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New Testament Survey: Book of Acts

New Testament Survey: Book of Acts. The Author. Luke is assigned as the author. * The book is addressed to Theophilus (Luke 1:3; Acts 1:1, 2) ” former treatise ” Identical in style to Luke. Historical sequence to the gospel of Luke.

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New Testament Survey: Book of Acts

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  1. New Testament Survey:Book of Acts

  2. The Author • Luke is assigned as the author. * The book is addressed to Theophilus(Luke 1:3; Acts 1:1, 2) ”former treatise” • Identical in style to Luke. • Historical sequence to the gospel of Luke. • Written in first-person plural (we). The writer was an eye-witness to what he was writing. (16:10-17; 20:5-15; 27:1; 28:16)

  3. When the Book Was Written • Coincides reasonably with the close of the historical account. • Paul is still alive and in a Roman prison. • History recorded in Acts would not have ended so abruptly if Paul’s death had already occurred. • Written prior to 70 A.D. and after Paul reached Rome—probably around 63 A.D.

  4. The Book’s Audience • Intended for a wider reading audience than just Theophilus. • Origin of Christianity’s beginning among the Jews. • Much of the book is concerned with the transfer of the center of interest from Jerusalem to Antioch. • Spreading the gospel to the known Gentile world. • Historical account to meet the need of both Jews and Gentiles (1:8)

  5. The Book’s Purpose • Historical Motive • See Luke 1:4and Acts 1:5. • Acts gives a history of the continuation of Jesus’ work, by the Holy Spirit, through the Apostles. • The final instruction (1:8)

  6. The Book’s Purpose • The Defense Motive • In Acts, every contact with government officials receives a favorable hearing or is ignored. • Acts 13—Sergius Paulus • Acts 16:35-39—officials at Philippi • Acts 19:31—officals at Ephesus • Acts 24-26—Felix, Festus, and Agrippa

  7. The Book’s Purpose • The Biographical Motive • Luke divided the Acts historical record into two different sections biographical in nature: • Chapters 1-12—history of Peter’s work • Chapters 13-28—the apostles’ work with the Gentiles—Paul!

  8. Contents and Character • The book, Acts of the Apostles, records for us the history of Christianity’s beginning, growth,and spreadduring at least the first 30 years--from Christ’sascension to Paul’simprisonment in Rome.

  9. Contents and Character • The Apostolic Office and Work • Apostolic office in operation doing the work that Jesus selected and trained the apostles to do. • Witnesses for Christ (1:8, 21, 22) • Eye and ear witnesses of that about which they bore testimony (1:2; 26:16-18; 2 Peter 1:16-21; 1 John 1:1-4)

  10. Contents and Character • The Apostolic Office and Work • A competent witness must give clear and accurate testimony. • Guided by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:9-13) • Ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20; Acts 4:18-20; 5:28-32) • Sat upon thrones with authority to rule over the church (Matthew 19:28; Acts 2:42; 15; Galatians 2:1-9; 1 John 4:6)

  11. Contents and Character • The Holy Spirit’s Work • His mission was first promised by Christ. • John 14:16,17, 25,26; 16:7-15; Acts 1:8 • Promise fulfilled on Day of Pentecost. • Acts 2:1-4 • Acts 2:15-21 • Acts 2:33

  12. Contents and Character • The Holy Spirit’s Work • Reveal the gospel. • Acts 2:4; 1 Corinthians 2:10-13; Ephesians 3:3-5 • Confirm the word by miracles. • Mark 16:15-20 • Acts 6:6-8; 8:6-13; 19:6 • Hebrews 2:1-4

  13. Contents and Character • The Holy Spirit’s Work • Convict and convert the sinners. • John 16:8-11 • Continue to guide and direct the apostles. • Acts 5:32 • Acts 4:31 • Acts 9:31 • Romans 8:14

  14. Contents and Character • The Preaching of the Gospel • Given by a variety of expressions • The message preached and the different circumstances under which it was preached. • “Continued steadfastly” • Acts 2:42 • “Spoke the word of God;” “preach the word;” “the word of the Lord” • Acts 4:31; 13:44; 14:25; 18:11; 15:35-36; 16:32

  15. Contents and Character • The Preaching of the Gospel • “Teach and preach Christ” • Acts 5:42; 8:5, 35; 9:20; 11:20 • “Preaching the things of the kingdom of God;” “name of Christ” • Acts 8:12; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23; 28:31

  16. Contents and Character • The Preaching of the Gospel • “Preach the gospel” • Acts 14:7-21; 16:10 • “Decrees to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem” • Acts 16:4

  17. Contents and Character • The Preaching of the Gospel • “The way of salvation more accurately” • Acts 16:17; 18:26 • “Reasoned with them from the Scriptures” • Acts 17:2 • “Shrank not from declaring anything that was profitable;” “Gospel of the grace of God.” • Acts 20:20, 24, 27

  18. Contents and Character • Story of Conversion • A number of conversions are related. • All have several things in common. • In each case, the gospel was preached. None occurred separate and apart from the preaching of the word; not by any miraculous event!

  19. Contents and Character • Story of Conversion • Saved by the gospel—because they believed the truthpreached. • Faith in the gospel they heard always produced the commanded work of obedience to God’s will! • See next chart…

  20. Cases of Conversion

  21. Contents and Character • Story of the Church • What it was, of whom it consisted, its organization, its mission and work, its worship, and its growth and development. • We can learn about the church in the beginning when it was under apostolic guidance—as designed and built by God. It must be the same today!

  22. Contents and Character • Story of the Church • Made up of those who believed and obeyed the gospel demands and were added to the saved by the Lord. • Acts 2:41; 4:4; 5:14; 6:7; 9:42; 11:24; 13:12; 13:48; 14:1; 17:4; 12:12; 17:34; 28:24; 2:47

  23. Contents and Character • Story of the Church • Identity of the church and its singularity are easily distinguishable in the Acts historical record… • Vital activity (Acts 2:42) • Organization of early church (Acts 14:23) • Worship of that church (Acts 11:25,26) • Purity (Acts 5:11)

  24. Contents and Character • Story of the Church • Its work… • Evangelism • Acts 11:19,20 (personal) • Acts 11:22 (congregational) • Funds were sent directly to the preacher. (Philippians 1:5 - 2:25; 4:14-16; 2 Cor.11:7-9) • No example of one church sending to another church to help with the preacher’s support!

  25. Contents and Character • Story of the Church • Its work… • Benevolent work • Church providing for its own needy. • Acts 2, 4, and 6 • Churches unable to care for their own. • Acts 11:29-31 • 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 • 2 Corinthians 8, 9

  26. Contents and Character • Story of the Church • Pattern of benevolent work • Contributing church raised its own funds from its own members—”eachaccording to his ability.” • Acts 11:27-30 • 1 Corinthians 16:1-4

  27. Contents and Character • Story of the Church • Pattern of benevolent work • Contributing church selected its own messengers to carry its contribution to the needy church. • Delivered to the church elders. • Acts 11:27-30 • 2Corinthians 8,9

  28. Contents and Character • Story of the Church • Pattern of benevolent work • In no case did any contributing church send through the agency of another church—no centralized oversight! • One church’s eldership did not usurp another eldership’s authority or oversight.

  29. Contents and Character • Story of the Church • Met the problem of false doctrine by appealing to authority. • Acts 15:1, 5,22,40 • Each church edified by its own elders, through its own program of teaching and encouragement from gospel preachers. • Acts 11:22; 13:1-3; 16:40; 20:1,32

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