God works through His people. One of the greatest truths as a reader passes from Luke’s gospel to Acts is that Jesus started something (Gospel) and His people continue it (Acts). Consider Peter’s comments when he begins his sermon to Cornelius:

The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)—you yourselves know the thing that happened throughout Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. (Ac. 10:36-38)

Jesus, “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil” (Ac. 10:38). What was started by Jesus was continued by His disciples. It is documented as early as Acts 2:43, when Luke records, “Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles” (Ac. 2:43). As you read through Acts you are introduced to these apostles who were able to do the same things Jesus was able to do. Peter and John healed a lame man in Jerusalem (Ac. 3), just like Jesus could do (see Jn. 5). Peter and John were arrested and brought before the Jewish Sanhedrin (Ac. 4, 5), just like Jesus was (Mt. 26; Mk. 14; Lk. 22; Jn. 18). Peter healed a paralytic and raised a dead woman (Ac. 9), just like Jesus did (Lk. 5 and Lk. 7). It isn’t just Peter, and the earlier apostles, who could do such things. After Paul’s conversion, he was sent on his first missionary tour, where he healed a lame man in Lystra (Ac. 14), just like Peter could do and Jesus could do. Paul cast out demons (Ac. 16), just like Jesus did throughout His ministry (Lk. 8). 

This pattern continues through Acts because God’s work was still being accomplished by His faithful people. 

We should take great confidence in our work today. The task is daunting in an unbelieving world, but it was daunting then too, and for the same reason (i.e., unbelief). The work is unchanged and God is on our side. It feels serendipitous to do this, but consider the words of  Gamaliel, the opposition: “If the source is God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God” (Ac. 5:39).