In the book of Acts we encounter the birth of the Church and the first phase of Church history—from the seedlings of brand-new believers just starting to figure things out, to an explosion of growth & expansion. From a small group in an upper room, to the advancement of the Gospel message throughout the known world, Acts chronicles the journey of those carrying the mantle of the Great Commission to where we are today.
Throughout the text, we encounter the power of the Holy Spirit, the centrality of the Great Commission, and the expansion of grace to include all who believe—Jew and Gentile—all saturated with the message of the Gospel and a promise for all who follow Him:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8