The Trinity's Gift

 Acts 1:1-2 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.
 
LUKE, the physician and historian, authored Acts.  His former book is Luke, his record of all Jesus began to do and teach. Acts, more fully known as The Acts of the Apostles, is Luke’s history of the apostles’ work to begin the church. Luke addressed both letters to Theophilus, who seems to have been a Roman dignitary. The two books are especially good resources for new believers. Luke’s orderly account helps them know God’s very specific work from the Old Testament to the New to know God’s specific work to save mankind from the curse of Adam’s sin.
   As Luke concludes Jesus’ ministry, Acts records the Holy Spirit’s role to begin and strengthen Jesus’ church. Let’s then pause for a minute on the second half of verse 2: (Jesus gave) instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. What does this mean? Jesus had spoken directly to his chosen. How had he spoken through the Spirit?
   One place to learn the answer is in Luke’s gospel account of Jesus’ baptism: Luke 3:21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Second, we read in Luke 4:1a Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan.
   Jesus also affirms the Spirit’s work in him in Luke 4:18a “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.” Jesus also taught in John 5:19 “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.”
   When Luke wrote that Jesus gave instructions through the Holy Spirit, he affirmed once more the Spirit filled and enabled Jesus to minister the gospel. Luke wants us to know Jesus’ words are not merely nice sayings or good ideas. Jesus’ words are the Holy God’s commands to all he has chosen to hear and believe. Reading the Bible, hearing it preached and understanding its words for your daily life is the Holy Trinity’s gift to you. Receive them as such.