“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is comeupon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem,and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts ofthe earth.”

Acts 1:8

The content of Acts can be summarized:

1) By Place

2) By Personality

3) By Progression

4) By Program

“rightly dividing the word of truth”

� By Place

Two majors spiritual centers of activity:

Jerusalem

Antioch

� By Personality

The personality of Simon (Peter)

The personality of Stephen

The personality of Saul (Paul)

The personality of the Spirit

� By Progression (expansion of the gospel)

The Church in Jerusalem Chapters 1-7

The Church in Judea and Samaria Chapter 8:1-9:31

The Church to the ends of the earth Chapter 9:32-28:31

� By program

Pentecost

Prejudice

Prison

Luke Acts

Acts of Christ through his physical body Acts of Christ through his spiritual body

Jewish rejection of the Son:

John 19:15, “away with him…crucify him”

Jewish resistance of the Spirit:

Acts 7:51, “ye do always resist the Holy

Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.”

Two Bible books written by Doctor Luke:

• Gospel of Luke

• Acts of the Apostles

• Offering of the Kingdom Rejected (Matthew 23)

Culminates with the Savior’s death

• Offering of the Kingdom Rejected (Acts 3)

Culminates with Stephen’s death

“In this sermon by Peter (Acts 3), delivered to the people of Israel, we notice that it is the

kingdom in view rather than the church. Also the emphasis is national rather than

individual. The Spirit of God is lingering over Israel in longsuffering mercy, pleading

with God’s ancient people to receive the glorified Lord Jesus as Messiah, and thus hasten

the advent of Christ’s kingdom on earth.

But Israel would not hear.”

William MacDonald

See OT references: Numbers 35, Joshua 20

“we…who have fled for refuge” Hebrews 6:18

The Charge of Manslaughter – refuge available.

Acts 3:15-19

“You killed the Author of life…And now brothers, I know that you

acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.”

The Charge of MURDER – no refuge available.

Acts 7:52

“ the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and

murdered,”

Matthew 16:19

“I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven”

Acts 2 – Peter unlocks the

door to the Jews

Acts 8 – Peter unlocks the door to the Samaritans

Acts 10 – Peter unlocks the door to the

Gentiles