Guide to Prayer and Study for June 5

Scripture: Acts 1:1-11 (NRSV)

Context

This passage opens the Book of Acts, which is the companion volume to the Gospel of Luke. They are both apparently written by the same individually, traditionally Luke–a physician and associate of Paul (Col. 4:14, 2 Tim. 4:11, Philemon 24). However, neither book specifically attributes authorship to a particular individual.

The book is addressed to “Theophilus,” a name that means “lover of God.” This may have been an actual person–”perhaps a recent convert asking for instruction or a Roman official whose tolerance the church seeks”(The HarperCollins Study Bible, p. 2057). It is also possible that the book is intended for anyone who “loves God,” whoever that person may be.

The opening verses recount the ascension of Jesus into heaven, a reality also reported in the closing verses of the Gospel of Luke (24:50-53). The description in the Book of Acts is more extensive that what is found in the Gospel of Luke.

It specifies that Jesus appeared to the disciples (now called “apostles”) during a period of forty days. He instructed them to remain in Jerusalem for an indeterminate time, waiting “for the promise of the Father”(Acts 1:4). He alluded to the coming baptism of the Holy Spirit, “not many days from now,” but he did not specify what that meant.

Jesus’ teaching about the kingdom of God was clearly not something that the disciples understood.  They still thought that it meant some sort of earthly kingdom, and they wanted to know when it would occur.  Jesus told them–and us, if we listen!–that it is not for us to know. Instead, our task is to wait expectantly for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus did leave his disciples with specific promises. One, they would receive power, when the Holy Spirit came upon them. Two, they would be witnesses for Jesus “in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”(1:8)

Reflection Questions

• Do we consider ourselves “those who love God?” How is that evidenced in our lives?
• What is it that we most want to know from Jesus? How do we handle the reality that there are some things that we will never know–at least not in this life?
• What would the power of the Holy Spirit look like in our lives? Where is God calling us to be witnesses?
• How is God calling us to live our lives “in the meantime,” that is, between where we are now and the promised coming of the spirit on–and in–our lives?

Prayer

Lord, help us to hear your words–again and again, if needed–about how we are called to live and what we are called to do. Keep us from being dissatisfied with not knowing all the details. Keep alive in us the promise of the power of the Holy Spirit, and empower us to be witnesses wherever you may send us. Amen.

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Tags: Acts, Ascension, Holy Spirit, Jerusalem, Jesus, Power, Witness