The Asenction

The power of His Holy Spirit (vv. 4–8).

John the Baptist had announced a future baptism of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; and see Acts 11:16), and now that prophecy would be fulfilled.

Jesus had also promised the coming of the Spirit (John 14:16–18, 26; 15:26–27; 16:7–15).

It would be an enduement of power for the disciples so that they would be able to serve the Lord and accomplish His will (Luke 24:49).

John had spoken about “the Holy Spirit and fire,” but Jesus said nothing about fire. Why?

Because the “baptism of fire” has to do with future judgment, when the nation of Israel will go through tribulation (Matt. 3:11–12).

The appearing of “tongues of fire” at Pentecost (Acts 2:3) could not be termed a “baptism.”

Acts 1:8 is a key verse.

To begin with, it explains that the power of the church comes from the Holy Spirit and not from man (see Zech. 4:6).

God’s people experienced repeated fillings of the Spirit as they faced new opportunities and obstacles (Acts 2:4; 4:8, 31; 9:17; 13:9).

Ordinary people were able to do extraordinary things because the Spirit of God was at work in their lives.

The ministry of the Holy Spirit is not a luxury; it is an absolute necessity.

“Witness” is a key word in the Book of Acts and is used twenty-nine times as either a verb or a noun.

A witness is somebody who tells what he has seen and heard (Acts 4:19–20).

When you are on the witness stand in court, the judge is not interested in your ideas or opinions; he only wants to hear what you know.

Our English word martyrcomes from the Greek word translated “witness,” and many of God’s people have sealed their witness by laying down their lives.

We hear a great deal these days about “soul winning,” and the emphasis is a good one.

However, while someof God’s people have a calling to evangelism (Eph. 4:11), all of God’s people are expected to be witnesses and tell the lost about the Saviour.

Not every Christian can bring a sinner to the place of faith and decision (though most of us could do better), but every Christian can bear faithful witness to the Saviour.

“A true witness delivereth souls” (Prov. 14:25).

Acts 1:8 also gives us a general outline of the Book of Acts as it describes the geographical spread of the Gospel: from Jerusalem (Acts 1–7) to Judea and Samaria (Acts 8–9), and then to the Gentiles and to the ends of the earth (Acts 10–28).

No matter where we live, as Christians we should begin our witness at home and then extend it “into all the world.”

As Dr. Oswald J. Smith used to say, “The light that shines the farthest will shine the brightest at home.”

The assurance of His coming again (vv. 9–11).

Our Lord’s ascension into heaven was an important part of His ministry, for if He had not returned to the Father, He could not have sent the promised gift of the Holy Spirit (John 16:5–15).

Also, in heaven today, the Saviour is our interceding High Priest, giving us the grace that we need for life and service (Heb. 4:14–16).

He is also our Advocate before the Father, forgiving us when we confess our sins (1 John 1:9–2:2).

The exalted and glorified Head of the church is now working with His people on earth and helping them accomplish His purposes (Mark 16:19–20).

As the believers watched Jesus being taken up to glory, two angels appeared and gently rebuked them.

Angels play an important role in the ministry described in Acts, just as they do today, even though we cannot see them (see Acts 5:19–20; 8:26; 10:3–7; 12:7–10, 23; 27:23).

The angels are the servants of the saints (Heb. 1:14).

The two messengers gave the believers assurance that Jesus Christ would come again, just as He had been taken from them.

This seems to refer to His public “coming in clouds” (Matt. 24:30; 26:64; Rev. 1:7) rather than to His coming for His church “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Cor. 15:51–52; 1 Thes. 4:13–18).

Regardless of what views different people may take of God’s prophetic program, Christians agree that Jesus is coming again and that He can come at any time.

This in itself is a great motivation for faithful Christian service (Luke 12:34–48).