The Great Commission
Navigation - Acts 1
The Holy Spirit’s Role
Teaching About Jesus & the Gospel
Prophecy Fulfillment
Christianity Accepted
& Opposed
Connecting Acts to the Rest of the NT
The Dawn of a Movement:
From Promise to Power
Acts 1 stands as a pivotal juncture in biblical history, a moment of expectant quiet before the explosive launch of the early church. This chapter, far from being a mere historical prelude, presents a carefully orchestrated transition from the earthly ministry of Jesus to the Spirit-empowered mission of His followers. It invites you to consider: Will you, like those first disciples, step into the unfolding plan of God?
The chapter unfolds in three distinct movements. First, the resurrected Jesus, having offered "many convincing proofs" (Acts 1:3) of His victory over death, spends forty days meticulously instructing His apostles (Acts 1:1-3). This period underscores the undeniable reality of His resurrection and the profound implications of His kingdom teachings. Second, He promises the imminent arrival of the Holy Spirit, the divine dunamis (power) that will equip them for their witness, shifting their focus from nationalistic expectations to a global mandate (Acts 1:4-8). This is the genesis of the Great Commission. Finally, Jesus' majestic ascension (Acts 1:9-11) marks His enthronement and transition from physical presence to spiritual reign, echoing the imagery of Daniel's "Son of Man" (Daniel 7:13-14) and foreshadowing His promised return.
In the aftermath of the ascension, the believers gather in the Upper Room, a community of 120 souls united in prayerful anticipation (Acts 1:12-14). This period of focused intercession prepares them for the Spirit's arrival and the subsequent outpouring of divine power. Peter, stepping into leadership, guides the selection of Matthias to restore the apostolic quorum to twelve, fulfilling a prophetic utterance from Psalm 109:8 (Acts 1:15-26).
Acts 1, therefore, is not merely a historical account; it is a theological blueprint. It bridges the completed work of Christ with the inaugurated mission of the church, demonstrating how ancient promises find their fulfillment in the present reality of Spirit-empowered witness. This chapter challenges believers today to embrace that same mission, trusting in God's power and proclaiming the gospel from their own "Jerusalem" to the ends of the earth.
Sermon Series
The Book of Acts
Video Series
In Pursuit of Peter - Dr. Constantine Campbell
In Pursuit of Paul - Dr. Constantine Campbell
Journeys of the Apostle Paul - Dr. Paul Fanning
The Holy Land - Dr. John A. Beck
The 7 Churches of Revelation - Dr. Joseph Stowell
Exploring Ephesus: City of Apostles - Dr. Mark Wilson
Drive Thru History: Acts To Revelation - Dave Stotts
Drive Thru History: Ends of the Earth - Dave Stotts
Our Daily Bread Ministries - Christian video series
Revelation’s Churches - Appian Media
Searching For A King - Appian Media
Following the Messiah - Appian Media
Some Bible Theologians and Pastors
Who Have Written About the Book of Acts
As Jesus prayed "that they may all be one" (John 17:21), these diverse voices demonstrate how the Book of Acts speaks across denominational boundaries. Like the Jerusalem Council's recognition that "we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will" (Acts 15:11), these scholars and pastors, despite their differences, share a commitment to understanding God's work in establishing His church.
This diversity fulfills Peter's recognition that "God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him" (Acts 10:34-35). Each voice contributes unique insights while maintaining, as Paul urged, the "unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3).
Reformed/Calvinist Tradition
John MacArthur - "Acts: The Spread of the Gospel"
R.C. Sproul - "Acts: An Expositional Commentary"
John Piper - "Finish the Mission: Acts Sermons"
Martyn Lloyd-Jones - "Authentic Christianity"
Sinclair Ferguson - "The Acts of the Apostles"
James Montgomery Boice - "Acts: An Expositional Commentary"
Baptist/Evangelical
Warren Wiersbe - "Be Dynamic: Acts"
Charles Swindoll - "Acts: A Bridge to the First Century Church"
Adrian Rogers - "Acts 1:1-8"
David Jeremiah - "Acts: The Birth of the Church"
Chuck Smith - "Acts: The Word of Life"
Anglican/Episcopal
N.T. Wright - "Acts for Everyone"
John Stott - "The Message of Acts"
Michael Green - "Thirty Years That Changed the World"
Fleming Rutledge - "Acts: A Theological Commentary"
Catholic Scholars & Clergy
Raymond E. Brown - "Introduction to the New Testament"
Hans Küng - "The Church and Acts"
Jean Daniélou - "The Theology of Jewish Christianity"
Henri de Lubac - "Scripture in the Tradition"
Scott Hahn - "Acts and Letters"
Pope Benedict XVI - "The Apostles" (teachings on Acts)
Orthodox Perspectives
Fr. Lawrence Farley - "The Acts of the Apostles"
John Chrysostom - "Homilies on Acts" (modern translations)
Archbishop Averky - "The Acts of the Apostles"
Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon - "Acts: An Orthodox Commentary"
Metropolitan Kallistos Ware - "The Orthodox Way Through Acts"
Jewish Scholars on Acts
Daniel Boyarin - "The Jewish Gospels"
Amy-Jill Levine - "The Jewish Annotated New Testament"
David Flusser - "Jewish Sources in Early Christianity"
Pamela Eisenbaum - "Paul Was Not a Christian"
Mark Nanos - "The Mystery of Romans"
Jacob Jervell - "Luke and the People of God"
Pentecostal/Charismatic Voices
Gordon Fee - "God's Empowering Presence"
Jack Hayford - "Living in the Book of Acts"
Derek Prince - "The Spirit-Filled Church"
Roger Stronstad - "The Charismatic Theology of St. Luke"
Robert Menzies - "Empowered for Witness"
Contemporary Integrative Approaches
Timothy Keller - "Gospel in Life: Acts"
Ajith Fernando - "Acts (NIV Application Commentary)"
Dennis Johnson - "The Message of Acts"
Mark Moore - "Acts Revolution"
Craig Van Gelder - "The Ministry of the Missional Church"