Acts - Chapter OneSample

How to Spread the Word  

…in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

The book of Acts, narrates the work of the Holy Spirit through His witnesses who gradually spread the word to the world starting from Jerusalem. We are a continuation of that story as we fulfill our God given destiny, to reach the world. 

While progression of the gospel can be viewed from a geographical point of view-Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria leading up to the whole world, we can also view it from a socio-cultural perspective. In the first instance the gospel was shared in Jerusalem among the Jewish people. They were like the apostles-They worshiped a monotheistic God, and who had a Jewish heritage. 

Later, we observe how the Lord supernaturally led Philip and Peter to witness to those who were unlike them, namely the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8) and Cornelius (Acts 10). Then, it was Paul along with Barnabas who were commissioned and sent out by the Antioch church (Acts 13:3). Church history tells us that none of the disciples died in Jerusalem but almost all of them died as martyrs in different parts of the world. They reached out to people who were unlike them and not near them. 

This pattern can be observed from Christ’s method of training His disciples too. He first started ministering with His disciples in Galilee, stating that he would make them fishers of men. Later, he clearly instructed the disciples to focus their energies only on ‘the lost sheep of Israel’, though his intention was to eventually send them to the ends of the earth.

5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. Matt. 10:5,6

However, by way of example, Christ demonstrated how to witness and serve Samaritans (John 4), Romans (Matt. 8) and Syrophoenicians (Mark 7). What can be observed is a pattern; there is a progressive pattern of revelation as well as a gradual increase of the sphere of service and ministry. 

Let us first start serving within our God given limits among people who are near us and like us, then in time among people who are like us but not near us, and if God wills possibly to people who are unlike us and not near us. 

To continue studying on the Book of Acts, kindly follow the subsequent plan:

https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/17274/