V1 – Author writes about:
1) Jesus BEGAN to DO and TEACH
2) UNTIL the day He was TAKEN to Heaven
3) AFTER He had by the Holy Spirit GIVEN orders to the apostles
4) WHOM He had CHOSEN
v3 – Jesus appeared over 40 days with “many convincing proofs”
He spoke of the things of the Kingdom of God
v4 The apostles were commanded to WAIT and not leave until God’s PROMISE came to be (the baptism of the Holy Spirit). We often have to wait for God’s promises to unfold.
v6 The apostles question Jesus on 1) timing 2) whether the kingdom would be restored to Israel. We often misunderstand the movement of God and His timing. This is repeated all the time.
v8 We receive POWER when the HOLY SPIRIT COMES upon us
AND we are made witnesses to:
1) Jerusalem (Zion)
2) Judea & Samaria (desert/wilderness)
3) Remotest parts of the earth (unknown & unnamed)
What do these specific geographical areas mean to us?
When the Spirit comes upon you, He gives you the power necessary to come down from the High Places of God and traverse through the preparatory places of the desert to equip you to reach the unknown places of the world.
v12 – 13 After Jesus is taken to heaven, the apostles leave the Mount of Olives to go back to Jerusalem to the upper room. They begin and end their journey with Christ in the upper room.
v14 They were ALL with ONE MIND; continually praying (women too), Mary and Jesus’ brothers. We now see that Jesus’ family is involved. This is the same family members (brothers) who Jesus talked about as a prophet has no honor in his home town.
v17 Judas “received” his share in “this” ministry
v24 It is the HEART of the person that God knows and uses to establish a ministry call.