A Great Beginning

Intro

The book of Acts. Called the fifth gospel, the book of Acts tells of the expansion of Jesus' gospel through his church.

The importance of the book of Acts is enormous as this book serves as a natural bridge between the Gospels and the Epistles.

As Matthew's Gospel connects the Old Testament with the New Testament, so Acts connects the Gospels with the Epistles.

Without the book of Acts we would lose the story of the birth of the Church of Christ Jesus.

The author of Acts. Luke, the beloved doctor, is the author of this book (Luke 1:1).

Originally Acts was united with the Gospel of Luke.

Luke describes the events and heroes (Paul and Peter) of the story with absolute precision.

Indeed Luke does not mythologize the protagonists of the story but with great honesty reports their weaknesses and difficulties.

We will be eternally indebted to Luke for giving us the book of Acts.

Start. The protagonist of the book of Acts is the risen Jesus.

Thanks to this first chapter we will see:

The plan of Jesus;

The people of Jesus;

The power of Jesus.

N. 1 - The plan of Jesus

The plan of Jesus. Jesus' plan is the same plan. God's plan is to redeem the world: Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them and to our God, for he will freely pardon (Isaiah 55:7 - NIV).

This is always the plan of God from the beginning.

God established a covenant with Abraham.

From an elderly pagan man God made a nation that proclaimed His name to all nations.

God has placed Israel in a central region connected with Europe, Asia and Africa.

But Israel failed in his task. Yet God always had His plan: Jesus! God's only begotten son had to suffer and die and be resurrected on the third day and give us salvation.

God did not improvise for our salvation. His perfect plan involved these disciples in proclaiming God's salvation: “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me (Isaiah 43:10 - NIV).

N. 2- The people of Jesus

Many reasons to be divided, a good one to be united. In this group of disciples who decided to return to Jerusalem and await the promise of the Holy Spirit we have different types of people:

men and women;

apostles and ordinary people;

some were members of Jesus' family.

Although so different, everyone was focused on worshiping Jesus.

Yet it was easy to bring division among this group.

For example, members of Jesus' family could claim some special recognition;

Peter could be accused of treason; John could remind everyone that he was the only disciple to remain under the cross until the end of the Master.

But no, because: All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers (Acts 1:14 - ESV).

This expression occurs 6 times in Acts.

Among these disciples there was a wonderful harmony, a blessed unity:

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil on the head,     running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron,     running down on the collar of his robes! 3 It is like the dew of Hermon,     which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing,     life forevermore (Psalm 133 - ESV)

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28 - ESV).

N. 3 - The power of Jesus

His promise. Verse 8 is the key verse of the Book of Acts.

It tells us about Jesus' promise made to His Church.

Jesus has promised us the power of the Holy Spirit to testify of Him.

About this power I would like to consider:

The purpose of power. Jesus is clear! He gives us such power to be witnesses of the gospel.

This expression is repeated 29 times.

For Luke, therefore, it is important to underline the responsibility that every disciple of Jesus has in proclaiming the Gospel.

Surely not all of us are called to be evangelists: Christ gave gifts to men. He gave to some the gift to be missionaries, some to be preachers, others to be preachers who go from town to town. He gave others the gift to be church leaders and teachers (Ephesians 4:11 - NLV);

But we are all called to be witnesses of Jesus. Your testimony can make a difference: A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is a traitor.(Proverbs 14:25 - NLT).

Testimony is not a synonym for autobiography! When we are truly witnessing, we are not talking about ourselves but about Christ.

John Robert Walmsley Stott (English Preacher)

11125 If my testimony makes anyone wish to emulate me, it is a mistaken testimony; it is not a witness to Jesus.

Oswald Chambers (Lecturer and Missionary)

This is why the power of the Holy Spirit is so much needed in Jesus’ Church.

The last verse of Acts tells of the power of a very famous gospel witness who reached Rome by the power of the Holy Spirit: For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, 31 boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him (Acts 28:30-31 - NLT).

Conclusion

A great beginning. In this first chapter, Luke provides us with 3 useful elements to begin a glorious journey with Jesus:

Luke reminds us of Jesus' Plan (always the same: redemption!);

Luke describes the people who belong to Jesus (they are in harmony and unity);

Luke reassures us with the power of Jesus (it is indispensable for our personal testimony).