If
the Gospels show us what Jesus did, the book of Acts shows us what Jesus
still does.
Acts
does not begin with a farewell.
It begins with a promise.
Jesus does not walk off the stage—He hands the mission to His people and
ascends with glory, power, and purpose.
But
make no mistake: Jesus is not gone.
His Spirit fills the Church.
His name changes lives.
His presence shapes the entire story.
This
is not a sequel.
It is part two of the same gospel.
Because Jesus is still moving—just through us now.
Jesus Is the Message They Preached
Peter
does not start preaching about religion.
He preaches Jesus.
“God
has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” (Acts 2:36)
That
line hits hard.
It
was Jesus they crucified.
It is Jesus God raised.
And it is Jesus who now sits enthroned.
Every
sermon in Acts—whether from Peter, Stephen, Philip, or Paul—comes back to the
same core:
Jesus lived.
Jesus died.
Jesus rose.
Jesus reigns.
Jesus Is the Name That Heals and Saves
One
of the boldest moments in Acts happens at a gate called Beautiful.
Peter
sees a man who cannot walk—and instead of giving him money, he gives him Jesus:
“In
the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (Acts 3:6)
That
man gets up—and so does the city.
The
name of Jesus becomes the lightning rod for healing, controversy, and
boldness.
And when the apostles are questioned, they say this:
“Salvation
is found in no one else, for there is no other name... by which we must be
saved.”
(Acts 4:12)
Jesus
is not just a name we pray in.
He is the power that moves the impossible.
Jesus Is the One They Suffered For
Believing
in Jesus was not safe.
Preaching Jesus was not popular.
But they did it anyway.
Why?
Because
they had seen Him.
Known Him.
Loved Him.
And nothing—not prison, not threats, not death—could stop them from
living for Him.
Stephen,
the first martyr, dies with this on his lips:
“Lord
Jesus, receive my spirit.” (Acts 7:59)
He
sees Jesus standing—not sitting—watching, welcoming, waiting.
That
moment broke me.
Because even in death, Jesus is present and personal.
Jesus Is the One Who Meets and
Transforms
And
then there is Paul.
Breathing
threats.
Hunting Christians.
Sure of himself—until Jesus shows up in blinding glory.
“I
am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” (Acts 9:5)
That
one encounter changes everything.
Paul loses his sight, gains vision, and never turns back.
From
that point on, he preaches Jesus like a man who knows what mercy feels like.
Because he does.
Jesus
met him where he was—and turned him into one of the greatest messengers of
grace.
Jesus Is Still Working Through His
Church
The
book is called The Acts of the Apostles, but it could easily be called The
Acts of Jesus through the Holy Spirit in His People.
Jesus:
- Sends
- Speaks
- Leads
- Opens doors
- Builds the
Church
- Transforms
communities
- Carries His
people through storms and persecution
He
is not absent.
He is alive and active—working through fishermen, tentmakers, deacons,
and evangelists.
Just
like He works through us today.
Jesus Is Still the Center. Still the
Power. Still the Point.
Acts
ends without a full conclusion.
No final bow.
No credits rolling.
Because
the story is still going.
Jesus is still saving.
Still calling.
Still filling people with His Spirit and sending them into the world with
power.
So
I ask myself:
- Is Jesus the
center of my message?
- Do I speak His
name with power or politeness?
- Am I living like
He is still moving?
Because
He is.
Jesus is still building His Church.
Still changing lives.
Still using ordinary people to do eternal things.
And
I want to be part of that story.