The book of Acts tells of the birth
of the Christian Church and its phenomenal growth
as the good news about Jesus was preached
throughout the Roman Empire.
The book's author is Luke, who used the
same investigative procedures for writing his gospel narrative
on the life of Christ.
Acts can be viewed as the continuation of
all that Jesus began to do and teach
while here on earth.
After ascending into heaven, he supernaturally empowered his
followers to fulfill the great commission of proclaiming
the gospel to the whole world and discipling
those who put their trust in the Lord.
The key to understanding the book of Acts
is found in the promise Christ gave the
apostles he had chosen to represent him in
his absence.
Instead of detailed orders on how to carry
out their ministry tasks, Jesus simply instructed them
to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the
gift God had promised his people, which would
be the power of the Holy Spirit equipping
them for service.
It was this spiritual energy that would enable
them to be strong witnesses for Christ in
a very hostile first century world.
The Holy Spirit's grace produced strong leadership in
the early church.
Peter, the former fisherman who had failed in
so many ways while walking with Christ, now
becomes the bold leader Jesus predicted he would
be.
We also see Saul of Tarsus change from
a violent persecutor of Christians to a divinely
equipped preacher named Paul, who repeatedly risks his
life in spreading the message of salvation.
The seeming impossibility of such drastic, life-altering
changes became living reality as the Holy Spirit's
supernatural power accompanied the preaching of God's word.
The book of Acts tells the story of
the early church as it really happened, so
we may know the problems that arose from
within as well as the continual opposition they
faced from without.
But God's grace brought victory as new converts
continued by faith in the footsteps of those
first added to the church in Jerusalem.
These devoted believers gave themselves to the word
of God, to fellowship with other believers, to
the breaking of bread and to prayer.
As the early church held tightly to the
Lord, He gave them fresh power and strength
to stand firm for Him.
Probably one of the greatest lessons for Christians
today from the book of Acts is found
in the church's response to the first persecution
directed against it.
This story is told in chapter 4.
After Peter and John are threatened by the
Jewish religious establishment and warned not to preach
at all about Jesus Christ, they returned to
the other believers for a time of fervent
prayer to God and asked for divine help.
Their petitions are still as important for us
to consider today as they were 2,000
years ago.
They first asked for boldness from God to
preach His word despite the strong opposition facing
them.
Then they asked God to stretch out His
hand of power on their behalf as they
preached and prayed in the name of Jesus.
God responded immediately as they were all filled
afresh with the Holy Spirit and proceeded to
speak the word of God boldly everywhere they
went.
All the dilemmas facing the Christian church today
can still be resolved by fervent prayer, a
bold proclamation of the word of God, and
repeated experiences of the Holy Spirit's grace in
our lives.
Let us listen with our hearts to the
book of Acts and its stirring reminder that
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and
forever.
The Lord is still alive.