An Intro to Acts! // PBC Idaho

Sep 06, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: The Torch Passed: Continuing What Jesus Began

Luke’s opening words reveal a seismic shift: Jesus’ earthly work was just the beginning. The book of Acts isn’t about endings but about the church carrying forward Christ’s mission. Like runners gripping a baton, believers inherit the call to act and teach with the same authority. This isn’t optional—discipleship demands multiplying Jesus’ work through ordinary people. The same Spirit that empowered Christ now fuels His followers. [51:11]

"In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen."
(Acts 1:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: Where has Jesus placed you to “do and teach” this week? What fears or excuses might keep you from embracing this calling?

Day 2: Powerless Without the Spirit: Embracing Our Dependence

Jesus’ first command to His disciples wasn’t “go” but “wait.” Action without the Spirit’s filling leads to empty striving. Like a lamp unplugged, human effort alone cannot illuminate darkness. The disciples’ locked-door fear proves our inadequacy. Yet the Spirit transforms trembling hearts into bold witnesses. Surrender isn’t passive—it’s positioning ourselves for divine power. [01:07:38]

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
(John 15:5, ESV)

Reflection: Where are you relying on self-sufficiency rather than Spirit-dependence? What would it look like to “wait” before acting today?

Day 3: Strategic Foundations: How God Prepares the Harvest

God positioned Capernaum like a spiritual crossroads, funneling travelers through Jesus’ ministry. Roman roads and political stability weren’t accidents—they were divine preparations. Every detail, from geography to persecution, served the gospel’s spread. Our lives are no less intentionally placed. What looks like chaos or coincidence is often God laying groundwork for His kingdom. [36:41]

“Thus says the Lord God: This is Jerusalem. I have set her in the center of the nations, with countries all around her.”
(Ezekiel 5:5, ESV)

Reflection: How has God uniquely positioned your relationships, location, or experiences for gospel impact? What “Roman roads” surround you?

Day 4: Unexpected Fuel: Persecution as a Catalyst for Mission

Saul’s persecution scattered believers like seeds—and the church grew where it landed. Opposition isn’t a setback but a setup. The early church thrived under pressure, purified by fire. Comfort breeds complacency; hardship refocuses us on eternity. When safety crumbles, the church remembers its true citizenship and runs toward the battle. [41:30]

“Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.”
(Acts 8:4, ESV)

Reflection: When has difficulty clarified your purpose? How can you view current challenges as opportunities for gospel advance?

Day 5: No Spectators Allowed: The Call to Daily Discipleship

Acts obliterates the idea of casual Christianity. The early church shared meals, homes, and risks—every believer all in. Consumerism dies when we grasp that teaching equips us for battle, not comfort. Spectating isn’t an option; the kingdom needs soldiers. Your Bible study group, workplace, and neighborhood are training grounds for eternal impact. [59:00]

“What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”
(2 Timothy 2:2, ESV)

Reflection: Who are you intentionally discipling? What step will you take this week to move from consumer to contributor?

Sermon Summary

Luke opens Acts as the second volume of an orderly account, tracing what Jesus began to do and teach until His ascension. Acts is not merely the acts of apostles, though apostles stand all over its pages. Acts is the acts of the Holy Spirit, empowering ordinary disciples to carry Christ’s work forward.

Luke records roughly thirty years of history, from the resurrection to Paul’s arrival in Rome. The book follows Peter as the gospel goes through Jerusalem and Judea, then Paul as the gospel goes to the Gentiles and toward the ends of the earth. Luke’s selectivity is intentional. Peter reaches the Jews, Paul reaches the Gentiles, and the word of God keeps advancing despite persecution, riots, arrests, betrayals, and every kind of opposition.

God set the stage for this advance long before Pentecost. Israel sat at the center of the nations, like a funnel between the Mediterranean and the desert. Capernaum stood on major travel routes, so travelers saw Christ’s miracles and carried the stories outward before the written Gospels even arrived. Rome built roads, established the Pax Romana, and unknowingly paved the way for the gospel. Persecution also scattered believers and pushed the mission forward, showing that God even uses hostile powers to accomplish His purposes.

Luke’s phrase, “all that Jesus began to do and teach,” carries the weight of Acts. Christ finished the work of redemption on the cross, saying, “It is finished,” yet Christ began a work that would continue through His church. The Great Commission did not end with the apostles because disciples make disciples who teach others also. The church therefore does not gather merely to consume teaching, but to be equipped to go.

The disciples themselves were a pretty sorry lot: fearful, unskilled, often clueless, and scattered when Christ suffered. Christ chose those odds on purpose, so the glory could only go to Him. Christ also gave many proofs of His resurrection, appearing over forty days, eating, walking, speaking, and confirming that faith is not blind or detached from evidence.

Christ’s first command before sending the disciples was striking: do nothing. Christ strictly charged them to wait for the promise of the Father. The Holy Spirit gives life, while the flesh is no help at all. Apart from Christ, believers can do nothing. The call to action therefore begins with surrender, abiding in Christ and His Word, and depending entirely on the Spirit.

Key Takeaways

1. Acts records the Spirit’s powerful work. Acts refuses to make human ability the center of the story. The apostles act, preach, travel, suffer, and endure, but the Holy Spirit supplies the power behind every true advance. The church cannot reproduce Acts through personality, programs, or energy. The Spirit must give life. [28:41]
2. God prepares every road for mission. God placed Israel at the center of the nations and used Rome’s roads, peace, and political order to spread the gospel. Even persecution became fuel for the mission instead of a barrier to it. God’s providence does not merely react to opposition. God has already positioned His purposes ahead of it. [36:24]
3. Jesus began what the church continues. Luke’s word “began” means Christ’s ascension did not end His work in the world. Christ continues to do and teach through disciples who make disciples and entrust truth to faithful people. Church gatherings, Bible studies, and equipping exist to send Christians into obedience. Spectating is not the end goal. [52:46]
4. The flesh is no help at all. Christ told the disciples to wait because action without the Spirit would only multiply human weakness. Unbelievers cannot clean themselves up before coming to Christ, because spiritual death cannot revive itself. Believers cannot bear lasting fruit by running on old strength either. Abiding in Christ is not optional for fruitful obedience.

## [67:38]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[24:04] - Beginning the Book of Acts
[27:18] - Acts and the Early Church
[28:09] - The Acts of the Holy Spirit
[30:37] - A Thirty Year Gospel Advance
[33:27] - Peter, Paul, and Luke’s Purpose
[36:24] - God’s Strategic Geography and Rome
[40:08] - Persecution That Advances the Gospel
[43:10] - Luke, Theophilus, and Two Volumes
[50:50] - What Jesus Began to Do and Teach
[55:15] - The Church’s Call to Action
[60:02] - Christ Chooses Weak Disciples
[62:13] - Many Proofs of the Resurrection
[65:42] - Wait for the Promise of the Father
[67:38] - Less Than Useless Without the Spirit
[72:25] - Abide in Christ and Walk by the Spirit

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Acts 1:1–5
“In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, ‘you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’” [01:05:42]

John 15:5
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” [01:14:22]

Matthew 28:19–20
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” [53:26]

John 6:63
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” [01:08:29]

Observation questions

In Acts 1:1–5, what does Luke say Jesus did after His suffering, and how long did He appear to the disciples?
What does Luke’s phrase, “all that Jesus began to do and teach,” suggest about the relationship between Jesus’ earthly ministry and the mission of the church? [52:46]
According to Acts 1:4–5, what were the disciples specifically commanded to do before they began their witness to the nations? [01:05:46]
What details show that Acts follows the gospel’s advance from Jewish people in Jerusalem and Judea to Gentiles and ultimately toward Rome? [33:43]

Interpretation questions

Jesus completed the work of redemption on the cross, yet Acts says He “began to do and teach.” How can both statements be true, and what does this show about Christ’s continuing work through His people? [52:09]
Jesus gave the disciples the Great Commission, but first commanded them to wait. Why would waiting for the Spirit be necessary before attempting such an urgent mission? [01:06:42]
The disciples had been fearful, confused, and weak, yet Christ chose them as His witnesses. What does their weakness reveal about where the power and glory for gospel ministry belong? [01:01:19]
John 15:5 says that apart from Christ believers can do nothing. What is the difference between doing religious activity in human strength and bearing real fruit by abiding in Christ? [01:13:44]

Application questions

Is there an area of life where activity has replaced dependence on Christ—serving, parenting, work, ministry, or trying to overcome sin? What would it look like to slow down, pray, remain in Scripture, and depend on the Spirit in that area? [01:14:27]
Jesus calls His followers not merely to receive teaching but to make disciples who obey His commands. Who is one person God may be placing in your life to encourage, serve, pray for, or help take a next step toward Christ? [56:09]
The gospel often moved forward in Acts through opposition, scattering, and hardship. Is there a present difficulty that may be tempting you toward fear or comfort? How might God use faithful obedience in that situation for the good of others? [40:52]
The resurrection rests on many proofs: Jesus appeared, spoke, ate, and spent forty days with His disciples. How does this strengthen a believer who is facing doubts, questions, or a difficult conversation about the truth of Christianity? [01:03:07]
Comfortable Christianity can make believers into spectators rather than participants in Christ’s mission. In what ways might comfort be keeping you from taking a clear step of obedience, hospitality, service, evangelism, or discipleship? [58:56]
A person cannot clean up enough to earn new life from God; the Spirit gives life to those who come to Christ. If you have been trying to fix yourself before coming fully to Jesus, what would it mean to stop striving for self-salvation and trust Him today? [01:11:34]
God used ordinary disciples, Roman roads, travel routes, and even persecution to advance His purposes. What ordinary places, relationships, abilities, or daily routines has God already placed in your life that could become opportunities for gospel faithfulness? [40:08]

Sermon Clips

61s

#HolySpiritFirst

“Church, this will be our takeaway from today. We've had a lot of information today, but if there's one takeaway for you to have today from this command right here, here it is. You are less than useless without the Holy Spirit. You are less than useless without the Holy Spirit. Wow, there's a quote for you. When I told Charlotte that I was gonna end this sermon this way, she said, wow, you should make one of those affirmation stickers that says that. You know, those affirmation stickers you can buy and put on the in the morning like, you are enough, you are awesome. How about that one? You are less than useless without the Holy Spirit, and it's so true. This is why Jesus told them, do nothing. It would actually be best if you didn't do anything until the Holy Spirit came.”

41s

#SpiritNotFlesh

“Apart from Christ, apart from the spirit working in you church, you might as well just lock the door. Stay in the upper room. In fact, it would be better if you did that without the Holy Spirit. Church, if you're gonna carry the torch, if we are going to carry the the torch, and continue to do what Jesus began to do and teach, we must rely entirely on the Holy Spirit. We must rely entirely on the Holy Spirit for the spirit gives life and the flesh is of no help at all.”

51s

#EquippedToGo

“Church, what do you think this church exists for? All the teaching, all the bible studies, all the equipping hours, what do you think it's for? It's to equip us to go. It's to equip us to go. That's why we come together. There's work to be done. That's why Christian consumerism is so sickening to the Lord. Wow, that's a strong way to put it. Well, that's exactly what Revelation three says. The church of Laodicea, the lukewarm church, like stagnant water. It says the Lord will spit them out of his mouth. He hates stagnant churches.”

49s

#NoSpectators

“Now, there's no spectators here. There's no spectators here. The book of acts is a call to action church. If you're here and you've been spectating, acts is going to challenge you. I promise you that. It's gonna challenge you. You'll probably feel very uncomfortable. Good. Let's be called to action together. The early church was meeting almost every day, it seems. They were all involved. They had all things in common. Everything was about advancing the church and advancing the kingdom. This is what Christ calls us to. He tells his disciples, now you do and teach. As I began to do and teach, you will be my witnesses to the end of the earth.”

75s

#MakeDisciples

“Church, this applies to us. There's work to be done. The work of Christ to do. Now, you might say, well, how does this apply to me? Jesus is talking to his disciples here. How do I know this is a command for me? Well, I want you to think for a moment about what the definition of discipleship What's the definition of discipleship? raising up others to do and teach what you do and teach. That's what Matthew 28 is talking about. Go and make disciples and teach them to do all the things that I taught you. That's the definition of discipleship. What do you think the disciples of the disciples were called to do? Exactly what the disciples were called to do? What do you think their disciples were called to do? Exactly what they were called to do, all the way till you and I today. That's the definition of discipleship. And so by definition, these commands apply to us today.”

69s

#GodPreparedTheWay

“You also need to see that politically, the climate was perfect. With Rome being in charge with what we call the Pax Romana, the Roman peace. The whole Roman world was set up perfectly to pave the way for the gospel, quite literally, with Roman roads. So that they could go from city to city. This Roman piece where you could basically believe whatever you wanted so long as you paid taxes to Caesar. It was the perfect political climate. And the Jews thought the Romans were in control, but who set the Romans up? The Lord. Perfectly, so that what we see take place in Acts could take place. Even the persecution, even the persecution that we see, the climate of persecution with the Jews and then eventually the Romans was set up perfectly by the Lord because it seems that every time that there's more persecution, that's when the gospel advances the most.”

40s

#GodUsesTheUnderdog

“Then Peter wallows in the facts that he denied Christ, and he decides to not obey Christ's command, but go fishing instead. When Jesus recommissions Peter, his first act is to compare himself with John. These men were unskilled, uneducated, fearful, and the Lord goes perfect. That was the exact plan. Because the Lord loves those odds. That's exactly what he planned. So that all the glory would go to him. Amen?”

40s

#PassingTheTorch

“And so, you would expect Luke to say all that Jesus accomplished in top, but he doesn't say that. He says, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach. Why did Luke write that? Because this was the moment that Jesus was ushering in the church age. He was ushering in the church age. This was the moment that Jesus would pass the torch to the disciples and to all those who would call themselves followers of Christ.”

Ask a question about this sermon

Providence Bible Church | Meridian, Idaho This sermon · AI assistant

Why does Luke write Jesus began to do and teach?

What is the significance of waiting for the Holy Spirit?

How did geography and Rome enable the gospel spread?