The Acts of the Apostles is the fifth book in the New Testament, and follows on chronologically from the previous four Gospels. It tells us what transpired when Jesus was taken back into heaven, and how the Christian church came into being. The Acts of the Apostles is often referred to as the Acts of the Holy Spirit, for it was soon after Jesus went back into heaven that the apostles experienced the power of God come into their lives, into their souls and spirits in a dynamic way, by the empowering of the Holy Spirit, giving them the boldness, supernatural strength and wisdom to go out and tell the world what the crucifixion of Jesus had done, with the result that thousands responded to the message, bringing new life to the peoples in the surrounding countries, and the setting up of many churches.
The book is so named The Acts of the Apostles, as it chronicles the activity of the disciples who had been followers of Jesus but were now called apostles as they were Jesus’s ambassadors sent out into the whole world to share the good news of Salvation, a command which Jesus gave to the disciples just before He ascended back into Heaven as recorded in Matthew 28:16 to 20.
In the opening verses of Act 1: we have a clue as to who wrote the book, Acts 1:1 reads - In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. The Acts of the Apostles was written by Luke for in the opening verse of Luke’s Gospel : we read - Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. At the commencement of the Gospel of Luke and The Acts of the Apostles he writes to his friend Theophilus.
At the beginning of the Book of Acts Jesus gives the disciples specific instructions as what they should do immediately after He ascended into Heaven, before they were to commence their ministry, we read in Acts 1:4 to 7 - 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
So before the apostle Peter boldly began with his brother John and the other Apostles sharing the Good News of Jesus as well as healing sick folk (Acts 2 to Acts 4), they received the gift of the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus promised, we read in Acts 2:1to 4 - When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Whenever a work of God is being done, Satan will also be active seeking to thwart God’s purposes. Peter records in 1 Peter 5:8 - Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. In Acts 5:17 to 20 we read the apostles were thrown into prison, - 17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”
We continue to read in Acts 6: In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
The public work witness and faith of Stephen one of those recently chosen to share the burden of the ministry is recognised in Acts 6:8 we read - 8 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. 10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. But soon with the help of false witnessing had Stephan arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin (Israel’s High Court). Stephan was permitted to speak giving an overview of how Jesus came to earth being betrayed and murdered. The Godly character of Stephen shone through which was portrayed by those who were looking on when we read in Acts 6:15 - 15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
The Sanhedrin we furious at what Steven challenged them, they took him out of the city and martered him, we read in -Acts 7:54 –54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
As we have just read in Acts 7: 58 - . Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. Execution of the Christians were being authorised under the leadership of Saul (Acts 8). We read in Acts 8:1 to 3 - On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
Persecution soon began to rock the church, but because it was under the power of God, through the Christians escaping the persecution it culminated in the message of Jesus being told far afield, resulted in the church exploding even larger. Then Jesus himself displayed His Glory by shining a bright light upon Saul while he was travelling on the road to Damascus, resulting in a sudden and dramatic conversion.
After Saul’s conversion we read in Acts 9:19 - Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. 30 When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus
.31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
In Acts 10 to Acts 12 – we continue to read about Peter’s ministry both to the Jews and the Gentiles. Saul commences his missionary work in Acts 13 with the support of other apostles. Saul having been given the name Paul visited a number of countries along the north coast of the Mediterranean Sea, spear heading and opening many churches. Many of the books or epistles which follow the Book of Acts were letters written by Paul, teaching and encouraging the churches, as well as individual Christians throughout the countries roundabout. The Apostle Paul eventually returns to Jerusalem (Acts 28) where under house arrest is permitted to continue to share the Gospel freely.
Further study will be given to the book at a later date.
