Acts 1:1-5 (Part 2)

January 26, 2025

We begin our journey in the history of the church with the final words of Jesus to His disciples before His ascension. In Acts 1:1-11, Luke recounts how Jesus, after His resurrection, spent 40 days teaching about the Kingdom of God. He instructed the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Spirit, who would empower them to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. As Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples watched in awe, and two angels appeared, assuring them that He would return in the same way they saw Him go. This moment marked the beginning of their mission and the birth of the church.

ACTS 1:1-11

1 In my former book ["The Gospel of Luke"], Theophilus ["Friend of God"], I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.

3 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. [John 20:19-29 & 1 Corinthians 15:3-5]

4 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. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” [Mark 3:11 & Luke 24:49]

6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” [2 Samuel 7:12-13, Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:10-12, Jeremiah 23:5-6, Ezekiel 37:21-24, & Daniel 2:24]

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 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.” [Matthew 28:19-20]

9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. [Mark 16:19-20 & Hebrews 4:14]

10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “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.” [Matthew 16:27; 24:26-31 & Revelation 1:7]

New Testament Books Written During the Book of Acts (Conservative Dates)

 

Acts 1–7: Early Church in Jerusalem (AD 30–35)

  • No NT Books Written Yet
    (The church is in its infancy, focused on spreading the gospel in Jerusalem.)
  • 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 Creed
  • Philippians 2:6-11 Hymn, "Carmen Christi"

Acts 8–12: Persecution and Expansion (AD 35–44)

  • James
    • Author: James, the brother of Jesus
    • Where Written: Jerusalem
    • When Written: AD 44–49
    • Context: Likely written shortly before or during the events of Acts 12, where James the Apostle (son of Zebedee) was martyred and Peter was imprisoned.

Acts 13–14: Paul’s First Missionary Journey (AD 47–48)

  • Galatians
    • Author: Paul
    • Where Written: Antioch or during Paul’s journey
    • When Written: AD 48–49
    • Context: Written after Paul’s first missionary journey (Acts 13–14) and before the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15).

Acts 15: The Jerusalem Council (AD 49)

  • No NT Books Written
    • Focus is on resolving disputes about Gentile inclusion in the church.

Acts 16–18: Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (AD 49–52)

  • 1 Thessalonians
    • Author: Paul
    • Where Written: Corinth
    • When Written: AD 50–51
    • Context: Written during Paul’s stay in Corinth (Acts 18:1–11).
  • 2 Thessalonians
    • Author: Paul
    • Where Written: Corinth
    • When Written: AD 51–52
    • Context: Written shortly after 1 Thessalonians, while Paul was still in Corinth.

Acts 19–20: Paul’s Third Missionary Journey (AD 52–57)

  • 1 Corinthians
    • Author: Paul
    • Where Written: Ephesus
    • When Written: AD 54–55
    • Context: Written during Paul’s extended stay in Ephesus (Acts 19:1–10).
  • 2 Corinthians
    • Author: Paul
    • Where Written: Macedonia
    • When Written: AD 55–56
    • Context: Written after leaving Ephesus (Acts 20:1–2).
  • Romans
    • Author: Paul
    • Where Written: Corinth
    • When Written: AD 56–57
    • Context: Written at the end of Paul’s third missionary journey (Acts 20:2–3).

Acts 21–28: Paul’s Arrest, Trials, and Journey to Rome (AD 57–62)

  • Mark
    • Author: John Mark
    • Where Written: Rome or Antioch
    • When Written: AD 50s–60
    • Context: Likely written while Mark was assisting Peter, before or during Paul’s Roman imprisonment (Acts 28).
  • Matthew (Possibly)
    • Author: Matthew (Levi), the apostle
    • Where Written: Judea or Antioch
    • When Written: AD 50s–60
    • Context: Some scholars place its composition in this period.
  • Luke
    • Author: Luke
    • Where Written: Likely during Paul’s travels
    • When Written: AD 60–62
    • Context: Written before Acts as a companion volume.
  • Acts
    • Author: Luke
    • Where Written: Rome
    • When Written: AD 62
    • Context: Ends with Paul’s imprisonment in Rome.

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Posted in Acts Sunday Series, Recent Sermons