The book of Acts of the Apostles

"I composed the first story, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day he was raised to heaven, after having given, through the Holy Spirit, orders to the apostles that he had chosen." Acts 1. 1, 2

The gospels show the activity of the Messiah on earth. The Acts of the Apostles evoke that which the Lord continues to have through the Holy Spirit who animates his messengers. This book opens with the ascension of Jesus into heaven and the transmission of the role of witness to his disciples.

Placed between the Gospels and the Epistles, this book is an important work to understand the N.T. It presents the Apostle Paul, man of action and writer, totally unknown in the Gospels. The many nascent churches are the object of the solicitude of the apostles. The Acts show how the Gospel message, addressed primarily to the Jews in the Gospels, extends to all men at the time of the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. On this occasion, everyone can hear the message of Jesus in his own language (chapter 2).

The book of Acts is called the first chapter in the history of the Church. Luke chooses significant elements for their consequences on the life and growth of the Church : the cure of the paralytic triggers the first opposition (chapter 3), the discourse of Stephen motivates the first persecution and the dispersion of the disciples (ch. 7), the gospel is open to the Gentiles with Corneille (chapter 10), and so on.

It is also a book rich in lessons. Jesus is called Lord, the author of our salvation : "God did and Lord and Christ this Jesus whom you crucified" declares Peter to his fellow citizens (Acts 2:36). The episode of the steward of the Queen of the Ethiopians (chapter 8) puts the name of Jesus on the mysterious servant presented by the prophet Isaiah, the one who gives himself completely for others (chapter 53).

Each reader also finds many teachings on the life of the Church. He concretely discovers how she lives and organizes under the guidance of the Holy Spirit in this world.

For centuries this book has been misunderstood. Since the nineteenth century, it is again read and commented and found the place he should have always had. In this century when reason prevails over faith, Christians are encouraged to consider the power of the Spirit of God so active in a world that rejects Christ.

Source (To please the Lord)