The Book of Acts is the second volume of Luke's inspired history of the life and teaching of Christ and the successive ministries of his apostles. The book is addressed to an unknown "Theophilus", as is his Gospel, who is probably a financier of Luke's carefully documented journalistic enterprise. The purpose of the book is to expose the historical basis of the actions and teaching of the apostles, to demonstrate the faithfulness of the Church in pursuing the Great Commission, and to reveal God's plan for the inclusion of the Jews and of the Gentiles in the New Covenant, with a view to the immanent millennial kingdom of Christ. The book opens with an affirmation of Jesus' final physical resurrection and his preparation of the apostles for the ministries of preaching and teaching (verses 2-3). Verses 4 to 8 of the first chapter recount the dialogue between Christ and the apostles on the mountain. of Olives just before the bodily ascension of Christ. He commands them to stay together in Jerusalem and wait for the “promise of the Father,” which he equates to the Holy Spirit in verse five. It is at this point that the disciples ask an interesting question: “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? (1:6) Clearly, the disciples were still awaiting the political and military deliverance that characterized the coming of the Messiah in the Old Testament prophecies concerning his coming. Additionally, 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 an inference of Christ in the promise of the Holy Spirit, instead proving themselves to be perceptive students of Scripture. However...... middle of paper...... I 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 center of influence of the Church age (Rome). In this process, the theology of the Church solidifies, Gentiles are invited to participate in God's mercies, and the doctrine of Christ advances to "shake 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 fast to the fundamental doctrines of Scripture. Perhaps now more than ever, the need for the Church 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 fulfillment of the Kingdom at the pleasure of the Father..