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THE BOOK OF ACTS Dr. Douglas S. Huffman

Explore the development of the early Christian church in Acts, from its mission to Jews and Gentiles to community life and facing internal/external threats. Discover the community priorities, threats, and significant events.

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THE BOOK OF ACTS Dr. Douglas S. Huffman

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  1. THE BOOK OF ACTS Dr. Douglas S. Huffman Professor and Associate Dean of Biblical & Theological Studies Talbot School of Theology at Biola University Fall Teaching Conference Evangelical Free Church of America North Central District

  2. From Session 2: Panels of Progress Outline for Acts ACTS 3RD Session Introduction Panel—Acts 1:1-2:41 Part 1: Christian Mission to Jewish World (2:42-12:24) Panel 1: Earliest Days of the Church—2:42-6:7 Panel 2: Events in the Lives of 3 Pivotal Figures—6:8-9:31 Panel 3: Advances of the Gospel in Palestine-Syria—9:32-12:24 Part 2: Christian Mission to Gentile World (12:25-28:31) Panel 4: Missionary Campaign 1 & Jerusalem Council—12:25-16:5 Panel 5: Missionary Campaigns 2 & 3—16:6-19:20 Panel 6: To Jerusalem and Thence to Rome—19:21-28:31 Acts 1:8 Jerusalem Judea&Sam aria Ends of the earth

  3. ACTS 3RD Session Luke’s Focus on the Church Community Introduction Panel—Acts 1:1-2:41 Part 1: Christian Mission to Jewish World (2:42-12:24) Panel 1: Earliest Days of the Church—2:42-6:7 Panel 2: Events in the Lives of 3 Pivotal Figures—6:8-9:31 Panel 3: Advances of the Gospel in Palestine-Syria—9:32-12:24 Part 2: Christian Mission to Gentile World (12:25-28:31) Panel 4: Missionary Campaign 1 & Jerusalem Council—12:25-16:5 Panel 5: Missionary Campaigns 2 & 3—16:6-19:20 Panel 6: To Jerusalem and Thence to Rome—19:21-28:31 ACTS 1:1-2:41 Introduction: The Beginnings of the Jerusalem Church 1:1-11—The Great Commission & the Ascension This section ends with a progress summary: “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:41) —Jesus’ story continues 1:12-26—Replacing Judas —Reading OT in light of Jesus, God’s people are ready 2:1-41—Coming of the Holy Spirit —Power for world wide witness

  4. ACTS 3RD Session Luke’s Focus on the Church Community Introduction Panel—Acts 1:1-2:41 Part 1: Christian Mission to Jewish World (2:42-12:25) Panel 1: Earliest Days of the Church—2:42-6:7 Panel 2: Events in the Lives of 3 Pivotal Figures—6:8-9:31 Panel 3: Advances of the Gospel in Palestine-Syria—9:32-12:24-25 Part 2: Christian Mission to Gentile World (13:1-28:31) Panel 4: Missionary Campaign 1 & Jerusalem Council—12:25-16:5 Panel 5: Missionary Campaign 2 & 3—16:6-19:20 Panel 6: To Jerusalem and Thence to Rome—19:21-28:31 Jerusalem ACTS 2:42-6:7 Panel 1: The Story of the Church’s Earliest Days 2:42-47—Church Life Overview At least five lessons/ sermons, maybe more! 3:1-4:31—Outside Threat Five pericopes in this panel 4:32-5:16—Inside Threat 5:17-42—Outside Threat 6:1-7—Inside Threat

  5. ACTS 3RD Session Luke’s Focus on the Church Community A. HOW Does Luke Describe the Young Church? Community Priorities in Acts Acts 2:42-47 (NIV, 2011) 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and miraculous signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

  6. ACTS 3RD Session Luke’s Focus on the Church Community A. HOW Does Luke Describe the Young Church? Community Priorities in Acts CHURCH COMMUNITY TEACHING PRAYER BREAKING BREAD FELLOWSHIP

  7. ACTS 3RD Session Luke’s Focus on the Church Community B. WHERE Do Threats Come From? Introduction Panel—Acts 1:1-2:41 Part 1: Christian Mission to Jewish World (2:42-12:25) Panel 1: Earliest Days of the Church—2:42-6:7 Panel 2: Events in the Lives of 3 Pivotal Figures—6:8-9:31 Panel 3: Advances of the Gospel in Palestine-Syria—9:32-12:24-25 Part 2: Christian Mission to Gentile World (13:1-28:31) Panel 4: Missionary Campaign 1 & Jerusalem Council—12:25-16:5 Panel 5: Missionary Campaign 2 & 3—16:6-19:20 Panel 6: To Jerusalem and Thence to Rome—19:21-28:31 Jerusalem ACTS 2:42-6:7 Panel 1: The Story of the Church’s Earliest Days 2:42-47—Church Life Overview 3:1-4:31—Outside Threat Four threats to church community 4:32-5:16—Inside Threat 5:17-42—Outside Threat 6:1-7—Inside Threat

  8. ACTS 3RD Session Luke’s Focus on the Church Community Introduction Panel—Acts 1:1-2:41 Part 1: Christian Mission to Jewish World (2:42-12:24) Panel 1: Earliest Days of the Church—2:42-6:7 Panel 2: Events in the Lives of 3 Pivotal Figures—6:8-9:31 Panel 3: Advances of the Gospel in Palestine-Syria—9:32-12:24 Part 2: Christian Mission to Gentile World (12:25-28:31) Panel 4: Missionary Campaign 1 & Jerusalem Council—12:25-16:5 Panel 5: Missionary Campaigns 2 & 3—16:6-19:20 Panel 6: To Jerusalem and Thence to Rome—19:21-28:31 B. WHERE Do Threats Come From? Jerusalem ACTS 2:42-6:7 Panel 1: The Story of the Church’s Earliest Days 2:42-47—Church Life Overview 3:1-4:31—Outside Threat This pericope has four episodes 3:11-26 MESSAGE 4:1-22 REACTION 4:23-31 REFLECTION 3:1-10 MIRACLE INTIMIDATION — PRAY

  9. ACTS 3RD Session Luke’s Focus on the Church Community Introduction Panel—Acts 1:1-2:41 Part 1: Christian Mission to Jewish World (2:42-12:24) Panel 1: Earliest Days of the Church—2:42-6:7 Panel 2: Events in the Lives of 3 Pivotal Figures—6:8-9:31 Panel 3: Advances of the Gospel in Palestine-Syria—9:32-12:24 Part 2: Christian Mission to Gentile World (12:25-28:31) Panel 4: Missionary Campaign 1 & Jerusalem Council—12:25-16:5 Panel 5: Missionary Campaigns 2 & 3—16:6-19:20 Panel 6: To Jerusalem and Thence to Rome—19:21-28:31 B. WHERE Do Threats Come From? Jerusalem ACTS 2:42-6:7 Panel 1: The Story of the Church’s Earliest Days 2:42-47—Church Life Overview 3:1-4:31—Outside Threat INTIMIDATION 4:32-5:16—Inside Threat 4:32-5:16—Inside Threat

  10. ACTS 3RD Session Luke’s Focus on the Church Community B. WHERE Do Threats Come From? Acts 4:32-5:16 CHURCH COMMUNITY TEACHING PRAYER BREAKING BREAD FELLOWSHIP

  11. Acts 4:32-5:16 (NIV, 2011) 32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. [36-37 Barnabas as good example, 5:1-10 Ananias & Sapphira as bad example.] 5:11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. 12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people … Acts 2:42-47 (NIV, 2011) 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and miraculous signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. NOTE: Almost every instance of repetition is an expanded description.

  12. ACTS 3RD Session Luke’s Focus on the Church Community Introduction Panel—Acts 1:1-2:41 Part 1: Christian Mission to Jewish World (2:42-12:24) Panel 1: Earliest Days of the Church—2:42-6:7 Panel 2: Events in the Lives of 3 Pivotal Figures—6:8-9:31 Panel 3: Advances of the Gospel in Palestine-Syria—9:32-12:24 Part 2: Christian Mission to Gentile World (12:25-28:31) Panel 4: Missionary Campaign 1 & Jerusalem Council—12:25-16:5 Panel 5: Missionary Campaigns 2 & 3—16:6-19:20 Panel 6: To Jerusalem and Thence to Rome—19:21-28:31 B. WHERE Do Threats Come From? Jerusalem ACTS 2:42-6:7 Panel 1: The Story of the Church’s Earliest Days 2:42-47—Church Life Overview 3:1-4:31—Outside Threat 3:1-4:31—Outside Threat INTIMIDATION 4:32-5:16—Inside Threat 4:32-5:16—Inside Threat CORRUPTION 5:17-42—Outside Threat 5:17-42—Outside Threat

  13. Acts 5:27-33 (NIV, 2011) 27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” 33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death…. 40They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Acts 4:18-22 (NIV, 2011) 18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old. Acts 5:41–42 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

  14. ACTS 3RD Session Luke’s Focus on the Church Community Introduction Panel—Acts 1:1-2:41 Part 1: Christian Mission to Jewish World (2:42-12:24) Panel 1: Earliest Days of the Church—2:42-6:7 Panel 2: Events in the Lives of 3 Pivotal Figures—6:8-9:31 Panel 3: Advances of the Gospel in Palestine-Syria—9:32-12:24 Part 2: Christian Mission to Gentile World (12:25-28:31) Panel 4: Missionary Campaign 1 & Jerusalem Council—12:25-16:5 Panel 5: Missionary Campaigns 2 & 3—16:6-19:20 Panel 6: To Jerusalem and Thence to Rome—19:21-28:31 B. WHERE Do Threats Come From? Jerusalem ACTS 2:42-6:7 Panel 1: The Story of the Church’s Earliest Days 2:42-47—Church Life Overview 3:1-4:31—Outside Threat 3:1-4:31—Outside Threat INTIMIDATION 4:32-5:16—Inside Threat 4:32-5:16—Inside Threat CORRUPTION 5:17-42—Outside Threat 5:17-42—Outside Threat PERSECUTION DISTRACTION 6:1-7—Inside Threat

  15. ACTS 3RD Session Luke’s Focus on the Church Community Introduction—Acts 1:1-2:41 Part 1: Christian Mission to Jewish World (2:42-12:24) Panel 1: Earliest Days of the Church—2:42-6:7 Panel 2: Events in the Lives of 3 Pivotal Figures—6:8-9:31 Panel 3: Advances of the Gospel in Palestine-Syria—9:32-12:24 Part 2: Christian Mission to Gentile World (12:25-28:31) Panel 4: Missionary Campaign 1 & Jerusalem Council—12:25-16:5 Panel 5: Missionary Campaigns 2 & 3—16:6-19:20 Panel 6: To Jerusalem and Thence to Rome—19:21-28:31 C. WHATIs the Correct Response to Threats? OK—let’s pull it altogether. ACTS 2:42-6:7 Panel 1: The Earliest Days of the Jerusalem Church CHURCH COMMUNITY This section ends with a progress summary: “And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6:7) BREAKING BREAD PRAYER FELLOWSHIP 2:42-47—Overview TEACHING —Intimidation 3:1-4:31—Outside Threat —Corruption 4:32-5:16—Inside Threat PRAYER TEACHING BREAKING BREAD —Persecution FELLOWSHIP 5:17-42—Outside Threat —Distraction 6:1-7—Inside Threat

  16. ACTS 3RD Session Luke’s Focus on the Church Community D. HOWDo I Present It? Something to Consider When Teaching from Acts 1) Don’t Teach Too Small—Keep big picture in view. 2) Call Attention to the Big Picture for students. 3) Big Chunk Reading can be helpful. 4) Academics—like noting Luke’s thematic concerns and tracing Luke’s outline for Acts—can helpfully serve our effectiveness in gospel ministry.

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