A Look At The Back Of The Book of Acts

A Look At The Back Of The Book

“Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things

which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence,

no man forbidding him.” 

Acts 28:31

Many times when reading an exciting book we are often tempted to look at the back of the book to see what happens at the end of the story.  The Book of Acts is God’s Training Manual for Today’s Church.  It is an exciting story in the most thrilling book in the world, the Bible. 

The entire Bible is the story of the battle between good and evil.  When you look at the last book of the Bible you see that good wins and evil loses.  The devil, Satan is bound for a thousand years and thrown into the bottomless pit where he can no longer  deceive the nations of the world.  Eventually he will be thrown into the lake of fire forever. (Revelation 20:2,10)

The Book of ACTS is the triumphant story of the birth and growth of the Church.  Even in the midst of a battle between good and evil, and persecution, the Church grew and became a powerful force in society.

When you look at other books of the New Testament beginning with the Gospel According to Matthew and you turn to the back of the book, Chapter 28:20 you will read, “Teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. AMEN.” 

The very first thing to be noticed about this verse is that Jesus wanted his followers to teach what he had commanded. 

In the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) we see Jesus performing “on the job training” with his followers.  He also promised that He would be with us until the end of the world.  Our being alive today proves that the world has not ended. Through being filled with the Holy Spirit, we have the promise that Jesus is still with us.

The Book of Matthew  closes with the word “Amen.”  This word means “let it be so!”  It expresses our willingness to be obedient, and proves that we are in agreement with the speaker.  It also implies that something is finished.  Nothing can be added to the Word of God. 

John in the Book of the Revelation  warns us that if we add to the Word of God or take away from it that “God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city.”  (Revelation 22:18-19)

When we look at the end of the Gospel According to Mark you find the powerful promises of the Word of God for the believer (Mark 16:15-18).  The book closes with these words, “And they went forth, and preached every where,  the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.  AMEN.”  (Mark 16:20)

What a thrill to realize that Jesus is working with us, and confirms the Word preached with signs following.  He said “these signs shall follow them that believe” (Mark 16:17)  and in another place, “greater   works  than these shall he do!”  (John 14:12)

At  the close of the book of Mark we find the word “Amen,”  letting us know that the writing is finished and we should “let it be so.”

At the end of the Gospel According to Luke  in Chapter 24:53 we find, “And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God.  AMEN.” 

Again we see the word “Amen” letting us know the completion of the book.

Turning to the Gospel According to John  in Chapter 21:25 we read, “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.  AMEN.”    

The Lord Jesus Christ has done so many great things in the past and continues to be at work in the church today. The book of John is quite complete.

However, when we look at the back of the Book of Acts we do not find the word “Amen.” 

The Book of Acts is the only unfinished book in the Bible. 

It is a book that closes very quickly.  In this book we see the Lord at work through the Holy Spirit.  We see the growth of the Church.  The Lord is still at work, and the Church still continues.  God intends for the ACTS of His disciples, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the preaching of the Gospel to continue on until the end of the world.