The main theological emphasis of the book of acts is the holy spirit. The book of acts was written to provide a history of the early church. Acts records the apostles being christs witnesses in jerusalem, judea, samaria, and the surrounding world. Staggs commentary focuses on lukes purposes in writing acts. The book acts was written by luke and contains 28 chapters. Dec 17, 20 introduction to the book of acts arlo moehlenpah.
I read the book and felt quite strongly about it, idk felt something in my heart. The book of acts provides a detailed, orderly, eyewitness account of the birth and growth of the early church and the spread of the gospel immediately after the resurrection of jesus christ. It might appropriately be called some of the acts of some of the apostles since it does not try to describe all of the acts of all the apostles. Introduction to acts this is the 1st lecture in the online series of lectures on new testament survey by dr thomas schreiner. He tells us that he was a companion to paul and it is thought that he wrote the acts from rome while paul was in prison there. New testament survey, acts to revelation lecture 1.
The book of acts ends with paul in house arrest waiting to. Introduction to the book of acts from a jewish perspective. Acts begins with the same the promise of the spirit and the ascension of jesus acts 1. Besides linking the gospel narratives on the one hand and the apostolic letters on the. The book begins with the ascension of jesus and goes on through pauls jail time in rome, which opens his ministry to the church at rome. Ill use this last chapter of john just exactly as it is in your bible, and that is as an introduction to the book of acts. The book of acts records the spread of the gospel from jerusalem to rome, thus. Well try to put the book of acts in context to prepare us to take on the text.
It has also been shown to be a book that is accurate historically. You and structure the book by peter and paul, two of the major people of the book. A careful reading of the book of acts reveals the following themes. Acts of the risen jesus might also be an appropriate name for this book. It is mainly about two of the apostles peter and paul. Thats not to say that the movement established by jesus christ and carried. In the notes, i pointed that luke is the author of both books and i think it is the same author. The authors primary purpose was to give a detailed account of how men and women were. The book of acts is an important book for understanding the actions of the apostles, mostly paul and peter, after jesuss ascension into heaven. One finds embedded in acts a record of christian defenses made to both jews.
Introduction to acts of apostles a brief overview of the book of acts, a history of the beginning of the christian congregation and its rapid growth despite opposition. Without the book of acts, our knowledge of the early history of the church would be limited to the small amount provided by the new testament epistles. The early christian message is summarized in a number of sermons, and the events recorded in acts show the power of this message in the lives of. The people of god are no longer determined by race, ethnicity, religion. It makes reference to about 100 geographical places including regions, provinces, cities, and islands around or near the mediterranean sea. Its accounts do not document the life of the early church to a uniform degree. Oct 04, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of acts, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The book of acts records the endowment of this power by the holy ghost and describes its dramatic results, beginning with the conversion of thousands on the day of pentecost see acts 2. They are part one and part two of the work of jesus. Lesson 2 will sketch a very high level view of the main divisions and events in acts. The holy spirit is the initiator, guide and agent of gods mission to spread the gospel. Acts 1 international standard version isv introduction. The acts of the apostles forms a bridge between the record of jesus christs life and teachings in the four gospels and the writings and. Reference to the holy spirit comes in a variety of ways.
The book actually only records some a few of the acts of some a few of the apostles. Keeping to tradition, bsf, or bible study international, is alternating an old testament study with a new testament study. 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. Both were written by luke, a physician who traveled with the apostle paul.
An important feature of acts is the activity of the holy spirit, who comes with power upon the believers in jerusalem on the day of pentecost and continues to guide and strengthen the church and its leaders throughout the events reported in the book. Jul 10, 2018 through the bible with les feldick lesson 3 part 3 book 16 introduction to acts. An introduction to the mythology of christian religion. Read the following sets of verses and answer the questions below. This year, were going to the new testament with the study of the book of acts. The events described in acts occurred over a period of about 30 years about a.
After acts 15, peter just drops out of the book altogether. Acts is the only biblical book that chronicles the history of the church immediately after jesuss ascension. An introduction to the book of acts an introduction to the. Introduction to the book of acts by chuck swindoll who wrote the book. Authorship of actsluke is the author of the book acts. The author of the acts of the apostles is the same author of the gospel of luke. The second volume, the book of acts, has six parts. The book of acts provides a bridge for the writings of the nt. The first sentence tells us that luke was the author and this is his second book written to theophilus. Book of acts overview insight for living ministries. The book does not contain all of the acts of all of the apostles. In anticipation of the acts of the apostles reading planthe she reads truth summer study beginning on june 6well spend this week in countdown to acts, a 5day introduction establishing the historical and geographical context of the book. In the acts of the apostles luke continues the account of christianity begun in the gospel which bears his name. Acts 1, new international version niv the bible app.
Luke is uniformly identified as the author acts by the second century a. May 15, 2005 introduction to the book of acts the book we know as the acts of the apostles has also been, probably more accurately called the acts of the holy spirit through the apostles. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. Study 1 going through the book of acts words of life ministries. Luke tells us that his first book the gospel of luke was about all that jesus began to do and to. Two lines of argument lead to the conclusion that luke, the friend, fellow missionary, and physician of. Study 1 going through the book of acts words of life. Acts ends with paul under house arrest, awaiting trial before caesar, c. Acts 1 isv introduction in my first book, bible gateway. The book of acts is the book of the acts of the holy spirit and what he does in the church and the birth and history of the church. Commentary on the book of acts bible study lessons. The book of acts mentions about 100 individuals by name. The gospel ends with the promise of the spirit and the ascension of jesus luke 24. Introduction to bsfs study of the book of acts atozmom.
The title the inscription the acts of the apostles probably reaches back to the beginning of the second century ce, since it is found in virtually every ms which contains this book, as well as the antimarcionite prologue to luke c. Since luke is the author of acts, any date between ad 60 and 100 is reasonable as conzelmann points out. The ending of acts plays an important role in route of determining the books date. Of of christ over or even death and one proclaims the reconciling power of christ, both the right both the right, so i hope that helps with an introduction to the book of acts and that it sort of whats your appetite for reading the book. Introduction to the book of acts study resources blue letter bible.
Article on divorce and remarriage craig blomberg, trinity journal, 1990. The book begins with jesus promise of the holy spirit, which is later fulfilled in reference to the jews, and then for the gentiles. Today begins a study of the book of acts in this daily bible study series. An introduction to the book of the acts of the apostles. Its narrative supplies a bridge connecting the life and ministry of jesus to the life of the church and the witness of the earliest believers. Fast forward to 2020, i was curious about christianity and so before bed i finished the entire book of revelations i found this great website which puts the book into really simple basic english. The ending of acts plays an important role in route of determining the book s date. There is a close correlation between lukes gospel account and the book of acts. Lesson 1 will cover authorship, date, purpose and main themes. Acts of the apostles are the acts of the risen christ through the holy spirit working in the church. He also provides a general summary of the book of acts.
Data are included and excluded with the specific purpose. The book of acts, the early struggle for an unhindered gospel, asserts the purpose is primarily the movement of the message about jesus the gospel from a strictly nationalistic judaism to a universal message for all humans. Hopefully you have covered that in your gospels class, so i dont want to cover that again. The title of the book was added later after its writing it is not inspired. The significance of acts as a historical account of christian origins cannot. The emphasis of the book is the fulfillment of the great commission. Intro to acts biblica the international bible society. Last year, we took a look at people of the promised land, starting with joshua and ending with solomon. The following sermon transcript does not match the video version of the sermonit matches only the audio version. Her insightful additions and deletions make our commentaries easier to read and understand. In the gospels we see the corn of wheat falling into the ground and dying.
The book of acts was likely written between ad 61 and 64. Introduction for bible study on acts of the apostles. As a second volume to lukes gospel, it joins what jesus began to do and to teach 1. Luke tells us that his first book the gospel of luke was about all that jesus began to.
Luke acts makes up 28% of the new testamentmore than that written by either paul or john. This book is to the gospels what the fruit is to the tree that bears it. African contemporary worship of brooklyn united methodist church. It is a history of the beginning of the christian congregation and its rapid growth despite opposition. In the former treatise he tells what jesus began both to do and teach. May 30, 2016 in anticipation of the acts of the apostles reading planthe he reads truth summer study beginning on june 6well spend this week in countdown to acts, a 5day introduction establishing the historical and geographical context of the book. Acts introduction commentary commentary critical and. It is a history, though not in the twentiethcentury sense of the word. The book of acts is the only historical record of the birth and early days following christs establishing his church. The apostolic preaching of the cross by leon morris. The book of acts was written within the lifetime of most of the eyewitnesses of the life, death and resurrection of jesus christ.
Acts intro to acts biblica the international bible society. Clearly, the author ofthe book of luke is also the one who penned the book of acts. In many ways acts is the most exciting book in the new testament because it is full of movement and interest. To learn more about the book of acts and the whole bible so you are better prepared to share the gospel and disciple others, consider an online biblical studies degree at trinitys college of biblical studies. An introduction to the book of acts jack wellman patheos. Introduction to the book of acts she reads truth she.
Without this historical record, little would be known about the expansion of the church. Many scholars assume acts was written then because it does not record pauls defense, release, and further gospel preaching. To linda, faithful editor, friend, encourager, and prayer warrior. Through the bible with les feldick lesson 3 part 3 book 16 introduction to acts. John macarthur routinely preaches a sermon more th. Lukeacts makes up 28% of the new testamentmore than that written by either paul or john.
The gospel of luke and the book of acts are written as companion volumes. It shows how the holy spirit worked through the apostles of jesus in the life of the early church. No amount of persecution social, religious or political can. He was also the author of its companion work, the gospel of luke. Acts introduction, good news bible gnb the bible app. Lukeacts introduction, the books of the bible nt books.
The book of acts is the story of how the church is to accomplish this task. Each one describes a successive phase in the expansion of the community of jesus. An introduction to the book of acts chuck swindoll unhindered. Author two lines of argument lead to the conclusion that luke, the friend, fellow missionary, and physician of paul wrote this book, under the. Acts introduction scofield reference bible commentary. These studies will be expository, devotional, practical and varied, and this is an introduction to the whole book. Acts of the apostles is the one historical book of the new testament, and much of what we know about the early years of christianity comes from this book. Unhindered is a fitting final word because it perfectly describes the central theme of lukes historical account of the firstcentury church. Introduction to the book of acts acts study guide medium.
The waiting in rome for two years, yet preaching and teaching 28. In this book we see the first mention of the dispensation of the holy spirit and jesus command to take his gospel to all the world. The inscription of the acts of the apostles probably reaches back to the beginning of the second century ce, since it is found in virtually every manuscript which contains this book, as well as the antimarcionite prologue to luke c. As such, it provides us with a valuable account of how the church was able to grow and spread out from jerusalem into the rest of the roman empire. Archaeological findings support the accuracy of lukes account. It is an important book in understanding how we can be directed by the holy spirit and the role of jesus lessons in our lives. In acts, jesus sends the holy spirit to empower his disciples as they carry. The divisions between them are marked by variations on the phrase, the word of god continued to spread and flourish. The book of acts appears to be written for the benefit of christians rather than as an apologetic. The book of acts ends with paul in house arrest waiting to present his case before caesar. A structure carrying a road or a path across an obstacle such as a river or a ravine. The book describes some developments in detail, but sometimes skips several years at a time. In only three decades, a small group of frightened believers in jerusalem transformed. This is the story of christianitys beginnings and how evangelism played.