5th June 2023
What the Holy Spirit did
This study is the sixth in a series of studies on the books of the New Testament
(Acts – read in 1 hour 16 minutes)
… “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:7-8 (NKJV)
These words, from Jesus, are taken by Luke as a framework for Acts, the sequel to his gospel account. He begins with the giving of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and the power he imbues the apostles with. Then he traces the preaching of the gospel ‘in Jerusalem’, ‘in all Judea and Samaria’ (Acts 8:14), and finally, via the power of the Roman Empire, to the ever-widening sphere described as ‘the end of the earth’. This provides an explanation of why the focus of the account begins with Peter and then transitions to Paul, as the gospel moves from Jerusalem and a largely Jewish audience, to embrace Gentiles, as explained by the Lord to Ananias, “…he [Paul] is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:15). Paul’s journeys, from Acts 13 onwards, detail this process.
Acts is a book full of names of people, and of places. We meet a host of characters faithfully meeting together, faithfully preaching the gospel revealed by Jesus Christ, and facing all sorts of difficulties, from all sorts of people, in all sorts of places. It is a geography lesson, a story of courage and intrigue and a testament to the power of the Holy Spirit – the promised Comforter – to achieve God’s purpose through weak, fallible human beings. Witness Stephen’s inspired sermon that infuriated his Jewish audience (Acts 6 and 7). Observe the many miracles and signs that accompanied and validated the preaching of Christ – including the dead raised, (Acts 9:36-41) the lame healed (Acts 3:1-10), chains broken to free apostles from prison (Acts 5:17-21), as well as references to ‘many wonders and signs’ (Acts 2:43).
It is a carefully documented account of a programme that shook the world it occurred in. The numbers are huge – 3000 on that first day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41). But it doesn’t stop there. Acts 4:4 speaks of another 5000. Act 5:14 records, ‘And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women’. We are told that, ‘…the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria…were multiplied.’ (Acts 9:31). No wonder it attracted the often hostile attention of authority figures from both the Jewish community who rejected Christ as the Son of God, and the ruling officials of Rome who saw their emperor as the only ‘Lord’.
Acts represents the transition from the Old to the New Covenant – with the Holy Spirit, given to all who believe – being central. Paul is used as an expression of this, as he comes to realise that all he learned and observed as a strict Pharisee is no longer anything in terms of pleasing God, being granted forgiveness, and attaining eternal life. (Acts 13:35-39).
The final two verses of Acts (28:30-31), bring us back to the beginning. Paul continues to witness to Christ, through the power of the holy Spirit. The overriding theme of the book is reprised and we are, by implication, invited to join witnesses who have gone before.
Prayer
Father, although we do not know the ‘times or the seasons’, thank you for the part you have given us in preaching your gospel; for the Holy Spirit who can empower us, and please show us how this can be done. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Study by Maggie Mitchell
About the writer:
Maggie Mitchell attends the Northampton congregation of Grace Communion International and is Chair of the Pastoral Council
Local congregation:
GCI Northampton
Ecton Village Hall
78A High Street
Ecton
Northampton
NN6 0QB
Local congregational contact:
Maggie Mitchell
Email: maggie.mitchell@btinternet.com
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church