The following article is excerpted from The Jesus Bible (Zondervan, 2018), available in NIV, ESV, and (Spanish) NVI Bible translations. Copyright © 2018 by Zondervan. Used by permission of Zondervan. www.zondervan.com. Pages 1692-1693. All rights reserved.

The news of Jesus cannot be stopped. Beginning with a fledgling band of disciples, the transforming message of hope offered by Jesus would spread from Jerusalem to Rome in less than 35 years. The leaders of Jesus’ day assumed his death would forever stamp out his claims. In God-sized irony, Jesus’ death only fueled the spread of this message because he did not remain dead but defeated death through his glorious resurrection.

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The resurrected Christ forever changed those who witnessed these events. They trusted that he would send them his Spirit to empower them for the mission that lay ahead (Acts 2:1–4). At Pentecost, the Spirit came in might and power and established the church that will prevail over the gates of Hades for all time (Matthew 16:18). Peter’s sermon following the sending of the Spirit made it clear that this miracle was the fulfillment of God’s promises and further validated the claims of Jesus to be God’s Messiah and the Savior of the world.

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Peter quoted the prophet Joel to explain the supernatural phenomenon of Pentecost. Joel predicted that an outpouring of God’s Spirit would come on the young and the old, on men and women alike, as a sign of God’s commitment to deliver those “who [call] on the name of the Lord” (Joel 2:32). Joel explained that those who oppressed God’s people and those who refused to repent would be judged, yet the opportunity to be saved was—and still is—clearly offered. Given the context of Joel’s proclamation then, it seems that the author (Luke) also uses this passage to underscore the assuring message of salvation for those who believe. In sum, Peter’s speech makes clear the idea that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah who fulfills the prophecies of old, who issues the anticipated outpouring of God’s Spirit on his people, and who offers salvation from judgment to any and all who will repent and follow Christ.

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Throughout the book of Acts, the role the Holy Spirit plays a central role in advancing the church. Prior to beginning their earthly mission, Jesus instructed his followers to wait until he sent his Spirit, who would supply the power behind the task that lay ahead. This mission would necessitate such power. It was massive—this small group of disciples were instructed to take the good news of Jesus to the very ends of the earth. One wonders what thoughts played in the minds of these first followers of Jesus. Were they afraid? Certainly. Did they understand all that was ahead? Certainly not. Yet they trusted God.

Verse 8 serves as an outline of the book of Acts, as Luke describes the faith-filled mission of this group to spread the gospel in Jerusalem, then Judea and Samaria, and then to the ends of the known world of that day. The very same Spirit that empowered the disciples for this great mission is the Spirit who indwells all followers of Jesus (Luke 11:13; Galatians 3:14; Ephesians 1:13–14). He propels ordinary disciples to do extraordinary things through the power only God can supply.

The above article is excerpted from The Jesus Bible (Zondervan, 2018), available in NIV, ESV, and (Spanish) NVI Bible translations. Copyright © 2018 by Zondervan. Used by permission of Zondervan. www.zondervan.com. Pages 1692-1693. All rights reserved.

The Jesus Bible is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.

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