We are going to look at how the Lord called the early church His witnesses, which applies to us as well. We can understand our role and response as His witnesses as we study the first few chapters of Acts.
Role as Witnesses
Luke, the writer of Acts, sets the tone for his letter in the first verses of chapter 1.
1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.
3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God (Acts 1:1-3, NIV).
Acts 1:1-3 shows that the Lord is continuing to work and teach. His physical presence was just the beginning. He is the focus for the whole book, which is critical in understanding the church.
“The Lord is alive and active.”
He chose His method of using people, His material by His instructions, and His means by His Spirit. His church is a supernatural body, not just a program.
The basis of the church is the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. He showed Himself alive over 40 days and talked about His Kingdom.
This was the game changer for the church. They (and we) can be fearless and trust the Lord as we count on Him being alive. His being with us radically alters our lives.
But 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.” (Acts 1:8, NIV)
In Acts 1:8 the Lord’s last words before He ascended describes our role as His witnesses.
A witness is someone who can and does state what he has seen, heard, and knows to be true. He is a transmitter of information, not an inventor of it.
We are the Lord’s witnesses, telling others about Him and His word and how He has shown Himself alive to us. We do this by His Spirit so we can speak and act boldly and wisely.
The scope of our witness is to the end of the earth as we go in His authority and power.
The question remains for His church to be true to Him and relay His word faithfully as His witnesses. We follow what He says and
“allow His word to direct our actions.”
In a sense, this simplifies our role as we witness to His word and character but we feel the weight of this responsibility, but at the same time, the Lord empowers us to do this task.
How do we do this? This leads to our second point.
Response as Witnesses
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.
45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:42-47, NIV).
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32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need (Acts 4:32-35, NIV).
In Acts 2:42-47 and 4:32-35, we get a glimpse of the early church and how they were His witnesses. Verse 42 gives the principles and the other verses show how the church applied them in their context.
It says the believers were devoted. Devoted means to be firm and persevere and be faithful. Inherent in this is the idea that it is not easy and there is opposition. They were devoted individually and corporately in 4 areas.
Apostles’ teaching - this was the instruction from the Lord and all about Him. They believed it, studied it, and applied it to their lives, knowing it was from their living Lord.
Fellowship - this word, koinonia, means communion and community. We have this unity first with the Lord and then with one another, humbly serving and loving our fellow believers in the Lord.
Sharing meals and the Lord’s supper - sharing meals promotes real vulnerability and knowing each other. We come to know their and our own faults and needs. A reminder to forgive as we have been forgiven is in the Lord’s Supper.
Prayer - this is a general word for all kinds of prayer - praises, thanks, requests, cries, and just talking with the Lord. This is done by ourselves and with others too.
All these elements are only possible because the Lord is still working and teaching us. It is not our own determination but His life in us that makes these possible.
These 4 elements are applied in the rest of the verses of our study. The church had an awe, aware of the Lord working among them.
They shared generously with one another, which is a good indicator for them and us if we really have the Lord as our priority and security. We tend to grab hold of material security if we feel insecure in the Lord and take our eyes off Him.
The church worshipped together, encouraging one another in knowing the Lord.
They had great joy and favor from people as they saw a body of believers living from the Lord. And many others joined them as a result.
