Thoughts for the Day

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. ‘This’, he said, ‘is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’

The Ascension of Jesus

So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set 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, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

We're going to look at the Acts of the Apostles over the next few weeks, with fairly big chunks of text for those who haven't read it before or who would like to be reminded.

The Acts of the Apostles is the fifth book of the New Testament, and is a valuable history of the early Christian church. It's written in Greek by Luke the Evangelist, who also wrote the Gospel according to Luke. It starts its story of the new Church where the Gospel concludes, namely with the Ascension of Christ into Heaven, and seems to have been written in Rome between 70 and 90 CE. The Gospel and Acts were ostensibly written for Theophilus, to explain the origins and spread of Christianity, though we do not know who Theophilus was. His name could be a title. 'Θεόφιλος' means 'friend of God'.

There are two Important things to note about the beginning of this work. First, the emphasis that is put on the importance of the disciples waiting for the Holy Spirit before they begin their work of spreading the good news. They are to wait in order to receive strength, wisdom, and guidance from the Holy Spirit which will help them to cope with the challenges they will face. Second, we should note the importance of prayer. The disciples are to align their decisions with God's plans by seeking His will. We are told that the 11 disciples and all those present "were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers". No decisions would be taken without prayer occurring, or without waiting for the Holy Spirit.

Lord Jesus Christ,
You encouraged Your followers to wait
for the coming of the Holy Spirit,
and while they waited they prayed,
taking no decisions without guidance.
May we learn to align our plans with Yours
and together seek spiritual strength as a Church.
Amen.