THE MINISTRY OF THE RISEN CHRIST
Key verse: 3
NIV
Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven
1 In my former book,(A) Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach(B) 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven,(C) after giving instructions(D) through the Holy Spirit to the apostles(E) he had chosen.(F) 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them(G) over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.(H) 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait(I) for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.(J) 5 For John baptized with[a] water,(K) but in a few days you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.”(L)
Cross references
- Acts 1:1 : Lk 1:1-4
- Acts 1:1 : Lk 3:23
- Acts 1:2 : ver 9, 11; S Mk 16:19
- Acts 1:2 : Mt 28:19, 20
- Acts 1:2 : S Mk 6:30
- Acts 1:2 : Jn 13:18; 15:16, 19
- Acts 1:3 : Mt 28:17; Lk 24:34, 36; Jn 20:19, 26; 21:1, 14; 1Co 15:5-7
- Acts 1:3 : S Mt 3:2
- Acts 1:4 : Ps 27:14
- Acts 1:4 : Lk 24:49; Jn 14:16; Ac 2:33
- Acts 1:5 : S Mk 1:4
- Acts 1:5 : S Mk 1:8
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
1 In the first book, O (A)Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began (B)to do and teach, 2 until the day when (C)he was taken up, after he (D)had given commands (E)through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 (F)He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
4 And while staying[a] with them (G)he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for (H)John baptized with water, (I)but you will be baptized (J)with[b] the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Read full chapterCross references
- Acts 1:1 : Luke 1:3
- Acts 1:1 : Luke 24:19
- Acts 1:2 : See Mark 16:19
- Acts 1:2 : [ch. 10:42; Matt. 28:19, 20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47; John 20:21]
- Acts 1:2 : [ch. 10:38; Luke 4:1, 18; John 20:22]
- Acts 1:3 : ch. 10:40, 41; 13:31; Matt. 28:17; Mark 16:14; Luke 24:34, 36-51; John 20:19-29; 21; 1 Cor. 15:5-7
- Acts 1:4 : Luke 24:49
- Acts 1:5 : ch. 11:16; See Matt. 3:11
- Acts 1:5 : ch. 11:16; See Matt. 3:11
- Acts 1:5 : ch. 2:1-4
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
INTRODUCTION TO ACTS
Luke wrote two books to Theophilus ('lover of God'). In the Gospel of Luke he told about the things that Jesus did and taught until he ascended into heaven. In Acts, Luke wrote about the continuing work of the ascended Jesus through the Holy Spirit in the church. Luke was the only Gentile writer of the New Testament. He shows how God himself transformed a narrow, exclusive community of believers, bound by their own culture and traditions, into a universal, world-wide church--a church free to cross all human barriers to bring the gospel to all men everywhere.
Acts is organized around Acts 1:8: '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.' These are the words of the Risen Christ. This is not an ordinary command. It is an imperative. It is related to the very existence of the church. The church is a body of believers who are sent into the world to witness to the Risen Christ. Chapters 1-12 focus on Peter, and chapters 13-27, on Paul.
God's mission for his church is not a new idea. When God called Abraham, he promised, 'Through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed.' Jesus' saving work on the cross and his glorious resurrection is the blessing to all people who believe. But the good news of forgiveness of sins and eternal life must be carried to all nations by the church--the body of Christ, the people of God.
OUTLINE OF ACTS
1. To Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria
a. 1:1-7:6
--The Witness in Jerusalem
(Climaxed by Stephen's martyrdom)
b. 8:1-12:25--To Judea and Samaria
(Peter's ministry; Paul's conversion)
2. To the Ends of the Earth
a. 13:1-15:35--Paul's 1st Journey
(With Barnabas--Jerusalem Council)
b. 15:36-21:15--2nd and 3rd Journeys
(2nd--To Europe; 3rd--In Ephesus)
c. 21:16-28:31--God's heart for the world
(To Jerusalem and to Rome in chains)
(One-to-one Bible study in a rented house)
1. Proofs that he is alive (1-3a)
After his death and resurrection, Jesus spent 4
days with his disciples. During that time he planted in them resurrection faith and hope in the kingdom of God. The foundation of the Christian faith is the resurrection of Jesus. This is the good news. When God raised Jesus from the dead, he accepted his sacrifice for the sins of the world. He proved him to be the Son of God and Christ the Savior (Ro 1:4; 4:25).
2. The kingdom of God (3b-5)
Jesus began his ministry on earth preaching about the kingdom of God (Mk 1:15). It was the theme of his parables; he taught his disciples to pray, 'Your kingdom come.' The kingdom of God was the main theme of the teaching of the risen Jesus. Jesus' people must put their hope in the kingdom of God, not in the things of the world. He told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. God's kingdom must rule our hearts and his power fill our lives before we can go out to proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Prayer: Lord, dwell with me in all your risen power. Use me in your kingdom's work.
One Word: Jesus is risen; my hope is in him
