Monday, September 8th

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Monday, September 8

Acts 1:1-5

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
 
In my experience, it’s difficult for most movie sequels to measure up to their predecessors. I mean, there’s just no way “Rocky II” could measure up to the first “Rocky!” But in “The Book of Acts” we have a sequel that is, in almost every way, just as exciting and dramatic as the first episode.

The Book of Acts begins with these words:

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach...

Scholars widely believe that Luke was the author of both the Book of Acts and the Gospel that bears his name. Therefore when he refers to his “first book” he is pointing to what we know as “The Gospel of Luke,” the third book of the New Testament. 

In his gospel, of course, Luke tells the great story of Jesus’ birth; his public ministry of teaching and healing; along with his death and resurrection. In “The Book of Acts” Luke tells the story of the birth of the church and how the gospel of Jesus changed the world.

So who is “Theophilus,” and why does Luke seem to address his book to him? Throughout the centuries scholars have developed several main answers to these questions.

First, the name “Theophilus” is Latin and can be translated as “Friend of God,” so some think this was Luke’s way of addressing his second book to believers everywhere. In other words, if you are a “friend of God,” this book is for you.

On the other hand, since Luke refers to “most excellent Theophilus” in the opening of the Gospel of Luke (Luke 1:3) it is possible that Theophilus was a person of some significance, perhaps a Roman official of some sort who was either a believer himself or at least sympathetic to the story of Jesus.

In either case it is certain that Luke, as a Gentile, was writing primarily to a Gentile audience, which, of course, includes us!

He wants us to know that where his first book dealt primarily with Jesus; his second book is going to deal with the promise Jesus made to send the Holy Spirit!

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
 
We’ll talk much more about the Holy Spirit in coming weeks, but here’s what Luke wants us to know as we begin our journey through Acts.

This story is for “friends of God” and those who are freinds of God will love what God loves. And what does God love?

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

God loved the world enough to send Jesus, and through Jesus to give us the gospel. Now we see that God also loved the world enough to send the Holy Spirit to build the church and that through the church the gospel would reach the world.

But I’m getting ahead of the story just a bit! The point is as those of us who are friends of God, who have received the gospel and follow Jesus; we are now part of the great adventure of the church.

So I hope you’ll pick up your personal Bible and start reading through the great Book of Acts this week because Luke isn’t just telling us a story, he’s telling our story!

Pastor Brian Coffey