(Acts 1:8b) "…Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
Chapter 1-7 in Jerusalem 8-12 in Judea and Samaria 13-28 to the uttermost part of the earth
Two major campaigns are in view:
Chapter 1 - 12 Operation Holy Land
Headed by Peter
Centered in Jerusalem
Chapter 13-28 Operation Whole Earth
Headed by Paul
Centered in Antioch
The book of Acts covers a transition period of about thirty years where we see Israel set aside and the mystery of the church revealed. There are three murders in Israel's history that mark out her rejection of God's will:
1. John the Baptist came preaching the kingdom
(Matthew 3:1-2) In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
a. The Jews allowed him to be killed
b. In this way they rejected the Father who had sent him
2. Jesus came preaching the same message
(Matthew 4:17) From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
a. They crucified Him
b. Thus they rejected God the Son
3. The third offer of the kingdom came through the preaching of the Apostles in Acts 1-7.
a. Peter promised that Christ would return if the nation repented and believed
(Acts 3:19) Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
b. But they murdered Stephen as a result of resisting the Holy Spirit
(Acts 7:51) Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
After Stephen's death in Acts 7, we see a definite change in the direction of their ministry:
1. In Chapter 8, the Gospel goes from the Jews to the Samaritans
2. In Chapter 9, Paul is saved and God prepares him for his ministry
3. In Chapter 10, Peter takes the Gospel to the Gentiles
4. In Chapter 11, Peter defends this new thing
5. In Chapter 12, we see Peter for the last time as the leader among the brethren - the leadership shifts to Paul and the scope of the Gospel is broadened to the whole earth!
Note the relationship of the Holy Spirit and Baptism in this transitional period.
Acts 2:38 - Peter tells the Jews to repent and be baptized ... and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8:12 - The Samaritans believed the preaching of Philip and were baptized but they did not receive the Holy Ghost until Peter and John laid hands upon them. cf Acts 8:14-17
Acts 10:44 - The Gentiles received the Holy Ghost when they believed Peter's preaching before they were baptized with water!