Editor's note: Enjoy this devotion from Journal Through the Bible.
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But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. — Acts 1:8
Reading Plan
11 days; 2.5 chapters a day
Themes
birth of the church; life of Paul; the gospel spreads to the Gentiles
Major Players
Aquila, Barnabas, Cornelius, Gamaliel, James, Luke, Paul (Saul of Tarsus), Peter, Philip, Priscilla, Silas, Stephen
Background
Acts was written as a sequel to the Gospel of Luke, presumably by the physician Luke himself. He addressed the account to the same Theophilus, a Roman official, and continued in the same style. Luke traveled with Paul and likely wrote the book circa AD 60 or AD 61, while Paul was under house arrest in Rome.
This book provides a bridge from the Gospels to the Epistles, telling us the remarkable story of how the faith caught fire in the thirty-three years it covers.
Summary
The Acts of the Apostles focuses mainly on the work of Peter and Paul — Peter in the first twelve chapters, and Paul in the remaining chapters. You’ll read about Jesus’ final appearances on earth, His ascension into Heaven, and the birth of the church on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples as promised.
- Luke had a historian’s eye for details, and he covered the spread of faith in Jesus as thousands were saved across the known world.
God continually showed up with miraculous events, healings, and interventions, protecting the fledgling church and making way for the news of Jesus Christ to be spread far and wide — not just to the Jews but to the Gentiles too. You’ll read about Paul’s conversion, his ministry, and his missionary journeys during his thirty years of ministry. It was a time that truly changed the course of history; the events you’re about to read are the reason we know about Christ today.
Reflections
- Keep track of the precarious times when all could have been lost and when the early church could have been snuffed out. Does it offer you a new perspective on where we are today?
- What did God do to keep the church going? What were the miracles, encounters, and support provided that made the most difference? What does that tell you of His attitude toward the church? His love for the church?
- What is most striking about Peter’s words and his ministry in Acts? About his emphasis on the resurrection? How would you respond if you had been in his audience?
- What resonates with you most about Paul’s life, suffering, and journeys in Acts? What kept Paul going, and how do you have access to the same power?
Excerpted with permission from Journal Through the Bible, copyright Thomas Nelson.
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Your Turn
Can you imagine living in the incredibly exciting time of the early church? Imagine ministering with Peter and Paul, and being present for Pentecost, and introducing the Gentiles to Jesus for the very first time! ~ Devotionals Daily