The Book of Acts is the second volume of Luke's inspired history of the life and teachings of Christ and the subsequent ministries of His apostles. The book is addressed to an unknown "Theophilus", like his Gospel, who is probably a financier of Luke's highly studied journalistic enterprise. The purpose of the book is to expose the historical basis of the acts and teaching of the apostles, demonstrate the faithfulness of the Church in pursuing the Great Commission, and reveal God's plan for the inclusion of both Jews and Gentiles in the New Covenant, in view of the immanent millennial reign of Christ. The book opens with the affirmation of the definitive physical resurrection of Jesus and the preparation of the apostles for the ministries of preaching and teaching (vv. 2-3). Verses 4 – 8 of the first chapter recount the dialogue of Christ and the apostles on the Mount of Olives shortly before Christ's bodily ascension. He commands them to remain together in Jerusalem and wait for the “Promise of the Father,” which he identifies with the Holy Spirit in verse five. It is at this point that the disciples ask an interesting question: “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” (1:6) Clearly, the disciples were still waiting for the political and military deliverance that characterized the advent of the Messiah in the Old Testament prophecies regarding His coming. Furthermore, there are several prophetic passages in the Old Testament that equate the outpouring of God's Spirit with the restoration of the kingdom. The disciples are not foolish to suggest that this is Christ's inference in the promise of the Holy Spirit, proving themselves rather astute scholars of the Scriptures. However… halfway down the paper… he expected to see Christ in all His glory revealed at His first advent. The Holy Spirit is given, and the Twelve are charged with overseeing the message of Christ and His gospel from the seat of Old Testament promise (Jerusalem) to the hub of Church age influence (Rome). In this process, the theology of the Church is consolidated, Gentiles are invited to participate in God's mercy, and the doctrine of Christ moves forward to "turn the world upside down." Today, the Church looks back on this Commission and sees the legacy of the apostles' success and the importance of holding firmly to the foundational doctrines of Scripture. Perhaps now more than ever, the Church's need is to cling to the absolute authority and power of the Holy Spirit, to the priority of being witnesses of Christ and to the promise of the fulfillment of the Kingdom by the will of the Father..