ACTS 1: 5
WAIT FOR THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER
1) The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2) Until the day in which He was taken up, after that He through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen.
3) To whom also He shewed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
4) And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the Promise of The Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of Me.
5) For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
COMMENTARY
Who is "Theophilus"? The word "theophilo" means "friend of God". Theophilus could have been a Gentile Believer, Dr. Luke's attorney, or a number of other people. The Gospel of Luke covers the earthly ministry. click here for the introduction to the Gospel of Luke: https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/2011/12/lukes-purpose-in-writing-luke-11-4.html
Jesus was teaching the Apostles and Disciples on Kingdom things, some of which they just did not understand. They were believing that Jesus would destroy the Romans and set up His Kingship right then but to their dismay, He was crucified. We know they did not understand a lot of His teaching, because He kept telling them that He would be killed; but when it happened, they were shocked.
After He was killed (His Passion), He appeared to the Apostles and continued His teaching and giving commandments to them. One thing He commanded them was to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the Promise of The Father (The Holy Spirit). Their faith had to overcome their fear of being slaughtered by the Roman soldiers and/or the Jewish leaders. After all, they had killed Jesus! Now, as you meditate on this, what would it take to overcome your fear of being killed? The answer, of course, is The Gospel! For when we die, we are ushered into the very presence of Jesus Christ, Himself! What Glory! For us, death has no sting.
Believers are to follow Jesus in baptism with water, which symbolizes our death to sin and our resurrection as "a new man in Christ". Our lives are no longer our own, but we give ourselves to Jesus, Who gave Himself for us, that we may be with The Father eternally, as it was intended from the beginning.
And when we accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, we will be baptized with The Holy Ghost. He indwells us, and teaches us and guides us. He gives us words to say when we are ignorant. He is ever with us.
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