WHY it matters//
After Jesus rose from the dead he appeared to his disciples over a period of 40 days. Before he ascended into heaven Jesus spoke of his Spirit. He promised that when his Spirit came to baptize the believers that they would be empowered to bear witness to the gospel with boldness. This is a baptism different from the baptism of John, which was a baptism of repentance. The baptism in the Spirit is a baptism of power.
WHAT it's talking about//
Acts is considered “part 2” to the book of Luke in the opinion of most scholars. Written by Luke around 64 AD, this book begins with the ascension of Jesus into heaven and then chronicles the life of the early church as the gospel begins to spread throughout the Earth. Acts gives us insight into the victories and struggles that the early believers faced as they set out to live a spirit-empowered life in the face of persecution and paganism.
Acts 1:1-11 NIV
1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach
2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.
3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.
5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.
11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”