Highlighted Text: Acts 1:1-11

Summary of the text:

Background of Writing Luke/Acts: I don’t know about you, but as a kid, and even a teenager, I never really thought too much about how the Biblical canon was formed. If I had to guess, I’d probably have assumed God would sit everyone down in a room from time to time and say, “Write this down, this is my Word!”

The beginning of Acts, which is really the second of a two-part book written by Luke, gives us some insight into just how different scriptures emerged as part of the official canon of the church.

We also receive a clue as to why this gospel exists. A man named Theophilus (which means “beloved of God”) commissioned Luke to write an account of Jesus’ ministry. Luke chooses to do this by writing two books, first, an account of Jesus’ ministry  (The Gospel of Luke), But he also decides it was important enough to not stop there. 

Jesus’ earthly ministry is not the end, but a new beginning for this fledgling group, convinced that a man from Nazareth named Jesus was not only the true messiah of the Jews, but of the whole world. And to prove this, it’s necessary for Luke to share how the movement develops after Jesus returns to the Father in the Ascension. 

For this is when the promised Holy Spirit shows up and begins doing amazing things through this relatively small group of Jesus-followers. So, a second book, (the book of Acts)  mainly composed of the early events in the life of the church, was also written.

This is how Luke frames his writing: “In my former book [the gospel of Luke] Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach up until Jesus was taken up to heaven.”

That final period, which Luke elaborates on here, is the 40 days in which he met with the disciples. Although the word Luke uses here is not “disciples” (mathētēs), but a different word that will be used throughout the book of Acts: “apostles” (apostolos), meaning a delegate, a messenger, or someone who is sent.

Disciples or Apostles? As someone who grew up Catholic and later became Protestant, one of the things I noticed was how Catholics generally referred to the twelve as apostles, whereas Protestants would primarily call them disciples. I’m not sure exactly why this is (or why Catholics speak of “mercy” while Protestants speak of “grace,” but I digress), but obviously, both titles were used for the Twelve in the gospel accounts and the book of Acts.

One might suppose there is a clear delineation between the twelve as first disciples, then apostles (similar to Abram/Abraham, Saul/Paul, but the terms are used, not necessarily interchangeably, but rather based on specific situations. In this sense, it’s important not to see the twelve as starting as disciples, then graduating to apostles. 

For example, the twelve are called “apostles” earlier in Luke’s gospel, specifically when they were being commissioned for missionary events, such as when Jesus  sent the disciples out two by two in Luke 9. Now, in our present text,  the twelve are referred to as “apostles,” who will go from Jerusalem (local) , to Judea (regional), to Samaria (regional, but outside the Jewish community), and the ends of the earth. 

But let’s come back to these early words in the book of Acts.

A Brief Summary of Jesus’ Post Resurrection Appearances: Luke begins by summarizing Jesus’ activity post-resurrection, a time in which he showed his followers that he had in fact risen from the dead. Luke points out that Jesus provided “many convincing proofs” over a 40-day period. 

Why this detail about 40 days? Well, it’s an important number in Jewish culture, and not just important, but it is used to describe periods of preparation and training. For example, right after Jesus is baptized, he goes into the wilderness for 40 days-a time of intense preparation and training for his ministry…his temptation is part of that refining period. So the apostles also receive 40 days to be with Jesus-to learn from Him and to prepare themselves for what is to come.

But it’s not just training they will receive, is it? No, Luke shares how Jesus gives explicit instructions to remain in Jerusalem, and to

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. 

Certainly, Jesus’ training is essential for what is to come for the Twelve, but it’s the Holy Spirit, whose power will enable them to proclaim the gospel with courage, boldness, and strength. And to be able to withstand any persecution that may come.

Preaching Angle: I think most of us (especially in the West) read this passage and think, “this is such a different world than our own.” We aren’t persecuted for our faith. Our churches aren’t located in catacombs underneath the city, where no prowling eyes might find us. But I think there are some similarities. The images and stereotypes of Chrisitans are fairly scathing in popular media. I recently had a pastor friend mention a former colleague who had left the ministry and was working in the physical fitness world. Changing vocations had completely flipped his interactions with Christians and non-Christians. He said something along the lines of, “the image of Christians and the church is so bad, it’s almost impossible to scale.” 

While there are clearly some Christians who live into the stereotype of angry, judgmental, and hypocritical, it seems safe to say that the way Christians are represented in popular media has by and large been accepted by those outside the church. 

Our featured illustration below shows just how challenging it can be to share the gospel in such a context. But this is where our passage is an important reminder. We don’t have to do it alone. The Holy Spirit is open to us to help us proclaim the gospel in power and truth.

Taking the Gospel to the Ends of the Earth: After a brief conversation about the restoration of Israel, in which Jesus again points out that only the Father knows when his time has come, Jesus returns to the subject of the Holy Spirit and the apostles’ commissioning. He uses an interesting word to describe their work, he says “you will be my witnesses.” 

A witness of course is one who tells others what they have seen and heard. This is a fair description for what the apostles’ new ministry will look like. They will go and share what they experienced of Jesus, both before and after his resurrection. It’s also a subtle reminder that their job is not to launch off on their own ministries, but to ground their missionary work in what they’ve seen, touched, and heard from Jesus himself. They do this as emissaries, as messengers of the true king, Jesus Christ.

Jesus Ascends to the Father: After exhorting the twelve to be his witnesses (starting locally and moving to the far edges of the world) Luke tells us in verse 9 that Jesus “was taken up before their very eyes and a cloud hid him from their sight.” They continued staring up at the sky, when, luke tells us, two men approach them and essentially say, why are you looking for Jesus? He’s not here.” 

The subtext seems to be, “yes, you long for Jesus to remain with you on earth, but his time on earth is at an end, and your job is in front of you, not in the sky.”

Stuart Strachan Jr. is an ordained Presbyterian Pastor as well as the founder and lead curator of the Pastor’s Workshop. His primary passion is equipping the saints for the ministry of the church (Ephesians 4). He loves preaching, teaching, and helping churches cast vision for what it means to follow Jesus in the 21st Century. He has served churches in a variety of capacities in California, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

Stu is married to Colleen, who currently serves as a spiritual formation lead at Compassion International in Colorado Springs. Stu and Colleen have two children (Jack and Emma) whom they love deeply.

In his free time, Stu enjoys gardening, golf, reading a good book, and watching baseball.

Call to Worship

Clap your hands, all you peoples! 

God has gone up with a shout of joy. 

The Lord Jesus Christ has risen to reign; 

His is the name above all names. 

We are witnesses: the Lord is risen! 

Christ has ascended to reign on high. 

Submitted by Austin D. Hill 

Prayer of Adoration

Gracious and faithful God  

– our Creator, Redeemer and Comforter: 

When we don’t know the way – You show us the way; and 

When we can’t find a way – You make a way. 

Thank you! 

Thank you for Your gift of a Savior – 

not a savior who stays distant and aloof,  

but one who enters the warp and woof of our existence 

as Emmanuel – God with us; and 

who then sanctifies every place and time in which we live. 

Richard Herman

Prayer of Confession

Dear Lord, we come to You today in worship and praise, knowing that You are God and King. You are worthy of our praise. We also come recognizing that we are sinners and stand here in need of You, our Savior. We have sinned against You and others and ourselves and have wanted to go our own way. We have been stubborn, controlling, and selfish, and have not been faithful to You. We confess that we haven’t been good witnesses of Your love and grace, and have not stood firm in our faith. We are so sorry, oh Lord; please forgive us. Change our hearts and cause us to repent and turn toward You. Fill us, Holy Spirit, making us new and whole. Wash us clean and breathe Your breath into us. In the Name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

Assurance of Pardon

Micah 7:18-19

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance?  You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. Amen

Bud Thoreen

Benediction

May the Holy Spirit empower you now and always

to speak and live the Good News of Jesus

for you and for all. Amen.

Lisa Degrenia, www.revlisad.com