In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Comment: The book of Acts is a follow on of the Gospel of Jesus as recorded by Luke. Was ‘Theophilus’ a particular person to whom the writing was sent or did it, mean to ‘you who love God’, which is one of the meanings of the Greek. It can also mean ‘you who are loved by God’. Both meanings are appropriate here. Luke emphasises the mount of evidence that Jesus provided of His resurrection. At the beginning of the gospel story we have John the Baptiser taking people into the water and washing away, as it were, their sins by water baptism. Here we have Jesus telling His followers to await, in Jerusalem, for a Spirit baptism. This needs a lot of thought but briefly it means being ‘washed and taken over’ by the Spirit of God, the third person of the Triune Godhead (Father, Son and Holy spirit) to be taught and enabled in God’s truth. This was promised by Jesus before He died (see – John ch 14 v 16) and Luke, the author, here states that it was to occur, presumably soon.
Prayer: Gladly would I submit to You controlling my life, O God.
As I read it! 