A Call to Witness

A Command to Witness - Acts 1:8 (Matthew 28:18-20)

God could have communicated the Gospel by many means but He chose to have His disciples be witnesses to the world.

Acts 1:8 NIV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The Holy Spirit would empower the witness

The witness was to begin where they were and continue to the whole world

Matthew 28:18–20 NIV

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

God’s plan is for disciples to make disciples

God promises His presence always

The disciples clearly proclaimed the Gospel (Acts 4:12) in the empowerment of the Spirit (Acts 4:13)

Acts 4:12 NIV

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:13 NIV

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

A Biblical Model of a Witness - Acts 8:26-40

The Characters:

Philip - Acts 8:26

Acts 8:26 NIV

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”

The Ethiopian - Acts 8:27

Acts 8:27 NIV

So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,

The meeting - Acts 8:28-31

Acts 8:28–31 NIV

and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

Philip began where he was and explained about Jesus - Acts 8:35

Acts 8:35 NIV

Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

The Message of the Witness - Acts 2:22-24,32, 36-39

Peter proclaimed the death and resurrection of Jesus

Acts 2:22–24 NIV

“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

Acts 2:32 NIV

God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.

Peter called for a decision from his listeners

Acts 2:36–39 NIV

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”