The Bridge

Acts 1:1- The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach. NKJV

In today’s post, I will begin a study of the book of Acts. The book is often called the Acts of the Apostles, but some refer to it as the Acts of the Holy Spirit, a title I agree with. I will use Dr. Craig Kenner’s commentary on Acts and the New King James Version of scriptures as I go through this study.

Luke, the physician, is the author of the book of Acts. In verse one, he makes a reference to the former account of Jesus that he has written to Theophilus. This is a reference to the gospel of Luke.

 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us,  just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

_{Luke 1: 1-4 NKJV}

From Luke’s description in his prologue to the gospel that bears his name, Luke infers several things about Theophilus: they know one another, Theophilus is a nobleman, and he is a believer in Jesus. Keener describes Theophilus as a Gentile believer who was definitely taught the doctrine of Jesus and had become a part of the church. He also notes that because Luke is writing to Theophilus, or dedicated both volumes of his writings to him, then Theophilus is probably Luke’s patron. A patron typically financed the individual’s “research” of a matter. In this case, Luke is investigating the claims of Jesus for Theophilus because he “had a perfect understanding of all things from the very first”.

The gospel of Luke focuses on the works and person of Jesus Christ. Luke ends his gospel with the ascension of Jesus:

And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.  And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.

_{Luke 24:50-53 NKJV}

I never paid attention to the fact that Jesus ascended to heaven from Bethany. I thought it was from Jerusalem because they waited in Jerusalem!

We are given a quick summary of the ascension at the end of the gospel; however, in Acts, Luke gives us a few more details. Luke reminds us that after the resurrection, Jesus was seen by many people, with many infallible proofs, and He stayed for 40 days before His ascension.

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.

_{Acts 1:3 NKJV}

Jesus focused on the kingdom of God throughout his ministry, and during the forty days before His ascension, He taught the same message on the kingdom of God. This message of the kingdom resonates throughout the Book of Acts.

Before Jesus ascended back to the Father, He left some important instructions for the disciples. Keener notes that Luke connects Jesus’ giving of commands by the Spirit of God, to His “impending empowerment” of the disciples with the Holy Spirit.

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;  for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 

_{Acts 1:4-5 NKJV}

They are told to wait in Jerusalem until the Promise of the Father comes. This promise was none other than the Holy Spirit’s filling of the believers, a topic for later discussion. But the Promise was also mentioned by Luke, in his gospel:

Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

_{Luke 24:49 NKJV}

Both in Luke & Acts, the disciples are told to wait in Jerusalem for the Promise of the Father, which was the sending of the Holy Spirit. In Luke they are told that they will be endowed with power from on high. In Acts, they are told they will be baptized with the Holy Spirit! When the disciples went back to Jerusalem after watching Jesus ascend into the heavens, they went back expecting a visitation from the Holy Spirit. Since they had no point of reference for what this experience would look like, they simply waited in prayer together trusting they would recognize the experience when it happened.

I titled this introduction, The Bridge, because Acts is written by Luke who wrote a gospel bearing his name. Then he wrote the Book of Acts. Both volumes were written to Theophilus. Luke focuses on Jesus, while Acts focuses on the Holy Spirit’s involvement in the church. Acts bridges the gap between the gospels and the epistles, as well as transitioning from the life of Jesus to the works of the Holy Spirit.

As I go through this study, I am praying that God will help me identify the things I need to blog about this time around, and the things that can wait. I hope you will join me in this study and pray that we will learn from it and be encouraged in our relationship with the Father. Wonderful Jesus!