Acts 1-2

Amen. Well, hey, let’s get back to work. If you have your Bibles, turn to the book of Acts. We are going to cover the book of Acts here together. For those who haven’t been around for generations, what we are trying to do is equip you to handle your Bible well.

The reality is, if we are honest, most Christians come to faith in Jesus, and that is great. They memorize John 3:16, maybe “Jesus wept,” and they think, That’s it. I got it. And then we never read our Bibles again—except when we go to church. We let the pastor teach us some Bible, and then we wait until next week, as if somehow we can sustain a vibrant spiritual life living off of somebody else’s quiet time.

The reality is most of us don’t read our Bibles throughout the week because we don’t understand what is happening. We don’t understand the book. Why would somebody have so many wives? That’s awkward. Why would you name your kid that? That’s not right either. And so we get stuck. What we have tried to do in this series is just lay the books out for you. Some of it is really godly stuff, and some of the stuff you read in your Bible is a mess, but we learn from it all. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training—the good and the bad. So we have tried to just lay it out for you and let you experience it.

Getting Our Hands Around the Book of Acts

We put the Old Testament to bed months ago. We talked through the Gospels before jumping into the “I AM” series, and now we launch into the New Testament by looking at the book of Acts. If you can get your hands around the book of Acts—if you can palm the book of Acts, if you will—you understand the majority of New Testament history. There is literally just a handful of books written outside of the thirty-year time span that the book of Acts covers.

The book of Acts is part of a two-part series. If you have ever read the Gospel of Luke, that is part one. Luke wrote two books to a man named Theophilus.

Acts 1:1 (NASB)

The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach,

We don’t know much about him except that he is called “most excellent Theophilus.” Paul referred to “most excellent” Felix and Festus, two men we will see later in the book of Acts who were both Roman officials. That has caused some to suggest that whoever this cat is, he is a high-ranking official, potentially even a military officer. He is a Roman guy.

So Luke writes two parts to him. Part one covers the birth of Jesus up to His death, burial, and resurrection. Part two, the book of Acts, covers from the ascension of Christ until the gospel moves to the remotest parts of the earth. Luke was a physician, most likely the personal physician of the Apostle Paul. As we get to the later chapters of Acts, the narrative switches from “they” to “we.” Luke traveled frequently with Paul, and in those “we” sections, you see he is personally present. Being a physician, he includes details that most writers wouldn’t cover. It was written in the early 60s—around A.D. 62—and covers about a thirty-year span.

The purpose of the book is to record the movement of the church from the resurrection of Christ to the ends of the earth. The word church is only mentioned in the Gospels twice, both times by Matthew. First in Matthew 16, where Jesus took the disciples to Caesarea Philippi and asked, “Who do people say that I am?” Peter responded, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said, “I’m going to build my church on the truth you just mentioned.” The second time is in Matthew 18, regarding church discipline: where two or three are gathered in His name, there He is in their midst.

My point is this: by the time the book of Acts is written, the concept of church is very new. The people in the Gospels didn’t go to church; they went to synagogue. They were Jewish. When Jesus came along, His death, burial, and resurrection changed the game. They became the fulfillment of what Jesus spoke about in Matthew—this thing called the church began to take shape. The Greek word for church is ekklesia, meaning “to call out from.” What begins in the book of Acts is a picture of what it means to be the people of God called out from the surrounding culture.

If you have ever wondered what the purpose of the church should be—especially since you can flip on cable TV late at night and see what it is not supposed to be—the biblical reason for the church’s existence is found right here in Acts. It is one of my favorite books because I love the concept of the people of God being the church. In many ways, what you have in the book of Acts is the church undefiled: the church before pastors messed it up with their egos, before boards started fighting over carpet color, before anybody even knew what a pipe organ was. This is the church in all of its simplicity and beauty, and it is remarkably effective.

The Geographic Progression and Themes

There are twenty-eight chapters in this book. Instead of going chapter by chapter, I want to walk through the major movements, and then we will dive specifically into chapters 1 and 2.

The theme and outline verse of the entire book is found in chapter 1, verse 8. It lays out a geographic progression: Jerusalem, to Judea, to Samaria, to the remotest parts of the earth. That geographic movement profoundly marks the New Testament church.

Acts 1:8 (NASB)

but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.’

In chapters 1 through the middle of chapter 7, they stay in Jerusalem. The disciples had a significant problem with the gospel moving outside of Jewish culture, faith, and heritage. Jesus clearly said to take the gospel to the remotest parts of the earth, yet by chapter 7, they are still sitting in Jerusalem. Then Stephen is killed, and persecution forces the gospel to move from Jerusalem into Judea (to the south) and Samaria (to the north). From there, it expands east and west to the remotest parts of the world.

In chapter 9, we are introduced to one of the main characters: Saul of Tarsus, later known as the Apostle Paul. Saul was a Pharisee who persecuted Christians and instigated the stoning of Stephen, the first martyr. On the road to Damascus to kill more Christians, he had a radical, face-to-face encounter with Jesus Christ. He went from foe to friend in an instant—because once you encounter Jesus, your life is never the same. His life was so radically changed that he got his passport stamped, traveled all over planting churches, and took the gospel to the remotest parts of the known world.

Looking at the themes of the book:

• Chapter 1: The Ascension of Christ. We are within fifty days of the death of Christ. Jesus died on Passover, and fifty days later is Pentecost, which is where Acts 2 begins.
• Chapter 2: The Birth of the Church. The church did not exist formally until Acts 2.
• Chapters 3–7: The Purging of the Church. Before the church could be effective for the Lord, internal issues had to be dealt with and cleaned out.
• Chapters 8–12: Growth and Expansion. Peter takes the gospel to non-Jewish people, and God moves powerfully.
• Chapters 13–19: Missional Aggression. The concept of foreign missions begins, sending people out specifically to proclaim Christ.
• Chapters 20–28: Cultural Impact. The gospel influences Roman culture, culminating with Paul sharing the gospel in Caesar’s household.

There are two main human characters in the book. First is Peter in chapters 1 through 12. Peter was the prime apostle in the Gospels, but after chapter 12, he fades into the background as Paul steps forward. Peter was an uneducated fisherman sent primarily to religious Jews; Paul was a highly educated Pharisee sent to the Gentiles. Don’t be surprised if God places you in situations where you feel unqualified to speak to the people around you. God does that so His power is displayed, not yours.

Setting the Stage: Waiting for the Spirit

When reading the book of Acts, keep in mind that its genre is historical narrative. It is descriptive, not prescriptive. It tells us how things happened, not necessarily how they must always happen. Most interpretive errors occur when people read a historical event in Acts and demand, “That happened then, so it must happen exactly that way now.”

In Acts 1:1–5, Luke gives his introduction and recounts Jesus telling the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:4-5 (NASB)

Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, ‘Which,’ [He said], ‘you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’

A brief note on the Holy Spirit—pneumatology (from pneuma, meaning breath, wind, or spirit). In the Old Testament, the Spirit of God came upon people temporarily for specific tasks and could depart. Samson was empowered by the Spirit, and later the Spirit left him. David prayed in Psalm 51, “Take not your Holy Spirit from me.” But in the New Testament, when you place your faith in Christ, you are sealed with the Holy Spirit as a permanent down payment. However, at this point in Acts 1, the disciples had not yet received the Spirit. Everything good in our lives as believers happens because the Spirit of God empowers us. There is nothing good in us apart from the Spirit working through us.

So the disciples gather together and ask a question.

Acts 1:6 (NASB)

So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, ‘Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?’

They were looking for a political Messiah to overthrow Rome, establish His throne in Jerusalem, and restore Israel’s sovereignty. They were thinking, You just conquered death—is now the time?

Jesus answers them plainly.

Acts 1:7-8 (NASB)

He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.’

He tells them the Father’s timeline is not their concern. Their concern is their mission: to be witnesses. The Greek word is martus, from which we get martyr. They were called to herald Christ, even at the risk of their lives. Jesus was telling them, “The kingdom will come, but until then, you have work to do gathering sheep who are not of this fold.”

Immediately after saying this, Jesus ascends into heaven.

Acts 1:9-11 (NASB)

And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.’

The disciples are standing there looking up into the sky, and two angels appear asking, “Why do you stand here looking into heaven?” They tell them that Jesus will return in the same way He left.

Verse 12 notes that they returned from the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s journey away.

Acts 1:12 (NASB)

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.

In Israel, Jewish cities have boundaries marked by posts and wire called an eruv to delineate how far someone can walk on the Sabbath without leaving the city. The Mount of Olives was within that boundary. The Mount of Olives—where Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane and where He ascended—is the very place Scripture indicates He will return.

The disciples return to the upper room and realize they need to replace Judas to restore the twelve apostles. Drawing from Old Testament Scriptures, they establish the qualifications: the replacement had to have been with them from John’s baptism through the resurrection appearances. They cast lots, and Matthias is chosen.

The Day of Pentecost and the Power of the Spirit

Chapter 2 brings us to the Day of Pentecost, fifty days after Passover.

Acts 2:1-4 (NASB)

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

Notice the descriptive language: a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and divided tongues as of fire. It doesn’t say there was literal wind or literal fire; Luke is using similes to capture an extraordinary supernatural event. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues.

This passage has caused endless church debates. But what does the text say a “tongue” was in this context? Look at verses 5 and 6.

Acts 2:5-6 (NASB)

Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language.

Devout men from every nation under heaven were in Jerusalem for the feast. When they heard the sound, a crowd gathered, and each person heard the believers speaking in their own native language. This was not ecstatic gibberish; it was known, understood human languages and dialects spoken by Galileans who had never learned them.

People from Parthia, Media, Elam (modern-day Iran), Mesopotamia (Iraq), Asia Minor (Turkey), Egypt, Libya, and Rome all heard the message. Verse 11 tells us what they were declaring: “the mighty works of God.” The Holy Spirit empowered them to proclaim the gospel across language barriers.

Some in the crowd were amazed, while others mocked and claimed they were drunk. Peter stands up in verse 14 and says, “It’s only nine in the morning—it’s too early to be drunk!”

Peter then preaches a bold, Christ-centered sermon. He quotes Joel to explain the outpouring of the Spirit, and then confronts the crowd directly.

Acts 2:22-24 (NASB)

’Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know– this [Man], delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put [Him] to death. ’But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.

He points them to the resurrection, declaring that Jesus is both Lord and Christ. Cut to the heart, the people ask what they must do.

Acts 2:38-41 (NASB)

Peter [said] to them, ’Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ‘For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.’ And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation!’ So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.

Peter calls them to repent and be baptized. That day, three thousand people were added to the church. If anyone ever tells you God is against large churches, remember that the church was born as a megachurch of three thousand believers.

The Church Undefiled

Acts 2:42–47 shows us the church in its purest, simplest form. They had no church buildings, no printed bulletins, no sound systems, no padded chairs, no youth ministries, and no retreats. It was just the people of God living as the church.

Acts 2:42 (NASB)

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

They were devoted—a word meaning to persist steadfastly through difficulty—to four core practices:

1. The Apostles’ Teaching: They were people of the Book. To obey God, they had to know His Word.
2. Fellowship: This was not superficial socializing. It meant deep, authentic, vulnerable relationships marked by mutual care and confession.
3. The Breaking of Bread: This included the Lord’s Supper, which was celebrated at the conclusion of a shared meal. Sharing a table with someone and sharing communion were both sacred expressions of unity.
4. Prayer: They earnestly sought God together. A lack of prayer is often rooted in arrogance, thinking we can manage life on our own. These believers depended entirely on God.

Look at what resulted from this simple devotion.

Acts 2:43-47 (NASB)

Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they [began] selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Awe filled everyone. Miracles and signs were performed through the apostles, authenticating their message. The believers held their possessions with open hands, meeting needs wherever they existed.

Verse 46 notes that they met together both publicly in the temple courts and privately in their homes. We need both. We need the large corporate gathering to celebrate that we are part of something bigger than ourselves, and we need the small group in a home for intimacy, accountability, and care.

They lived with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Even those who did not share their faith could see that they were remarkably kind, generous, and loving. Their lives were magnetic.

And what was the result? “And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

Two things drove the early church: the good hand of God and magnetic people. Their bulletin was empty, but their lives were full. They loved God, loved one another, and lived generously in their community.

You can attend a church, or you can be the church. When you simply attend, you watch others participate; when you be the church, you step into the joy of what God is doing. When people in our community look at our lives, do they see Christ? Let’s stop simply going to church and start being the church, so that the world sees Jesus in us.

Let’s pray.

Father, I am so grateful for the freedom we have to simply be the church. You are not tied to our programs or our events; You have unleashed us as Your people to follow You. As our hearts are surrendered to You, use us in whatever way You see fit. We give You all the glory, in Christ’s name. Amen.