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A Biblical Theology (v. 46)
The Biblical knowledge referred to is not only from the New Testament, but the Old as well. Whilst the new church’s doctrine is firmly based on the teaching of the Apostles, they in turn were deeply grounded in what for them was already scripture; the Old Testament. How many times do we read in the New Testament “It is written …” To be effective, a Church needs to be schooled in both Testaments.
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An Evangelistic Programme (v. 47)
The Church is given a particular task of preaching “repentance and forgiveness” (Salvation) to “all nations” (the whole world).
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An Apostolic Authority (V. 48)
What we believe, and what we proclaim, must only be that which is taught in the New Testament, and corroborated by the Apostles where it is written by others. They alone are “witnesses of these things”. We must not say that we feel “led by the Spirit” along paths which have not been mapped out by the Apostles.
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A Spiritual Dynamic (v. 49)
Unless a church possesses the miracle-working power of the Holy Spirit it is nothing. As humans we can do little, but “Through Jesus we can do anything. What Jesus does now he does through the Holy Spirit, sent to us by Jesus as promised.