The Church in Motion

Saint Luke the Evangelist is credited with the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts, commonly referred to as the Acts of the Apostles, which we will be reading throughout the Easter season.

Luke had some excellent sources for Acts, as he was very close to Saint Paul and traveled with him a lot. He also traveled with Saint Mark the Evangelist, and Mark knew both Peter and Paul very well.

The Book of Acts shares several themes with the Gospel of Luke, as it links the life and teachings of Jesus Christ to the inception and spread of the Holy Church through the Holy Spirit. The five key messages within Acts are the power of the Holy Spirit, the ongoing mission of Jesus, the faithfulness of the early Church, the growth of the Church among the Gentiles, and the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.

Here is a more detailed look at each of these points.

The Holy Spirit is a central theme in Acts, empowering the apostles and the early Church to witness the resurrection of Jesus and to spread the gospel. In the Book of Acts, the Holy Spirit guides and empowers the apostles and the whole early Church in their missionary endeavors. In Acts, the Holy Spirit descends upon the Apostles at Pentecost, signaling the birth of the Church and a commencement of its global mission.

That mission transcends linguistic and cultural barriers. The Book of Acts recounts how Jesus’ mission, which began on earth, continues through his followers after His Ascension, with the Holy Spirit as the empowering force.

We can see this ever-expanding mission as the gospel moves first in Jerusalem (Acts 1–7), then to Judea and Samaria, and then with Paul's missions, the good news expands all the way to Rome and the ends of the earth as they knew it.

The faithfulness of the early Church was another main theme. These people, despite facing persecution and challenges, remained committed to their faith, demonstrating self-sacrifice and unity in their witness to Jesus.

During a time of prayer, the Holy Spirit descends at Pentecost in Acts 1 and 2. And prayer always prefaces other pivotal moments, such as the choosing of the first seven deacons in Acts 6 and Peter's miraculous escape from prison in Acts 12.

The Church continues to grow, and Acts highlights the expansion of the Church beyond its Jewish roots to include the Gentiles, demonstrating God's inclusive plan of salvation. One of the resounding themes in both Luke and Acts is that salvation is for everyone.

Luke frequently emphasizes Jesus’ compassion for those on the margins of society, including the Gentiles, tax collectors, and sinners. But especially, Luke gives us the role that women played in early Christianity. It's highlighted in both Luke and Acts. In Acts, we see women like Lydia, Priscilla, and the daughters of Philip play crucial roles in the growing Christian community, underscoring the inclusive nature of the early Church.

Acts chronicles the spread of the gospel message from Jerusalem to various regions, including Rome, demonstrating the Church's missionary zeal and the gospel's global reach.

The Book of Acts not only continues the story that started in the Gospel of Luke, but we also see the Church filled with the Holy Spirit as it continues the ministry of Jesus. During this Easter season, treat yourself and read the Book of Acts.
Saint Luke, pray for us.