What do you do with your unfinished projects? Shove them in a cupboard, put them in the garage? Or maybe you put them on a list?
Do you do ‘do lists’? You know, write a list with all your unfinished tasks on it. Some things always stay there on my ‘do list’, ‘Read bible, pray, write sermon’. Really it’s like ‘raising kids’. It never leaves the ‘do list’. But there are other things you put on the ‘do list’, in the hope that sometime I will get to it, but so that it doesn’t look at me all the time.
Of course, sometimes I lose my ‘do list’ although that’s a lot harder now that I can put them on my phone. Losing a do list can be a good strategy in the short term to feel better about what you’ve got to do, but in the long run it’s probably not a good strategy to enable you to get through life. And when I actually get to do something on my ‘do list’ I tick them off with gusto. And then I move the ones I haven’t done to a new ‘do list’, and start again.
Our reading today has a ‘do list’. Fortunately, it has not been lost. It is God’s ‘do list’. It is God’s ‘do list’ for the nations and tribes and languages who need to hear about the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and repent and believe the gospel. And it is a list given by Jesus himself to the Disciples.
And it seems that the Disciples didn’t get to finish it. And now those who originally received this ‘do list’ are dead and at rest. The ‘do list’ been past down to us. So it’s hanging over those of us who follow them to do it. Acts, from one point of view, is a record of how they went doing Jesus’ ‘do list’.
Context: The Gospel of Luke
What is the context of Acts chapter 1?
The context of Acts chapter 1 is the Essential Jesus, the Gospel of Luke. Luke wrote two volumes. Acts chapter 1 verses 1 and 2:
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. (NIV)
What does Luke think his gospel, the Gospel of Luke, was about?
Luke thinks his gospel is an unfinished story about Jesus. It is about what Jesus ‘began to do and to teach’.
In other words, there are some things Jesus began to do and to teach. That’s the Gospel of Luke, the Essential Jesus. And there are other things that Jesus continued to do and to teach. And that is the Book of Acts.
Luke’s Gospel is unfinished, as far as Luke is concerned. It is only completed by looking at the book of Acts. And Luke’s words and actions show that he believed one book was not enough to describe what Jesus did. First, he wrote two, not just one! And second, he said the first one was a beginning.
Whose Acts?
Which leads to the question, who is the main character of the book of Acts? Whose Acts, whose actions, whose activities, are we talking about here?
Obviously it is about somebody’s acts, somebody who does something. Somebody has been doing something that Luke wanted to record. So whose ‘acts’, whose actions, is Luke writing his book about?
The full name of the book we have read from today is 'the Acts of the Apostles'. This is the name that the church over history has given this book[1]. Though the book itself doesn’t call itself the ‘Acts of the Apostles’.
And so we might think that this book is primarily about the ‘Acts of the Apostles’, the things that that the 12 Apostles did.
And there of course is a great deal of truth in this. We see the replacement of Judas chosen. The 11 are restored to 12. We read Peter preaching two sermons. Humanly speaking, Peter is the main character from Acts 1 to 5, and Acts 10-11. Peter is the leader of the 12. So it is foolish to think that the 12 Apostles are insignificant.
But if we look to Luke’s second book for an extensive account of what the 12 Apostles did, we would be disappointed.
Acts Chapters 6-9 focus not on the Apostles, but on two of their delegates, the deacons, and an enemy of the church named Saul, also called Paul. All we hear of James Zebedee is that he was killed, and of John Zebedee, that he hung around with Peter in the early years. We hear nothing of Andrew, Matthew, Bartholomew, Thaddeus, Simon, or even Matthias, or any of the others.
Even more significantly, over half the book follows the mission not of the 12, but of this Paul. After chapter 12, only Peter of the 12 makes an appearance, only for 6 verses (Chapter 15 verse 6-12). Thereafter ‘the Apostles’ are just referred to as a group, along with ‘the Elders’.
So we have the strange phenomenon that the second half of the ‘Acts of the Apostles’, from chapters 13 to 28, only one of the twelve appears, and for only 6 verses! And they don’t really do much at all.
So calling it ‘Acts of the Apostles’ is a bit like me saying, ‘I’m going to write a book of the Acts of the Australian cricket team at the turn of the century’. And then I write half a book. And it describes what Steve Waugh, the former Australian Captain, did in his early career. But I don’t write anything about the end of his career, including his retirement. I give Ricky Ponting, the current Australian captain, two lines (like, for example, John Zebedee). I say Justin Langer retired early (just like James Zebedee was martyred). And for Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Matty Hayden, Michael Slater, Mark Waugh, Brett Lee, and the rest, they only get mentioned in the team lists, and that’s it.
And then I write the second half of the book about the exploits of some young upstart English cricketer who whipped Australia in the most recent Ashes, but then later on changed teams and was accepted to play in the Australian team down the track.
That is the equivalent of calling the book in front of us, ‘Acts of the Apostles’.
So the 12 are significant, and they do act, but it is not primarily their acts that we’re looking at. Even the name ‘Apostle’ points away from the Apostles. Apostle means one who is sent. And the question is ‘sent by who?’
Some see the book of Acts as the Acts of the Holy Spirit. And of course this is true as well. He is a very important character in the story. After all, he is God, the third person of the Trinity.
The Holy Spirit comes down visibly and demonstrably on the day of Pentecost. And on that day he empowers the 120 disciples for witness. And all through the book of Acts, he is working, guiding and leading the mission.
But we mustn’t divorce the Holy Spirit from the Risen Christ who sent him. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Christ. He is the Spirit of Jesus. Jesus sends the Holy Spirit from the Father (John 15:26). In the words of the Apostles’ Creed filioque clause, ‘He proceeds from the Father and the Son’. So the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9). The Spirit is ‘Christ in you’ (Romans 8:10). The Spirit is ‘the mind of Christ’ that every believer now possesses (1 Corinthians 2:16).
So the Holy Spirit is like John the Baptist. He is a self-effacing person, who points away from himself to the one who sent him, Jesus Christ. And Jesus Christ brings people to the Father.
So, if you were to push me, I’d call Luke’s second book, ‘The Acts of the Risen Christ through the Apostles and other Disciples by the Power of the Holy Spirit’. That’s a fair bit longer, but more accurate than ‘Acts of the Apostles’.
The Risen Jesus Christ is who this book is primarily about. The Holy Spirit brings the Risen Jesus Christ to the 12 Apostles and other disciples. And Luke will also call Paul and Barnabas ‘Apostles’, though they are not members of the 12 (Acts 14:4, 14).
And while the 12 are the foundational witnesses, particularly to the Jews in Jerusalem, they are not the crucial witnesses at the cutting edge of the Gentile Mission. The witnesses to the Gentiles as Acts recounts them are firstly Philip, then briefly Peter, and then predominantly by Paul and his companions. The other missioners are always in fellowship with the 12, but the mission is not driven by the 12. There is a bigger hand than theirs guiding the mission.
Now these chapters of Acts are about Christ Commissioning Apostles for Mission. The Commission is for a mission during the intermission. The Mission is to be witnesses to the risen Christ until he returns.
The means of Christ’s mission to the world is twofold. First, the witness of Apostles, or sent ones, testifying to what they’ve seen. And second, the Holy Spirit empower the Apostles. We see this in verses 3 to 5:
3After his suffering, he showed himself to these men 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. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with {5 Or in} water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." (NIV)
How do the disciples do the 'do list'? The means that God and his Christ have chosen for them to do the 'do list' is to speak. They are to make the nations Christ’s by saying what they saw. And all the while the Holy Spirit is enabling them to speak.
The Apostolic Witness
During his earthly ministry, Jesus appointed 12 to be his Apostles, his Sent Ones. They are 12 witnesses. If you like, they are 12 jurors. Twelve peers, who were with Jesus, and thus can provide legal testimony to all and sundry that Jesus is the risen Christ (cf 1 Cor 15:5).
That is why Jesus shows them ‘convincing proofs’, verse 3. The 12 will need to be convinced beyond a shadow of the doubt that Jesus is the risen Christ. After all, 11 of the twelve seem to have been martyred for this message[2]. And the one survivor, John Zebedee, endured exile on Patmos. So the 12 will need ‘convincing proofs’ to give their lives up for the Risen Christ. For if anyone was making up the lie, the 12 would have been the ones. And who would give their lives and die for a lie that they made up?[3]
The Spirit’s Witness
But even their truthful witness will not be adequate. For this is God’s mission. It is the mission of Christ. It is a Spirit empowered mission. Jesus promised the disciples the Holy Spirit during his earthly ministry.
11"When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say." (Luke 12:11-12 NIV)[4]
And so there will be another Parakletos[5], another defence lawyer, who will give testimony for the Risen Christ. Jesus speaks of ‘the promise of the Father, which you have about from me’ (Acts 1:4). The promise of the Father is the Holy Spirit. And the job of the Paraclete, the Spirit is to testify to Christ.
The promised Holy Spirit is a great lawyer. He strides onto the stage of Acts, and through the mouths of the twelve the Spirit demonstrates that Jesus is the Christ.
Now, none of this means that the Holy Spirit has been previously missing in action. It is not as if this is the first time the Holy Spirit takes part in the ministry of Jesus or the Apostles’[6]. But the Day of Pentecost will mark a new period of salvation history. The outpouring of the Spirit will bear witness that God has glorified the Risen and Ascended Jesus. As Peter says in Acts 2:33:
33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he [the Risen Jesus] has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. (NIV)
And the same is true now. The Holy Spirit still equips his people for the Apostolic ministry.
For Acts is an unfinished book. It is open ended. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. And he is still doing his mission. The mission is for the whole intermission.
And while none of us are Apostles in the sense of the 12, the foundation of the Apostolic church has been laid, never to be laid again. We have their written memorials. Their teachings are preserved before us in the New Testament. While living, they prepared for the time of their departure (cf 2 Peter 1:12-15). They left us their writings. And being dead, they still speak, in the Scriptures. The Spirit Baptism And the same Spirit that baptized the apostles to speak the word now comes into our hearts to regenerate us, change our hearts, remove our stony heart and give us a fleshly heart, so that we can understand and accept the gospel.
For it is not simply a water baptism that we require. We need a Spirit Baptism. Spirit baptism was promised by John the Baptist. But John could not bring it. It required one greater than John the Baptist. And it required his ascension into heaven.
And we know that now, the Spirit Baptism comes to every believer in Christ. The Apostle Paul tells the Corinthians, that ‘no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit’ (1 Corinthians 12:3 NIV). And he goes on to say:
For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-- whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-- and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. (1 Corinthians 12:13 NIV)
While not everyone speaks in tongues, prophesies, heals, or does miracles, all who belong to Christ have the same Spirit, are baptized in the same Spirit, and are given the same Spirit to drink. Now, baptism in the Spirit is not a promise for some, but a fact for all. Acts here is descriptive, not prescriptive. Luke describes the beginning of this new era of salvation history. But after that beginning has come, all believers are baptized in the Spirit.
After Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared to his disciples over a period of 40 days[7]. Only Luke records for us the Ascension – he does so twice. And only in Acts are we told about the 40 days. Jesus did not necessarily stay with them all that time. But Jesus appeared to them during that period. And Luke tells us he not only proved. He also taught.
Verse 3, the risen Jesus spoke about the kingdom of God. Now, Jesus had been teaching about the Kingdom of God before this. Indeed, the 12 actually went out preaching it.
The Kingdom of God… NOW
Luke’s gospel is full of Jesus’ teaching about the Kingdom of God[8]. Indeed, Jesus looks at the time of John the Baptist as the time of the law and the prophets, and his own era and following as the time of the Kingdom of God (7:28; 16:16). For the Kingdom of God comes near when God’s King comes near. And that is what it means that Jesus is the Christ. Jesus is God’s King. And he came near and brought in a kingdom. So he can say that the kingdom of God is among you (Lk 17:20-21). It is like a mustard seed, starts off small, but it will be the biggest tree in the garden.
And the book of Acts continues the preaching the Kingdom of God[9]. But now the teaching about the Kingdom of God is much fuller. Jesus promised at Caesarea Phillipi that ‘some standing here would not taste death before they saw the Kingdom of God.’
And with the life, death, resurrection, ascension, and receipt of the Spirit, the 12 have seen the inauguration of the kingdom of God. What Jesus’ taught was part of it, but Jesus didn’t teach openly about his life, death and resurrection when he taught the kingdom of God. During his earthly ministry, Jesus strictly warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ (Luke 9:20-21). When Jesus told them about his coming death and resurrection, his disciples didn’t understand. They didn’t know what he was talking about (Luke 18:31-34). So it was hardly the pointy edge of their message.
But now the appropriate teaching of the Kingdom of God involves teaching about Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, ascension and second coming. So now what was implicit in Jesus’ preaching, becomes explicit in the Apostle’s preaching after Jesus’ resurrection. The Risen Jesus Christ says in Luke’s Gospel:
46 He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." (Luke 24:46-49 NIV)
So in Samaria, Philip the Evangelist preaches ‘the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ’ (Acts 8:12). And in Rome Paul preaches ‘the kingdom of God’ and tried to convince them ‘about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets’ (Acts 28:23). The last words of Acts are that Paul ‘preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.’ (Acts 28:31) With the fulfillment of Christ’s life, death, resurrection, ascension and glorification, the message of the Kingdom is filled out with the message about Jesus Christ.
The Kingdom preaching of the Apostles now involves preaching that Jesus is the Christ, and that his death and resurrection are for our forgiveness, so we should repent.
The Kingdom of God: NOT YET (verses 6-11)
Now, seeing that Jesus has been talking about the Kingdom, and that Jesus is actually risen and alive in front of them raised a question for the Disciples. Verses 6 to 8:
6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 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." (NIV)
Jesus has said some things that suggest the Kingdom of God was to come immediately. The Kingdom of God is forcefully advancing and forceful people are entering it. Some disciples wouldn’t die before they saw the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is among you. This was the now of the Kingdom of God.
But there is also a not yet. The Kingdom is inaugurated, but not consummated. To use an analogy, we are engaged, but not yet married. All the responsibilities and expectations of marriage, and few of the privileges. In the words of his parable, A man of noble birth goes away to have himself appointed King, and then to return. (Luke 19:11-27).
That is Jesus. He has gone away to be appointed King. That’s Jesus’ Ascension. This will be proved by the coming of the Spirit But he has not yet returned to kill his enemies and reward his servants.
But it will happen. That is verified by the words of the Angels. Verse 10 and 11:
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." (NIV)
He will come again a second time to judge the living and the dead. This is our hope. This is what we long for when we pray ‘Your Kingdom Come’. That our King will return to draw this age to a close.
And as to times and dates, it is not for us to know. He will come like a thief in the night, and we must always be ready and about our Lord’s business.
But while we wait, there is an Apostolic job that remains. Verse 8 again:
You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (NIV)
Here is God’s ‘Do List’ for the Apostles. And I can tell you that, by the end of Acts, all the boxes are not ticked.
Yes, the Apostles witness in Jerusalem, that’s Acts 1-5. Yes, the Apostles Witness in Judea and Samaria, that’s Acts 8 (see especially 8:25). Though Peter and John are not the first there. The persecuted and fleeing Christians take the message, which is confirmed by Peter and John.
But the ends of the earth?
Acts finishes in Rome. Is Rome the end of the earth? The ancient middle easterners didn’t think of Rome as the ends of the earth. The most western point is Spain, not Rome, and Paul wanted to go there. But he is not there by the end of Acts
And we know that there are worlds beyond Spain. There are the Americas, and Australia, and Africa, and vast tracts of Asia[10].
Where are the ends of the earth for us? Warragamba? Silverdale? Werrombi? Orangeville?
As a parish, what’s on our ‘Do List’? Doing bible study with someone from Werrombi? Teaching Youth Group or Kids Club in Mulgoa? As Chappo said last week, ‘Mulgoa, I don’t even go that far on my holidays’. Reaching the Chinese family that cooks my chips at Warragamba? Talking about Jesus to a bunch of school kids at Wallacia? Maybe what the disciples back then saw as ‘the end of the earth’ for them is next door for you today, or just down the road each Tuesday morning? For when you are talking over the fence saying that the Risen Jesus is your King, you're fulfilling Jesus’ words, ‘to the ends of the earth’. It is all part of the ‘Do List’ of the Risen Jesus Christ. It’s bigger than you and I, but we get to be a part of it. It’s all part of the unfinished commission to mission during the intermission. And as you and I take the gospel to yet another person, to yet another family, our Lord Jesus Christ moves one step closer to being about to tick off ‘ends of the earth’.
Jesus said this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14 NIV)
Friends, we get to be part of God’s great plan in the world. God is going there. It’s going to happen. God is going to gather a multitude of people around Jesus Christ from every tribe, people and language group. And together, with those that have passed on, and with perhaps those yet unborn, we are working towards ticking off that one last item ‘ends of the earth’. So keep going, for then the end will come.
Let’s pray.
[1] Eusebius of Caesara says ‘from what Luke has recorded in the Acts’ and accepted it is as inspired, and mentions it next after the 4 gospels. He is the first recorded to call it the Acts of the Apostles. Jerome calls it the ‘Apostolic Acts’ written by Luke, the Doctor from Antioch, who was Paul’s companion. It was written from Rome and extended the story up until the 4th year of Nero. Jerome believes ‘the brother whose praise is in the gospel’ (2 Cor 8:18) is Luke. The Cheltenham List (c AD 360) and Athansius (AD 367) call it ‘the Acts of the Apostles’. Of the early writers, Polycarp seems to evince some knowledge of it, as does the Epistula Apostolorum. The Muratorian Canon (c 180-200 AD) calls it ‘The Acts of all the Apostles’, but says it omits the passion of Peter and the departure of Paul from the city. See C K Barrett, Acts: ICC 1:30
[2]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostle_(Christian)#Death_of_the_Twelve_Apostles
[3] The 12 are the foundation of a new people or nation, the Israel of God, drawn from both Jew and Gentile under the Messiah.Just as the Old Testament Israel had 12 fathers in the flesh, the 12 sons of Israel, so the Israel of God, God’s New Testament people, have 12 foundation stones (Revelation 21:14; Eph 2:20; cf 1 Cor 12:28). At this stage of Acts, they are only 11, but by the end of chapter 1, another Apostle will be added to complete their number.
[4]Compare Luke 24:46-49 NIV 46 He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
[5] Consider what Jesus says about the Spirit in John’s Gospel: John 14:26 But the Counselor [lit, the paraclete, or lawyer], the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Or John 15:26 "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. (compare also John 16:7-16).
[6]The Apostles after Pentecost will be called to testify to Jesus as the risen Messiah (John 15:27; Acts 1:8, 21-2). The Spirit will be their legal counsel as they bear witness before courts and Kings (Acts 5:32). The Spirit is the ‘Spirit of Christ’ (Acts 16:7; Romans 8:9-10; Philippians 1:19; 1 Peter 1:11). For this reason, Jesus will return to the disciples in the person of the Spirit (John 14:18). Because the Spirit is ‘in’ the disciples, Christ will also be ‘in’ the disciples (John 14:17, 20). Later Trinitarian theology reasoned that the Father, Son and Spirit indwell each other. Therefore, if one has the Spirit, one also has the Father and Son as well. Father and Son thus come and make their home in the obeyer in the person of the Spirit (John 14:23). The Holy Spirit has already been with the disciples prior to Pentecost (John 14:17). Jesus expected Nicodemus to have known about the Spirit’s work of giving new birth as an ‘earthly thing’ (John 3:3-12). Beforehand, the Spirit is no less working than after (1 Peter 1:10-12). He’s not missing-in-action, for he is ever ‘the Lord, the giver of Life’. But the time is not right for his coming in power. Only after Christ’s glorification by crucifixion, resurrection and ascension is he received as lawyer-advocate to prosecute the case of the Son.
[7]Some say that Luke contradicts himself, that in Acts 1:1-11, Jesus revealed himself during 40 days, and that in Luke 24, 13, 50, he ascended on resurrection Sunday. But the latter is surely not Luke’s intention. While the Emmaus meeting with two disciples was ‘on the same day’, the Greek particle ‘de’ need not bear that weight, and allows for Luke to speak of the 40 days in Acts.
[8]Kingdom of God in Luke
In Luke, the KofG is shorthand for Jesus’ Gospel: Jesus evangelised and preached the KofG in his earthly ministry (Lk 4:43) with the 12 (Lk 8:1). Then he sent the 12 without him to preach the KofG (Lk 9:2), and he himself spoke to the crowds about the KofG when they returned to him (Lk 9:11). One who would bury his father was told to instead proclaim the KofG (Lk 9:60). The 70 were sent to villages prepare for Jesus’ coming and to say that the KofG has come near (Lk 10:9). Then it seems Kingdom comes near when the King comes near.
Topic of Parables: The mysteries of the KofG is given to the 12, though outsiders get parables (Lk 8:10).
A Salvation History Era that comes with Christ ie NOW: The littlest in the KofG is greater than J the B (Lk 7:28). Jesus treats the time of gospelling the KofG schematically. Law & Prophets until J the B; the KofG gospelled, and everyone (Gentiles?) pressing in (Lk 16:16). Some of those at Peter’s confession of the Christ will not taste death until they see the KofG (Lk 9:27). When demons are cast out by the finger of God, the KofG has come upon them (Lk 11:20). The parables liken the KofG to a mustard seed growing into a tree, or yeast through dough (Lk 13:18, 20). The KofG does not come with observation, because KofG is in the midst of you (ie with the coming of the King, it has come near) (Lk 17:20-21). Further, when prophesying the destruction of the temple, the KofG draws nigh when the SofM comes in power on the clouds (Lk 21:31) This could refer to the ascension, as he says generation will not pass away until it all comes to pass (Lk 21:32). In which case, the KofG has come. Or it could refer to 2nd coming.
But the KofG is also the Eschaton ie NOT YET: Many from N, S, E W, shall sup in the KofG, but some Jews will be cast out (Lk 13:28, 29). When people thought the KofG was about to appear at Jerusalem, he told a parable of a nobleman who goes away, leaving servants to trade. Then the KofG takes the now-not yet shape (Lk 19:11ff). J will not eat Passover or wine with disciples until it is fulfilled in the KofG (22:16, 18). Now, in the age of the church? Or in heaven? But Christ will appoint the 12 a kingdom, as the Fr appointed it to Christ, judging 12 tribes of Israel (Lk 22:29-30). Those who enter the KofG: The poor possess it (Lk 6:20). Anyone looking back is not fit for the KofG (Lk 9:62). Seeking the KofG means our needs will be provided for, and we get the kingdom too! (Lk 12:31-2). KofG belongs to those like children who come to Jesus (Lk 18:16-17), but it is hard, no, impossible for the rich to enter the KofG (Lk 18:24-5). It is worth leaving family for (Lk 18:29). The penitent thief believed Jesus had a kingdom, and J promised him paradise today (Lk 23:42-3). Righteous Joseph of Arimathea was looking forward to the KofG (Lk 23:51).
[9] Kingdom of God in Acts: The times and dates regarding the KofG are not for the 12 to know, but theirs is to know the HS power to be witnesses to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:3, 6). But in Acts, the message seems to be the KofG and the name of Jesus; that is, the KofG + Jesus. Thus, Phillip preached the gospel concerning the KofG and the name of Jesus in Samaria, and the Samaritans received it (Acts 8:12). In South Galatia, Paul said that through many tribulations we must enter the KofG (ie be saved?) (Acts 14:22). In Ephesus, Paul for three months persuaded and taught concerning the KofG in the synagogue, but then left for the school of Tyrannus (Acts 19:8). Preaching the KofG is the way Paul summarises his Ephesian ministry (Acts 20:25). In Rome, Paul expounded and witnessed to the Jewish leaders in Rome about the KofG persuading them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets (Acts 28:23). Again, Acts ends with Paul for 2 years preaching the Kingdom of God and the things concerning Jesus (Acts 28:31)
[10] http://www.joshuaproject.net. It lists over 140 people groups for Australia, and says that 11 are unreached. The Joshua Project website calculates that around 40% of the worlds’ population belongs to an unreached people group.