It has to be one of the weirdest names for a Bible book. Most are named after people or cities. The focus is on the person who wrote it or the people receiving it. Then there is the Book of Acts.

Luke, the author of the third gospel account, writes a follow-up to the story of Jesus and focuses on what happens after Jesus ascends to heaven. The name is a shortened form of a possibly more extended title. Interestingly, no one agrees with the label.

I understand that some manuscripts are labeled as “Acts of the Apostles” while others say “Acts of the Church.” One article states that it is the “Acts of the Holy Spirit (or Ghost),” and still another is the “Acts of Christianity.” 

While there is no consensus on the book’s exact name, everyone agrees that the primary emphasis is action. The Apostles move forward in the power of the Holy Spirit as the Church grows and expands as people become Christians. 

I pray that the Church today, especially the one I lead, will be known for its action. When the history of our Church is written, there may be no unity on a name, but everyone definitely knows we were an active group. 

The book of Acts is not about one person doing something or a group of people learning something; it is about the people of God moving into the world in the power of the Holy Spirit. And all the believers were active.   

Lord, let it be so again in our generation.