Acts is a different kind of book from my other studies. Tara-Leigh Cobble in her guide, ACTS: The Spirit and the Bride, describes it like this: “For Christ-followers, studying the book of Acts is like watching a documentary about the establishment of our faith via God’s work through men and women who sacrificed for us to know Jesus.” I was surprised to learn that the author, Luke (probably a Gentile doctor), wrote 27% of the words of the New Testament, more than the apostle Paul. Early church father, John Chrysostom says Acts is “a demonstration of the resurrection.” Theologian N. T. Wright describes resurrection as “life after life after death.” Since my family has been in cross-cultural work for decades, I’m anxious to revisit the first global workers who took great risk to follow “The Way.” What follows are short reflections on new insights and interesting details.

Witnesses

After Jesus is resurrected and before he ascends to heaven, the disciples ask him if he is now going to restore the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6). They had given up hope when Jesus died, but he was alive again. So maybe now they’d get the kingdom they had wanted all along. 

Jesus replies that it is not for them to know the times or dates God has set (1:7). Instead, they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on them to be his witnesses all over the world to spread the news of the kingdom Jesus had already brought (1:8).

I think we still ask Jesus if he is going to save us from the rule of the “Roman” empire and give us the version of the kingdom that we want. We too don’t know when complete restoration will come but we have a job to do while we wait for it. And no, it’s not overthrowing an empire. It’s being his witnesses. 

The word “witness” is martys in Greek. According to the Strongs Lexicon, it means to “bear truthful, Spirit-empowered testimony to Jesus Christ—whatever the cost—until the world sees Him whom the witnesses proclaim.”

How are you using Jesus’s power to be his witness?

Mary of Nazareth

They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. (1:4)

Here is the one of two mentions of Mary of Nazareth out side of the gospels (the other is in Galatians). I wrote about this in Favored Blessed Pierced: “As Mary gave birth to and supported Jesus through his whole life and death, she helped give birth to and support the new church after witnessing the power of the resurrection. Tradition suggests she lived in Ephesus until her death.”

What difference does it make for you to know that Mary and other women were part of the founding of the church?

Coming Again

"Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)

Amen! Come again, Lord Jesus!

What is your part in preparing the world for Jesus’s return?

Casting Lots

When reading scripture, we must learn to differentiate between prescriptive and descriptive passages. Descriptive (or informative) passages simply tell the story of what happened. Whereas prescriptive (or instructional) passages tell believers how to live and think.

For instance, in Acts 1:12–26, the apostles draw lots to choose a replacement for Judas. That passage is descriptive—telling us how God worked at that particular time. It isn’t meant to be prescriptive instruction about how we should discern God’s will. For that, we have the complete scriptures and the Holy Spirit which the apostles did not.

Where might you be confused with discerning prescriptive versus descriptive passages?

The Spirit Indwells

Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (2:2–4)

Author Skye Jethani connects this event with God’s movement in the past: “Just like Sinai² and Solomon’s³ Temple, fire and wind filled the house—but it’s not the temple building in Jerusalem. Instead, it fills the upper room of an ordinary house, and the fire of God’s presence rests upon the followers of Jesus. Acts 2 sees the fulfillment of the Old Testament temple prophecies. The exile is over. God’s presence has returned to dwell not merely among his people, but within them.” — Skye Jethani, With God Daily, Feb 2, 2026

How do you live differently knowing God’s Spirit dwells in you?

Salvation for All

Acts contains one description after another of people “adding to the number” of the disciples (2:41). I am on a quest to note each mention of being saved because I want to know how the first followers of Jesus described it. I predict it’s way more simple than the complicated formula it has become.

The first mention of salvation is actually a quote from the prophet Joel (Joel 2:32):

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (2:21)

Here we see it involves “calling on the name of the Lord.” And it’s for EVERYONE.

What words do you typically use to describe the process of being saved?

Prophetic Proof for Jesus

As soon as Peter has an audience, he preaches. He explains the coming of the Holy Spirit and proves that Jesus is the Messiah by quoting the prophets:

1. Joel—God will pour out his Spirit on men and women and show wonders and signs (2:18–19/Joel 2:28–32).
2. David—God did not abandon Jesus to death (2:25–28/Ps 16:8–11).
3. David—God has made Jesus both Lord and Messiah (2:36/Ps 110:1).

Peter summarizes the bottom line:

Jesus of Nazareth ... was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death. (2:22–25) ... God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah. (2:36)

While Peter uses these verses to teach that Jesus did not die (2:31–32), they have comforted me this week as a fellow Bible study leader from my church passed away suddenly. She truly knows the path of life right now and is full of joy in God’s presence.

Do you believe that Jesus is both Lord and Messiah? Why or why not?

Response

After preaching, Peter receives the response any teacher wants—not just head knowledge (head), but real internalization (heart), leading to action (hands):

"When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?" (2:37).

Years ago, my house helper in Indonesia told me after I had explained the gospel, “I don’t know what to do about Jesus.” Peter tells us:

Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call. (2:38–39)

Here’s the second mention of salvation in the book. Salvation then, also involves repentance, forgiveness of sin, and receiving the Holy Spirit. There’s also a reference to this being a work of God.

When has the word of God “pierced you to the heart”?

First Healing

After performing the miracle of healing the lame man at the gate, people are “filled with wonder and amazement” (3:10). Peter explains that this man’s healing came only “by faith in the name of Jesus” (3:16), God’s servant (3:13), the Holy and Righteous One (3:14), the author of life (3:15).

How do you explain the relationship between faith and healing?

Further Proof

Once again, Peter has the opportunity to preach another sermon to the onlookers. Again, he references the prophets:

1. The prophets—the Messiah [Jesus] will suffer (3:18) and remain in heaven until God restores all things (3:21). 
2. Moses—God will raise up a prophet [Jesus] that they must listen to (3:22, Deut 18:15, 18–19).
3. Abraham—Through your offspring [Jesus] all peoples on earth will be blessed (3:25, Gen 22:18; 26:4).

How do Peter’s and the prophets’ words help you believe that Jesus is the Messiah and Lord?

Conclusion

I wrap up this section with another description of salvation:

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. (3:19)

PRAYER

Thank you, oh thank you, Jesus, for coming to earth, dying, resurrecting, commissioning the disciples, ascending, and sending your Holy Spirit to dwell in us. Thank you that any who call on you will be saved. Empower us to your witnesses.

---

1. All scripture quotes are from the New International Version ↩︎
2. Ex 40:34–35 ↩︎
3. 2 Chron 7:1–2 ↩︎