Chapter 978 of 1163

ACTS

Perhaps a better title is “The Acts of the Holy Spirit through the Church.” This story tells how God’s people obeyed the Lord’s commission to take the gospel to the whole world. Luke wrote it as a companion volume to his gospel (1:1–3; Luke 1:1–4), and it describes what Jesus continued to do and teach after He returned to heaven.

Peter’s ministry dominates the first part of the book (chaps. 1–12), and then Luke focuses on Paul’s ministry (chaps. 13–28). These two men had parallel experiences of both trial and ministry. Peter used the “keys” (Matt. 16:19) to open the door of faith to the Jews (chap. 2), the Samaritans (chap. 8), and the Gentiles (chap. 10); Paul took the good news to the Gentiles in the Roman Empire.

Acts 1:8 outhnes the book, for the gospel went from Jerusalem (chaps. 1–7) to Judea and Samaria (chaps. 8–9) and then to the ends of the earth (chaps. 10–28). The book of Acts describes a transition from ministry to Jews to ministry to the Gentiles and explains how the gospel got from Jerusalem to Rome.

This book is for every Christian who wants to experience the power of the Holy Spirit and be a witness for Jesus Christ “to the end of the earth” (1:8). Ask God what part He wants you to play in taking the gospel to the whole world, starting right where you are: “Lord, what do You want me to do?” (9:6).

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