A Time of the Holy Spirit
A. The protagonist of the Book of Acts (1-5)
In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 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. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”(1-5)
1) Who is the Holy Spirit?
2) The baptism of the Holy Spirit that was promised
B. Walking with the Holy Spirit
1) Receiving power (6-8)
Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 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.” (6-8)
2) Looking ahead toward the day of victory (9-11)
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (9-11)
Summary
If the Gospels were a record of Jesus' life and work, the ook of Acts is a record of the work of God's Holy Spirit. It is certainly about the work of the apostles, but the true protagonist is the Holy Spirit. With the guidance and the power of the Holy Spirit, people were given the ability to start the Church. This led to the gospel being preached all over the world. We also need to be filled with the Holy Spirit and do God's work wherever we are called to go.
For Discussion
1) Why is the Book of Acts a record of the work of the Holy Spirit?
2) What is our hope and expectation as we walk with the Spirit?