Acts 1
A New Beginning: What We Learned from Acts 1
As we open the book of Acts together, we step into a powerful moment in Scripture—one that connects everything we've read in the Gospels with the launch of the early Church. We’ve loved walking through the life and teachings of Jesus, and now we find ourselves at the next chapter in God’s story, watching the baton get passed to His followers. Chapter one might be brief, but it lays down a foundational roadmap for everything that follows.
Acts 1: The Link We Needed
Let’s be real—without Acts 1, the Bible might feel a bit disjointed. We would be left wondering, How did we go from Jesus’ resurrection to the apostles boldly proclaiming the gospel across the known world? This chapter fills in that critical gap. It introduces the Holy Spirit and gives us Jesus’ final words before His ascension—words that outline our mission today. We’re grateful to walk through this book and process it together, because it helps ground our faith in a broader story that God is still writing.
It’s in this first chapter that Jesus tells the disciples (and us) in verse 8:
“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.”
That’s it. That’s the plan. No detailed calendar or checklist. Just a call to receive power and go.
Empowered to Witness, Even While Waiting
Verse 7 hits a nerve. Jesus says, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.” Oof. We get it. We want to know the plan, the timeline, the results. But Jesus flips that on its head. Instead of giving us a timeline, He gives us the Holy Spirit.
What stands out is this: in the waiting, God equips us.
When we don’t have the answers, we’re not left powerless. We receive the Spirit. And from there, we’re told to go—first to our own “Jerusalem” (our closest circles), then to Judea, Samaria, and beyond. It’s a ripple effect of witness, and it’s meant to start right where we are.
We found ourselves asking: Who is in our Jerusalem right now? Our family? Neighbors? Coworkers?
Then what does Judea or Samaria look like for us? And how are we stepping into “the ends of the earth,” even in small, faithful ways?
Casting Lots and Discerning God’s Will
One part of Acts 1 that made us pause (and laugh a little) was verse 26—where the disciples cast lots to choose a replacement for Judas. It sounds almost ridiculous to us now: “Grab the dice and let’s figure this out!” But this was part of ancient Jewish tradition, a method they believed God could work through.
Still, we talked about how not everything in Scripture is meant to be a prescription—sometimes it's simply a description of what happened. Just because they rolled dice doesn’t mean we should do the same to make big decisions today. Instead, Scripture calls us to a deeper kind of discernment—prayer, wisdom, time in the Word, and community with other believers.
Living the Mission Today
Acts 1 reminds us that the mission isn’t complicated, but it is bold. Receive the Holy Spirit. Be witnesses. Go to the people around you, and then go further. It won’t always be clear. It won’t always feel easy. But it will always be worth it because it’s rooted in the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.
So let’s keep reading Acts together. Let’s keep asking questions. Let’s keep trusting God in the waiting, stepping out in faith, and witnessing wherever He’s placed us.
What does your "Jerusalem" look like right now?
