The Acts Of The Apostles, Day 1, Many Convincing Proofs

Luke begins the book of Acts by saying, "In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen." (Acts 1:1-2) Luke addressed this same man, Theophilus, at the beginning of his gospel account. The identity of this person is unknown. He appears to have been a close friend or highly respected acquaintance of Luke's, but beyond that we can't speculate. 

The contents of the book of Luke were gathered by its author by interviewing eyewitnesses and by thoroughly investigating all the claims of Jesus' miracles and His resurrection. (Luke 1:1-4) The information Luke gathered was enough to convince him that Jesus is the Son of God, and so he calls the gospel "the certainty" in Luke 1:4. Luke didn't witness these events himself, but he is certain about what he believes in regard to Jesus Christ. In the book of Acts we will find Luke relating many events he actually witnessed himself, but as we begin today he finishes his gospel account by describing why the apostles are about to risk everything to preach the resurrection of Christ. They are ready to do this because Jesus has provided them with many convincing proofs that He is alive. 

Luke is not an apostle himself, never having seen the risen Christ, but he has heard the stories of those who saw Him in the flesh following the resurrection. He interviewed the apostles and they told him this, "After His suffering, He presented Himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God." (Acts 1:3) The apostles are convinced that Jesus rose from the dead. They are going to stake their lives on it. These men who formerly trembled in fear behind locked doors have been transformed by their faith in the risen Christ. They are going to boldly share the gospel even if it kills them.

"On one occasion, while He was eating with them, He gave them this command: 'Do not leave Jerusalem, but 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.'" (Acts 1:4-5) This is going to be fulfilled in the second chapter of Acts. Until then the apostles are to remain at Jerusalem. 

"Then they gathered around Him and asked Him, 'Lord, are You at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?'" (Acts 1:6) These men want to know, "What happens next? You've been promised the throne of David. You've been promised a kingdom that will never end. Is this going to happen now? Are You going to overthrow our oppressors and restore our sovereignty?"

The kingdom of God is going to come in all its fullness at the proper time. The kingdom began with the advent of Christ, and it continues to grow as the gospel goes out to the world, but the day when Christ is crowned with many crowns and is the head of all nations and rules the world in love and righteousness is still ahead. Before they receive the Holy Spirit, the apostles are still thinking according to worldly ways. They are looking for a worldly kingdom. They believe Jesus is the Son of God, and therefore their Messiah and King, but they are still somewhat more concerned with political matters than with spiritual matters. This is why they must wait at Jerusalem until they are baptized by the Holy Spirit. They are not ready to go into all the world and preach the gospel because they still lack enough understanding to do so. But the Holy Spirit will guide them into the proper type of "kingdom thinking". They will stop concentrating on political freedom and will place all their focus on the spiritual freedom that is available through Christ. 

At their question regarding the kingdom being restored to Israel, "He said to them: 'It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. 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.'" (Acts 1:7-8) He advises them, "It is the Father's job to fulfill all things at the proper time. Your job is to testify to the world about Me."

"After He said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 'Men of Galilee,' they said, 'why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.'" (Acts 1:9-11) The angels remind the men of their commission. Jesus has now gone to sit at the right hand of the Father, having completed the work He came to do. Their job is to tell the world about Jesus. Their job is to tell the world that Jesus is going to return and set up an eternal kingdom. When Luke began the book of Acts, he said that in his gospel account he "wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach" (emphasis mine). The work of Jesus began while He walked the earth, but His work continues through believers like you and me. 

Christ will indeed return in the same manner in which He departed, but we are not to stand gazing into the sky. We have work to do. We have been commissioned by our great King to be about His business, and that business is telling the good news of Jesus Christ to the world.