Growth brings change, discomfort, and new needs. In the early church, things were not always simple and easy, rather they were unpolished. They faced challenges as a result of more and more people coming to faith and interacting with the rest of Jerusalem. Each of God's people, as they are filled with the Holy Spirit, are called to care for and strengthen the church in unity, through every trial and opportunity just like Christ.

The apostles' keep preaching the same message; of Jesus crucified at the hands of sinful men and then raised to life for their salvation by faith. Their witness of believing the gospel message they are teaching is impacting their entire community, and it's challenging many of the people who feel threatened by it. Christians today are to remember their allegiance and obedience to the Lord comes above all others. 

Everyone in the early church had everything in common; they shared, they met needs, they sold possessions and gave. This is what true community looks like, surrounded by faithful believers in Christ who trust in their Savior for security and provision. Ananias and Sapphira however gave, not out of honor for the Lord, but for public image. We are warned to not pretend and put up false images of ourselves, but instead we are free to give ourselves to the One who saw us at our worst and loved us still.

Peter and John, along with the apostles and early church members, boldly proclaim of what they have seen and heard. Even in the opposition of the Sadducees, they speak the truth of the resurrection of Christ. Christians today are to proclaim with the same boldness, not just be believers in private or comfortable situations. 

A man who used to only sit is now walking. One who only used to beg is now praising. A man who spent his days stuck outside the gate is now brought in. That's not improvement. That's not renovation. That's transformation. That's new life. And that's what Jesus offers us. Salvation always begins with the Lord's initiative. And it always brings us into a walk with Jesus.

The early church is seeing people come to faith in Jesus by the thousands. With the Holy Spirit on the move, the church is born and is growing rapidly. People are devoted to good things, the things of God - to prayers, fellowship, breaking of bread, and the apostles' teachings. They also shared everything, where no one was lacking, and they had all things in common. God is rewiring humanity to new creation life and to proclaim His excellencies in the days of His church.

The reliability and historical proof of Christ are undeniable. Peter is preaching what is true of Jesus, and of what humanity did to Him. We all must come to answer the question: "Who is Jesus?", and if He is real, then He is Lord and worthy of giving our lives to.

The Holy Spirit is poured out at Pentecost, filling everyone in the early church. Jesus fulfilled His promise to send the Helper, and now Christians who trust in Him are empowered by the Holy Spirit to go and witness the Lord we love who saved us.

As the disciples look to replace Judas, they are found actively waiting on the Lord. The criteria for Matthias, the apostle chosen to join the others, was that he knew Jesus and was a witness to the resurrection. This is how believers are to live too, as witnesses to the risen Christ.

In continuation from Luke's gospel account, the book of Acts aims to present the historical accounts of Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the early church. Knowing Christ will return, but not when, we are humbly not in control. Instead, believers are called to witness the risen Jesus in our daily lives. 

As the Israelites would have sang this Psalm as they ascended to Jerusalem, they proclaimed the dangers and snares that they faced in their lives. David knew this feeling of being surrounded as he wrote this Psalm, and we can understand this feeling today. And even so, the Lord is on the side of His people and He will faithfully deliver.