Book of Acts

Christ Baptist ChurchFall 2015 / Spring 2016

“you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be

my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria,

and to the end of the earth.”

• Acts 1:8

Book of Acts – Overview / AuthorWho was the Author?

Inferences lead to the conclusion that the author was Luke

Luke and Acts were circulated as one workBoth to TheopuliusBoth Greek and of the best qualityPronoun we is used beginning in Chapter 16Both books show great compassion for people, especially women

Muratorian Canon dating to 170 A.D. states Paul was the author of the third Gospel and the “Acts of the Apostles.”

Early church leaders acknowledge Luke as the author

Book of Acts – Overview / AuthorWho was Luke and what do we know about him?

….. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me ……… I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.

2 Timothy 4:11

A gentile, physician and close friend

Paul’s travel companion

Loyal

Greek

Researcher

Acts 16:10-40, Acts 20:5- 28:31

Only Luke is with me

Colossians 4:11-14

Luke 1:1-4

Book of Acts – Overview / Background

Source of the writing was probably PaulUsed other sources

Second of a two part work Luke – Acts of JesusActs – Acts of the Apostles

Believe to be written over 2 years during Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome

Records the first 35 years of Christian historyDepicts the New Covenant's practical outworking in the life of the early church

More than a historical book – shows the power of the Holy spirit

Acts 21:18-19

Book of Acts – Overview / Background

Acts of the Apostles through the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit given by Jesus to the disciplesIt was through the Holy Spirit that the disciples could perform acts which were previously impossible for them to do

Importance of Acts todayGives us the key to live powerful and fruitful lives now!

Acts of the Holy Spirt through the Apostles

12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 1 Corinthians 3:12-13

Book of Acts – Overview

Peter Paul Acts 1-12 Apostle to the Jews Acts 13-28 Apostle to the Gentiles

First sermon - Acts 2 First sermon - Acts 13Lame man healed - Acts 3 Lame man healed - Acts 14

Simon, the sorcerer - Acts 8 Elymas, the sorcerer - Acts 13Laying on of hands - Acts 8 Laying on of hands - Acts 19Peter worshipped - Acts 10 Paul worshipped - Acts 14

Tabitha raised - Acts 9 Eutychus raised - Acts 20 Peter imprisoned - Acts 12 Paul imprisoned - Acts 28

Explore The Book by J. Sidlow Baxter

Parallels Luke draws between Peter and Paul

Book of Acts – Overview

Disciple refers to a “learner or follower”

Used 260x in the New Testament

Apostle means “one who is set out”Used 90x in the New TestamentReferring to the 12 men who were Among the twelve were fishermen, a tax collector, and a revolutionary.

Ordinary to extraordinaryActs 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

Disciples vs ApostlesThe names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Luke 6:13-16

Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus,1 Corinthians 1:1

And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Matthew 10:2

Book of Acts – Overview / Themes

To Present a history of the early church

To give a defense of Christianity

To provide a guide

To depict the triumph of Christianity in face of bitter persecution

Book of Acts – Overview

The Witness to Jerusalem

• 1:9-8.3

The Witness to Judea and Samaria• 8:4-12:25

The Witness to the ends of the Earth• 13:1-28:31

Spread of the church

Weekly Challenges - Applying God’s Word

Are you living with the Joy of the 1st century Christians?

How do you live? Can Luke write about your life?

Do you choose to live with eager expectancy of what the Holy Spirit will do in your life?