Acts 1:1-11 NIV
1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “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.”
Introduction to The Book of Acts
Authorship
Written by Luke, a Gentile physician, and author of Luke’s Gospel (v. 1, cf. Luke 1:1-4) around 62 AD. Luke was a companion of Paul and was a firsthand witness for some of the events later in Acts (Colossians 4:14; cf. Acts 16:10-17; 20:5-21:18; 27:1-28:16)
Title and Purpose
Acts, according to Luke, is not primarily focused on the “Acts of the Apostles” specifically or even the “Acts of the Holy Spirit” as some have dubbed it. But the purpose of Acts is to chronicle the continuation of “all that Jesus began to do and teach” (v. 1). Acts tells of how the ministry of Jesus continued through the Church with the power of the Holy Spirit to the ends of the earth (v. 8).
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Jesus (acts 1:8)