I feel like i have a much better understanding of the book of acts, especially from a historical standpoint. A certain man in caesarea, centurion of the italian regiment b. This is an especially crucial matter to the hermeneutics of the historical narratives, 126 like the book of acts. Purpose of the book as indicated previously, the original purpose of both the gospel and acts may have been to assist. If this pattern is followed it will always result in the same reactions that you find recorded in this book. There is no single chapter that does not exhibit gods power and wisdom in operation. When we get to look at the book of acts, we find a number of interesting things. Act one makes up 25% of a storyline, with act two taking up 50% and act three the final 25%. The acts of peter and philip the evangelist are recorded here as well. It will help to keep the whole of the book before you as you work your way through each section.
Ananias brings a part to the apostles, sapphira aware of his intention to deceive b. Commentary on the book of acts bible study lessons. He decides to hang around with all his favorite disciples for forty days. In the book of acts, for instance, we find references to men such as gallio, in chapter 18 verse 12, gamaliel, in chapter 5 verse 34, felix, in chapter 23 verse26, and festus, in chapter 24 verse 27, all of whom were wellknown in the ancient jewish and roman world. The book of acts is a series of expository preachingnotes that will give the listener an account of what happens in the book of acts with commentary on each scripture within the text. It also may be divided around the expansion of the gospel in acts 1. It is titled acts to emphasize that this book records the acts of the apostles through the work of the holy spirit. Without this historical record, little would be known about the expansion of the church. We use your linkedin profile and activity data to personalize ads and to show you more relevant ads. It provides an inspired snapshot of the postascension believers and the progress of the gospel from jerusalem to the ends of the earth.
The book of acts is the only historical record of the birth and early days following christs establishing his church. History revealed gods promises to mankind through his beloved son jesus christ. The proof of jesus being the christ is overwhelming. Outlining a novel in three acts harry brunts july 11, 2015 at 1. In volume ii acts he told the story of the words and works of christ that were done through his apostles. Author of the book of acts the author of the book of acts is luke. Acts of the apostles executable outline study resources. Our story starts off where the gospel of luke left offjesus is back now that hes resurrected, jesus decides to hang out and chat with his disciples whom luke calls apostles for forty days. The new testament without acts leaves a great, yawning gap. All the awesome things he said and did and the super cool way he died and came back to life again. The introduction of acts and the book of luke help us to determine the author of acts.
A third purpose in the writing of acts was to provide stability to the new faith. The book is called acts or the acts of the apostles because it contains an account of some of the apostles. Each place is located on a map and then we note the people and events associated with that place. The importance of the book of acts the importance of this second of lukes twovolume work can. The book of acts fills in all the details regarding gods promise to establish his kingdom and forgive man of their sins. Acts of the apostles, outline international standard. Acts furnishes a ladder on which to place the epistles.
So many bible studies geared toward women are based on emotion, and tend to stay on the surface of things. The book of acts, which continues the narrative that luke began in his gospel, is especially important because it was the first written history of the christian church. Intro to acts biblica the international bible society. Fee and stuart helpfully outline six general principles for interpreting historical narratives in order to get at whether luke is describing or prescribing. The book of acts introduction the book of acts is a unique book in the new testament. This makes sense on an intuitive level because every story comes in three parts with a beginning, middle, and ending. Why are the summary statements in acts so important. The acts of the apostles often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth. Dec 19, 2012 if you look at acts, youll notice that the first section covers peter acts 112 and the second section covers paul acts 28. This is true of the lifechange curriculum and of course studying a book like acts is so exciting. Additionally the events of cornelius in chapter 10 which climaxes in chapter 15. We look at the places mentioned in acts, taking them in alphabetical order. The greek word praxeis, acts, identifies a specific genre or subgenre in the ancient world. For instance, we find that this man has a broad range of geography he mentions 32 different countries in the book of acts.
The life and travels of the apostle paul are followed. The genre of the book of acts is narrative history with several sermons. Constables notes on acts 3 genre most scholars believe that acts fits within the literary classification of ancient history. My prayer is that as you meet the conditions of gods promise to joshua, and you do not let this book. As indicated previously, the original purpose of both the gospel and acts may have been to assist theophilus in some official capacity in learning about jesus and. To make the picture abundantly clear, god has given us a hand picked record of the activities of the early church. The equipment of the early disciples for their task acts 1. As a second volume to lukes gospel, it joins what jesus began to do and to teach 1. The book of acts contains important information for all today. Acts of the apostles 4 imprisonment in rome are 6062 a. Paragraphbyparagraph outline for the book of acts josh. As john piper preached, if i had to pick one sentence out of the book of acts that would state the theme of the book, i think it would be acts 1. Anyhoo acts starts with jesus already back in black. Taking a look at the early church is so interesting.
Book of acts overview insight for living ministries. An overview of the book of acts the life of the early church is recorded and preserved for us in the book of acts and the epistles. One may divide the book as acts 112 peter and acts 28 paul. If the book was just before or after pauls release, then it was likely written around 63 a. Workbook on the book of acts church of christ in zion.
When the gospel of christ was preached some believed some disbelieved. We call this series of messages the pattern setters because, in this section of acts, you find the pattern for all christian witness in any age. Jerusalem 17, judea and samaria 812, the ends of the earth 28. Acts agrees with pauls letters on the major outline of pauls career. Through the book of acts, youll notice that both apostles perform miracles through the power of the spirit, see visions, suffer, preach powerfully, and were imprisoned and later miraculously set free. Constables notes on acts 2020 edition that luke was a native of syrian antioch. In other words, it is very doubtful that this book was written after 62 ce. The outline is based on the theme verse of the book of acts. If you look at acts, youll notice that the first section covers peter acts 112 and the second section covers paul acts 28. In fact, the work is given in detail of only two of the apostles, peter and paul. The book of acts tells how the multiethnic, international church grew. The initial question regards the identity of theophilus, the one for whom the book is written.
If the book of acts were gone, there would be nothing to replace it howson. It serves as a transition between the gospels and the epistles. The book of acts provides a bridge for the writings of the nt. Carefully, paragraph by paragraph, the book of acts has been evaluated in the following pages. Timeline of the book of acts dates reference events books written historical events roman emperors c. Each paragraph in the esv translation of acts has been evaluated and a factual statement about its content was recorded in one sentence.
Luke, the author of the gospel of luke, was a doctor and gentile. Workbook on the book of acts the church of christ in. The book of acts in the new testament is the history of what the first christians were. A basic overview of the structure for the book of acts. Acts facts people, places, and verse by verse study. Acts begins with jesuss charge to the twelve apostles to spread the gospel throughout the world.
Reading acts is like watching the effects of an earthquake. Is jesus a significant character in the book of acts. This series is great for really getting deep into the book as a whole and looking at things intellectually from a new perspective. There has been much debate as to the purpose of acts. The following outline is intended to be used while studying the book. This is a geographical outline of the book based largely on what appears to be the organizing verse in acts. The authoreditors did a great job of topically catagorizing the chapters. Acts records the beginnings of the church and reveals the steps one must obey to become a christian.
If you want to know what the book of acts is about, it is acts 1. Acts is the only biblical book that chronicles the history of the church immediately after jesuss ascension. They sold a possession, but kept back part of the proceeds 2. So this constitutes a separate section of this book. The main issues revolve around whether he is a man perhaps a greek official for whom lukeacts is an apologetic for the gospel or a kind of generic. There are certainly other ways to arrange the book of acts differently. Before jesus was taken into heaven where he was enthroned to share gods rule over the world, he instructed his followers to be a witness for him. It is titled acts to emphasize that this book records the acts of.
The acts of the apostles, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the early christian church. The acts of apostles gives us a unique insight into how the church began. It was, for the most part, chronological but when it made sense to study sections from several chapters in acts that. As such, it provides us with a valuable account of how the church was able to grow and spread out from jerusalem into the rest of the roman empire. A second purpose in writing acts was to give a written defense of christianity. Acts concerns the very vital period in christian history between the resurrection of jesus and the death of the apostle paul, the time when christian ideas and beliefs were.
As i said, the book revolves around the apostles, peter and paul. Outline of the book of acts outline of acts 1 outline of acts 2 outline of acts 3 outline of acts 4 outline of acts 5 outline of acts 6 outline of acts 7 outline of acts 8 outline of acts 9. Both the books of luke and acts are addressed to the most excellent theophilus. Acts is a bridge between the gospels and the epistles. The authorship of acts is ascribed to luke for these reasons. The main issues revolve around whether he is a man perhaps a greek official for whom luke acts is an apologetic for the gospel or a kind of generic. Outline of the book of acts outline of acts 1 outline of acts 2 outline of acts 3 outline of acts 4.
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