Acts: The Gospel Unleashed
Notes
Transcript
1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach,
2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
3 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.
Acts 1:1-
The book of Acts is the story of Christ’s continuing redemptive work though the witness of His Spirit empowered people.
The book of Acts is the story of Christ’s continuing redemptive work though the witness of His Spirit empowered people.
The gospels are a starting point for the redemptive work of Christ.
The story goes on.....
The gospel doesn’t end with the body of Christ buried in a borrowed tomb.
The gospel doesn’t end with the body of Christ buried in a borrowed tomb.
The emphatic claim of the medical professional and historian Luke is that Jesus is alive
acts 1
3 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.
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 28.45 τεκμήριον, ου
that which causes something to be known as verified or confirmed
τεκμήριον - verified or confirmed - This has to do with demonstrative evidence.
Biblical Christianity doesn’t require a leap of faith but an embracing of the facts.
The book of Acts tells us the story of the power of the Spirit in the lives of God’s people.
The book of Acts tells us the story of the power of the Spirit in the lives of God’s people.
4 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;
5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
8 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.”
9 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.
10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,
11 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.”
Luke shows the assertion of Christ before he tells us about the decent of the Spirit.
The assertion is critical to the story.
Did you notice that he was went up in a cloud?
Christ riding on the clouds is reminiscent of the picture of Yahweh in the Old Testament.
He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters;
he makes the clouds his chariot;
he rides on the wings of the wind;
Christ gives his people power with a purpose.
Christ gives his people power with a purpose.
“But you will receive power and you will be my witnesses...”
The people of God receive the power of God for the purpose of world mission.
Every believer is a recipient of this power.
Every believer is a recipient of this power.
Every believer is responsible for this mission.
Every believer is responsible for this mission.
The power of God for the purpose of world missions comes with a price.
The power of God for the purpose of world missions comes with a price.
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Luke