If the book was just before or after pauls release, then it was likely written around 63 a. The initial question regards the identity of theophilus, the one for whom the book is written. The equipment of the early disciples for their task acts 1. The significance of acts as a historical account of christian origins cannot be overestimated. The new testament without the book of acts leaves a great yawning gap. The life of the early church is recorded and preserved for us in the book of acts and the epistles.
If the book of acts were gone, there would be nothing to replace it the last recorded fact about jesus in the gospel of matthew is the resurrection. The book of acts was written to provide a history of the early church. Christ, preparing his apostles to the beholding of his ascension, gathers them together unto the mount olivet, commands them to expect in jerusalem the sending. The lord jesus christ at work by the holy spirit through the apostles.
Outline of acts free bible outlines bible study start. But stephen reminded the jews that god was bigger than any temple. 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. Author of the book of acts the author of the book of acts is luke.
Acts is a bridge between the gospels and the epistles. Acts continues from there on starting with christs resurrection. As such, it provides us with a valuable account of how. If you look at acts, youll notice that the first section covers peter acts 112 and the second section covers paul acts 28. A second purpose in writing acts was to give a written defense of christianity. Luke described to theophilus in his first letter about jesus life up to the resurrection. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy. The book of acts is the second of a twovolume work the first being the gospel according to luke traditionally attributed to luke, a physician and traveling companion of paul. The importance of the book of acts the importance of this second of lukes twovolume work can. The book of acts provides a bridge for the writings of the nt. The proof of jesus being the christ is overwhelming. Color map map of the new testament world this map reveals the nations within the ancient world during the.
When he does, record the verse number, what it is he seems to be saying to you and your response to him in this final step. We use your linkedin profile and activity data to personalize ads and to show you more relevant ads. The book of acts in the bible, written around 6263 a. It worked in the early church, and it works in the postmodern world. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of bible. Outline studies in the book of the acts of the apostles. The tradition from the earliest days of the church has been that luke, a companion of the apostle paul, wrote the books of luke and acts colossians 4. The books of acts is often called the book of the holy spirit or the book of the apostles. It will help to keep the whole of the book before you as you work your way through each section. The book of acts is also the history of the birth, the founding, and the spread of the church from jerusalem to rome. The book of acts contains important information for all today. Acts syllabus and course overview ministry development. The introduction of acts and the book of luke help us to determine the author of acts.
The book of acts is a key part of gods plan to reach the whole world. Jesus had shown himself alive by many proofs for 40 days. Includes lessons about the kingdom of christ, church organization and worship, examples of conversion, the nature and purpose of miracles, and the work of the holy spirit. Luke records many examples of conversion in the book of acts e. 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.
The book of acts fills in all the details regarding gods promise to establish his kingdom and forgive man of their sins. As i said, the book revolves around the apostles, peter and paul. My prayer is that as you meet the conditions of gods promise to joshua, and you do not let this book. The connection between the work of the apostles and that of jesus acts 1. He may not speak to you through every verse, but he will speak. Acts of the apostles, outline definition and meaning. The book of acts covers the time from the giving of the spirit on the day of pentecost to pauls arrival in rome to preach the gospel in the. Christ, preparing his apostles to the beholding of his ascension, gathers them together unto the mount olivet, commands them to expect in jerusalem the sending down of the holy ghost, promises after a few days to send it, and ascends into heaven in their sight. The emphasis of the book is the fulfillment of the great commission. 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. The book of acts is the only historical record of the birth and early days following christs establishing his church.
Without this historical record, little would be known about the expansion of the church. Biblenotes the entire holy bible is summarized with easy. We read of the evangelistic methods and message of the early apostles and preachers 3. Acts narrates the founding of the christian church and the spread of its message to the roman empire, providing theological insight and practical guidance for christian churches in the first generation. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. This course encounters the major changes in gods relationship with the world and his people in this key transitional book of the bible.
There are commentaries, and there are books on preachingbut very few books that are specifically geared to the preacher or bible teacher tackling a series on a bible book or doctrinal theme. Preparation for the coming of the spirit, chapter 1 1. This is a geographical outline of the book based largely on what appears to be the organizing verse in acts. Each paragraph in the esv translation of acts has been evaluated and a factual statement about its content was recorded in one sentence. The book of acts is a vital link between the gospels and the epistles. Book of acts overview insight for living ministries. Acts intro to acts biblica the international bible society. Acts furnishes a ladder on which to place the epistles. When the holy spirit overpowered the upper room with the sound like a roaring windstorm, history changed forever. Paragraphbyparagraph outline for the book of acts josh. There has been much debate as to the purpose of acts. Workbook on the book of acts the church of christ in. Acts records the apostles being christs witnesses in jerusalem, judea, samaria, and the surrounding world.
According to the book of acts, after his shipwreck on the island of malta acts 28 he came to italy and was put on house arrest for two years acts 28. Provides an overview of acts and two outlines for the book of acts as well as an index for bff acts articles, powerpoints and audiovideo podcasts. A third purpose in the writing of acts was to provide stability to the new faith. 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. A commentary on the acts of the apostles by pastor galen l. The acts of peter and philip the evangelist are recorded here as well.
The importance of the book of acts the importance of this second of lukes twovolume work can hardly be overestimated, for without it we would have no record of the beginnings and development of the early church. The book is called acts or the acts of the apostles because it contains an account of some of the apostles. It opens with a greeting to theophilus, who was also the intended recipient of lukes gospel. It also may be divided around the expansion of the gospel in acts 1. It is intended to help you better understand some of the background and issues in lukes second volume. Carefully, paragraph by paragraph, the book of acts has been evaluated in the following pages. Luke had written to him before and had told him about the things that jesus did and taught. T he book of acts in the bible, written around 6263 a.
A history of the early church gene taylor2an outline of the book i. Read acts prayerfully, objectively, thoughtfully, and attentively as you listen for god to speak. Summary and overview t he book of acts in the bible, written around 6263 a. In volume ii acts he told the story of the words and works of christ that were done through his apostles. Although the author does not name himself, evidence outside the scriptures and inferences from the book itself lead to the conclusion that the. Intro to acts biblica the international bible society. This summary of the book of acts provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of acts. For assurance of our own salvation, we can compare our own conversion experience with those in acts. One may divide the book as acts 112 peter and acts 28 paul. 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. Purpose of the book as indicated previously, the original purpose of both the gospel and acts may have been to assist. The new testament without acts leaves a great, yawning gap. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy english. The book of acts, also called acts of the apostles, does not specifically identify its author.
The first volume, the gospel of luke, shows as luke says, all that jesus began to do and teach. Timeline of the book of acts dates reference events books written historical events roman emperors c. Besides linking the gospel narratives on the one hand and the apostolic letters on the. Each chapter ends with a suggested preaching teaching outline and a detailed bible study which would be ideal for small groups. Acts of the apostles, outline international standard bible. This title accurately reflects the contents of the book, which is a series of vignettes chronicling the lives of key apostles especially peter and paul in. The meat of the book then works systematically through a suggested series, working with the bible teacher from text to sermon or talk. This commentary is based upon my personal devotional notes and reflections on the book of acts. It is a bridge between the gospels and the epistles. A basic overview of the structure for the book of acts. As a second volume to lukes gospel, it joins what jesus began to do and to teach 1. Acts 1 new international version niv jesus taken up into heaven.
The readers study of acts in the book of acts will bring new intimacy with the spirit and new joy in doing his will. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. When the gospel of christ was preached some believed some disbelieved. It might also be called the acts of the holy spirit, as that person of the godhead is very much an active participant throughout the book. Luke wrote the book of acts acts of the apostles to record how believers were empowered by the holy spirit, worked to spread the gospel of christ, and are a model for the future church. Acts records the beginnings of the church and reveals the steps one must obey to become a christian. Both the books of luke and acts are addressed to the most excellent theophilus. In fact, the work is given in detail of only two of the apostles, peter and paul.
This is, in effect, an outline of the book of acts see plan and outline below. The life and travels of the apostle paul are followed. 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. History revealed gods promises to mankind through his beloved son jesus christ. These all not only affirm authorship of the acts by luke, but lukan authorship for the book which bears his name, too. Acts of the apostles 4 imprisonment in rome are 6062 a.
The lord jesus christ at work by the holy spirit through the apostles in jerusalem, chapters 17 a. Doughty southside christian church january 2014 introduction. Stephen said some words from the book by the prophet isaiah isaiah 66. Key features of books in this series are introductory chapters, suggestions for the bible teacher working a text into sermon or talk, suggested preachingteaching outline, and a detailed bible study. The outline is based on the theme verse of the book of acts. Now the second volume, acts, will detail jesus continuing work through his apostles that he had chosen and the work of the holy spirit who would be. The title of the book of acts comes from the greek word praxis, a word often used in early christian literature to describe the great deeds of the apostles or other significant believers. While there are some areas of great detail of the acts of the apostles, many times you must use cross references to the gospels of matthew, mark, luke and john as well as some other epistles in the new testament to get the full picture of what was. In this passage, luke is restating the great commission challenge jesus gave in luke 24. Acts is the only biblical book that chronicles the history of the church immediately after jesuss ascension. People from many nations were beside themselves with wonder at hearing gods amazing acts in their own languages. If you want to know what the book of acts is about, it is acts 1.
Jesus christs life from the virgin birth to his ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection is the basis for the four gospels the books of matthew, mark, luke, and john. Trace the major sections of the book, consider the purpose and historical context of the book and study the major events in acts of the apostles, early church and the holy spirit. The following outline is intended to be used while studying the book. The authorship of acts is ascribed to luke for these reasons. The book of acts was likely written between ad 61 and 64. If the book of acts were gone, there would be nothing to replace it howson. Acts was designed to be gods training manual for christians.
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