Acts: The Journey of the Early Church It Begins with a Witness Chapter 1:1-11

“The Young Church in Action” "Surely this is the church as it was meant to be. It is vigorous and flexible, for these are the days before it ever became fat and short of breath through prosperity, or muscle-bound by over organization. These men did not make acts of faith, they believed; they did not say their prayers, they prayed.

“The Young Church in Action” They did not hold conferences on psychosomatic medicine, they simply healed the sick. By modern standards they may have been naive, but perhaps because of their very simplicity, perhaps because of their readiness simply to believe, to obey, to give, to suffer, and,

“The Young Church in Action” if necessary, to die, the Spirit of God found that he could work in them and through them, and so they turned the world upside down."

1 I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day He was taken up, after He had given orders through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen. 3 After He had suffered, He also presented Himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God. Acts 1:1-3

4 While He was together with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “This,” [He said, “is what] you heard from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, at this time are You restoring the kingdom to Israel?” Acts 1:4-6

7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority. 8 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.” 9 After He had said this, He was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. Acts 1:7-9

10 While He was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven.” Acts 1:10-11

The Witness in the Life of Jesus (vs. 1-5) His work and His teaching (vs. 1-2) Jesus' ministry on earth was climaxed in His death and resurrection (v. 3). His promise of the kingdom (v. 3c) His promise of the Holy Spirit (vs. 4-5)

The Witness of the Message of Jesus (vs. 6-8) Verse 8 is the key verse of the book of Acts. This call to witness is not limited to any select group of people This verse tells us how to witness. – We are equipped by the Holy Spirit. – We are equipped by the Holy Spirit to witness. – We are equipped by the Holy Spirit to witness where we are.

The Witness in the Ascension of Jesus (vs. 9-11) These two men were angels who announced this great event in history. The angels give the disciples a prompt. Why would the Lord return to heaven? – With Jesus in heaven we must live our lives by faith and turn our hearts and vision upward and forward. – During the time he is there and we are here, he serves as our heavenly intercessor and advocate.