May 09, 2023

#280 The Acts, Chapter 1

46 minutes

The early church carried the gospel throughout the known world in approximately 30 years and transformed an empire in 3 centuries. Now the church seems intimidated, uncertain amidst swift cultural changes. So, what did the early Christians, commanded by Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, do that we are not doing? Here are their acts, and may they inspire our own.

Outline from a study of Chapter 1:

Luke, Part 2

The Next Act

The Ascension

The Twelve Apostles

Key Takeaways:

The early church constantly faced skepticism and persecution, yet responded with boldness and joy. As our culture grows more skeptical and hostile to Christian beliefs, what can we learn from them?

Peter and Paul faced down and witnessed to Jewish and Roman civic leaders. We can learn from their exercise of citizenship.

The Book of Acts also extensively referenced the Person and work of the Holy Spirit.

Acts is essentially an extension of the book of Luke, and Luke is the only New Testament author that recounts the ascension of Christ.

The connection between Acts 1 and Daniel 7.

How Christ surprised the disciples’ (and our) expectations about His kingdom by explaining His plan for the coming centuries: the church.

Quote by Albert Barnes concerning the book of Acts, “It is a record of the early triumphs of Christianity. Within the space of thirty years after the death of Christ, the gospel had been carried to all parts of the civilized, and to no small portion of the uncivilized, world. It had been preached in the most splendid, powerful, and corrupt cities; churches were already founded in Jerusalem, Antioch, Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, and at Rome. The gospel had spread in Arabia, Asia Minor, Greece, Macedon, Italy, and Africa.; it had traveled to the capital [Rome] and had secured such a hold even in the imperial city as to make it certain that it would finally overturn the established religion and seat itself upon the ruins of paganism. All this would be accomplished by the instrumentality of Jews — of fishermen — of Nazarenes. They had neither wealth, armies, nor allies. With the exception of Paul, they were men without learning. They were taught only by the Holy Spirit, armed only with the power of God, victorious only because Christ was their Captain. Its success never has been, and never can be, accounted for by any other supposition than that God attended it. the change brought about by the twelve apostles is the most inexplicable, mysterious, and wonderful event that has ever been witnessed in this world. Their success will stand until the end of time as an argument for the truth of God’s plan, that shall confound the unbeliever and sustain the Christian with the assured belief that this is a religion which has proceeded from the almighty and infinitely benevolent God.”

The post #280 The Acts, Chapter 1 first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

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By Joshua Hershberger: Attorney | Minister | Speaker

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