The Acts of the Apostles/The Acts of the Holy Ghost Chapter One
By: Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 01/03/2021
Foundation Scriptures:
Acts 1:1-23
1. The Promise of the Father.
a. Acts 1:1-11
b. The first chapter of the book of Acts records Jesus’ final instructions to the disciples, before His ascension, and the ten days from His ascension until the Day of Pentecost (in Acts 2).
c. Jesus commanded them to not depart from Jerusalem but wait for the coming baptism of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter; which was “the promise of the Father” (Acts 1:4-5; Jn. 7:37-39; 14:12-18,26; 15:26; 16:7-15).
d. From the time He called them to follow Him, He was preparing them for this moment and now it was here (Acts 1:5).
2. A Commandment.
a. Jesus’ ministry began when He was baptized in, and anointed by, the Holy Ghost.
b. The disciples, too, needed to be baptized in the Holy Ghost and fire, and empowered to fulfill the great commission (Acts 1:8).
c. Jesus commanded them to do this, and also to continue to instruct others to do the same.
d. Every one of us must also be baptized in the Holy Ghost and fire, in preparation what God has called us to.
e. It is vital for us to be obedient to follow Jesus and to do exactly what He tells us to do.
f. The hallmark of every true Christian, of the early church (not just the fivefold ministers), was the baptism in the Holy Ghost and the operation of the gifts of the spirit.
3. His Works.
a. The work of the apostles is a continuation of the ministry of Jesus on the earth.
b. Jesus did His works—doing and teaching (Acts 1:1) until He ascended.
c. And then He continued doing these through believers, by the Holy Spirit baptism they had received (Acts 1:2,8; Lk. 24:49; Mk. 16:15-20).
d. Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us—and the Holy Spirit is now the agent and executive of God in the earth.
e. He works in, and through, Spirit-filled believers, to carry on the work that Jesus began (Acts 1:2-8; 5:9; 8:29,39; 10:19; 11:12; 13:2-4; 15:28; 16:6; 20:28; 21:4-11; 1 Cor. 2:1-14; 12:1-30; 2 Cor. 3:8; Eph. 2:22; 3:5).
4. Power to Be a Witness.
a. Acts 1:8
b. They would receive Holy Ghost Power (strength; ability; efficiency; might).
c. (Greek: dunamis) inherent power; power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth; capable of reproducing itself like a dynamo.
d. The Holy Spirit IS power—and His power never runs out, never weakens, and never comes to an end.
e. When you receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, this power—His power—comes to reside on the inside of you!
f. You have this power available on the inside of you, always, no matter how you feel.
g. Wherever you go, the power of God is on the inside of you, empowering you to fulfill every command given to you by Jesus.
h. We are called to be witnesses—carriers and bearers of this great gospel message and gospel power—to the uttermost parts of the earth.
i. The great commission and gospel benefits were to be worldwide, from then on till Jesus returns—not to the Jews only, or for the first century only.
5. Waiting and Preparation.
a. Acts 1:12-14
b. The disciples obeyed the command of Jesus to not depart from Jerusalem but to wait for the Holy Spirit baptism.
c. They gathered in the upper room—the eleven disciples, together with the women (followers of Jesus), Mary the mother of Jesus, and Jesus’ brothers.
d. Most houses had a (furnished) upper room on the roof, or second floor of the house, with outside stairs.
e. At the Passover it was customary for homes in Jerusalem to have these chambers prepared for the many people who traveled there to attend the feast.
f. They all continued… (Greek: proskartereo, to preserve in a thing, or to adhere firmly to)
g. …with one accord (one heart and one mind) in prayer and supplication (Acts 1:14; also (Acts 2:1,46; 4:24; 5:12; 8:6; 15:25; Rom. 15:6).
h. The Wuest translation says: These all continued to give their persistent attention with absolute unanimity to prayer which was characterized by its definiteness of purpose.
i. It was in the timing and plan of God for the Holy Ghost to be poured out on the Day of Pentecost—fifty days after Passover and the Cross.
j. It is not necessary for us now to go to a particular place, or to wait ten days, for the Holy Spirit baptism, as they did.
k. Now that He has already come, we can open our heart and receive Him by faith, even the very day we believe.
l. It IS necessary, though, for us to take time to wait on the Lord (spend focused time in His presence) in preparation for what He has in store for us and for what He has called us to do.
m. Preparation for our life, our business, our ministry, etc.
n. Preparation time is never lost; the time spent waiting on God, and receiving from Him, is a precious treasure.
6. The Twelfth Apostle.
a. Acts 1:15-26
b. A new apostle is chosen to take the place of Judas, who was one of the twelve apostles and had had a place, and position, together with the others.
c. But he fell by transgression; lost his place; brought a curse upon himself, his family, and posterity, and was replaced by another; as was prophesied in scripture (Psalm 109:6-20).
d. There were about 120 people in the upper room (which also happened to be the number of men that the Jews required to form a council in a city).
e. Peter stands up to discuss choosing Judas’ replacement from among those men who had accompanied them and followed Jesus throughout His ministry, beginning from His baptism until His ascension (Acts 1:21-22).
f. As Peter told them, “one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection” (Acts 1:21-22).
g. The KJV says, “ordained” a witness; but the correct translation is “become” a witness—of His resurrection.
h. They nominated two men, prayed, and cast their lots; Matthias was chosen, and subsequently was numbered with the eleven apostles.
i. Paul did not take the place of Judas and did not consider himself one of the twelve (1 Cor. 15:5-8).