The End of the Beginning

The book of Acts records the history of the first 30 years of the church. In Luke’s gospel, he wrote about “all Jesus began to do and teach before the day he was taken up.” Acts is the record of the continuation of the ministry of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit, through the church to unleash the gospel into the world.

Acts ends with the Apostle Paul in Rome, waiting to be heard by Caesar. It’s like a cliffhanger. We’re left to wonder what’s next for Paul. But while the book of Acts comes to an end, the mission continues. We are the generation entrusted with taking the message of Jesus to the ends of the earth.

So as Luke concludes the book of Acts, he answers three questions we must consider for our lives now: Who is the audience for the gospel? What is the context for gospel ministry? What is the central point of the gospel message.

Scripture: Acts 28:16-31; Philemon 1, 4