Acts 1:1-3

September 2, 2001     

Acts: The Ultimate Sequel

As the sun sets earlier each evening, the nights grow cooler we know that another summer comes to an end. With it so closes another chapter of that great summer tradition. Not the family vacation or the days spent by the pool, not the brats on the grill or the baseball games, but the summer cinema sequel. Like the pulp fiction consumed like cotton candy, summer movies win few awards or accolades from critics, but produce great revenue at the box office. The sequel, therefore, is a wonderfully mindless continuation of previous winners.

This summer, the mummy returned to frighten theater goers once again. The dinosaurs roamed the earth once more, hungry for tasty tidbits of screaming people. While few sequels live on as great movies, such as the Godfather or Star Wars most end up only shallow forms of what they sought to replicate. How many times could we ever cheer the has-been boxer making a comeback? If the waters are infested by sharks, even Floridians know to stay on the beach.

For Hollywood, the sequel is designed to be a money maker, but ideally, part two should complete a story, tie up the loose ends, expand in the second what the first left unfinished.

When it comes to the Gospels, after Jesus dies, is buried and rises from the dead what else is needed? The Gospel leave us with the ascension as the final chapter in the story. But it is not. The story continues.

With Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, the status quo is shaken, life is radically changed. But how? How do we apply the truth of the gospel to the lives of believers? What happens to those whose lives are transformed by God’s grace?  The fifth book in the New Testament opens up for us what that change looks like. With a view of applying the life changing power of the cross, Luke examines the early history of the church. This is a sequel in the best of ways.

It does not merely rehash a tired formula, but shows lives recreated by God to become witnesses of his grace. The first half of the book shows Peter, once arrogant yet afraid is changed by God to be the spokesman for God. Then Paul, introduced as Saul, the persecutor of God’s people, is changed into the great apologist for the faith. We are about to embark on a lengthy study of this book. Over the years we have moved in a fairly systematic fashion through God’s Word. We’ve read through Genesis through Deuteronomy, considered the themes in Matthew, James, Ephesians and Philippians and have made short detours in the Psalms and a smattering of other bits of Scripture. But now we will begin a journey through Acts which I trust will prepare us for our future as a Church.

For some, Acts is that long book skimmed through by those who love the comforting words of Christ and who desire the meat of Paul’s writing. For some Acts produces a bit of fear as they have seen Pentecostals use this book to justify practices with which we are not comfortable or those who imagine we can return to a first century way of doing church that alone is correct.

But as we make our way through the rich biblical history of the early church, we will see the great themes of Romans illustrated, the powerful words of Christ applied and the fulfillment of the Old Testament clearly explained. This is a book we can ill-afford to ignore.

This is not to say that the book is simple to apply. There will be some very important and often controversial issues which we must face head on. There is a tension between the dramatic and supernatural events in the Apostolic church and the church we see today. We must be willing to discuss the question: "What is the Biblical relationship between the supernatural birth of the apostolic church, and the church as it undertakes its mission today?" Should we speak of the "apostolic age" in the past tense? Are all of the miraculous events recorded in Acts to be seen as normative, or the pattern of ministry for all Christians in all ages? In what sense should Cornerstone Church look like the church we find in Acts? (Kim Riddlebarger, The Reign of Christ, Christ URC)

Background

Before we jump into this book we need some background. The opening verse of Acts 1 points us to what comes first, to Luke’s Gospel. Let’s take a moment to uncover what we can about Luke the author and his project.

In Luke 1 we are told in writing this account, Luke is doing what others have done before him. His is not claiming his to be the only true account of the life of Christ, but rather it is designed to be an aid to a certain gentleman, Theophilus.

Notice what Luke says about his Gospel.

He, like the others (as we see in Matthew, Mark and John) are an account of that which is handed down. The term here, “handed down” is a technical term used by the rabbis to speak of authoritative events used to instruct others. Luke is not an originator, he is not writing fiction here.

This is more clearly seen in what he says next. Those who handed down these accounts were eyewitnesses from the beginning. Luke is not fabricating the events reported here, he is making use of excellent resources in what he writes. Like a good reporter and an excellent historian, Luke reports the events of Jesus’ birth with intimate accuracy. He gives details of Christ’s ministry as could have been told only by those who were present.

What is more, his resources are “servants of the word.” The idea of an apostolic tradition is seen from the outset. While some may win a Nobel for great fiction, Luke’s intent is to record, not create.

What is Luke’s role here – he is giving an orderly account. He is seeking to arrange the facts in such a fashion that his reader will be able to benefit from the story.

That benefit is so that he will be encouraged in what he has been taught. “Taught” is a term of formal instruction: catechesis. While he has sought to be accurate in his work, he did not write as a dispassionate commentator. He sought to build up his reader in the faith.

Who is the recipient?

We really don’t know. Theophilus means either “Lover of God” or “Loved by God”. The only clue as to his identity comes from the adjective “most excellent”, a term Luke reserves in Acts only for those of high social standing, of rulers and judges as seen in Paul’s address to Festus and Agrippa later in Acts. Other than that, we know nothing of him.

What about Luke?

While in the Gospel and much of Acts he would have used sources, interviews, other written accounts, in the middle of Acts we see a change in his writing. In Acts 16:9 Luke speaks of Paul’s work in the third person, but in the next verse it is the first. There in Troas, Luke joins the missionary team. 

He was a friend of Paul, as seen in Paul’s letter to the Colossians in 4:14 where he says:

Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.

He remained a faithful companion while Paul was in jail, nearing his death:

Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.  (2 Timothy 4:11)

Luke’s contribution to the New Testament is seen in both the breadth and depth of his writings. Not only does he cover some sixty years, he is the most prolific writer in the New Testament, composing, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, 30% of the New Testament, more than Paul or John.

This then brings us back to the introduction in Acts 1, the introduction to the sequel to the Gospel. The necessity for a second book is not that the first was such a hit a second was needed. The reason was perhaps far more mundane.

Ancient books were written on papyrus scrolls which had to be unrolled and rerolled to be read. The practical maximum length of a scroll was about 35 ft, otherwise to hard to carry and use. Luke’s Gospel would be very close to that in length, so a second volume was necessary.

Introduction to Acts

Luke joins these two volumes in the opening, but does so in a way that shows where the second volume is headed. He uses an interesting statement to show that this sequel is a necessary continuation of what came before. In the Gospel, Luke wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach.

The unusual construction “began” implies work unfinished. The work and words of Jesus continue throughout Acts in the ministry of the apostles. In Luke, ascension is end, in Acts it is the beginning. If the Gospels focus on the accomplishment of redemption, Acts describes the application of redemption. If the Gospels tell us what the gospel is, Acts tells us what the gospel does.

We must not negate the finality of Christ’s work on earth or leave salvation open ended. When Christ pronounced on the cross ”It is finished”, our relationship with God was secured. The debt was paid, sins covered, the wrath removed.

Yet, while the battle was won, the war continued and Christ is not absent. Christ’s ascension is not the end of Christ’s compassion. The incarnation of the Son of God into human flesh, the once-for-all sacrifice of himself for sin on the cross, the mighty resurrection and Ascension to the Father's right hand is just the BEGINNING of what Jesus came to do and to teach. And the rest of what he came to do, he does NOW in this age until the time appointed by the Father for the consummation of all things. That is the point of the book of Acts and that is why we exist as a church and that is what this age is all about. The book of Acts is not just the acts of the apostles, it is the acts of the risen, living, enthroned Jesus. He said in Mt 16, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." This is Luke's point. Jesus began his doing and teaching until he was taken up to heaven. Now he goes on completing his doing and teaching -- he goes on building his church just like he said he would. (Piper, 9/16/90, What Jesus Did after the Beginning)

The name tradition assigns to this book is Acts. Some have called it the Acts of the Apostles, but that is too one-sided, too much focus on the human. Others have referred to it as the Acts of the Holy Spirit, but that misses the agents God has used.  Instead we can rightly refer to it as the Acts of the Holy Spirit through the Apostles, or as one writer called it “The Continuing Words and Deeds of Jesus by his Spirit through the Apostles.”

One can not read through this book without seeing God’s hand at work among his people by means of the Holy Spirit. Luke points to that in v2 where he speaks of Christ’s instructions given through the Holy Spirit.

If you turn to Luke 24, there is no mention of the Holy Spirit. Luke’s only mention of the Spirit in the Gospel is how the Spirit worked in the life of Jesus. The Spirit descends on Jesus at baptism, fills him as he returned from Jordan, leads him both in and out of wilderness, and rest upon him in sermon at Nazareth. That Spirit who worked in Christ was now to be on the Apostles in their ministry. Before they experienced the Spirit at work in Jesus, now they will personally experience that Spirit.

What should we expect to learn from this book?

The Church Grows by God’s Power

Through Paul’s letters we see the truth of God’s sovereignty explained, but in Acts we see it illustrated. The establishment and growth of the Church is not a mistake or a fluke, rather it is clearly God’s design. This is simply seen in the numerous times in Acts that the Old Testament is quoted for support.

• In the first chapter we will see how Scriptures foretold the death of Judas and how God was at work in the selection of one to fill his spot among the Apostles.
• The outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost surprised many, but it was clearly foretold in Scripture and God’s work bringing many to faith that day is made evident by the conclusion in Acts 2: “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
• Their preaching pointed to God’s sovereign hand, even in the most reprehensible act of human history, the unlawful execution of God’s one and only Son. In Acts 2:23 this was done “by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge and with the help of wicked men.”
• God’s severe justice is seen in the death of Ananias and Sapphira as they lied to God the Holy Spirit and immediately were judged, dying on the spot.
• The gospel going to the Gentiles, an act unthinkable by the Jews at that time, was, by the Father’s direct intervention, made possible in Acts 10.
• As we turn to the second half of Acts with its focus on Paul, from his calling to saving faith to his calling to work as a missionary – God is constantly at work directing his Church.

Acts explains for us what the present reign of Christ looks like. What Christ began to do in Acts, he continues to do today. While Pentecostals err by making many of the events in Acts normative, such as they way they interpret speaking in tongues and in the way they insist upon miraculous healings as the norm, Pentecostals are correct in stressing the present power and presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church. At Cornerstone Church we are part of the same church formed at Pentecost, and the same Risen and Ascended Christ and Holy Spirit we read of in Acts are in our midst this morning.

The Church Grows through God’s People

While Acts clearly points to the power of God at work in the Church, God uses people. The two ways in which the Church grew was through word and deed, through preaching and presence.

Acts contains numerous sermons and in them the centrality of God’s Word is clear. We can gather a glimpse of what biblical preaching is to be by examining the short messages contained here. They are Christ-centered and driven by the need to apply the gospel to the lives of their hearers. But that message must be proclaimed.

The growth which takes place in Acts is not just numerical growth, but that numerical growth is by means of Word growth. Here is but a few times in which we see that growth.

• Acts 2:47 And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
• Acts 4:4 But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
• Acts 5:14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.
• Acts 6:7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
• Acts 11:21 The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
• Acts 14:21 They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch,
• Acts 17:12 Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.

The wonderful connection between God’s sovereign power working through his servants, drawing people to himself was illustrated to me again as I read through Acts this week. When we think of evangelistic preaching in the American culture, the “invitation” is a standard format since the second Great Awakening. Yet in Acts, as the Gospel is proclaimed, it is interesting who initiates the call?

In Acts 2, on Pentecost, while Peter preaches, God draws those who are his to himself so that they inquire: “What shall we do?” As Philip explains Isaiah 53 to the Ethiopian, it is that imperial treasurer who makes the move by asking: “Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” The Philippian jailer is the one who comes running to Paul and Silas wanting to know: “What must I do to be saved?”

But preaching is not cold and mechanical act. The Church built upon the apostles and prophets is a church in which the presence of community is necessary.

The response to the Gospel is community. At Pentecost, they spent time in the word as well as time with one another (2:42,46). The meal wherein they came together is a meal we are invited to as well. Our Lord continues to invite us to join him in a fellowship meal, in which he feeds us with his crucified body and blood, as we come to the heavenly feast that he has prepared for us. Our unity and the community which we seek to form is not based on our common goals and dreams, but comes from the common body we share, Christ as our common head. When we gather to partake of the Lord’s Supper together, we do so based on the common working of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Luke never really completed his book. There is no finality to it. The reason is simple. The continuing work of Christ through the ministry of the Holy Spirit has not stopped. The sequel to Christ’s work on this earth is not yet over. As we join together in the Lord’s Supper we do so as part of the continuing story of Acts. With believers through all the ages, we join as one.