The Acts of the Apostles

Comment:

The New Testament book known as Acts of the Apostles is really the second part of the Gospel of Luke. Written by the same author, it continues the story by narrating the events that occurred immediately after the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ, as his followers struggled to carry his message forward in an often hostile world. Acts begins with a handful of followers gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem, frightened and confused in the wake of all they had just experienced. It is there that they are “visited” by the Holy Spirit and empowered to speak and act according to Jesus' teachings. Acts ends with Paul in Rome—the capital of the empire—continuing his missionary work even though under house arrest. The story of how an initially weak and tiny group could spread so far, and accomplish so much, is metaphysically the story of our own growth from an initial awareness of the Christ Presence within us (which was the essence of the message of Jesus) to fuller and wider expressions of that Presence in the world around us. Once we are awake to the Christ, the Presence and Power of God are with us, flowing through us, expressing in the world through us. There will be challenges, and we will make mistakes. But each mistake becomes a learning opportunity—a chance to realize more fully how powerfully God can work through us.   Blessings!

Rev. Ed