Acts 1:1-8

THE

Acts

OF THE APOSTLES

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. ‘This’, he said, ‘is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’

The Ascension of Jesus

So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ 

Acts is a sequel to Luke’s Gospel and Luke starts his second volume with a similar preface to the one he wrote at the beginning of his Gospel, explaining to Theophilus the nature and purpose of his book. Part one was all about what Jesus did and taught. Part two is about all that happened after the ascension of Jesus and the arrival of the Holy Spirit.

Theophilus may be a real person – possibly a wealthy resident of Antioch where Luke was born. The name Theophilus means “lover of God” so this could also be a nickname or a generic way of addressing any person of faith.

The final chapter of Luke’s Gospel suggests that the resurrection and the ascension took place on the same day. Acts indicates that there was a forty-day period between the resurrection and the ascension (Acts 1:3). That is why Ascension Day is celebrated forty days after Easter in the church calendar. Eastern Orthodox Christians believe that the soul wanders around the earth for forty days after a person’s death and finally goes to heaven on the fortieth day – as Jesus did.

Jesus spent this time talking with the apostles about the kingdom of God. The apostles still seem to think that Jesus is going to rule the world as an earthly king and want to know when that is going to happen but Jesus refuses to give them a timetable. He tells them that, “… you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”. In the first century, the enthronement of a new king would be announced by messengers travelling throughout the territory. This is to be the role of the apostles. They are to share the good news that Jesus is King.

The movement from Jerusalem to Judea and then to Samaria and the ends of the earth is a very logical progression. It also gives us a program for what we will see happening as we continue reading the Acts of the Apostles. Luke is providing us with an itinerary for the journey he is about to take us on.

Blessings as we remember he truth of Jesus Resurrection and his promise to be with us always to the end of the world.  Be safe!  Be well!  He is Risen!

 To Ponder:

• At what point do you think the soul goes to heaven?
• If you were to tell the story of the activity of the Holy Spirit in your life, how would you begin?