Now we’re ready to begin the Book of Acts. As in the past, I will not take this account verse by verse, but will look at what I think may be noteworthy in some detail. In verse 1 Luke mentions Theophilus (see also Luke 1:3). It seems Luke’s Gospel and The Acts of the Apostles were both written by Luke for Theophilus. However, it is not clear who this is. The name means “lover of God”, which could indicate a general salutation to believers. But, some think the distinct “most excellent Theophilus” in Luke’s Gospel is a reference to some unnamed Roman government official.
In verse 2 we see, “after He by means of the Holy Spirit had instructed the apostles He had chosen”. I point this out simply to emphasize that from this point on the Holy Spirit will be God’s agent on the earth to carry on the work that Jesus “began to both do and teach (verse 1). And as we go through the Book of Acts, we will see the apostles learn from experience what the Holy Spirit does and how He helps them carry on this work.
In a previous lesson we looked at verse 3 and how Jesus “showed Himself alive after His passion by a series of convincing demonstrations, appearing to them for forty days and talking to them about the kingdom of God.” And verse 4 when He tells the apostles not to leave Jerusalem, but wait there for what the Father had promised and what He had told them about – that is, the coming of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16, 26; 15:26).
And in verse 5 Jesus says this: “For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” So, here baptizo is used in reference to John’s baptism in water, but the baptism in the Holy Spirit does not involve water. Again, we have to look at the principle illustrated by “baptism”. When you look at Matthew 3:1-12, John baptized in water, but what was the emphasis? His message was repentance and making the path clear for the entrance of the Lord into one’s life. Simply getting wet would not suffice, only repentance and a continued commitment to the things Jesus taught would do that. As I explained in the last lesson, the emphasis is on the change that takes place. And we will see in coming lessons how the apostles were changed when they were baptized in the Holy Spirit.
And what did John say in Matthew 3:11? He says the time will come when Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. And just to be clear, in verse 12 John goes on to explain the fire he’s talking about is the fire of eternal judgment for those who refuse to repent, when He gathers His wheat in His barn, but burns up the chaff with a fire that cannot be quenched.
Then in verse 6 they asked Him if He was going to restore the kingdom to Israel. This is interesting because verse 3 above tells us during the forty days Jesus was appearing to His disciples He was “talking to them about the kingdom of God.” It’s obvious this subject was fresh on their minds, so their curiosity was stirred. Another way to ask this question might have been, “will you drive out these oppressive Romans and exert the authority we know You have?” Jesus said nothing about the nature of that kingdom (that it’s inhabitants would not have to keep the Law, or that Gentiles would be included – an understanding that would come later through the Holy Spirit). But He did address the timing, saying that such things were entirely in the power of the Father (verse 7, see also Matthew 24:36).
Then He continues in verse 8 by essentially telling them the kingdom would not be restored just yet because “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the earth.” The kingdom will not be restored until after an extended period of time, when the Gospel is preached throughout the whole world.
This brings us to the pivotal verse in this passage, “And after He said this, even as they were looking at Him, He was caught up in a cloud and carried away out of their sight.” Finally, we come to the ascension, what Jesus had told them about repeatedly (John 14:12, 28; 16:10, 17 and 28). Verse 10 tells us two angels appeared. Both God and angels always appear in white garments (Daniel 7:9; Matthew 17:2, 28:3).
What the angels said in verse 11 is important. “Men of Galilee, why are you standing here looking up into heaven? This same Jesus who was just now taken up from you into heaven, will return in exactly the same way that you saw Him go.” When Jesus returns to the earth at the end of this age (Matthew 28:20) it will be the same Jesus, He will be visible to all (Revelation 1:7) and there will be clouds (Daniel 7:13; Matthew 24:30).
And, He will return to the same place. Where is this place? Verse 12 tells us “Then they went back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city.” A Sabbath day’s walk is a little more than ¾ of a mile. So, Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives. And He will return there, as well (Zechariah 14:1-4).
Just to clarify the events of these first several verses in Acts 1, verse 4 tells us Jesus was meeting with them (the disciples) and told them to not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the promised Holy Spirit. But then in verse 6 it says, “So when they were assembled together”. This is from sunerchomai, to come together or convene, and is an aorist participle, expressing simple action. This is just before the ascension, from which they then returned to Jerusalem. So, it seems Jesus met with them in Jerusalem, led them out to the Mount of Olives where He ascended up into heaven, and then they returned to Jerusalem and to “an upper room” (verse 13). This is thought to be the upper room in the home of John Mark (the author of Mark’s gospel). It was located in the temple area and became a regular meeting place for the disciples (Acts 12:12).