The Acts of the Apostles, or more accurately the Acts of the Holy Spirit, was written by Luke and details the growth of the early Church. A key verse in Acts 1:8 states: You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

After Jesus’ Ascension, the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples, transforming them into fearless witnesses. Peter, once ashamed to acknowledge Jesus, preached with boldness, and thousands became believers. The religious and political authorities, believing they had silenced Jesus by crucifying him, now faced a growing movement. They resorted to persecution, even executing Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

However, this persecution only spread the gospel further. As Christians fled, they carried the message to new regions, fulfilling Jesus’ commission. Tertullian later wrote: The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. Matthias was chosen to replace Judas, though little is known about him. However, God’s ultimate choice for this role was Paul, dramatically converted on the Damascus Road.

Much of Acts follows Paul’s missionary journeys. Despite suffering imprisonment and hardship, he relentlessly proclaimed the gospel, taking it beyond Jerusalem to the wider world. Acts concludes with Paul in Rome, symbolising how the message had reached the heart of the empire.

The early Church’s boldness in preaching the gospel remains an inspiration today. May we also declare this message with the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

This is one of a series of posts outlining all the books of the Bible. Previous Next