Witness to Greatness

Acts: The Church on the Move
Acts 1:1–11 (ESV)

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.”
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said,
“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Context and Series Introduction

Who: Written by Luke to Theophilus.

• Luke the doctor, also a travel companion of Paul.

• Acts picks up where his Gospel left off.

• To Theophilus: possibly a specific individual (as in Luke 1:1–5), though some argue it could be symbolic for “friend of God.”

What: A historical account of the coming of the Holy Spirit and the forming of the early church.

Key Verse: Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

When: Likely early 60s AD. (Evidence: Acts ends with Paul’s imprisonment in Rome; no mention of Nero’s persecution; no reference to Paul’s letters.)

Where: Begins in Jerusalem and expands outward.

Why: To give an account of Christ’s work and the history of the early church through the Spirit’s power.

Series Plan: As we walk through Acts, we will also look at the letters connected to the early churches mentioned.

Main Idea

We are called to be Spirit-empowered witnesses until we are called home or until Jesus returns.

I. The Shared Testimony of Many Eyewitnesses Powerfully Validates the Facts (Acts 1:1–5)

• Luke picks up from his Gospel (Luke 24), showing the risen Christ with His apostles before His ascension.

• Jesus spent 40 days with His disciples after the resurrection.

• He appeared not only to the apostles but to many others (1 Corinthians 15:3–6).

• Over 500 eyewitnesses gave testimony to the risen Christ.

• Jesus commanded His disciples to wait for the Father’s promise—the coming Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13; Luke 24:49; John 14:16–17).

II. The Most Powerful Cases Have Both Eyewitness Testimony and Physical Evidence (Acts 1:6–8)

• The apostles expected Jesus to restore Israel immediately.

• Jesus reminded them that the Father’s timing is His alone (Mark 13:32–37).

• Instead, Jesus promised they would receive power from the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses.

• Their testimony, combined with the Spirit’s indwelling, provided both eyewitness and physical evidence.

• Jesus promised His followers would do works in His name (John 14:12–14), further validating His deity.

III. Witnesses to the Supernatural and a Glimpse Into the Future (Acts 1:9–11)

• The apostles had seen Jesus heal, raise the dead, and perform miracles—now they witnessed His ascension.

• The angels challenged the disciples: stop staring into the sky and remember Jesus’ command.

• Two promises flow from the ascension:

  1. The coming of the Holy Spirit to empower testimony.

  2. The Second Coming of Christ to motivate urgency in witness.

Conclusion

Believer, you have the indwelling Holy Spirit of God. Is He just along for the ride, or are you surrendered to Him?

Perhaps you have not surrendered to Christ—today is the day of salvation.