Dec 01, 2013
Acts 1:1-8


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Acts 1:1, “The former account I made, O Theophilus....”

Luke continues by transitioning from the “former account” (Gospel of Luke) to Acts.


Acts 1:1b-3, “....of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”


As with Mark, Luke opens his final chapter (chapter 24) with the resurrection of Jesus only to then describe “all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up.” Includes: Appearance to the 2 disciples on the road to Emmaus before appearing later that day to the 10 disciples excluding Thomas.

Among these things Luke says Jesus “through the Holy Spirit gave commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen” - “presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs” - chief of which was that He was “seen by them during forty days” where He “spoke to them of things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” Note: In both of the two recorded resurrection appearances Luke tells us that Jesus “opened their understanding that they might comprehend the Scriptures.”

Notice the former account concerned “all that Jesus began both to do and teach.”

Key to understanding Jesus’ blueprint for the church: Luke is telling Theophilus that his Gospel only described the beginning of Jesus’ work - indicating the book of Acts would now serve to describe the continuation of Jesus’ work. Sadly, many of our Bible’s inaccurately title the book the “Acts of the Disciples.” Note: This title was first used by Irenaeus in the late 2nd century.

Though it’s undeniable the disciples play a role in the work (Jesus gave them a great commission for a reason), the book would be more accurately titled the “Acts of Jesus through His church” - it is a continuation of His work through His church!

Mark 16:20 tells us that following His ascension into heaven the followers of Christ “went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.” “Working with” - Greek word “synergeô” meaning “to combine power with the express intention of creating greater power.” From this word we derive our English word “synergy” which is a scientific term that describes “the interaction of two or more forces so that there combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.”

Mind-blowing: God decided the most effective way to reach the world was through a partnership with human vessels. The important caveat.... it’s His work, not mine. Note: Ministry is not “God + Me = Effective” rather it’s “God through Me = Effective.”

The work of Jesus through His church continues today.

David Guzik, “There is a real sense in which the Book of Acts continues to be written today. Not in an authoritative Scriptural sense; but in the sense of God’s continued work in the world by His Spirit, through His church.”

Though the Gospels affirm that Jesus appeared to His followers on at least 11 different occasions “by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days” - Luke provides the reader something new: (1). The subject of His teaching, and (2). The motivation for His teaching.

The subject of His teaching.... During the 40 days between the crucifixion and the resurrection Jesus spoke “of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” As we’ll see in a moment this explains a coming question by the apostles.

The motivation for His teaching.... Jesus “through the Holy Spirit gave commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen.”

It is important to make a distinction between 2 different phrases we find in Scripture as it pertains to the Holy Spirit. Doing something “through the Holy Spirit” is different than doing something “by the Holy Spirit.” Luke is not saying Jesus acted “by the Holy Spirit” or literally “under the influence of the Holy Spirit” (“by” the Greek word “hypo” means “under”). Instead, Luke uses this phrase “through the Holy Spirit” or literally “the Holy Spirit was the reason Jesus gave the commandments to the apostles.”

When we encounter the phrase “by the Holy Spirit” it signifies an act done under the Spirit’s power; whereas the phrase “through the Holy Spirit” signifies an act done as a result of the Spirit’s directive. This detail is important because it sets the context for what’s to come next. The Holy Spirit directed Jesus to give the disciples a specific command.


Acts 1:4-8, “And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”


Set the Scene

Over the last 40 days the resurrected Jesus has been playing a wicked game of “Got Ya!” He appears and disappears in random moments and from nondescript locations ranging from an upper room in Jerusalem to a shoreline of Galilee.

Using the phrase “And being assembled together with them” indicated a clear break from what had become the norm. Luke is telling his readers that this instance of Jesus gathering His followers together was a deliberate and intentional act.

Though we have no idea how many are gathered (possible 120 or 500), according to the context provide in Acts 1:12 and Luke 24:50, Jesus is meeting with this multitude on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives near the town of Bethany.


Unpack the Text

In this exchange 2 topics clearly emerge: (1). The Holy Spirit which seems to be the subject of concern for Jesus, and (2). The Kingdom of God which seems to be the subject of concern for the disciples.

Before ascending to heaven Jesus had a few instructions for the disciples: “Do not to depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the Promise of the Father....” Jesus then communicates 3 lessons about the Holy Spirit.

1. Jesus introduces the person of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus tells them to wait for the “Promise of the Father” the “Holy Spirit.” “Promise” - Greek noun meaning “the fulfillment of a promise given.” What had the Father promised? The “Holy Spirit” would indwell His people.

Ezekiel 36:25-28, “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.”

Luke 11:9-13, “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

2. Jesus defines our interactions with the Holy Spirit.

Jesus says wait in Jerusalem for the “Holy Spirit to come upon you.” In order to understand our relationship with the Holy Spirit you need to realize there are 3 Greek prepositions used to describe our interactions with the Spirit.

1. “Para” is the English word “with” meaning “to come alongside of.”

This word describes the work of the Holy Spirit in the world convicting the world of sin for the purpose of drawing mankind to Jesus.

John 14:17, “The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”

2. “En” is the English word “in” meaning “to come within.”

This word describes the work of the Holy Spirit indwelling the believer at the point of conversion for the purpose of salvation and regeneration.

John 14:17, “For He dwells with you and will be in you.”

John 20:22, “And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

3. “Epi” is the English word “upon” meaning “to come over.”

This word describes the work of the Holy Spirit overflowing the life of the believer for the purpose of power in our time of need.

Acts 1:8, “Receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.”

What’s often described in Scripture as the fresh “filling of the Holy Spirit” seems to be a continual experience of the believer.

Examples: In Acts 2 the Holy Spirit comes upon the believers, but then we’re told in Acts 4:8 that “Peter filled with the Holy Spirit said to them.” Then just a few verses later in Acts 4:31 we’re told “when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”

Q: How do I get this fresh filling of the Holy Spirit?

A: In Luke 11, Jesus was clear “how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" Then in this passage Jesus said, “you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.”

Understand, a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit is a matter of the believer “asking” then “receiving.” The “Promise of the Father” is a gift to be received - not something to be earned, deserved, or conjured up.

4. Jesus describes the results of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Jesus indicates two things would result: (1). They would be “baptized with the Holy Spirit,” and (2). They would “receive power to be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Some Bible teachers place the discussion of the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” under the category of our interactions with the Spirit; and yet, Jesus introduces this idea in a way I think challenges this common assumption.

Jesus sets up a comparison: “For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Note: Jesus said “you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit” not “baptized in” or that it’s a “baptism of.” Jesus is saying the Spirit coming upon the believer has an effect similar as John baptizing with water.

Mark 1, “John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance of sins.... And he preached, “I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

John’s baptism with water was all about demonstrating an outward repentance for sins; whereas, being baptized with the Holy Spirit was all about experiencing an inward purification from sins.

Baptism “with water” cleanses the outward man, but baptism “with the Holy Spirit” served to cleanse the inward man. Describing the result of the Holy Spirit coming upon a believer using the phrase “baptism” wasn’t an accident. I don’t think Jesus waiting 40 days after the resurrection to bring up this idea was coincidental either.

Throughout the Old Testament the #40 represented a new spiritual beginning. One Rabbi even claimed “the #40 had the power to lift up a spiritual state.” According to Hebrew tradition if a person was considered ceremonially unclean they were required to immerse themselves in a pool of water known as a mikveh before they could enter the Temple. The act of immersing in the water signified cleansing and purity.

Priest were required to bath before preforming their religious duties. Men were required to bath before offering sacrifices. Woman were required to bath following childbirth. Gentiles desiring to convert were required to bath. In each instance the traditional proceeding was called a baptism. The Talmud stated a mikveh “as the consummate Jewish symbol of spiritual renewal” had to be filled with no more or no less than 40 se'ahs of water.

The tradition itself found precedent in the story of Noah: The rain poured for 40 days and submerged (or baptized) the whole world in water. When the waters finally subsided, the earth had been purified from the vileness which had corrupted it in the days of Noah.... spiritual renewal.

Interesting design quality of the mikveh: Because the Rabbi’s believed impurities required "living water" such as springs to purify, the mikveh in the Temple were designed with an intricate plumbing system that allowed them to always remain in contact with a natural source of living water.

Waiting 40 days to discuss the coming of the Holy Spirit - only to then describe the results of the Spirit coming upon the believer using this common religious term baptism.... presented symbolism Jesus’ audience would have immediately recognized. He was speaking of spiritual renewal and purification!

The first result of the Holy Spirit coming upon the believer is that in being baptized with the Spirit we receive a renewing of our spirit. The 2nd result is that they would “receive power to be witnesses to Me.” “Power” Greek word “dynamis” - English word “dynamite.”


Q: For what reason will we receive this power from the Holy Spirit?

A: “To be witnesses to Me!”

“Witnesses” is the Greek word “martys” from which we get our English word “martyrs.” The word describes a person who dies for another. In this context, a witness is literally a person who has laid down his life for Jesus.... “to Me.” Note: Jesus says we’re to “Be witnesses” - “Being” verses “Doing.” The word described who you are not what you are doing! Martyrdom isn’t something you do, it’s something you surrender too!

“When the Holy Spirit has come.... you shall be witnesses.” Note: This wasn’t a command; but a statement of fact! The words “shall be” are in the indicative not the imperative. Jesus wasn’t recommending we become witnesses; He said we would be witnesses if we received this Holy Spirit power.

“In Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the world.” Not a series of destination the disciples were being commanded to go to, but a statement describing where where they would end up going.

Acts 1-7 describes the gospel in Jerusalem.

Acts 8-12 speak of the gospel in Judea and Samaria.

Acts 13-28 tells of the gospel going to the end of the earth.

The second result of the Holy Spirit coming upon the believer is that the believer receives power enabling them to die to self and live for Christ.

Example: How did Jesus begin His public ministry?

Mark 1:10, “And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.” The Holy Spirit came upon Jesus enabling Him to live the ultimate life of martyrdom.

Jesus commanded His disciples not to depart from Jerusalem because He knew they really could do nothing effective for the Kingdom of God until the Spirit came upon them for cleansing and empowering!

Although Acts contains only 13% of the words of the New Testament, it contains an astounding 23% of the occurrences of the word “Spirit” (mentioned 59 times). In the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit is active more than any other character. Throughout all 28 chapters the Holy Spirit is speaking, directing, resisting, and empowering the church to accomplish the work of Jesus in the world.


The 2nd topic that emerges from our text: The Kingdom of God which seems to be the subject of concern for the disciples.

“Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.”

It’s interesting that the final question the disciples ask before Jesus ascends is one concerning the kingdom. Though they had asked this question numerous times before only to be shot down, for the first time the topic was relevant because it was in response to Jesus’ 40 days of lessons about the Kingdom of God.

At this point the disciples knew Jesus had instituted the New Covenant and they were keenly aware that the OT taught the restoration of the kingdom to Israel was part of this New Covenant (Jeremiah 23:1-8, Ezekiel 36:16-30, Ezekiel 37:21-28) making it completely reasonable to now wonder when the rest of the Covenant would be fulfilled.

What’s Interesting: Though Jesus refuses to answer their question, He didn’t rebuke them nor does He deny that the kingdom will be restored to Israel. He simply tells them the answer to their question wasn’t for them to know.


Discover the Meaning

What are the social implications?

Regardless of political persuasion, some version of morality is always the aim of government. The right is accused of trying to use the power of law and legislation to force their moral ideals on the masses; and yet, the left is guilty of the same crime.

What we find in the subcurrent of Acts 1 is that real moral standing is unachievable by even the most sincere of human beings. The only way to change society is by effecting change in the people who make up that society; but the only way to effect real change in people is through a transformation brought on by the power of the Holy Spirit.

What is God saying to our church?

If the individuals who make up the church aren’t experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit, the church itself becomes nothing more than a spiritual nursing home who’s principle purpose becomes caring for dying, powerless, often cranky people.

What is the personal application?

When it comes to the Great Commission, Acts 1 is clear that we’re to “Be a witness to Jesus” wherever we happen to be! Jesus is not commanding us to go anywhere or necessarily do anything; rather He’s simply asking us to live a life of martyrdom (dying to self and living in Him).

Though this commission seems simple enough, Jesus realized in and of ourselves we would be incapable of fulfilling even this simple command. Understand, the Holy Spirit convicts of sin (para), He saves from sin (en), but He is also willing to constantly fill me up (epi) so that (1). I can have the power necessary to live the life He’s called me too, and that (2). I might experience a fresh spiritual renewal when I’m feeling empty.

This morning if you’re feeling powerless to live the life Jesus has called you too.... If you’re feeling burnt out, tapped out, spiritually stale.... please know the Holy Spirit is more than willing to come upon you this morning immersing you in His love and grace so that you can be spiritually fresh. The key.... ask and receive.

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