lord and Christ. Three thousand were baptized that day. The Church was born. Pentecost is not an isolated miracle; it is the reversal of Babel. At Babel, God confused human language to stop sinful unity. At Pentecost, God gave supernatural language to create redeemed unity. The Gospel will go to every tribe and tongue because the Spirit equips the witnesses.