We spent all of last year talking about Jesus. We spent most of the year talking about his ministry: how he healed people, how he met people where they were at, talked to them, and offered them forgiveness for their sins. He offered people who society had ignored a way back to God.
Jesus came to be the Messiah, but people didn’t understand what that meant. They thought Jesus came to restore Israel as an independent kingdom, back to the glory days of King David. And instead of raising an army and becoming a military liberator, Jesus was arrested, went to the cross, and died.
It was unexpected. His followers did not know what to do. They scattered and hid, uncertain what the future held.
Then Jesus came back! He was alive! We talked about this a little bit last year—the days after Jesus was raised from the dead. He appeared to his followers, and he spoke to them.
Let’s turn to the book of Acts! It’s the fifth book of the Bible. Someone please read Acts 1:1-3.
1 In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning 2 until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
The author of Acts was Luke—who also wrote the Gospel of Luke. So Acts in a lot of ways it Luke Part 2. In the gospel, Luke covered Jesus’s life and teachings, but Acts covers the history of the early church—the struggles and trials the disciples had as this movement called Christianity grew and spread. Being a Christian back then wasn’t like it is now, here in America where Christianity is the majority religion. It was this new uncertain thing, where they didn’t have a Bible or anything written. They just had the words of the disciples and other people who followed Jesus. And the disciples didn’t always agree with each other about how to live out Jesus’s teaching! They’re going to have arguments and debates throughout the entire book. We’ll also see that not everyone was happy about Christianity coming on the scene. Jewish leaders were unhappy, but Christianity didn’t just stay in Judea, it spread to other places, like Rome, where people were also suspicious of their beliefs.
Acts covers these early times, when there was no written New Testament, when no one exactly knew what it meant to be a Christian, and Luke records it all for our knowledge, so we can see these early days of how the faith developed after Jesus left.
Acts starts at the very end of Jesus’s story, with Jesus having been resurrected and meeting with his disciples. For forty days, Jesus appeared after his resurrection. He told the disciples not to leave Jerusalem, but to stay, because, something was coming. He said that John the Baptist had baptized with water, but soon they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit!
Someone please read Acts 1:6-11.
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He replied, “It is not for you to know the 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 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
We already talked about Jesus’s ascension, but I wanted to cover this specific passage describing it, because we see despite everything that’s happened, despite everything the disciples have seen, they still don’t get it! Here at the moment of ascension—when Jesus is returning to heaven—they ask him when he will restore Israel as an independent kingdom. Despite everything, they still think that’s what Jesus is about—to be a political Messiah who restores Israel.
Jesus tells them that it’s not their job to know what is to be—that’s God’s job. But he tells them they will receive another kind of power—not political but the power of the Holy Spirit, and they will be his witness over the entire earth, spreading the word of Jesus.
Jesus is leaving, but he’s not leaving them alone! Jesus is God, but so is the Holy Spirit! Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit are all parts of the trinity, they are equally God. So Jesus may be leaving, but God is not leaving them.
And then Jesus ascends to the heaven, and the disciples just stare up at the sky. Then two angels appear to them and are like, “Stop staring up into heaven like some bozos! Jesus will return from heaven when he returns.”
Someone please read Acts 1:12-14.
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.
After Jesus ascends, the disciples go back to Jerusalem. They go to an upper room where they are hanging out—the eleven remaining disciples plus Jesus’s female disciples probably like Mary Magdalene. As is pretty usual for the Bible, Luke doesn’t take the time to name the women. Not because they weren’t important to God, Jesus or his ministry, but because Luke was a human and prone to human failings. And as we’ve discussed at length, during this time period, it was pretty normal for men to ignore women and not really think they were important. But they were. They were also disciples and followers of Jesus. And they too were there, watching and waiting for the next sign from God. Jesus’s family is also there—his mother and his brothers. All of them are gathered, and they decide to constantly pray until the day comes that Jesus promised.
They don’t really know what to do. Jesus was their leader, and now he’s gone! Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem, so that’s what they’re doing, waiting and praying, hoping for some sort of direction. They wait and wait and wait, and it comes! Someone read Acts 2:1-13.
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”
The disciples are all together, and suddenly from heaven there is a loud sound of wind and it fills the entire house. And then it’s like flames of fire appear among them, the flame resting on each of their them! This is the physical manifestation of the Holy Spirit, and they are filled with it! With the power of the Holy Spirit they begin to speak to each other in multiple languages. We call this day Pentacost.
Jewish people from every nation live in Jerusalem, and at the sound they gather and look at each other like “What is happening?” Because people know of the disciples, they know them. They know the disciples are mostly from Galilea, and if they speak more than one language it’s probably like Aramaic and Greek, not every language of the Roman empire. But everyone who hears them hears the disciples speaking as if they are speaking their native language. It’s crazy and seems impossible and most of them are like “How is this happening? What does it mean?” And other people are like, “These guys are drunk!”
Someone please read Acts 2:14-21.
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
20 The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
Peter steps up and begins to speak, addressing everyone in this crowd and he’s like, “Nah guys, we’re not drunk! It’s only 9 am! No, we’re not drunk, we are filled with the spirit as it says in the book of Joel.” Remember this crowd is all Jewish, so quoting the Old Testament to them would mean something.
So he quotes Joel where it talks about how God will pour his Spirit on people, and their will be prophesy, visions, and dreams. That even the lowest of society—the slaves—will have the spirit. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
But Peter is not done talking, he has a whole speech! Someone read Acts 2:22-28.
22 “You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know— 23 this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. 24 But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. 25 For David says concerning him,
‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken;
26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
moreover my flesh will live in hope.
27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One experience corruption.
28 You have made known to me the ways of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
Peter goes on to tell them about Jesus—a person all these people would know about, because Jesus’s death was not that long ago. But he’s like “Hey remember Jesus? Remember all of his signs? Remember the wonders he did? The healing and the teaching? Remember how he was killed—how we all participated in killing him? But this was all God’s plan! And God raised him up and freed him from death, because it was impossible for even death to keep God down!” And then Peter quotes more scripture—but particularly quotes David, who remember is like the greatest King of Israel ever and everyone there definitely knows who Peter is talking about.
David talked about how God wouldn’t abandon his soul to Death or let the Holy One experience corruption. Peter is saying this passage is about Jesus! That Jesus was the Holy One!
Then Peter continues his speech!
Someone please read Acts 2:29-36.
29 “Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying,
‘He was not abandoned to Hades,
nor did his flesh experience corruption.’
32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at[g] the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you both see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’
36 Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Peter goes on to say that David—the greatest king of their history—died and was buried, and is still in the tomb to this day. David knew that God had promised him a descendent would be on his throne forever. And Peter is making that connection for everyone—that Jesus is the Messiah to be on his throne forever. Jesus is God, raised up, and they all say it! David did not ascend to the heavens, but Jesus did! And it’s Jesus they’ve been waiting for all of this time.
I just want you guys to appreciate that Peter giving a speech like this is crazy—Peter was a fisherman like three years ago, and here he is speechifying to all the people! But it’s not just his power and words, it’s the Holy Spirit speaking through him.
Someone please read Acts 2:37-42.
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” 40 And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
The people listening here all of Peter’s speech, and it cuts them. And they are like, “Peter, we believe you, but what should we do about it?”
Peter is like, “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus.” Repent is a very churchy word so I want to make sure we all know what it means—it means to express sincere regret or remorse about a wrong doing or sin. To repent means to see the wrong things from your life and admit they are wrong. So he wants the people to repent of their sins and be baptized, and then their sins will be forgiven.
And lots of people listening they do just that they repent! And they become followers of Jesus—Christians!
This is the first time the disciples are doing anything without Jesus—the first time they’re trying to do stuff in his name—and they’re doing a great job! But they’re not alone. They have the Holy Spirit filling them and supporting them.
This is just like us today. We don’t have Jesus here walking and talking amongst us. We have the Holy Spirit who guides us and can fill us. Just like the disciples. And the Holy Spirit can help us lead others to God.
Someone please read Acts 2:43-47.
43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
With the power of the Holy Spirit, the apostles are able to do signs and wonders in the name of Jesus—just like they were able to do with Jesus. This was the very beginning of Christianity, and they had no churches, no formal elected elders, or services. Instead it was just a group of people held together by their common beliefs. They sold their possessions and took the money to help each other. They shared their meals and they spent time at the Temple and they spread the love of Jesus.
And day by day the number of Christians grew and grew. Jesus is in heaven, and it’s the followers of Jesus who are now leading. But the power of Jesus’s message is still spreading and growing, and people are still drawn to him!
Because God is still with us, God is still working, and people are feeling the power of the Holy Spirit.