Introduction

The Acts of the Apostles forms a fifth Gospel, and can be properly understood only in its relation, not alone to the narrative previously written -

by Luke, but to the whole fourfold Gospel which precedes it.

We have our Lord Jesus Christ thus presented to us in five aspects of his blessed person and work, which remind us of his fivefold “name,” as given in prophecy. Matthew exhibits Dy De him as the “Wonderful” Messianic King; Luke as the gracious human “Counselor”; Mark as the “Mighty God,” the miracle-worker; John as the “Everlasting Father,” in his essential nature; and in the Acts we have him as the ‘Prince of Peace,” ascended to his throne and sending the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, as his ascension gift to believers, to conduct, in his name and behalf, the great work and warfare of this dispensation, the age of outgathering from all nations,

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The Book of the Acts, however closely linked with the Gospel according to Luke, as being from the same human author, is therefore a proper sequel to all the four books which precede it; and may be compared to the mercy-seat, which both rested upon and held united the four sides of the sacred ark of the testimony. We may even carry the comparison further; for, as it was this mercy-seat, the cover of the ark, where the Shechinah fire burned and glowed, it is in the Acts of the Apostles that the Holy Spirit’s fire is first seen to burn and shine in latter-day glory.

The Acts of the Apostles should therefore be studied mainly for this double purpose: first, to trace our Lord’s unseen but actual continuance of his divine teaching and working and, secondly, to trace the active ministry of the Holy Spirit as the abiding presence in the church. For it must be observed that Luke’s former treatise of “all that Jesus degan both to do and teach” implies that this latter treatise has to do with what he continues to do and teach, in the person of the Paraclete. Hence the discriminating student will here see at once the sequel to the great works of our Lord’s earthly ministry, and the record of the “greater works” which were to be wrought by the Holy Spirit after his return to the Father. The brief study of the Acts which follows is really no more than a first glimpse into a land of promise. It is the announcement of a discovery made by the writer that this narrative is a revelation of the Holy Spirit in his relations to believers as Christ’s witnesses, and to the church as the witnessing body, and that, from the opening chapter on, there is a progressive unfolding of this great theme, which it is our humble endeavor to trace. Nothing is claimed for what follows, save a suggestion, like all discoveries, it needs confirmation by a fuller examination and more thorough exploration. But if the hints herein found shall prove grapes of Eshcol, tempting others, who are more competent, to search this goodly land more successfully and thoroughly, and lead God’s people to its more thorough occupation and enjoyment, the desire and purpose of the author will be fulfilled, ARTHUR T. PIERSON.