Final Verdict: The Launch Sequence (Acts 1:1–11)
The examination of this opening narrative reveals that the mission was not launched by human enthusiasm, but by a strategic 40-Day Interlude of preparation. Dr. MacArthur identifies this period as the transition from the physical ministry of the Son to the spiritual operation of the Church.
The Weight of Evidence:
The Intellectual Foundation (v. 3): Through the "infallible proofs," Jesus provided the physical verification necessary to ensure His witnesses were unshakable. He spent these weeks correcting their theological misconceptions about the Kingdom, replacing their political expectations with a spiritual mission.
The Operational Mandate (v. 4–8): The strategy required a mandatory "wait" for the Active Administrator (the Holy Spirit). The evidence confirms that even with the right message and the right training, the mission is impossible without the "Right Power."
The Direct Link (v. 9–11): The Ascension establishes that the Church is not an abandoned movement. Jesus ascended to the right hand of God not to leave the mission, but to lead it from a position of absolute authority.
Conclusion: The "Launch Sequence" proves that the Church is a supernatural institution. It began with the Word clarified (v. 3), was authorized by the King (v. 8), and is sustained by the promise of His return (v. 11). The mission is not merely a memory of what Jesus did; it is the continuation of what He is currently doing.
Acts 1:1-11
The primary discovery of this passage is the transition from the "Finished Work" of redemption in the Gospels to the "Unfinished Work" of proclamation in Acts. By using the standardized 1-7 Lens sequence (reinforced with the “Glow” images), students can see that the passage is balanced across both the physical evidence of the Resurrection and the strategic mandate for global deployment.
Lens 1 (The Great Commission)
Query 1: How does verse 8 establish the overarching legal jurisdiction and geographic boundaries for the global witness?
Query 2: "What are the specific instructions Jesus gave the disciples before he left? Break down the plan he gave them for where they were supposed to go and in what order."
Query 3: In what way does the "40-day briefing" regarding the Kingdom of God serve as the essential operational blueprint for the Apostles' future testimony?
Lens 2 (The Holy Spirit's Role)
Query 1: What is the distinction between the "Baptism of John" and the promised "Baptism of the Holy Spirit" as the catalyst for the Holy Spirit?
Query 2: How does the Holy Spirit function as the non-negotiable "Power Source" required to execute a mission that exceeds human capacity?
Lens 3 (Teaching About Jesus)
Query 1: How does the "Former Account" (Gospel of Luke) serve as the foundational legal deposition for tChrist's continued work?
Query 2: What is the significance of the "Convincing Proofs" regarding the Resurrection as the non-negotiable core proclamation of the witness?
Lens 4 (Prophecy Fulfillment)
Query 1: How does the promise of the Spirit's arrival directly fulfill the prophetic "Father's Promise" documented in verse 4?
Lens 5 (Acceptance & Opposition)
Query 1: How does the angels' rebuke of the Apostles for "gazing into the sky" document the immediate friction between theological observation and mandated action?
Lens 6 (The New Testament Bridge)
The Connectivity: Linking the historical record in the Book of Acts to the Epistles — FAINT GLOW
Lens 7 (The Verdict)
Evaluating the ongoing mission of the Church — FAINT GLOW