The Acts of ...

The entire Bible may be built around Jesus Christ

The entire Bible may be built around Jesus Christ

In the Hebrew scriptures he constantly appears as the preincarnate Lord. He is the God who creates, he is the God who appears, he is the God is predicted to come in human form and be the Savior and King of the world.

In the Gospels he is the God Man, the Servant King, the one who died but rose again.

In the rest of the NT he is the risen Lord who reigns in heaven, watches over his children and is waiting for the Father to announce his return to reign for 1000 years and then to set up his eternal kingdom.

In the Hebrew scriptures we see the coming of the Messiah predicted

In the gospels we see the coming of the Messiah realized

In the epistles we see the 2nd coming of the Messiah anticipated and ultimately fulfilled

The Book of Acts fits into this third category. Jesus is risen and his children are commanded to go into the world and be his witnesses until he returns.

Acts is the second book written by Dr Luke, a physician who was the close friend of the apostles for over 30 years. In we see that he is writing an account to friend who is a high ranking Gentile official in the Roman empire

Luke 1:1 ESV

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us,

How you view the Book of Acts will change your view of you role in the Kingdom of God

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 1:1–4

Apparently he was an official of some kind, for he was called most excellent (cf. Acts 23:26; 24:3; 26:25, which use the same Gr. term, kratiste).

Luke 1:2 ESV

just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us,

Luke 1:3 ESV

it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

Before we dive into the chapters and verses of the Book of have a question: What does your Bible say is the Title of this book of the Bible?

Book of Acts

Acts of the Apostles

Acts of the Holy Spirit

In the 2nd century Irenaeus gave it the title, Acts of the Apostles. Authors have titled their books “Acts of the Holy Spirit” in order to emphasize the work of the Holy Spirit in this book of the bible.

How you view the Book of Acts will change your view of you role in the Kingdom of God

Alan Thompson gives his commentary on Acts the title, “The Acts of the risen Lord Jesus.” However, in his commentary, he gives it the full title

The Acts of the Risen Lord Jesus: Luke’s Account of God’s Unfolding Plan The Continuing Reign of the Lord Jesus

the Acts of the Lord Jesus, through his people, by the Holy Spirit, for the accomplishment of God’s purposes

Let me give you some of the meat of his commentary:

The Acts of the Risen Lord Jesus: Luke’s Account of God’s Unfolding Plan Chapter Seven: Concluding Summary

The book of Acts highlights the end of the old temple system and law and the inauguration of a new ‘authority structure’ in the inaugurated kingdom of God by virtue of Jesus’ lordship and the teaching of his authorized delegates, the apostles.

The inauguration of the kingdom of God therefore provides cohesion to the emphases in Acts on (1) the sovereign plan of God, (2) the reign of the Davidic King Jesus, (3) the spread of the word and the strengthening of local churches in the midst of opposition, (4) the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and the offer of God’s end-time blessings on the basis of his death and resurrection, (5) the fulfilment of God’s saving promises in the restoration of God’s people, (6) the pouring out of the Holy Spirit from the risen and reigning Lord Jesus, (7) the replacement and fulfilment of the temple in Jesus, and (8) the salvation-historical shift to the teaching of the apostles as the guiding authority for God’s people.

Thus, according to Luke, believers such as Theophilus may be assured that God’s plan of salvation is being carried out according to his promises through the continuing reign of the risen Lord Jesus. The inaugurated kingdom of God continues to be administered by the Lord Jesus. In this era of the kingdom of God the Lord Jesus continues to add to his church, to enable the spread of the word, and to strengthen his people before the consummation of the kingdom at his return. His death and resurrection mean that the blessings of the age to come are found in him even now. All who turn to him receive the blessings of forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. God’s people may be assured that they will be enabled and transformed by the Spirit of Jesus. The Lord Jesus is the one who grants these gifts to Jew and Gentile alike. Thus Gentiles are receiving God’s salvation by the grace of the Lord Jesus through hearing and believing the same good news of forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus, not because God has failed to keep his word to Israel. God’s people may be reassured, therefore, that God fulfils his promises through the acts of their Saviour, the risen and reigning Lord Jesus!

But let’s back to his title.

(1) God the Father

Father 3, God 164 times

wait for the promise of the Father

1:7 Christ’s return is determined by the authority of the Father

2:33 the Father gave the promise of the Holy Spirit

2:22-23 Jesus came according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God with mighty works and wonders and signs that the Father did through Jesus

2:24, 32 and at least 22 other verses - it is God who raised up Jesus

2:39 it is the Lord our God who calls us to himself

4:19; 5:29 - we must listen to and obey God, not men

5:39 you cannot oppose God

In it is God who works amongst the Gentiles

27:23 God sends an angel to Paul before the ship wreck to comfort him

The Father is in control

4:24 He is the sovereign Lord

(2) The Holy Spirit

57 times 3x less than the references to the Father

1:2 Jesus gave commands through the Holy Spirit

The Father would baptize with the Holy Spirit

6 times we are told the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit

(3) Jesus Christ

He is called the Lord 105 times

He is referred to by name 73 times

He is called the Christ 25 times

Twice he is called the Savior

His resurrection is referred to at least 30 times - God raised Him up

4:33 - with great power they were giving their testimony to the resurrection

(4) God’s people

What about the Acts of God’s people? Definitely not the acts of the apostles - God includes us in his plan too

Acts 2:39 ESV

For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

Acts 2:

Acts 16:31 ESV

And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

We are to be his witnesses 1:8

What about the Acts of God’s people? Definitely not the acts of the apostles - God includes us in his plan too

We are to be his witnesses 1:8

1:22 a witness too his resurrection

We are filled with the Holy Spirit 2:39

The word witness is martoos - martyr

A witness is not a martyr. A witness is a witness but so many believers died that the word for witness became eternally linked to death, willing to die for what you believed.

Saturday night reading. His full title is , "The Acts of the Lord Jesus, through his people, by the Holy Spirit, for the accomplishment of God’s purposes." Good stuff

Thompson, A. J. (2011). The Acts of the Risen Lord Jesus: Luke’s Account of God’s Unfolding Plan. (D. A. Carson, Ed.) (Vol. 27, p. 49). England; Downers Grove, IL: Apollos; InterVarsity Press.

the Acts of the Lord Jesus, through his people, by the Holy Spirit, for the accomplishment of God’s purposes