Acts is the great mission book of the Bible, but we may have a shrunken view of the mission of Jesus and the church.

Yes, the apostles preach the gospel so individuals are saved. Yes, they plant churches and get them organized by appointing leaders. Yes, there are conversions and baptisms.

But Acts is centrally about the great reversal in the history of humanity. After millennia, the God of Abraham is keeping His promise. The curse of Babel is being overturned. Noah’s estranged sons are being reconciled.

In all its polyglot and polychromatic diversity, the human race is re-congregating, reuniting, submitting to the universal King Jesus and harmonized by His Spirit.

The church’s membership rolls include all of Noah’s children, people from every tribe, tongue, and nation – all children of Abraham, all brothers in our heavenly Brother Jesus.

In Acts, the Spirit is writing a new table of nations.

Yet the process isn’t smooth and easy. Everywhere the apostles go, they create new divisions. Many people want to keep Babel intact.

But this is how the gospel progresses. Jesus comes with a sword, and before He unites the scattered children of His Father, He first divides them.

The apostles don’t despair. Nor should we. Jesus sends us as lambs among wolves, but we know the Lamb of God, and all His little lambs, will finally triumph over the wolfmen of the world.

– Pastor Leithart