Study Notes on Acts 1:1-14
Study Notes for Life On Mission Series, Sermon One; SRC; Book of Acts
Praying People
Acts 1:1-14
We began a new series this week on the Book of Acts, written by Luke. This is not a verse-by-verse study but rather a look at some key episodes in the text that draw our hearts deeper into Christ, dependency on the Spirit, and engagement in everyday, every-place evangelism by every Christian. Every message will end by describing the way Jesus has embodied this (The Carpenter of Nazareth) and lives this in us because he gave his life for us once and for all at the cross and continuously to us through his Spirit.
Series Intro -
Why We are Studying Acts Together - Every Believer is Called to be a Witness, and in Acts, we learn what that means: the “all” of Acts.
The 1% and 99% and the noted work of Michael Green - “In Acts we find that it is not the apostles but the ‘amateur’ missionaries, the men evicted from Jerusalem as a result of the persecution which followed Stephen’s martyrdom, who took the gospel with them wherever they went… “This must often have been not formal preaching, but informal chattering to friends and chance acquaintances, in homes and wine shops, on walks, and around market stalls. They went everywhere gossiping the gospel; they did it naturally, enthusiastically, and with the conviction of those who are not paid to say that sort of thing. Consequently, they were taken seriously, and the movement spread, notably among the lower classes. There was no distinction in the early church between full time ministers and laymen in this responsibility to spread the gospel by every means possible, there was equally no distinction between the sexes in the matter. It was axiomatic that every Christian was called to be a witness to Christ…”
Acts Intro: Acts 1:1-11
Praxeis (“Acts”) - Common form of literature; Plutarch, Tacitus, Suetonius - not a simple “history” but a record of certain episodes that reveal character and purpose.
The Luke - Theophilus connection(Luke 1:1-3)
The preface for multi-volume sets was at the beginning of volume one. This means we learn something about Luke’s overarching purpose: to root Theophilus in “certainty” about the truth of Christ’s life and ministry, as well as his ongoing testimony in and through his Church. Theophilus may well be Luke’s patron or a highly placed Roman official: “Most excellent” - high-ranking official and in translation, “friend of God.’
Luke: 2 Tim 4:11: “Only Luke is with me.” (Massive contribution to the NT); doctor, Roman convert, Paul’s companion.
“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.” - LK 1:1-3
“BEGAN” - this is the pivot word, and it tells us about this volume’s purpose. Volume one - what Jesus BEGAN… volume two (Acts): what Jesus CONTINUED to do. We can call the book “The Acts of Jesus from Heaven Through His Spirit-Clothed People on Earth.”
Forty-day period of patient instruction, followed by ten days of Patient Prayer for the Spirit’s powerful enduement. Jesus ministry began with a forty-day fast alone in the wilderness and his ministry via the Church begins with a forty-day feast of teaching for his disciples.
The Scope of the Mission and the Promise of the Spirit
1:5 - Baptized with the Spirit not many days from now (Pentecost fulfills the prophetic word of John - see each of the Gospel accounts).
1:8 - The Spirit empowers for Witness; more about the coming of the Spirit next week.
1:8 - The concentric circles of the Kingdom’s advance (ends of the earth and Isaiah 49:6)
The language Jesus uses in 1:8 is the same language Gabriel used with Mary about the conception of Jesus. The Spirit came upon her and the power of God entered into her to form the physical body of Christ in her womb. Now the same Spirit and power will come upon and enter ALL the disciples to form the spiritual body of Christ in the world.
Ascension - Jesus is reigning now; he has all authority now; he will shortly pour out his Spirit on these men and women to make them his witnesses in the world so that the ends of the earth will turn to him.
Praying People - Acts 1:12-14 - Ten Days of Persistent Devoted Prayer
Unified - 1:14
unity is uniformity: we are living stones, not bricks
our shared prayer is a symphony of intercession
2. Dedicated - 1:14
This was not perfunctory prayer but persistent prayer
3. Expectant - 1:5, 8
Luke 11:13 - “How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
They prayed in holy expectation for the descent of the Spirit.
They saw him crucified. They saw him resurrected; they saw him ascend; they heard the promise of his return. Still, despite all of this, they knew they could not go on the mission without the power of the Spirit. Nor can we.