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THE KING’S BUSINESS
2. haul’s first missionary journey, 13, 14. 3. The council at Jerusalem, fixing terms o f admission to Gentile churches, 15:1-41. 4. The second missionary journey, 15:36-18:20. 5. The third missionary journey, 18:23- 21:17. - 6 . The imprisonment at Caesarea, and voyage to Rome, 21:18-28. ■ Church-Gentile: Uttermost part o f the world, 13-28. General View of the Contents o f the Acts. The general contents o f the book are suggested by the key verse: “ But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost vis come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the utter most part o f the earth” ( 1 : 8 ). The outline would then be as follow s: I. . “Ye shall receive power”—The com mission to wait at Jerusalem for the endue- ment o f power for witnessing, 1 - 2 . II. Witnessing in Jerusalem, 3:l-6:7. III. Witnessing in Judea, 6:8-8:3. IV. Witnessing in Samaria, 8:4-40. ' V. ! Witnessing to the uttermost parts of the earth, 9 :28. Theme: The Church—described with respect to its origin at Jerusalem, and its extension throughout Judea, Samaria, and to the uttermost parts o f the earth. INTRODUCTORY, c. 1. Three main thoughts are presented in this introductory chapter: First. The address and purpose o f the hook, 1 : 1 - 3 . These introductory words connect Acts with Luke (cf. Luke 1:1), and show the history to ; be a continuous one. Acts should be read following Luke. The ascen sion o f Christ is the finishing point in Luke (24:51) and the commencing point in Acts (1:10, 11). What Jesus began to do and teach in Luke, He continues in the Acts. Second. The ascension and parting instructions o f ou f Lord, 1 : 4 - 1 1 .
The disciples were 'to wait" at Jerusalem, not Galilee. The faith which they are to proclaim must link itself with the center o f Judaism. The gospel must be accepted or rejected at the national capital, hence they must begin at Jerusalem. They were to wait for the enduement of the Holy Spirit. Even though they had been to school for three and a half years with Christ, they yet needed the “promise o f the Father.” The desire o f the disciples to peer into future things which God had kept as His own private concern (1:6-8; cf. Mark 13 :32) is rebuked. Christ would sooner have His apostles witness with power than be able to peer info the future. They are to be heralds o f the past rather than seers o f the future. Christ reproves vain curios ity, and encourages desire for spiritual power. ¡The ascension was an important event for the disciples to witness. Christ was now to them not only the crucified and risen Saviour, but also the ascended and exalted Lord and,Leader in the campaign on which He was now sending them. He was the reigning King o f the universe, the Possessor o f all power in heaven and in earth. The ascension also gave the apos tles an answer to the inquiry o f the Jews as to where Jesus had gone, and what had become o f His body. In connection with the'ascension is the promise o f the coming again o f Jesus Christ in a personal, bodily, visible form. This promise formed the profoundest and most inspiring hope o f the early church. To this event their faith and hearts ever turned with ardent, hopeful, and expectant long ing (cf. 2:17-20; 3:20, 21, etc.). This promise Was not fulfilled in the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, otherwise the apostles and early church would not have continued to look for it after Pentecost. It is still an event o f the future. What a wonderful time the apostles must have had with Jesus those forty days! What topics must they have dis cussed 1 “ Things concerning the kingdom
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