Prologue

What is a “Prologue?”

Recap of the previous account

Luke’s Gospel

Teachings of Jesus

Matthew 22:37–39 ESV

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20

Signs and wonders of what Jesus did

Signs and wonders of what Jesus did

Luke 18:38–42 ESV

And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.”

Luke 18:

Luke 7:13–16 ESV

And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!”

Luke 7:

Preview of Major themes in the following account

Preview of Major themes in the following account

Preview of Major themes in the following account

Beginning of the new era in God’s plan

Empowerment for ministry by the Holy Spirit

Preview of Major themes in the following account

Cross-cultural ministry

Luke 6:27–28 ESV

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

Forecast of what the Church will do

Forecast of what the Church will do

Acts 1:1—14

Prevailing Mindset

The Disciples

Jesus would always be in their physical proximity

We automatically take for granted that home ceilings are 8 feet above the floor. Of course, we now have vaulted ceilings, tray ceilings and open ceilings. In some modular homes we have ceilings that begin at 7 feet at the outer wall and then rise to 8 feet or more. This allows the manufactured home to be transported over the highway and clear bridges and overpasses.

This 8 foot convention limits our creative thinking on what a design for a given space could be.

The Disciples’ Assumptions

Their thoughts:

Jesus would always be in their physical proximity

Jesus would always be the center of ministry

Jesus would tell them what was going to happen in days to come

Jesus would bring a political kingdom and they would be rulers

Acts 1:1—14

Acts 1:1–14 NLT

In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit. During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God. Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!” Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile. When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying. Here are the names of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the Zealot), and Judas (son of James). They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.

Acts 1:1–26 ESV

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) “For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “ ‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “ ‘Let another take his office.’ So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Jesus’ Instructions

Must stay in Jerusalem, not go to Galilee

Must stay in Jerusalem, not go to Galilee

Baptism in the Holy Spirit soon

Only Father knows the times and seasons

Power will enable you to be witnesses of Good News

Spreading the Word will take place in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and ends of the earth

Watching and Waiting

Angels told the disciples that Jesus would bodily return

Began waiting for the Holy Spirit

Hold Fast

Staying On Course

Jesus bodily ascended to Heaven

Angels told the disciples that Jesus would bodily return

Began waiting for the Holy Spirit

Went to Upper Room

Men and women together

Engaging in prayer

Restricted Data

Date and time of Jesus’ return

Kingdom given to Israel?

Father’s plans are Father’s plans

Not your job

Do not have enough intellectual capacity

Would become “you centered” instead of God centered

Distract you from God’s plans for you

Revealed Information

Miraculous power through Holy Spirit

Mental Power through Holy Spirit

Courage

Confidence

Holy zeal

Deep patience

Perseverance

Spiritual power through Holy Spirit

Your presence

Your influence

Assignment

Receive power from Father

Become witnesses

What Christ has done

What Christ has taught

What you have experienced

Unlimited locations

Jerusalem

Judea

Samaria

Ends of the Earth

Carrying Out The Assignment

Do you know the Master?

Do you trust the Master?

Will you receive the gift of the Holy Spirit?

Will you obey His commands?