The Acts of the Apostles

Acts 1-8

• Acts is vol. two; Gospel of Luke is vol. one– Both addressed to Theophilus– Acts begins: “In my former book . . ..”

• Title – refers to apostles in the generic sense, those sent out (not the original 12)

• Acts is primarily concerned with Peter and Paul– Stephen and Philip in chapters 6-7, 8

• Acts tells the story of Christianity expanding from Jerusalem to Rome and many places in between

• Shows how Jesus statement in 1:8 unfolded– “…you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,

Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

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http://studylight.org/se/maps/view.cgi?js=yes&number=118a&size=60

• Acts 1-2

• Thousands attended the Jewish festival Pentecost– Celebrated the early harvest– Also celebrated the giving of the law to Israel– Peter and the apostles preached the first

sermon about Jesus at this festival– Many from all around the Mediterranean

heard their message

• Peter’s sermon (Acts 2) focused on Jesus being the Messiah and Israel rejecting him.

• Many were convinced by what Peter said and wanted to know how they could now be a part of Jesus’ followers

• Peter told them to repent of their ways and be baptized into the name of Jesus

• 3000 were baptized that day

• After Pentecost the apostles continued preaching and healing the sick

• Many of the new Christians began– Meeting together in their homes– Studying with the apostles to learn more

about Jesus– Selling their possessions to help those away

from their homes stay in Jerusalem longer• Also to help the poor• Barnabas is mentioned specifically in this regard

• The Jewish officials arrested Peter and John and threatened them about teaching in the name of Jesus

• Later, all the apostles were arrested– They continued teaching about Jesus– The officials wanted to kill them– Gamaliel (a Jewish teacher) cautioned them

against killing the apostles• Said if this is from God we would be opposing Him

– The had the apostles beaten then released

• Seven men were chosen to help with the distribution of food to Hellenistic widows– Evidently, some were being overlooked– Stephen and Philip were two of these men

• Steven was also a gifted speaker and got in trouble with the authorities as he defended his faith

• Spoke against their rejection of Jesus– Outraged listeners stoned him to death

• Saul was part of the group that killed Stephen

• Philip was among the people that fled Jerusalem when the persecution after Stephen’s death began– Philip went to Samaria and preached about

Jesus as the Messiah – Peter and John went to Samaria to “check

out” the Samaritans who were accepting Jesus as the Messiah

– They too began teaching Samaritans

• Next, Philip went south toward Gaza

• Met a man from Ethiopia– Taught him about Jesus the Messiah – Baptized him

• Philip then went to Caesarea

http://studylight.org/se/maps/view.cgi?js=yes&number=103&size=60

Roman Road between Jerusalem and Gaza

Roman Mile Markers