"The First Chapter of Church History"

 

Acts 1:1-14 "The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that JESUS began both to do and teach, until the day in which HE was taken up, after that HE through the HOLY GHOST had given commandments unto the apostles whom HE had chosen: to whom also HE showed HIMSELF alive after HIS passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of GOD: and, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but  wait for the promise of the FATHER, which, saith HE, ye have heard of ME. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the HOLY GHOST not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of HIM, saying, LORD, wilt THOU at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel ? And HE said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the FATHER hath put in HIS OWN power.

But ye shall receive power, after that the HOLY GHOST is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto ME both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when HE had spoken these things, while they beheld, HE was taken up; and a cloud received HIM out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as HE went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven ? this same JESUS, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen HIM go into heaven. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath's days journey. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the Mother of JESUS, and with HIS brethren."

     One of the finest pieces of literature in the world is the book of Acts. It tells the story of how, out of what appeared to be a tragic failure (the death of CHRIST), a movement was born that was destined to conquer the world and, in GOD's time, to establish a kingdom of truth and righteousness that shall never pass away. The story spans not centuries but basically a single generation of about thirty-three years. This fact, by itself, is astonishing because the progress of the greatest movements is generally slow. In the truest sense, the book of Acts is a book of both words and deeds.

     We can estimate the value of a book by considering the degree of loss man would experience if it had never been written. Judged in this way, it is safe to say that if Acts had not been penned, we would have a blank in our knowledge that nothing could supply. Remember that Luke ends his Gospel with these words: "And it came to pass, while [JESUS] blessed them, HE was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped HIM, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing GOD. AMEN" (Luke 24:51-53 pictured above). By omitting Acts, the subsequent epistles would essentially be unintelligible to any reader. Their content would be like a maze, providing no clue as to how to solve the puzzle. Hundreds of questions would arise that would have no answers. But supply the book of Acts and all becomes clear. Acts is the first chapter of church history. The last is not yet written. To be ignorant of the birth and development of the church recorded in this book would be to float adrift in a sea of uncertainty. Thank GOD for the history of the book of Acts. JED

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

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