The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
The opening words point back to the Gospel of Luke, the earlier account written to Theophilus of all that Jesus started to do and teach. The word started shows that His earthly life of preaching the gospel, healing the sick, and confirming His teaching by miracles was only the beginning of His work. That work continued as He showed Himself alive after His suffering by many sure proofs for forty days, speaking of the kingdom of God and commanding the chosen apostles to wait in Jerusalem for the promised baptism of the Holy Spirit. It then moves to His commission to be witnesses from Jerusalem to the uttermost parts of the earth, His being taken up before their eyes, their united prayer in the upper room, and their filling with the Spirit at Pentecost to speak God's wonderful works in every tongue. His doing joined with His teaching remains the pattern for carrying the gospel forward under the Spirit's guidance, so the opening history is to be carefully studied and cherished because heaven will cooperate with workers who believe God's Word and show their faith by works.
Author, Addressee, and Continuation
The former treatise is the Gospel of Luke, also addressed to Theophilus, a record of Christ's life and of the history and instruction of all that Jesus began both to do and teach. Luke and Theophilus had been closely associated, and Luke had taught him, trusting him to examine and criticize the manuscript.
The earlier writing is the foundation for the later work, and guided by the Holy Spirit the later writing builds on that foundation by adding truths beyond what was known before. It does not replace the earlier teaching but establishes and strengthens it.
The second account builds on the former treatise and continues through the day Jesus was taken up, after He had given commandments through the Holy Ghost to the chosen apostles. It describes His further work through the Holy Spirit and through the apostles He chose. In this way Acts continues the inspired record of the apostles' work and gives a sure account of the foundation of the Christian church, as the history of the early church during and immediately after the day of Pentecost, recording the experiences of Paul and the other apostles.
Jesus' Doing, Teaching, and Ascension
The word began shows that the earthly ministry of teaching and serving, preaching the gospel and healing the sick in many places, was only the beginning of His work. His miraculous works confirmed the doctrines He taught and showed that He was commissioned by God, and the Gospels contain that history and instruction of what He began to do and teach. The verse introduces His character as a teacher, who made truth appear in its exalted, holy character and upheld the moral law as the elevated standard of righteousness.
It leads into His showing Himself alive after His passion and suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen for forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. That forty-day stay in revealing Himself was a grand provision, showing graciousness toward those who are often unbelieving and giving confidence to receive the evidences left for them. It records His instruction and command not to depart from Jerusalem but to remain there until the promised Holy Spirit comes and they are baptized with the Holy Ghost and receive the promise of the Father. Their waiting there allows the gathered people to witness publicly that He has ascended to heaven, and the message begins in Jerusalem because the disciples had been intimidated from openly taking their stand for Christ.
It opens the setting for His commission to His disciples and promise of power to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. It opens the setting for His being taken up while they beheld, the angels' message to the waiting disciples, the return to the upper room in continued one-accord prayer and supplication, and the Pentecost filling with the Holy Ghost with speech in every tongue of the wonderful works of God. Those lessons given just before His ascension provide instruction that people need.
Pattern and Call for Today
Jesus' doing and teaching is the pattern for carrying the gospel forward through appointed workers under the Holy Spirit's guidance. His earthly ministry of preaching the gospel and healing the sick in many places was unselfish service, and that service is a lesson for His followers to carry His work forward.
The first chapter teaches lessons for setting the work in order. The first and second chapters are to be studied for the light of heaven they give, showing that the work must be carried forward in a higher and broader way than ever before. The lessons Christ gave His disciples just before His ascension also provide instruction that people need. Studying this history of the early church during and immediately after the day of Pentecost, recording the experiences of Paul and the other apostles, refreshes the mind and instructs in the truth when studied carefully. Ministers, physicians, and church members are urged to study those lessons, and laborers who feel God has given them a message and a sacred responsibility to proclaim it are to appreciate and cherish that light, because God's people in our day must pass through similar experiences.
The verse begins proof that a mighty power is at work in the world and that heaven will co-operate with those who do the work of the Lord. Joined with Christ's word not to let the heart be troubled, the record of His commission, His promise of the Holy Spirit, and the angels' message to the waiting disciples calls believers to be educated to believe God's Word and to show faith by works in practical godliness.
We are living in the last days and there is a large work to be done among people of all languages. Every soul that believes the truth for this time, whatever his country or speech, should gain an intelligent knowledge of the truths of the third angel's message in order to do an intelligent work for God. Those who search the Scriptures and walk humbly with God will receive understanding of the Word and power to do a work for God. The Lord will open the understanding of all who come into right relation to Him.
The opening words point back to the Gospel of Luke, the earlier account written to Theophilus of all that Jesus started to do and teach. The word started shows that His earthly life of preaching the gospel, healing the sick, and confirming His teaching by miracles was only the beginning of His work. That work continued as He showed Himself alive after His suffering by many sure proofs for forty days, speaking of the kingdom of God and commanding the chosen apostles to wait in Jerusalem for the promised baptism of the Holy Spirit. It then moves to His commission to be witnesses from Jerusalem to the uttermost parts of the earth, His being taken up before their eyes, their united prayer in the upper room, and their filling with the Spirit at Pentecost to speak God's wonderful works in every tongue. His doing joined with His teaching remains the pattern for carrying the gospel forward under the Spirit's guidance, so the opening history is to be carefully studied and cherished because heaven will cooperate with workers who believe God's Word and show their faith by works.
Author, Addressee, and Continuation
The former treatise is the Gospel of Luke, also addressed to Theophilus, a record of Christ's life and of the history and instruction of all that Jesus began both to do and teach. Luke and Theophilus had been closely associated, and Luke had taught him, trusting him to examine and criticize the manuscript.
The earlier writing is the foundation for the later work, and guided by the Holy Spirit the later writing builds on that foundation by adding truths beyond what was known before. It does not replace the earlier teaching but establishes and strengthens it.
The second account builds on the former treatise and continues through the day Jesus was taken up, after He had given commandments through the Holy Ghost to the chosen apostles. It describes His further work through the Holy Spirit and through the apostles He chose. In this way Acts continues the inspired record of the apostles' work and gives a sure account of the foundation of the Christian church, as the history of the early church during and immediately after the day of Pentecost, recording the experiences of Paul and the other apostles.
Jesus' Doing, Teaching, and Ascension
The word began shows that the earthly ministry of teaching and serving, preaching the gospel and healing the sick in many places, was only the beginning of His work. His miraculous works confirmed the doctrines He taught and showed that He was commissioned by God, and the Gospels contain that history and instruction of what He began to do and teach. The verse introduces His character as a teacher, who made truth appear in its exalted, holy character and upheld the moral law as the elevated standard of righteousness.
It leads into His showing Himself alive after His passion and suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen for forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. That forty-day stay in revealing Himself was a grand provision, showing graciousness toward those who are often unbelieving and giving confidence to receive the evidences left for them. It records His instruction and command not to depart from Jerusalem but to remain there until the promised Holy Spirit comes and they are baptized with the Holy Ghost and receive the promise of the Father. Their waiting there allows the gathered people to witness publicly that He has ascended to heaven, and the message begins in Jerusalem because the disciples had been intimidated from openly taking their stand for Christ.
It opens the setting for His commission to His disciples and promise of power to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. It opens the setting for His being taken up while they beheld, the angels' message to the waiting disciples, the return to the upper room in continued one-accord prayer and supplication, and the Pentecost filling with the Holy Ghost with speech in every tongue of the wonderful works of God. Those lessons given just before His ascension provide instruction that people need.
Pattern and Call for Today
Jesus' doing and teaching is the pattern for carrying the gospel forward through appointed workers under the Holy Spirit's guidance. His earthly ministry of preaching the gospel and healing the sick in many places was unselfish service, and that service is a lesson for His followers to carry His work forward.
The first chapter teaches lessons for setting the work in order. The first and second chapters are to be studied for the light of heaven they give, showing that the work must be carried forward in a higher and broader way than ever before. The lessons Christ gave His disciples just before His ascension also provide instruction that people need. Studying this history of the early church during and immediately after the day of Pentecost, recording the experiences of Paul and the other apostles, refreshes the mind and instructs in the truth when studied carefully. Ministers, physicians, and church members are urged to study those lessons, and laborers who feel God has given them a message and a sacred responsibility to proclaim it are to appreciate and cherish that light, because God's people in our day must pass through similar experiences.
The verse begins proof that a mighty power is at work in the world and that heaven will co-operate with those who do the work of the Lord. Joined with Christ's word not to let the heart be troubled, the record of His commission, His promise of the Holy Spirit, and the angels' message to the waiting disciples calls believers to be educated to believe God's Word and to show faith by works in practical godliness.
We are living in the last days and there is a large work to be done among people of all languages. Every soul that believes the truth for this time, whatever his country or speech, should gain an intelligent knowledge of the truths of the third angel's message in order to do an intelligent work for God. Those who search the Scriptures and walk humbly with God will receive understanding of the Word and power to do a work for God. The Lord will open the understanding of all who come into right relation to Him.