We come now to the second general division of the New Testament, the
book of Acts. The scene is changed; our Lord has ascended into heaven,
and according to His promise has sent down the Holy Spirit. The main
testimony as to Himself, therefore, is that He has risen, has given the
Holy Spirit, and is Lord of all. In his discourse at Pentecost,
Peter ascribes the divine and manifest power of the Spirit to the
ascended Lord. “He hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear”
(2:33). “God hath made that same Jesus (the lowly Man), whom ye have
crucified, both Lord and Christ” (2:36). Stephen (chapter seven)
speaking by the Holy Spirit, declares he saw the Son of Man at the
right hand of God in heaven, and addresses Him in prayer. Paul is
converted by the revelation of Jesus Christ in glory, receives back his
sight from the once-rejected Nazarene, and straightway begins his
life-long ministry by proclaiming Him as the Son of God; he preaches
“that This is very Christ” (9:22) . Peter (chapter ten), proclaims Him
as the Judge of quick and dead. It is in His name that miracles are
wrought and persons are baptized. The Church of God has been purchased
by “His own blood” (20:28), an expression which at least seems to
connect the value of Deity with the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus.
Throughout the entire book the exalted Jesus is seen as sovereign Lord
and Master, addressed in the language of prayer and of praise.