The story told in the book of Acts is an historical one but an open-ended, modern message as well because its message and lessons continue on into the church today. So it is a story worth retelling because it deals with issues which are always relevant to the church. Questions about relationship between Christians and Jews, Christians and pagans, the Christians stance within the modern state, challenges with and about prayer, the purpose of preaching and teaching in the church, evangelism and discipleship, the reality and response to persecution. We will try and listen to this story as it unfolds and take seriously its message as we hear its text question us about all of these issues and more today.

The unanimous testimony of the early church was that Luke, author of the gospel of Luke, and the traveling companion and close friend of Paul, wrote The Acts. The author of Acts was a traveling companion of Paul’s clear from the so-called ‘we’ passages (16:10-17; 20:5-21:18; 27:1-28:16) where he switches to the first person plural showing he was present. Luke is never mentioned in Acts by name as are most of Paul’s other traveling companions. By process of elimination we are left with Luke as the author. That makes Luke the author of nearly ¼ of the NT. He even states his purpose in for writing his two-volume work in the prologue of Luke It seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out to you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus (Luke 1:3). Acts was also addressed to Theophilus, continuing where Luke’s gospel left off the first account I composed Theophilus about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day when He was taken up after He had given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen (Acts 1:1-2). Theophilus is unknown tho Luke’s address of him as ‘most excellent’ suggests he was a Roman official (cf Acts 24:3; 26:25).

We can understand the purpose of Acts by observing one verse in Acts 1:8. We learn a number of details that begin to put this book together for us as we do this.

1. Who are the people involved? The context tells us that the word ‘you’ refers to the apostles (vs. 2). We also observe that this verse is answering a question the apostles had asked Jesus. We learn that they are people who have heard Jesus’ teaching, seen His miracles, were chosen by Jesus and were anxious about His kingdom. The book of Acts records the incredible transformation of these men.

2. What is happening? This is part of the answer Jesus was giving to the apostle’s question of vs 6. We notice that Jesus’ answer is part of a dialogue in which the disciples are asking questions and Jesus is answering them. Disciples are always asking questions and God’s Word is always full of surprising answers.

3. Where is this taking place? This is taking place in Jerusalem. This is where the apostles are to begin as witnesses of Christ, His resurrection, His message. One thing we can observe about Jerusalem is that this is where the crucifixion took place and the apostles are known there as His followers. So a hostile environment is to be the starting point as Christ’s witnesses. If there had been no literal resurrection, then this is the last place you would want to begin.

4. When is this taking place? His Q&A session is in the context of Jesus ascension (vv 9-11). Jesus’ answer, then, is His last words to His disciples before He ascends into heaven. Jesus, in effect, gives His disciples their marching orders and immediately leaves. Suddenly the apostle’s ministry is to begin. Last words are usually lasting words. The disciple’s message then becomes ‘this crucified and resurrected Jesus is coming back again. It shapes their message and conviction.

5. Is anything emphasized? Here Jesus emphasizes the places the apostles would be His witnesses by the order in which He puts them. Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, even the remotest part of the earth. This emphasis actually becomes the outline of the book as we see the witness of the apostles spread along this direction. Beginning in Jerusalem and finishing in Rome, Italy. All the disciples started out in Jerusalem (Acts 2), then Peter and John went to Judea and Samaria (Acts 8:14) and Peter went to the Gentiles, beginning with Cornelius (Acts 10). Paul took over and spread the gospel into the Gentile world.

6. Is anything related? Jesus says the apostles are going to receive power that is the cause. The effect is that they are going to be something, namely witnesses. It is power and then witnesses not vice versa. The power the apostles need to be Jesus witnesses is compared with the coming of the HS upon them.

7. What about the historical context? Acts covers 30 years of history after Christ as it chronicles the expansion of the church from Jerusalem into all of the then known

Inhabited world. Rome, as the world power, is prominent throughout the book. Tensions mount between Jews and Rome, culminating in Rome’s destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. These facts are significant to the commission to go into all of the world as Christ’s witnesses.

So as we analyze the details with the questions, who, what, where, when, why we discover specific information about the mindset of the apostles a they began their witness and as they carried it out. As we synthesize the details to understand the bigger picture they present, we discover the direction of their witness in the locality of Jerusalem further into Judea and Samaria and even unto the remotest parts of the earth. This understanding helps us grasp God’s commission today to the church which is to make disciples of all nations. The commissioning of the apostles is still in place and we are to participate in that today as we apply being witnesses of Christ in our generation.

1. The witness in Jerusalem 1:1-6:7.

• Progress report 1 (2:47) after the day of Pentecost.
• Progress report 2 (6:7) after the church expands.

2. The witness in all Judea and Samaria 6:8-9:31.

• Progress report 3 (9:31) after Stephens martyr and Paul’s conversion

3. The witness to the ends of the earth 9:32-28:31.

• Progress report 4 (12:24) after persecution of the church.
• Progress report 5 (16:5) after Paul’s 1^st and 2^nd missionary journeys.
• Progress report 6 (19:20) after Paul’s 3^rd missionary journey.
• Progress report 7 (28:30-31) after Paul’s arrest and captivity in Rome

2. Acts forms the background and setting for most of Paul’s apostolic activity. It provides much background and understanding of the books Paul wrote in the NT.

3. Acts gives us basic information and insights into the early church. Luke portrays the tensions, persecutions, world religions, frustrations, theological problems and hopes confronting the church that assist us in our own challenges today.