The Spirit Sends (Intro to Acts)

Introduction

Text Introduction

I invite you to open your Bibles to the book of Acts, chapter 1. Acts is located in the New Testament, right after the four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—and before the letters, beginning with Romans. If you reach Romans, 1 Corinthians, or 2 Corinthians, you’ve gone a little too far, so just turn back a few pages.

For the next five Sundays, we’ll be studying the book of Acts. Today, we’re going to read the beginning of the book and introduce the message and purpose of Acts as a whole.

So would you follow along as I read Acts 1:1–11?

Read Acts 1:1-11

Acts 1:1–11 NKJV

1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 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, 3 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. 4 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; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 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.” 9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word, the Bible. We pray that as we read through Acts you guide us in understanding it more deeply. We pray that through your teaching, and through the example of the early church we can grow in our knowledge, grow in our relationship with you, and grow in how we live out our faith with bold confidence. We pray this in Jesus name, Amen.

Sermon Introduction

The other day I was helping prepare cards for Mother’s Day, and I probably looked a little goofy. I was organizing envelopes, cards, and stickers into little piles so everything would be ready to go.

The reason I did that is because when you have a bunch of different parts, it’s easy for things to get mixed up—putting the wrong card in the wrong envelope, or putting a sticker on an empty envelope. But by organizing everything first, the goal was to go through it in an orderly way.

That’s really the goal of today’s message: to give you an orderly overview of the book of Acts so you can read it with more confidence—less likely to mix things up, and more likely to learn and grow.

And I think the author of Acts would actually appreciate that, because he makes a point of presenting things in an orderly way.

1. The Author Continues the Story of Jesus (Acts 1:1–2)

a. Who is the author?

So who is the author of Acts? It is Luke.

We know this from church history, but we also see it in the book itself. In verse 1, the author speaks to a man named Theophilus and refers to his “former account.”

That “former account” is the Gospel of Luke, which also begins with an introduction written to Theophilus.

So Acts is the continuation of that same story.

Luke was a physician who became a follower of Jesus and a companion of Paul during the missionary journeys we read about in Acts. He was personally present for some of the events he records.

But Acts is not primarily Luke’s story. It is the continuation of the story he began in his “former account”—the Gospel of Luke.

b. What is the story?

The history of Jesus (Acts 1:1)

So what is that story about?

As Luke tells us in verse 1, the “former account” was all about Jesus.

In Luke 1, Luke explains that he wrote an orderly narrative—that is, a carefully arranged historical account.

He also tells us that he based it on eyewitness testimony from those who saw these events firsthand.

Here in Acts 1, he gives us a simple summary of that Gospel account: what Jesus did and what Jesus taught.

Jesus’ ministry always involved both His words and His works.

What Jesus did confirmed and demonstrated His teaching. What Jesus taught explained and gave meaning to what he did.

They belong together.

You may have heard the saying, “Preach the gospel at all times, and when necessary use words.” But that is not the balance Luke gives us. Luke shows us that the gospel is both what Jesus did and what Jesus said—His works and His words together.

And that continues in Acts where it is about the believer’s actions and witness sharing the good news about Jesus.

c. What’s the point (Luke 1:4)

Luke is recounting the history of what Jesus said and did, but he had a clear purpose. He was not a cold scholar simply trying to reconstruct the past. He was not a curious observer recording interesting events. Rather, he was a committed follower of Christ who wanted his readers to have the same confidence he had.

In Luke 1:4, he states his purpose in writing:

“That you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed” (Luke 1:4)

That same purpose carries into the book of Acts. Luke is giving this historical account so that you can have certainty about what you have been taught regarding the true story of Jesus.

d. How does the story continue?

But as we see in Acts 1, this story takes place after Jesus ascends into heaven. So how is Jesus still speaking and working on earth?

It is no longer through His physical presence, but through His Spirit-empowered people. Jesus continues His work from the throne of heaven through His church.

The story of Jesus continues as the good news of His salvation spreads to all people.

But how could a small group of ordinary men and women—many of them Jewish peasants—ever accomplish such a global mission? That seems impossible.

Transition: And that question is the heart, or the center of the book of Acts. The story continues, through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit working in the lives of believers. The story centers on the Spirit’s movement.

2. The Book Centers on the Spirit’s Movement (Acts 1:3–5)

Jesus makes it clear how essential the Holy Spirit is for the mission of the church.

The disciples already have the message: Jesus is alive, He is the Savior, and all who believe in Him receive forgiveness and eternal life.

But the message alone is not enough. They also need the power to carry it forward.

So Jesus commands them in verse 4 not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for “the Promise of the Father.”

Then in verse 5 He identifies that promise clearly: the Holy Spirit. Soon they will be baptized—not with water alone, but with the Holy Spirit.

And when the Spirit comes, they will receive power (Acts 1:8)—power to be His witnesses.

That is exactly what happens in Acts 2. The Holy Spirit arrives at Pentecost, and from that moment forward, He is the driving force behind everything that happens in the book of Acts.

The Holy Spirit:

The Holy Spirit:

Empowers bold witness (Acts 4:31) — filling believers with courage to speak the word of God.

Strengthens believers in suffering (Acts 7:55, Acts 16:25) — filling Stephen with vision and Paul and Silas with worship in prison.

Builds and sustains the church (Acts 9:31) — as the church walks in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

Expands the gospel beyond human expectation(Acts 10:44–45) — falling on Gentiles just as He did on the Jews.

Guides the church’s decisions (Acts 13:2, Acts 15:28) — setting apart workers and directing mission strategy.

Directs missionary expansion (Acts 16:6–10) — leading Paul and his companions where to go and where not to go.

Continues the work of Jesus today — as the same Spirit who filled the early church still empowers and leads God’s people in His mission.

So as you read Acts keep a careful eye on the work of the Holy Spirit, then but also now.

3. The Mission Expands to the Ends of the World (Acts 1:8)

Transition: It is through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit that the good news of Jesus spreads. And what we see throughout Acts is that the mission unfolds exactly as Jesus describes here in verse 8—with the gospel expanding outward to the ends of the earth.

This verse is especially helpful because it provides a basic structure for the entire book of Acts.

Luke records roughly the first thirty years of church history, and the story unfolds in stages that match Jesus’ words in Acts 1:8:

Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8 NKJV

you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Jerusalem (Acts 1-7)

The mission begins in Jerusalem as God sends the Holy Spirit and the disciples begin boldly proclaiming the good news of Jesus. The first seven chapters of Acts are primarily focused on Jerusalem.

Judea and Samaria (Acts 8-12)

Then in chapters 8–12, largely driven by persecution, the gospel spreads outward into Judea and Samaria.

In these first two sections, Peter is the primary leader and spokesman.

The End of the Earth (Acts 13-28)

But beginning in chapters 13–28, we see a major shift. The mission moves beyond Israel and spreads throughout the Gentile world. The focus turns especially to the missionary journeys of Paul as the gospel moves steadily westward toward Rome.

And that movement is important because Rome represented the center of the known world. Luke is showing us that the message of Jesus is not staying in one city or one nation—it is spreading outward to all people.

And throughout each stage of Acts, we repeatedly see the gospel moving outward to new groups of people. The message is first proclaimed to the Jews, but again and again it also reaches the Gentiles.

This is one of the major themes of Acts: God’s mission, empowered by the Holy Spirit, is for all people.

The gospel is not limited by ethnicity, geography, language, or background. Jesus is Lord of all, and the good news of salvation is meant to spread to the ends of the earth.

4. The Church Lives Between Ascension and Return (Acts 1:9–11)

Transition: But even as the mission expands throughout the world, the church lives with another reality in view—the promised return of Jesus Christ. The Church lives between Jesus’ Ascension and Return.

This is especially clear here in Acts 1.

Did you notice that the disciples asked Jesus if He was going to restore the kingdom to Israel at that time? Jesus had been teaching them about the kingdom of God promised throughout the Old Testament, and they knew there would come a day when Christ would fully establish His kingdom on earth.

But in His reply, Jesus did not tell them they were wrong to expect that kingdom. Instead, He clarified that the timing belonged to the Father.

That was not their focus. Their focus was to live faithfully in the present—empowered by the Holy Spirit, serving as witnesses for Jesus, and experiencing God’s kingdom even as they waited for Christ’s return.

And that creates a tension the church still lives with today.

In one sense, the kingdom of God has already arrived through Jesus Christ, and yet we are waiting on Christ’s return to fully bring his kingdom. Sometimes theologians describe this as the “already and not yet” of the kingdom.

Now and Not Yet Diagram

This diagram helps illustrate that reality.

On one side is the present age—the age marked by sin, suffering, and death that began with humanity’s rebellion in the Garden.

On the other side is the age to come—the fullness of God’s kingdom, the new heavens and new earth we read about in Revelation, where every tear is wiped away and God’s people live in resurrection life.

But with the coming of Jesus, that future kingdom has already begun breaking into the present age.

And in the book of Acts, we see evidence of that kingdom breaking in: the gospel spreading, lives transformed, the church growing, and the power of God at work throughout the world.

And yet Acts also continually points us forward to the return of Christ.

Look again at verse 11:

Acts 1:11 NKJV

11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

Just as Christ ascended into heaven, He will one day return.

But until that day, we are not called to stand staring into the sky waiting for His return. And we are not called to obsess over dates and timelines.

We are called to live faithfully in the present—walking in the power of the Holy Spirit and carrying out the mission of Jesus until He comes again.

Conclusion

That is the big picture of the book of Acts.

My hope is that you will take time to read through Acts and watch the unfolding story of the Holy Spirit at work in the life of the church as the gospel spreads to all people.

And as you read Acts, I hope you will gain the same confidence Luke wanted Theophilus to have—that you may know the certainty of what you have been taught about Jesus—whose work continues today through His Spirit-empowered church.

And as that confidence grows, I pray you will see how you fit into God’s mission as well—that you would recognize the Holy Spirit at work in your own life and in the shared life of our church as we continue Christ’s mission here and now, while looking forward to His glorious return.

Invitation

Acts Reading Plan

Week 1 (May 17–23)

Acts 1–5 – The Book of Acts begins with Jesus promising the Holy Spirit, who will empower the disciples to be His witnesses. At Pentecost, the Spirit is poured out in power, marking the birth of the church. The Spirit fills believers with boldness, unites them in community, confirms the apostolic message through signs, and confronts sin within the church, showing that this is truly God’s living, active people.

☐ Day 1 – Acts 1:1–26 + Luke 24:49–53

☐ Day 2 – Acts 2:1–47 + Joel 2:28–29

☐ Day 3 – Acts 3:1–26 + Isaiah 35:5–6

☐ Day 4 – Acts 4:1–37 + Psalm 2:1–2

☐ Day 5 – Acts 5:1–42 + Numbers 16:20–24

Sermon Notes & Further Study

1. Quotes & Illustrations

Luke reminds us that Jesus’s ministry involves both words and deeds. He refers to all that Jesus began to both “do” and “teach” (1:1).

Jesus was all about teaching and doing. Jesus’s deeds illustrated his words, and his words explained his deeds. He left the church with the same ministry, intending that we let others see our good deeds that glorify the Father (Matt 5:16) and helping others understand the good news that leads to eternal life.

The words and works of Jesus go together. In the Gospels we see Jesus performing various merciful and miraculous deeds. We also see him teaching with astonishing authority. Similarly, in the book of Acts, we see the church caring for physical needs (e.g., 3:1–10) while also relentlessly preaching the good news (e.g., 3:20) with the Spirit’s help. In Romans Paul reflected on his own ministry passion, the Christ-empowered ministry of word and deed among the nations (Rom 15:18–19).

The ministry of Jesus is continuing in the book of Acts. But are we faithfully taking part in this mission?

Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Acts (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2017), 8.

2. Additional Scriptures

The angel promised that Jesus would return in the same manner as his ascension (Acts 1:11). Jesus return is not just talked about in Revelation, but throughout the NT:

Matthew 16:27, 24:30, 26:64

Mark 13:26

Luke 21:27

John 14:1-3

1 Corinthians 1:7–8

Philippians 3:20–21

Colossians 3:4

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

2 Thessalonians 1:10

1 Timothy 6:14

2 Timothy 4:1, 8

Titus 2:13

Hebrews 9:28

James 5:7–9

1 Peter 5:4

2 Peter 3:10

1 John 3:2–3

Jude 14–15

3. Additional Questions (Using Logos Study Assistant✨)

What are the top themes of Acts?

Acts develops several interconnected themes that drive its narrative from Jerusalem to Rome.

The Holy Spirit’s Empowering Presence stands central to the entire account. The Spirit’s arrival at Pentecost marked a decisive moment when believers received power to speak in other tongues (Acts 2:1–4), and this same Spirit equipped the apostles to witness across Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the earth’s ends (Acts 1:1–11). Rather than depicting human achievement, Luke emphasizes the “Acts of the Holy Spirit” more than the apostles’ deeds[1], with the Spirit actively guiding the church across cultural and geographical boundaries[1].

Witness and Testimony form the book’s structural backbone. The apostles function as witnesses to Jesus’ redemptive work[2], and the triumph of witness to Christ—not human triumph—emerges as Acts’ major theme, with the gospel itself triumphing rather than the apostles[3]. Paul’s legal defenses consistently function as positive testimony to his faith, bearing witness before Jews, Roman officials, and ultimately Caesar himself[3].

God’s Mission to All Nations progressively unfolds throughout the narrative. God’s activity and purpose—the missio dei—involves applying salvation among all nations to the earth’s end[1]. Peter’s recognition that God shows no partiality, accepting those from every nation who fear him and work righteousness (Acts 10:34–35), marks a turning point, as does the Spirit’s gift to Gentiles, demonstrating God made no distinction between them and Jewish believers (Acts 15:1–29).

Community Life and Radical Sharing characterize the early church’s identity. Believers held possessions in common, with those owning land or houses selling them and distributing proceeds according to need (Acts 4:32–35), reflecting their unified commitment to one another.

Persecution and Boldness intertwine throughout. As the invisible temple expands through the gospel, persecution intensifies—kingdom growth and hostility advance together[2]. Yet the apostles declare they must obey God rather than human authorities (Acts 5:29), maintaining their witness despite opposition.

[1] Allison A. Trites, William J. Larkin, Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 12: The Gospel of Luke and Acts (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2006), 365–366. [2] G. K. Beale and Benjamin L. Gladd, The Story Retold: A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2020), 156. [3] John B. Polhill, Acts, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 26:440, 26:512.

4. Bible Translation

I’m choosing the NKJV for preaching because I believe it offers the strongest balance of faithfulness to the historic text of Scripture, clarity for modern readers, and continuity with the church’s worshiping tradition.

At the same time, I deeply value other faithful translations—such as the NASB, ESV, CSB, and NIV—which also serve the church well and can enrich our understanding of God’s Word.

5. Acts Commentary Recommendation's

Acts Commentary Recommendation's

I have found the following commentaries helpful in my study of Acts.

📗 For Personal & Small Group Study

Clear, devotional, and highly accessible.

Life Application Bible Commentary – Acts (Bruce Barton & Grant Osborne)

Holman New Testament Commentary – Acts (Kenneth Gangel)

Exalting Jesus in Acts (Tony Merida)

The Message of Acts (John Stott)

📙 For Teaching & Deeper Study

This is the main “working level” for Sunday School teachers, small group leaders, and sermon preparation. These resources balance readability with serious exegesis and background work.

ESV Expository Commentary – John–Acts (James Hamilton & Brian Vickers)

New American Commentary – Acts (John Polhill)

Pillar New Testament Commentary – Acts (David Peterson)

New International Commentary on the New Testament– Acts (F.F. Bruce)

Acts: A Logion Press Commentary (Stanley M. Horton)

📕 For Advanced / Specialized Study

More technical, highly detailed engagement with rhetoric, structure, and scholarly discussion.

The Acts of the Apostles: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Ben Witherington III)

📕 Historic

Classic works from earlier periods that show how the church has historically read and applied Scripture. Often more challenging than modern commentaries, but valuable for perspective and depth.

The Biblical Illustrator – Acts (Joseph Exell)