THE BOOK OF ACTS

AN INTRODUCTION

TO

THE BOOK OF ACTS

THE BOOK OF ACTS

Four things about the book of Acts:

1. IT IS DIVIDED INTO TWO SECTIONS

2. IT COULD HAVE ALTERNATE TITLES

3. IT IS A MODEL FOR TODAYS CHURCH

4. LUKE AUTHORED THE BOOK OF ACTS

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THE BOOK OF ACTS1. The book of Acts is divided into two

sections: – Section 1 chapters 1 – 12 is

concerned with the work of the Holy Spirit through Peter’s life when he was ministering to the Jews

– Section 2 chapters 13 – 28 is concerned with the work of the Holy Spirit through Paul’s life when he was ministering to the Gentiles

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THE BOOK OF ACTS2. Alternate titles for the book could be:

“ The Acts of the Apostles,” “The Acts of the Holy Spirit in the Lives of

the Apostles” “The Unhindered Expansion of the

Church as it Spread from Jerusalem to Rome.”

The book of Acts is a beautiful picture of: – the Person – the Power– the Presence

of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the disciples. Previous Slide Next Slide

THE BOOK OF ACTS

a. The Person of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a person not an “it”.i. Romans 8:27 states that the Holy Spirit is

a He and has a mind.

ii. 1 Corinthians 12:11 states that the Holy Spirit has a will.

iii. Ephesians 4:30 states we can greave the Holy Spirit.

iv. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 states we can quench the Holy Spirit.

a. The Person of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a person not an “it”.i. Romans 8:27 states that the Holy Spirit is

a He and has a mind.

ii. 1 Corinthians 12:11 states that the Holy Spirit has a will.

iii. Ephesians 4:30 states we can greave the Holy Spirit.

iv. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 states we can quench the Holy Spirit.

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THE BOOK OF ACTS

b. The Power of the Holy Spirit. We do not teach when we lead a Bible study or a ministry, the Holy Spirit does the teaching through us. We are the vessel that He uses.i. John 14:26 states: it is the Holy Spirit that teaches us

all things. ii. Zachariah 4:6 states: “it is not by might or by power

but by My Spirit says the Lord.”

Whatever teaching we do we must rely on the Holy Spirit to work through us.

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THE BOOK OF ACTS

c. The presence of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is moving in the body of Christ and working in our hearts and in our lives.

Its all about us learning how to:i.Yield to the Holy Spirit

ii.Be flexible to the Holy Spirit

iii.Work for the Holy SpiritPrevious Slide Next Slide

THE BOOK OF ACTS3. The book of Acts is a model for today's

church, it outlines the basic:

• principles • organization• precepts

churches should follow. Although Churches may have different visions and procedures to accomplish their goals, the book of Acts provides us with an outline to follow. Churches should not consist of hard and fast rules, instead we should yield to the Holy Spirit’s leading.

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THE BOOK OF ACTS

4. Luke is the Author of the book of Acts. He also wrote the gospel of Luke. The book of Acts is an extension of the gospel of Luke, picking up where the gospel ended. Luke was a traveling companion of Paul; who some say was the man from Macedonia referred to in chapter 16 as Paul begins his second missionary journey. It’s interesting to note that in chapters 16, 20 and 21 there is a change in the pronouns that Luke uses. He no longer uses “they” and “them” but changes to “we” and “us”. Paul’s second and third missionary journeys beginning in chapter 16. According to Colossians chapter 4:14 Luke was a medical doctor and was probably imprisoned with Paul as we discover in 2 Timothy 4:10 & 11.

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THE BOOK OF ACTS

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE: Records what Jesus “began both to do and teach” in His human body.

THE BOOK OF ACTS: Records what Jesus “continues to do and teach” in His spiritual body, the church.

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THE BOOK OF ACTSThe word Theophilus means “the friend of God” or “the lover of God”. There are two schools thought concerning the book. First, Luke wrote this book to the friends of God or Lovers of God, the church in general. Second, Luke wrote this book to Theophilus because in Luke chapter 1:1 he is writing to a specific person, Theophilus, in those verses he addresses him as the “most excellent” a type of introduction that was reserved for distinguished politicians like Roman administrators. Leading us to the conclusion that Theophilus was a high ranking governmental or political official. Biblical research reveals that some high ranking officials would locate an intelligent person under their command and send them to school. Biblical scholars feel that Luke could have been trained by Theophilus, he may even have been Theophilus’ personal physician. Luke uses the proper title to address him so he can tell him about Jesus. Now in Acts when he writes to Theophilus he disregards the formal prefix “most excellent” because they are now fellow brothers in Christ.

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