Wait For the Promise of the Father: Acts 1:1-5 Explained

Scriptures for Today

Acts 1:1-5
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.

Introduction — Before Power Came, Patience Came

When the Gospel of John lifts Jesus high in eternity (as we saw in the last sermon in the Gospel of John), Acts begins with Jesus risen and ready to return to Heaven — but not before preparing His disciples for the greatest shift in human history.

The Gospels show what Jesus began to do and teach. Acts shows what Jesus continues to do through the Holy Ghost.

This book does not start with the apostles preaching, healing, or turning the world upside down.
It starts with a command we don’t like to hear:

Wait. Not act. Not rush. Not run. Not plan. Wait for the promise of the Father. We don’t like to wait for things. We want them now. But God says to WAIT.

Acts 1 is the prelude to power — the moment between Jesus’ resurrection and the Holy Spirit’s arrival — where Jesus teaches us that God’s power always begins with God’s timing.

Let’s walk through these verses exactly the way Luke intended.

Verse 1 — Jesus Began This Work, Not the Apostles

Acts 1:1
The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

The former treatise means the former written account. The first book written to Theophilus was Luke. Then Luke begins Acts by reminding Theophilus (and us) that the Gospel of Luke was only the beginning.

Theophilus was a real man, likely a high-ranking or wealthy Roman official (he is called most excellent Theophilus in Luke), whom Luke personally discipled. Luke wrote the Gospel of Luke and Acts to strengthen his faith and give him a certain, orderly record of the truth about Jesus Christ.

Everything Jesus did on earth was only the start of His work. Acts is not the “Acts of the Apostles,” truly — it is the acts of the risen Christ through the Holy Ghost.

Jesus didn’t retire when He ascended. He didn’t hand off the mission and step back.

The work continues — the same power, the same purpose, the same message — but now through His Spirit in His people. You are not carrying your own ministry. You are continuing His ministry.

Verse 2 — Jesus Gave Commands Through the Holy Ghost

Acts 1:2
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:

Look at that phrase: “through the Holy Ghost.” Before Pentecost ever came, Jesus Himself operated through the Holy Spirit or the Holy Ghost. This destroys the false idea that the Holy Ghost only became active after Acts 2.

The Spirit was active in:

• Creation
• Prophets
• Kings
• John the Baptist
• Jesus
• The apostles before Pentecost

Jesus gave His commands through the Spirit — meaning what He spoke carried divine power, divine authority, and divine purpose. He chose the apostles — not because they were impressive — but because He would empower them. Our greatness is nothing compared to the Holy Spirit. So God can take anyone, give them His power, and they will be a success.

The apostles were chosen for this. Peter, James the son of Zebedee, John the son of Zebedee, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew called Nathanael, Matthew the publican, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon Zelotes, Judas the brother of James also called Thaddaeus or Lebbaeus. Jesus trained them, taught them, appeared to them after the resurrection, promised the power of the Holy Ghost to them.

The apostles were chosen for this job. And notice it’s just a few in this huge world. We’re just a few in this huge city. But God called us to do this, and we must have the power of the Holy Spirit with us to be successful. WE MUST HAVE THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Verse 3 — Infallible Proofs: The Resurrection Cannot Be Denied

Acts 1:3
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:

“After his passion” right there means after his violent suffering on the cross and the three days and three nights in hell.  After His suffering, crucifixion, agony, and after all that Jesus went through to pay for our sins. He showed Himself ALIVE! After they saw Him die, He showed Himself to be alive.

So Jesus did not leave the resurrection up for debate. Did it happen or did it not? He didn’t leave it like that. He showed many people, and these are trustworthy people. Luke is trustworthy.

He gave many infallible proofs — undeniable evidence:

• He appeared in locked rooms
• He ate with them
• They touched Him
• They spoke with Him
• Over 500 saw Him at once

And He spent forty days teaching them about the kingdom of God. Did He arise from the dead? Without question. He spent 40 days with them. “Being seen of them 40 days.

While Jesus was with them, He didn’t teach them about politics. Not strategy. Not personal dreams. Not self-help. The kingdom of God. He spoke to them about important things: the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Look, we could all argue about politics. We could talk good or bad about our President. But it’s not important. We need to speak of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Understand me. That is why we are here.

Before the Spirit came with power, Jesus came with truth. Before they preached, Jesus taught. Before they reached the world, Jesus strengthened their faith by showing Himself alive. We can see that the Holy Spirit did the work. We are here today still speaking about this because the Holy Spirit came with power, and He’s still working.

Look, you cannot preach boldly if you doubt the resurrection. It happened. People saw Jesus die. They were sad. They didn’t believe after they saw Him. But He continued to show them. We know Jesus arose from the dead, without a doubt. When you KNOW He lives, fear dies.

Verse 4 — The Command: Stay. Don’t Move Until God Moves.

Acts 1:4
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.

Now we see Jesus assembled together with them. And He is commanding them. Do not depart from Jerusalem. But wait for the promise of the Father. Ye have heard this promise from me.

This is where many Christians fail. We want to move. We want to do something. We want action, momentum, progress. But Jesus commanded them to wait. Why?

Because fleshly movement is useless without spiritual empowerment. Understand what I mean. We can work and work and work right here at this church, but without the power of the Holy Spirit, we will make no progress. We all need to be together and praying for the power of the Holy Spirit. Without Him, we make no progress at all. ZERO. We need Him.

If they ran ahead without the Holy Ghost, they would collapse. If they preached without the Holy Ghost, no one would be saved. If they tried to build the church without the Holy Ghost, nothing eternal would happen. NOTHING. Understand me here.

Jerusalem wasn’t a comfortable place. It was the city that killed Jesus. The city filled with danger, mockery, and persecution. Yet Jesus said: “Wait right there.” The power of God will meet you in the place that hated Jesus.

Waiting is not weakness. Waiting is obedience — when God is the One who says “Stay.” We stay.

Verse 5 — The Contrast: Water Baptism vs. Spirit Baptism

Acts 1:5
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Here Jesus makes a clear distinction:

• John baptized with water.
• Jesus baptizes with the Holy Ghost.

Water baptism is symbolic. Spirit baptism is supernatural. Water touches the body. The Holy Ghost transforms the soul. John could prepare them. Only Jesus could empower them. And notice the timing: “Not many days hence.” The wait would not be long — but it would be essential.

Jesus is saying: “You cannot fulfill My mission without My Spirit. You cannot preach My gospel without My power. You cannot represent Me without My presence.” And the Holy Spirit does this.

Think of where we are in the Bible. Jesus has went to the cross. He died there. These apostles saw this. They were witnesses. His body was buried. His soul was not left in hell. Three days and three nights later, on the third day, Jesus arose from the dead. He is with them for 40 days. We are in Acts 1. Acts 2 is Pentecost where the power of the Holy Spirit comes upon them. They have the indwelling of the Spirt from John 2o. Jesus breathed on them: “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.”

But now they are waiting for the POWER of the Holy Ghost to come upon them. Pentecost was coming soon. Pentecost is 50 days from the resurrection. Jesus stayed with them 40 days. There are 10 days left to Pentecost once Jesus ascends. “Not many days hence.”

The fire of God is coming. Boldness is coming. Power is coming. But FIRST — they had to wait. If you remember, the title of this sermon is “Wait for the Promise of the Father.” Now they are waiting for 10 days.

Now, before I move to the application part of this sermon, I want to focus in on something important from that verse right there. Look closely at the verse. This proves that there is more than one baptism in the Bible. Not all baptisms are the same. Not all baptisms accomplish the same thing. Not all baptisms are even physical. Here are the main ones Scripture clearly teaches:

1. Water Baptism (John’s baptism). A physical baptism. Performed in water. A picture of repentance and faith. A public testimony. It symbolizes, but does not save. Water touches the body — not the soul.

2. Baptism WITH the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:5 / Acts 2). This is not salvation, and not indwelling. It is power. The Spirit comes upon believers. Equips them for boldness and ministry. Fulfills Luke 24:49: “endued with power from on high.” Happens to people who are already saved. This is what Acts 1:5 is talking about. Not inward salvation — outward empowerment.

3. Baptism INTO the Holy Ghost / the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). A salvation baptism — a spiritual reality. Happens the moment a person believes. Places them into the body of Christ. Performed by the Spirit, not by water. This is not Acts 1:5. Totally different purpose. Totally different moment.

4. Baptism into Christ’s Death (Romans 6). A positional baptism. Union with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. A spiritual identification. Not water. Not Pentecost.

The point in Acts 1:5 is simple: Jesus is promising the apostles power, not salvation. They already had the Holy Ghost in them (John 20). Soon the Holy Ghost would come upon them WITH POWER! Water baptism is a symbol. Spirit baptism at Pentecost is supernatural equipping.

Application — What Acts 1:1–5 Teaches Us Today

1. Jesus is still working — through you. Acts isn’t the apostles’ story. It’s Jesus’ story continuing in His people.

2. You cannot do God’s work without God’s Spirit. Your talent can’t replace the Holy Ghost. Your effort can’t replace the Holy Ghost. Your zeal can’t replace the Holy Ghost.

3. The resurrection is the fuel of boldness. When you KNOW He lives, no threat stops you.

4. Waiting is not wasted time — it is preparation time. When God says “wait,” He is setting up power. When God delays, He is developing you. When God says “not yet,” it is for your good.

5. The baptism of the Spirit equips you to obey. Not to faint. Not to fear. Not to freeze. But to act with supernatural boldness when the time comes.

Closing — Power Comes After Obedience

Acts 1 shows us that before Acts 2 erupted with fire:

• Jesus taught
• Jesus appeared
• Jesus commanded
• Jesus prepared
• Jesus told them to wait

Every great move of God begins with patient obedience to God’s timing. The early church did not receive power because they were elite men. They received power because they waited for the promise of the Father. Let us learn to do the same.

Acts 2, Pentecost, isn’t happening again, but God fills believers with the Holy Spirit at different times. The Holy Spirit can come upon you with power. For example, Paul wasn’t at Pentecost but in Acts 9 Paul will receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost. Acts 2 is about the nation of believers being empowered by the Holy Spirit. We have the indwelling but it is not the same as being FILLED with the Holy Ghost. That can come and go. The indwelling does not.

John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Ghost “even from his mother’s womb.” That’s not the same as the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Understand there is a difference.

In closing, wait when God says wait. Move when God says move. Do when God says do. Trust when God says trust. Because when the Father fulfills His promise — He never does it halfway.

Let’s pray.