Luke, being the author of the Acts, has written it in order to give a historical account about the impact of the Gospel Message and the spread of God’s Kingdom in the days of the early Church. Thus, the recorded historical facts remain as reliable testimony to the work of Christ continued by the Apostles through the Power of the Holy Spirit.

The following are the major themes in the Acts:

  • The Holy Spirit who empowered the early Church to expand the Kingdom of God.
  • The Apostles, who were given the mission to testify Christ and to lead and serve the Church.
  • The Church, as the Body of Christ to ensure that the Gospel and the Kingdom of God would continue to be spread throughout history.

Holy Spirit:

Luke testifies to the fact that it was the Holy Spirit who empowered the Christian community to live a transformed life and to evangelize the world. The Holy Spirit has performed many miracles through the Apostles, in order that their ministry might be validated. Having recorded these miracles, Luke has encouraged the Christians, who faced opposition and persecution.

Apostles:

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He commissioned the Apostles to continue his ministry from Jerusalem to the very ends of the earth preaching the Gospel: “You will receive the 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” (Acts 1:8). Therefore, the main role entrusted to the Apostles was to become the witnesses of Christ throughout the world. As such, most of the Apostles became effective witnesses for Christ by having undergone extreme torture, persecution, and martyrdom.

The Church:

The necessity for the Apostles to establish the Christian communities as an entity, the Church, was to carry on the Mission of the Apostles since they could not physically accomplish the task assigned to them. Moreover, the Church as the Body of Christ was necessary to take the message to the future generations till the end of the time.

May the Word of God be the light to our path of life,
Fr. Arul Joseph V.


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