Acts 1:8 is Jesus’ message to his disciples, a command, not a choice; “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” What does it mean to be a witness? Luke the evangelist, in Acts, talks about the witness to the resurrection, the resurrection of Jesus. This is the message of the Book of Acts.

Pastor Paul in today’s sermon shares 3 key stories in  the Book of Acts in order  to understand what it means to be a witness to resurrection.

1. Acts 3-4. This is the story of Peter and John.
2. Acts 10-11 The story of Peter and Cornelius
3. Acts 20-28  The story of Paul

Peter and John were 2 very different people. Peter was impulsive and quick to act, while John was more of a deep thinker and thinks highly of himself. Both are competing for Jesus’ affection. In John 21:15, we read of Jesus reinstating Peter after he denied him 3 times. Jesus asked Peter, “do you love me, feed my sheep.” He asked this question 3 times. Then we see John together with James, went to Jesus and asked him. “Let one of us sit at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.” It made the other disciple angry (including Peter). But then we read in these chapters that Luke presented Peter and John working together. They performed miracles together as in the lame man at the temple. This action was in the name of Jesus. We see the story of forgiveness and reconciliation

The second key story is about Peter and Cornelius, the Jew and the Gentile. Cornelius, a centurion and a God fearing man received a vision from God, to send for Peter, while Peter also had an encounter with God. We see Cornelius conversion as a result of Peter’s preaching of the Gospel.  He opened his heart to reach out to a gentile. In the process we see Peter’s conversion, acceptance of a non Jew and their different practices. A story of forgiveness and reconciliation.

The last key story is the story of Paul, the persecutor of Christians. In these final chapters, Paul planned to go to Jerusalem and Rome. According to Pastor Paul, “he went into the city because he know that there’s hatred against him. He went into the heart of his enemies, and gave himself as a non-violent peace offering- to demonstrate the gospel of peace…His visit itself was the message. The movement itself was the gospel!” 

“For 2 whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ- with all boldness and without hindrance.” (Acts 28:30-31)

1. What does it mean to be a witness to resurrection? This is the message of the Book of Acts. How do we become witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection? 
2. Can we become followers of Jesus and not witnesses to his resurrection?
3. The Book of Acts is a story of forgiveness and reconciliation. How do we participate in this mission as a follower of Jesus? As a church
4. We rely on the power of the Holy Spirit when we witness. In Acts 28:23, it says that Paul witnessed about the Kingdom of God, and he tried to persuade his listeners about Jesus. Does persuasion come with witnessing?
5. Let’s continue to pray for each other, our DNA group as we grow in becoming witnesses to Jesus resurrection.