"Of All that Jesus Began"

Steven J. Wallace

“The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:1-3).

Luke informs Theophilus of the former account that he made of all that Jesus began both to do and teach. Christianity is unique because its founder framed and built it not only from sayings but also from works. In fact, observe how Luke mentions the Lord’s doings first and then His teaching.
Just from this short text, we can know that Jesus did many things.

1. He was “taken up.” On a historical day, Jesus ascended into the heavens and a cloud received Him out of the sight of His people (Lk. 24:51; Acts 1:9).

2. After He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments. Before He ascended, Jesus gave commandments to the apostles. Christianity is a religion that has commandments to obey. Such proves our love for God. “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him” (Jn. 14:21). After His ascension, the apostles (filled with the Holy Spirit) would further reveal to us the commandments from Christ (Matt. 28:20; Acts 10:42). I am to listen to their words as if Christ Himself were speaking.

3. To the apostles whom He had chosen. They were men that He called (Jn. 15:16). They were given the power to speak and command things. What about other gods that men speak of? What did these gods do, and what have they taught us? It makes sense that if God created us, He would love and reveal Himself to us. We would expect Him to teach us how to abide in His love. The Lord chose apostles to write and reveal things that are essential for our understanding (Jn. 16:13; Lk. 24:46-49). Because these men were given the Holy Spirit, disciples of Christ continue in their teaching (Acts 2:42).

4. To whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs. Although He was crucified and put to death, He showed Himself ALIVE. Jesus didn’t appear barely alive but full of vigor! He presented Himself alive with many infallible or undeniable proofs. They sealed the grave with His corpse inside and in vain set a guard over it (Matt. 27:66). Yet when women came to the tomb, it was empty (Matt. 28:1-9). He instructed His disciples to meet Him in Galilee after He was raised (Matt. 26:32). The ancient Scripture foresaw this in Psalm 16:10. Jesus predicted He would rise again (Matt. 16:21). Did Jesus meet this appointment? Yes! See Matthew 28:10, 16. They didn’t see a corpse with pierced hands and feet but a living man (Lk. 24:39). He also showed His disciples His pierced side (Jn. 20:20). Eight days later He convinced unbelieving Thomas with His hands and side (Jn. 20:27). These appearances formed infallible proofs. Added to these, the persecuting Saul of Tarsus experienced the post-resurrected Jesus in Acts 9. This was an earthquake to Saul’s ambitions that changed the persecutor into a preacher. Later through inspiration, Paul wrote how the Lord was seen by over 500 brethren at once and was last of all seen by Paul (1 Cor. 15:6-9).
   
   
5. Speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Luke tells us how long the post-resurrected Jesus was physically on earth—forty days (Acts 1:3). He tells us the nature of what took place in these scenes. This time was not filled with magic tricks but instructional teaching about the kingdom of God! Jesus, the instructor, did not appear as frail or as someone swooning with a delicate state of consciousness. A half-dead appearance of the Lord would not have emboldened the disciples to relentlessly take their message throughout the world in the face of the deplorable treatment they received. These appearances were not from an outgrowth of a wild imagination or delusional hallucinations. Groups do not share the same hallucination. Hallucinations do NOT offer instruction about a kingdom. Yet the disciples received intelligent instructions about the kingdom of God in these post-resurrection appearances. Hence teaching on law, order, conduct, authority, entrance into the kingdom, disciplinary duties, and like things could have been addressed. Hebrews 12:28, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.”

Jesus came to earth to do His Father’s will and to manifest the Father to us. God revealed Himself through what Jesus of Nazareth did as well as what He taught.
Have you learned Christ?

“But you have not so learned Christ if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:20-24).

As you go through this day, week, year, and life, remember the One you serve. Revelation 1:18, “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”